Reuters, The Register: Fast developing cameraphone technology will shortly make SLR system cameras and even professional cameras obsolete, Nokia's Markets EVP Anssi Vanjoki said in a speech in Helsinki.
"There will be no need to carry around those heavy lenses," Vanjoki said, pointing to a professional photographer taking pictures of him.
Vanjoki said HD video recording was also coming to cellphones within the next 12 months.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Omnivision Announces 720p HDR Sensor
PR Newswire: Omnivision announced a new flagship SoC sensor for security - the OV10630. The new sensor combines 720p/30fps HD video with color HDR full image processing pipeline in a 1/2.7 inch optical format. OV10630 delivers 110dB dynamic range in black-and-white and 100dB + in color.
The OV10630 design is based on a 4.2um OmniPixel3-HS pixel having "unparalleled low-light sensitivity". The OV10630 has an active array of 1280 x 800 pixels. The image pipeline has also all required automatic image control functions, including automatic exposure control, automatic white balance, automatic black level calibration, as well as defective pixel correction, gamma correction and lens shading correction.
The OV10630 is now sampling, and is scheduled to enter mass production by the fourth quarter of 2010.
The OV10630 design is based on a 4.2um OmniPixel3-HS pixel having "unparalleled low-light sensitivity". The OV10630 has an active array of 1280 x 800 pixels. The image pipeline has also all required automatic image control functions, including automatic exposure control, automatic white balance, automatic black level calibration, as well as defective pixel correction, gamma correction and lens shading correction.
The OV10630 is now sampling, and is scheduled to enter mass production by the fourth quarter of 2010.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Next iPhone Might Have Dual Camera
It looks like Gizmodo was able to get a hold on the next generation iPhone prototype. The prototype has has dual camera - a small one is front-facing and a bigger one is on the back.
Thanks to R.C. for the link.
Update: Korean Chosun Ilbo reports that LG Innotek is supplying the camera module for iPhone 4G. The camera modules are manufactured at its plant in Gumi since April 2010. The company will mass produce them starting in the second half of this year.
Thanks to R.C. for the link.
Update: Korean Chosun Ilbo reports that LG Innotek is supplying the camera module for iPhone 4G. The camera modules are manufactured at its plant in Gumi since April 2010. The company will mass produce them starting in the second half of this year.
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Semiconductor International is No More
Semiconductor International is shutting down. Its web site will close on April 30, 2010. Those who'd like to keep its nice image sensor-related articles have little time to save them in private place. Some recent interesting articles are:
Philip Garrou series on 3D packaging, including the recent article on 3D integration stress management talking about larger-diameter TSVs causing large mobility changes in silicon because of large deformation and shear stress. (Source: Synopsys):
Alother Philip's article talks about the recent trends in TSV technology and packaging. Generally, The 3D panel on IMAPS 2007 conference was in complete agreement that the 3D IC market has evolved into two main segments:
Prismark revealed their 2014 market projection of 3.2M TSV wafers consisting of
Application 3-D % of Appl
Image Sensors 90
Rf/SiP 15
MEMS 20
Logic <1
DRAM 7
Other memory 1
Semiconductor International used to be a place where Chipworks' Dick James published many reverse engineering findings, such as this one: DSLR Image Sensor Innovation – Who Is Challenging Canon and Nikon’s lead?, from September 11, 2009.
It's a pity that this wealth of information is going to disappear by the end of this month.
Philip Garrou series on 3D packaging, including the recent article on 3D integration stress management talking about larger-diameter TSVs causing large mobility changes in silicon because of large deformation and shear stress. (Source: Synopsys):
Alother Philip's article talks about the recent trends in TSV technology and packaging. Generally, The 3D panel on IMAPS 2007 conference was in complete agreement that the 3D IC market has evolved into two main segments:
- (1) vias middle either Cu or W and
- (2) vias last from backside Cu (see below)
- Anything else will be niche.
