Business Wire: Aptina announces the AS0260 SOC sensor. The 2MP native 1080p SOC meets strict form factor requirements (z-height less than 3.5mm) for ultra-thin, full HD video applications within the video-centric consumer electronics market. The new SOC has a 1/6-inch optical format and a new 1.4-micron pixel featuring A-Pix technology to improve low-light performance. The new SOC provides HD video at 1080p/30fps or 720p/60fps with image processing capabilities.
The AS0260 provides SOC-specific features including integrated multi-camera synchronization for stereo or 3D cameras, perspective correction for off-axis camera placement, adaptive polynomial lens shading correction, UVC interface support for USB/ISP bridge devices, as well as automatic image correction and enhancement. Additionally, the AS0260 provides OEMs with advantages over many other Full HD (or 1080p) solutions currently on the market with MJPEG formatted data output to enable video streaming with reduced bandwidth; a presence detection feature combined with ambient light sensing for system power savings, and face detection and tracking capability for identity and security applications.
AS0260 is currently being sampled by several tier-1 OEMs. Mass production is scheduled for CYQ1 2012. It is available in Die and CSP packages.
PR Newswire: Talking about other video solutions announced today, proDAD launches a Windows-based software for video stabilization Mercalli Easy that features also rolling-shutter distortions compensation. The software is said to automatically correct/improve rolling-shutter-caused skew and wobble - this seems to be a new feature appearing in more and more video processing software products.
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Altasens Adopts Berkeley DA FastSpice
Business Wire: Berkeley Design Automation announces that AltaSens has selected the company’s AFS Platform for full-circuit post-layout verification, block-level characterization, and device noise analysis of their high-definition (HD) and wide-dynamic-range CMOS image sensors.
"At AltaSens we have significant circuit verification challenges to deliver CMOS image sensors with the highest image quality along with lower noise and lower power in a cost-effective solution," said Manjunath Bhat, VP of Engineering at AltaSens. "With the AFS Platform we can run post-layout verification of our high-performance wide-dynamic-range HD CMOS image sensors with nanometer SPICE accuracy. When running AFS single core we get performance on par with our existing parallel simulator running on 8 cores."
The Analog FastSPICE is said to deliver SPICE accuracy 5x-10x faster than any other simulator on a single core and an additional 2x-4x performance with multithreading. For circuit characterization, the AFS Platform includes the device noise analysis and delivers near-linear performance scaling with the number of cores. For large circuits, it is said to deliver more than 10M-element capacity, the industry’s fastest near-SPICE-accurate simulation, and mixed- analog-digital co-simulation with leading Verilog simulators. Available licenses include AFS circuit simulation, AFS Transient Noise Analysis, AFS RF Analysis, AFS Co-Simulation, and AFS Nano SPICE.
"At AltaSens we have significant circuit verification challenges to deliver CMOS image sensors with the highest image quality along with lower noise and lower power in a cost-effective solution," said Manjunath Bhat, VP of Engineering at AltaSens. "With the AFS Platform we can run post-layout verification of our high-performance wide-dynamic-range HD CMOS image sensors with nanometer SPICE accuracy. When running AFS single core we get performance on par with our existing parallel simulator running on 8 cores."
The Analog FastSPICE is said to deliver SPICE accuracy 5x-10x faster than any other simulator on a single core and an additional 2x-4x performance with multithreading. For circuit characterization, the AFS Platform includes the device noise analysis and delivers near-linear performance scaling with the number of cores. For large circuits, it is said to deliver more than 10M-element capacity, the industry’s fastest near-SPICE-accurate simulation, and mixed- analog-digital co-simulation with leading Verilog simulators. Available licenses include AFS circuit simulation, AFS Transient Noise Analysis, AFS RF Analysis, AFS Co-Simulation, and AFS Nano SPICE.
Omnivision Supplies Sensors for Third Eye
PR Newswire: OmniVision announced that its OV6930 CMOS sensor performed exceptionally well in a recent 448-patient clinical study on Avantis Medical Systems' Third Eye Retroscope. The Third Eye Retroscope is an FDA-cleared, disposable, catheter-based camera for use with a standard colonoscope that provides a continuous backward-looking view while the colonoscope provides the usual forward view. In 2010, Avantis received a Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement code for the Third Eye Retroscope.
