Sony announces the commercialization of the IMX487, a 2/3-type CMOS image sensor for industrial equipment, which is optimized for UV wavelength and comes with global shutter functionality and the industry’s highest (among UV sensors) pixel count of 8.13MP.
The sensor captures UV light with high efficiency made possible by the industry’s smallest (among UV sensors) 2.74 µm pixel size. It utilizes Sony’s Pregius S global shutter technology, which employs a unique back-illuminated pixel structure on a stacked CMOS image sensor,
Sony expects the new sensor to be useful in a variety of applications, including semiconductor pattern defect inspection in the existing UV camera market, thereby contributing to improving productivity in manufacturing processes and helping to solve industrial issues.
In general, UV cameras enable sorting of materials that would be difficult in visible light, as well as checking for minute scratches and defects on the surface of objects. They have conventionally been used in semiconductor pattern defect inspection; however, to expand the scope of application in the future, demand has continued to grow for an image sensor that not only provides sensitivity in the UV wavelength, but also delivers high resolution, low noise, and high-speed performance.
Si has sensitivity in UV. What's the optimization for UV, backside material or impurity profile or others?
ReplyDeleteCould be many optimizations: anti-reflective coating, doping profile, surface passivation, glass cover in the package, etc.
DeleteRight, especially the parts on top of the pixel are different, e.g. cover glass or microlens. Electronically this is a IMX536 (Pregius S). This move of Sony makes it difficult for current vendors in such niches. Because it gets very easy for camera manufacturers to add such product - if you have integrated Pregius S this UV sensor is just a solder option. Similar to for example the IMX250 MZR Polarizer sensor - if you have a PCB for the popular IMX250/252/253 (the same PCB can be used for all), adding the Polarizer sensor is just a solder option. Similar with the IMX990 that is very similar in interface to Pregius Gen2. I have posted this various times before... I have the feeling that still some image sensor vendors overestimate the importance of pixel performance and underestimate the importance of integrateability. The lower hurdle in integration (not just design in - also across the whole life cycle) is a huge argument to prefer such a sensor over peers with higher pixel performance...
DeleteAre there any companies that are offering this sensor in a camera?
ReplyDelete