Omnivision Unveils Two Smartphone Sensors

PRNewswire, PRNewswire: Omnivision announces two new sensors for smartphone cameras:

• OV13B: 1/3-inch 13MP sensor for mainstream and entry-level smartphone cameras
• OV16A: a cost-effective 16MP upgrade for rear- and front-facing cameras on mainstream smartphones with thin bezels

OV13B sensor features 1.12um PureCel Plus pixel technology and is specifically designed for the enormous mainstream and entry-level smartphone markets, providing a compelling solution for rear- or front-facing cameras.

“The market for 1/3-inch optical format 13-MP image sensors has grown significantly during the last couple of years due to their optimized size, performance and cost effectiveness; we anticipate that this strong demand will continue for both rear- and front-facing cameras, in mainstream and entry-level smartphone applications,” said James Liu, product marketing manager for OmniVision. “The OV13B builds on the success of our widely deployed 13-MP sensor family with the industry’s best 1.12-micron pixel performance. This sensor will not only fulfill the tremendous demand in the mainstream market, but can also boost the performance of entry-level smartphones. It is also a perfect fit for both wide-angle and telephoto cameras in multi-camera configurations.”

In comparison with its predecessors, the OV13B has significantly lower power consumption and a smaller chip size, enabling an 8.5 x 8.5-mm autofocus module for main cameras, or a 6.4 x 7.2-mm fixed-focus module for front-facing cameras with a Z height below 4 mm. This image sensor is sampling now.

The OV16A is built on OmniVision’s PureCel Plus 1.0um pixel architecture. With the OV16A, manufacturers can add a third camera for high-quality, ultra-wide-angle photos in high-end smartphones. Additionally, the OV16A extends battery life with the industry’s lowest power consumption—10% lower than the nearest competitor’s 16 MP 1.0um sensor.

Thin-bezel phones are gaining in popularity because of increased demand for full-display selfie screens. However, these space limiting thin-bezel designs require compact front-facing cameras. The OV16A allows designers to incorporate just such a camera in the bezel, and with 2.0-micron-equivalent pixel performance. The compact OV16A enables the industry’s smallest fixed-focus camera modules, with dimensions down to 6.5x6mm.

“Designers want to achieve the best balance among cost, image quality and low power consumption,” said Jason Chiang, product marketing manager at OmniVision. “The cost-effective OV16A allows them to provide excellent performance in a high-resolution camera for various smartphone applications, including tri-camera designs. The 4-cell color filter allows users to consistently capture high-quality photos without motion blur, even in low-light conditions indoors.”

The OV16A will begin sampling in February 2019.