The OV6930 is a CMOS sensor designed specifically for use in medical devices. With a packaged footprint of only 1.8 x 1.8 mm, the OV6930 is an ideal solution for endoscopic applications that require a small profile, including bronchoscopy, colonoscopy, gastroscopy, OB-GYN and urology. It has low power consumption and is based on OmniPixel3-HS technology with low-light performance of 3300 mV/lux-sec. Its 1/10-inch array is capable of operating up to 30 fps in 400 x 400 HVGA or 60 fps in 400 x 200 resolution, providing RAW serial output. The low-voltage OV6930 allows cabling up to 14 feet, and is now shipping in volume to multiple medical device customers.
The OV6930 is a CMOS sensor designed specifically for use in medical devices. With a packaged footprint of only 1.8 x 1.8 mm, the OV6930 is an ideal solution for endoscopic applications that require a small profile, including bronchoscopy, colonoscopy, gastroscopy, OB-GYN and urology. It has low power consumption and is based on OmniPixel3-HS technology with low-light performance of 3300 mV/lux-sec. Its 1/10-inch array is capable of operating up to 30 fps in 400 x 400 HVGA or 60 fps in 400 x 200 resolution, providing RAW serial output. The low-voltage OV6930 allows cabling up to 14 feet, and is now shipping in volume to multiple medical device customers.
Hamamatsu Sensor Better Than CCD, EMCCD, First-Gen sCMOS
PR Newswire: Hamamatsu Photonics introduces the ORCA-Flash4.0 scientific CMOS camera. The ORCA-Flash4.0 is said to be the first camera that challenges the performance of all CCD, EM-CCD, and first-generation sCMOS cameras for every fluorescence application.
The 4MP camera sensor is based on 6.5um pixel with full well of 30,000e. The ORCA-Flash4.0 has QE of over 70% at 600 nm and 50% at 750 nm, and has only 1.3e of read noise at 100fps at full-resolution. This unique combination of high QE and low noise, in the absence of EM-CCD multiplicative noise, means that images are no longer limited by the camera.
The new camera datasheet has comparison with competitors:
The uniformity comparison:
A very nice whitepaper explains the comparisons and the new sensor features.
The 4MP camera sensor is based on 6.5um pixel with full well of 30,000e. The ORCA-Flash4.0 has QE of over 70% at 600 nm and 50% at 750 nm, and has only 1.3e of read noise at 100fps at full-resolution. This unique combination of high QE and low noise, in the absence of EM-CCD multiplicative noise, means that images are no longer limited by the camera.
The new camera datasheet has comparison with competitors:
The uniformity comparison:
A very nice whitepaper explains the comparisons and the new sensor features.
Monday, November 28, 2011
Aptina Announces Sampling of 1.4um-Pixel BSI Sensor
Aptina announces the production ready AR0832E BSI sensor. The AR0832E is a 1/3.2-inch format, 8MP sensor with a 1.4um BSI pixel aimed to smartphone cameras.
"Aptina's portfolio of BSI sensors is the culmination of several years of research and development refining and improving our BSI technology, which is enabling us to go-to-market with leading performance, manufacturing capacity, and competitive yields," said Aptina CEO Dave Orton. "Early feedback on the AR0832E BSI is that the performance is compelling, confirming the strength of our BSI technology and validating its readiness to address the needs of our customers today."
Aptina used its FSI A-Pix technology to develop a BSI pixel with "industry leading low light performance". The BSI advances include incorporation of deep photo diodes to increase full well capacity and extend DR, precisely engineered pixel architectures to achieve enhanced light sensitivity, and advanced CFA alignment techniques to lower cross-talk and achieve higher QE and color accuracy.
The AR0832E is sampling now, with high volume customer shipments expected in CYQ2 2012. It is available in die form.
In February Aptina announced its intention to sample 1.4um BSI sensor by mid-2011. By that time the part number of 1.4um 8MP sensor was AR0833. Today's announcement names a different part.
"Aptina's portfolio of BSI sensors is the culmination of several years of research and development refining and improving our BSI technology, which is enabling us to go-to-market with leading performance, manufacturing capacity, and competitive yields," said Aptina CEO Dave Orton. "Early feedback on the AR0832E BSI is that the performance is compelling, confirming the strength of our BSI technology and validating its readiness to address the needs of our customers today."
