Business Wire: Samsung announced two new image sensors – 1.3MP S5K6A1 and 2.1MP S5K5B3 - for use in notebook computers and other devices requiring video capture. Using 1.75um pixels, the new imagers are said to have significantly improved low light sensitivity of 70Lux of YSNR10.
The 2.1MP S5K5B3 has an embedded EDoF to allow bar codes and business card reading without needing mechanical AF support. In February Tessera reported that Samsung is its EDoF licensee. S5K5B3 sensor supports camera modules with full 1080p HD at 30fps capability in a z-height less than 4.5mm. S5K6A1 sensor has been designed for camera modules with 720p HD at 30fps capability in a z-height less than 3.5mm.
Samples for both of these image sensors are currently available with mass production scheduled for Q2 2010.
According to TSR, the notebook and PC camera market is expected to reach 150M units in 2010 and grow at a compound annual growth rate of 12% to reach 200M units by 2013. The camera attachment rate of over 70% now, according to Dojun Rhee, VP of System LSI marketing, Samsung Electronics.
Thursday, April 08, 2010
Wednesday, April 07, 2010
Fast Sensors Standoff
Photron and Vision Research announced new fast cameras toward 2010 NAB Show in Las Vegas. Both use custom designed sensors
Business Wire: Photron Fastcam BC2 delivers 1000fps at its native 4MP resolution 2048x2048 or up to 2000fps at 1920x1080 HD resolution (no word "progressive" though). The camera appears to be a broadcaster's version of Fastcam SA2 announced a year ago, I believe.
Marketwire: Vision Research announced Phantom Flex featuring 4MP CMOS sensor with resolution of 2560x1600. When set to Standard Mode the maximum recording speed of 1,560fps at 4MP resolution. In full-HD resolution (1920x1080), the Phantom Flex offers a maximum recording speed of 2,800fps. When reduced to 720p HD resolution (1280x720), the Phantom Flex offers a maximum recording speed of 6,100fps. The camera can go even faster, recording at 13,000 fps at 640x480, also in Standard Mode.
Other than Standard, there is also HQ Mode, where the Vision Research's Flex trades speed for enhanced image quality; the camera still offers impressive maximum recording speeds of 780 fps at 2560x1600, 1,390 fps at 1920x1080, and 3,000 fps at 1280x720 resolutions. HQ Mode is said to employ a proprietary multi-sampling image enhancement technology to deliver stable blacks, low noise, higher dynamic range and repeatable shots over the full range of supported resolutions, frame rates, and temperatures.
Business Wire: Photron Fastcam BC2 delivers 1000fps at its native 4MP resolution 2048x2048 or up to 2000fps at 1920x1080 HD resolution (no word "progressive" though). The camera appears to be a broadcaster's version of Fastcam SA2 announced a year ago, I believe.
Marketwire: Vision Research announced Phantom Flex featuring 4MP CMOS sensor with resolution of 2560x1600. When set to Standard Mode the maximum recording speed of 1,560fps at 4MP resolution. In full-HD resolution (1920x1080), the Phantom Flex offers a maximum recording speed of 2,800fps. When reduced to 720p HD resolution (1280x720), the Phantom Flex offers a maximum recording speed of 6,100fps. The camera can go even faster, recording at 13,000 fps at 640x480, also in Standard Mode.
Other than Standard, there is also HQ Mode, where the Vision Research's Flex trades speed for enhanced image quality; the camera still offers impressive maximum recording speeds of 780 fps at 2560x1600, 1,390 fps at 1920x1080, and 3,000 fps at 1280x720 resolutions. HQ Mode is said to employ a proprietary multi-sampling image enhancement technology to deliver stable blacks, low noise, higher dynamic range and repeatable shots over the full range of supported resolutions, frame rates, and temperatures.
PTC with All Noises Integrated
Albert Theuwissen published another post on PTC curve with all kind of noises integrated into PTC graphs. Then the post explains how to extract fixed pattern-like parameters from the PTC measurements. Next post will talk about temporal noise data extraction.
Canesta Features in NY Times
As Electrons and Holes blog mentions, NY Times has an article on Canesta 11-year history. The article is accompanied by two video demos showing gaiming and TV remote control applications.
Over the years, Canesta has raised about $60M. Quanta and Honda are among the investors. Quanta expects to sell laptops with 3D camera later this year. Canesta hopes to piggyback on the exploding interest in the technology and pop low-cost chips into every device it can.
Over the years, Canesta has raised about $60M. Quanta and Honda are among the investors. Quanta expects to sell laptops with 3D camera later this year. Canesta hopes to piggyback on the exploding interest in the technology and pop low-cost chips into every device it can.
Tuesday, April 06, 2010
Silecs Polymer Lightpipes
Finnish company Silecs together with IBM presented high refractive index siloxane polymer lightguide at IISW 2009. Now the detailed study is published in the form of MS Thesis at Aalto University: "Spin-on siloxane polymers in image sensor applications" by Kimmo Karaste. A clear QE enhancement has been shown, unfortunately, accompanied by a crosstalk degradation (2.2um IBM pixels):
Also, the earlier ML AR coating results are presented (based on Tower 2.8um pixels).