Prismark revealed their 2014 market projection of 3.2M TSV wafers consisting of
Application 3-D % of Appl
Image Sensors 90
Rf/SiP 15
MEMS 20
Logic <1
DRAM 7
Other memory 1
Semiconductor International used to be a place where Chipworks' Dick James published many reverse engineering findings, such as this one: DSLR Image Sensor Innovation – Who Is Challenging Canon and Nikon’s lead?, from September 11, 2009.
It's a pity that this wealth of information is going to disappear by the end of this month.
Friday, April 16, 2010
NIST Detector Counts Photons With 99% QE
Detecting single photons with confidence is not easy: National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has developed "the world’s most efficient single photon detector", which is able to count individual photons with roughly 99 percent efficiency. The basic principle of the detector is to use a superconductor as an ultra-sensitive thermometer. Each individual photon hitting the detector raises the temperature—and increases electrical resistance—by a minute amount, which the instrument registers as the presence of a photon.
“When these detectors indicate they’ve spotted a photon, they’re trustworthy. They don’t give false positives,” says Sae Woo Nam, a physicist with NIST’s Optoelectronics division. “Other types of detectors have really high gain so they can measure a single photon, but their noise levels are such that occasionally a noise glitch is mistakenly identified as a photon. This causes an error in the measurement. Reducing these errors is really important for those who are doing calculations or communications.”
“We can’t be sure from direct measurement that we’ve achieved 99 percent efficiency because the metrology is not in place to determine how close we are—there’s no well-established technique,” Nam says. “What is great about our latest progress is that we measure nearly the same detection efficiency for every device we build, package and test. It’s the reproducibility that gives us confidence.”
The work was presented at the SPIE Symposium on Defense, Security, and Sensing in Orlando World Center Marriott Resort and Convention Center on April 7, 2010: A.E. Lita, B. Calkins, L.A. Pellouchoud, A.J. Miller and S. Nam. Superconducting transition-edge sensors optimized for high-efficiency photon-number resolving detectors.
“When these detectors indicate they’ve spotted a photon, they’re trustworthy. They don’t give false positives,” says Sae Woo Nam, a physicist with NIST’s Optoelectronics division. “Other types of detectors have really high gain so they can measure a single photon, but their noise levels are such that occasionally a noise glitch is mistakenly identified as a photon. This causes an error in the measurement. Reducing these errors is really important for those who are doing calculations or communications.”
“We can’t be sure from direct measurement that we’ve achieved 99 percent efficiency because the metrology is not in place to determine how close we are—there’s no well-established technique,” Nam says. “What is great about our latest progress is that we measure nearly the same detection efficiency for every device we build, package and test. It’s the reproducibility that gives us confidence.”
The work was presented at the SPIE Symposium on Defense, Security, and Sensing in Orlando World Center Marriott Resort and Convention Center on April 7, 2010: A.E. Lita, B. Calkins, L.A. Pellouchoud, A.J. Miller and S. Nam. Superconducting transition-edge sensors optimized for high-efficiency photon-number resolving detectors.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Aptina, Omnivision Narrowly Missed Golden Mousetrap Award
Business Wire: Aptina MT9M033 HDR image sensor has been named a finalist in the Design News Golden Mousetrap Best Products contest. For more than two decades, Design News has recognized engineering innovation and creativity in product design. “These products, as always, showcase the highly imaginative ways that today's engineers are ‘building a better mousetrap,’ and we thank them for their contributions,” said Jennifer Roy, Managing Editor for Design News.
Unfortunately, MT9M033 did not win the Award this year. For that matter, no other image sensor won, although Finalists list has two of them: Aptina MT9M033 and Omnivision Cameracube.
Unfortunately, MT9M033 did not win the Award this year. For that matter, no other image sensor won, although Finalists list has two of them: Aptina MT9M033 and Omnivision Cameracube.
