OmniVision Unveils Its First RGBC Sensor With Always-on Capability for Selfie Cameras

BusinessWire: OmniVision announces the OV32C, a RGBC 32MP image sensor in a 1/3.2-inch optical format for front-facing mobile phone “selfie” cameras.  The OV32C’s low power modes can help enable “always-on” user experiences by facilitating AI processing to automate many of the common tasks of the camera, such as face detection, QR code scans, etc.

“Image sensors for front facing ‘selfie’ cameras are expected to grow 4.7% CAGR over the next five years, with smartphone front camera image sensor revenues reaching US$4.4 billion by 2026,” says Pierre Cambou, principal analyst, Imaging at Yole Développement. “Stacking technology is giving more degree of freedom to image sensor designers to embed advanced pre-ISP algorithms; this could be a game changer for RGBC sensors by solving the difficulties of their non-Bayer arrangement. Adding ‘always-on’ smart capabilities to phone cameras will bring a new level of ergonomics and performance to the phone’s user interface.”

“The OV32C is our first sensor for the mobile phone market to feature RGBC―providing a 50% boost in overall sensitivity to enhance low-light image quality. Additionally, we’ve reduced design complexity for OEMs with an on-chip RGBC-to-Bayer fusion algorithm, therefore, a separate RGBC processing unit isn’t required,” says Arun Jayaseelan, staff marketing manager at OmniVision.

The OV32C is built on 0.7µm PureCel Plus-S pixel. RGBC technology uses a 4-cell color filter pattern with clear pixels and on-chip RGBC-to-Bayer fusion. It supports CPHY and DPHY interfaces and can output 15 fps at 32MP, or 30 fps at 8MP with on-chip fusion, for premium video and image quality. The OV32C also offers dual DOVDD support at 1.8 and 1.2 volts.

Samples of the OV32C are available now.