Also, the earlier ML AR coating results are presented (based on Tower 2.8um pixels).
Panasonic Image Sensor Roadmap
Panasonic published March 2010 edition of its DSC image sensor roadmap:
Comparing this roadmap with its previous version from March 2009, 16MP and 18MP products are moved much farther in future. Instead, the high sensitivity I and II products are added.
Similarly, security, broadcast and industrial-targeted roadmap abandons high resolution sensors. Instead it's emphasizing transition form CCD to MOS sensors. The first figure is from March 2010, the next one is from a year earlier.
Comparing this roadmap with its previous version from March 2009, 16MP and 18MP products are moved much farther in future. Instead, the high sensitivity I and II products are added.
Similarly, security, broadcast and industrial-targeted roadmap abandons high resolution sensors. Instead it's emphasizing transition form CCD to MOS sensors. The first figure is from March 2010, the next one is from a year earlier.
Monday, April 05, 2010
Historical View on Image Sensor Market
EETimes has an interesting article about semiconductor industry ever-changing leadership by Walden Rhines, Mentor Graphics CEO. It has an interesting passage about image sensor market:
"One of the more amazing aspects of the increasing pervasion of semiconductors into new applications is the significant growth in revenue of existing applications as the cost per unit decreases. Consider the digital camera. Most of the semiconductor content of a digital camera consists of non-volatile FLASH memory and the image sensor. In the early 1990s, solid state image sensors sold for $20-25. Image sensors were a negligible portion of the semiconductor total available market (TAM) until the current decade. During the 1990s the price per sensor fell dramatically from the $20-25 range to about $5. At this price point, unit volume soared, making image sensors more than 3 percent of the semiconductor TAM in the last few years. ...The result was a substantial net growth in the market for digital cameras and the semiconductors required to make them."
"One of the more amazing aspects of the increasing pervasion of semiconductors into new applications is the significant growth in revenue of existing applications as the cost per unit decreases. Consider the digital camera. Most of the semiconductor content of a digital camera consists of non-volatile FLASH memory and the image sensor. In the early 1990s, solid state image sensors sold for $20-25. Image sensors were a negligible portion of the semiconductor total available market (TAM) until the current decade. During the 1990s the price per sensor fell dramatically from the $20-25 range to about $5. At this price point, unit volume soared, making image sensors more than 3 percent of the semiconductor TAM in the last few years. ...The result was a substantial net growth in the market for digital cameras and the semiconductors required to make them."
Kodak Announced Aromatography - An Unbelievable Sensory Experience
Another April Fools announcement came from Kodak. Thanks to recent breakthroughs in Neuro-Optic-Nasal-Sense Imaging Kodak found a way of transferring delicate and complex aromas that accompany the visual experience. New imaging sensors and software developed by Kodak have made the dream into a reality. Dr. Harold Museau, PhD. , inventor of Aromatography, graciously took a few moments away from his demanding research schedule to explain in his own words how he made this breakthrough discovery and how it works:
Friday, April 02, 2010
SETi Quietly Made IPO on KOSDAQ
SETi quietly made IPO on KOSDAQ at the beginning of February. I have not noticed any official announcements on that, but Koscom site already lists all the trading statistics and has the company information page in place.
By the way, in April 2008 Siliconfile too made its KOSDAQ IPO in a similar manner, without much publicity.
By the way, in April 2008 Siliconfile too made its KOSDAQ IPO in a similar manner, without much publicity.
Thursday, April 01, 2010
Circular Sensors for Circular Lenses: Why Throw Away Half of the Image?
DPReview: Sensor developer Rokton has announced that it has developed a circular image sensor. The company add the strapline "Circular sensors for your circular lens, why throw away half of the image?" It has made the idea a reality by developing a novel fabrication process that uses a clever approach laying down sensors in a honeycomb pattern on the wafer, allowing the production of circular image sensors with a diameter of 43mm – the same as the diagonal of 35mm full frame.
Rokton CEO Dr. Hwee Ng said "We’ve noticed that the ultimate imaging device, the human eye, is kind of round, lenses are round, and the most common photographic subject in the world - the human face - is often round too. The more we thought about it the more we realized a circular sensor made perfect sense."
Rokton's special ‘Dynartec’ (DYNAmic Real TimE Cropping) technology gives the user complete freedom to decide which area of the frame will be recorded while they’re shooting, or alternatively they can capture the complete circular raw and crop afterwards, using our unique circRAW format.
Anybody saw other April Fool's sensor jokes? Funny sensor stories are welcomed in comments.
Rokton CEO Dr. Hwee Ng said "We’ve noticed that the ultimate imaging device, the human eye, is kind of round, lenses are round, and the most common photographic subject in the world - the human face - is often round too. The more we thought about it the more we realized a circular sensor made perfect sense."
Rokton's special ‘Dynartec’ (DYNAmic Real TimE Cropping) technology gives the user complete freedom to decide which area of the frame will be recorded while they’re shooting, or alternatively they can capture the complete circular raw and crop afterwards, using our unique circRAW format.
Anybody saw other April Fool's sensor jokes? Funny sensor stories are welcomed in comments.
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