Omnivision is Declared #1 on Camera Phone Market
Investors Business Daily published article composed of quotes from different analysts on Omnivision:
"We believe they're going to be in the new-generation iPhone, which will generate momentum in the second half of the calendar year," said Tristan Gerra, a senior analyst at Robert W. Baird & Co. "We're seeing a sharp pickup in smart phone orders right now," Gerra said. "This certainly helps Omni, given that it's the No. 1 supplier of image sensors in the cell phone market."
"The prospect of Verizon possibly carrying the iPhone has driven a lot of the excitement behind OmniVision's stock," said Betsy Van Hees, an analyst at Wedbush. "OmniVision is a product cycle story. The big growth driver is the fact that we're seeing smart phones move from three to five megapixels."
Raymond James analyst Hans Mosesmann expresses "concerns on mega-pixel density stagnation with a market that may not wish to pay the premium OmniVision's best-in-class technology delivers."
"We believe they're going to be in the new-generation iPhone, which will generate momentum in the second half of the calendar year," said Tristan Gerra, a senior analyst at Robert W. Baird & Co. "We're seeing a sharp pickup in smart phone orders right now," Gerra said. "This certainly helps Omni, given that it's the No. 1 supplier of image sensors in the cell phone market."
"The prospect of Verizon possibly carrying the iPhone has driven a lot of the excitement behind OmniVision's stock," said Betsy Van Hees, an analyst at Wedbush. "OmniVision is a product cycle story. The big growth driver is the fact that we're seeing smart phones move from three to five megapixels."
Raymond James analyst Hans Mosesmann expresses "concerns on mega-pixel density stagnation with a market that may not wish to pay the premium OmniVision's best-in-class technology delivers."
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Aptina Adopts Apache's Noise and Power CAD Tools
Business Wire: Aptina has adopted Apache’s RedHawk-NX and Totem-MMX tools. Aptina will use Apache’s Totem-MMX, a transistor-level power / ground noise analysis and verification solution, to analyze and sign-off the huge analog sensor arrays which are implemented using custom-layout of transistors. The image sensor array is then compiled into accurate and efficient custom macro model (CMM) and imported to RedHawk-NX for a full-chip, mixed-signal dynamic power integrity simulation. The combination of Totem and RedHawk allows Aptina to consider the impact of analog transient supply currents on the digital logic of the SoC. Apache’s high-capacity integrated solution helps prevent power-related design failures.
Apple to Use Sony Sensors in 2011 iPhone?
TheStreet quotes Rodman Renshaw analyst Ashok Kumar saying that Apple has picked Sony's 8MP sensor for the 2011 iPhone. The move would displace OmniVision, Apple's current camera supplier to the iPhone. Since last year, OmniVision has been Apple's exclusive camera chip supplier to the iPhone. OmniVision is expected to supply a 5MP camera for the upcoming version of the iPhone due out this summer, said Kumar.
MacRumors notes that Kumar carries a mixed record in his previous predictions.
MacRumors notes that Kumar carries a mixed record in his previous predictions.
Friday, April 09, 2010
Rolling Shutter Reduction in Video
PrMac: While not directly related to image sensors, Australian company CoreMelt presents rolling shutter reduction extension to it's video image stabilization software. Quite an obvious idea when one thinks about it, but CoreMelt claims its the only video stabilization software with rolling shutter reduction. CoreMelt demos its software at NAB 2010.
However, just a year ago at NAB 2009 another company, UK-based The Foundry, presented its own rolling shutter reduction subroutine.
With modern power ISPs and gyros embedded in every other camera phone, one can guess that sooner or later rolling shutter compensation becomes a standard ISP feature.
There are some extreme cases of the rolling shutter wobbling on Youtube. A good compensation subroutine has to deal with cases like this one:
However, just a year ago at NAB 2009 another company, UK-based The Foundry, presented its own rolling shutter reduction subroutine.
With modern power ISPs and gyros embedded in every other camera phone, one can guess that sooner or later rolling shutter compensation becomes a standard ISP feature.
There are some extreme cases of the rolling shutter wobbling on Youtube. A good compensation subroutine has to deal with cases like this one:
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