Aptina used its FSI A-Pix technology to develop a BSI pixel with "industry leading low light performance". The BSI advances include incorporation of deep photo diodes to increase full well capacity and extend DR, precisely engineered pixel architectures to achieve enhanced light sensitivity, and advanced CFA alignment techniques to lower cross-talk and achieve higher QE and color accuracy.
The AR0832E is sampling now, with high volume customer shipments expected in CYQ2 2012. It is available in die form.
In February Aptina announced its intention to sample 1.4um BSI sensor by mid-2011. By that time the part number of 1.4um 8MP sensor was AR0833. Today's announcement names a different part.
Sony Keeps Image Sensor Manufacturing in Japan, Asserts Damage by Thailand Floods, Creates Camera-Module Division
Wall Street Journal, MarketWatch quote Sony Executive Deputy President Hiroshi Yoshioka telling reporters at the company headquarters in Tokyo: "Even if manufacturing stays in Japan, (our image sensors) are competitive". Sony plans to keep its image sensor manufacturing operations in Japan despite the yen's persistent strength, which is driving electronics makers overseas for better profit margins.
The image senosr business has been affected by the recent flooding in Thailand, where Sony has an assembly plant. The company has said it is temporarily shifting some of its Thai sensor manufacturing operations to Japan. Yoshioka also said the earnings outlook for his Professional, Device and Solutions Group for the current fiscal year "will be tough," due to March 11 natural disasters in Japan, the flooding in Thailand and the strong yen.
Bloomberg reports that Sony will create a division for image-sensor modules used in smartphones and tablet computers on Dec. 1. The image sensors are also named as one of the main focus areas for the company.
After floods in Thailand halted image sensor output at factories in the country, production will be shifted to a plant in Kumamoto, southwestern Japan, in the beginning of next year, Sony spokesman Hiroshi Okubo said. The effect of the floods "wasn’t as bad" as the company estimated three weeks ago, Yoshioka said.
Update: The full Wall Street Journal article is unlocked now, more content is available:
As part of efforts to improve sales, Sony will try to sell more camera modules, which combine image sensors with optical lenses and other technologies, instead of selling image sensors as individual components, Yoshioka said.
Sony said last month it will increase its output of the sensors at its factory in Nagasaki prefecture, southern Japan.
The image senosr business has been affected by the recent flooding in Thailand, where Sony has an assembly plant. The company has said it is temporarily shifting some of its Thai sensor manufacturing operations to Japan. Yoshioka also said the earnings outlook for his Professional, Device and Solutions Group for the current fiscal year "will be tough," due to March 11 natural disasters in Japan, the flooding in Thailand and the strong yen.
Bloomberg reports that Sony will create a division for image-sensor modules used in smartphones and tablet computers on Dec. 1. The image sensors are also named as one of the main focus areas for the company.
After floods in Thailand halted image sensor output at factories in the country, production will be shifted to a plant in Kumamoto, southwestern Japan, in the beginning of next year, Sony spokesman Hiroshi Okubo said. The effect of the floods "wasn’t as bad" as the company estimated three weeks ago, Yoshioka said.
Update: The full Wall Street Journal article is unlocked now, more content is available:
As part of efforts to improve sales, Sony will try to sell more camera modules, which combine image sensors with optical lenses and other technologies, instead of selling image sensors as individual components, Yoshioka said.
Sony said last month it will increase its output of the sensors at its factory in Nagasaki prefecture, southern Japan.
STA Delivered 444MP Camera to USNO
Semiconductor Technology Associates has delivered the URAT camera to US Naval Observatory USNO in Washington, D.C. in August of 2011. The USNO Robotic Astrometric Telescope (URAT) camera is a focal plane of four 10,560 by 10,560 pixels 111MP STA1600 CCDs with supporting guider CCDs, a liquid nitrogen cooled dewar, and the supporting camera controllers:
The 111MP STA1600 6"-wafer-scale CCD is based on 9um pixel and has FSI and BSI versions. Its 16 outputs operate at 1 MP/s speed:
The 111MP STA1600 6"-wafer-scale CCD is based on 9um pixel and has FSI and BSI versions. Its 16 outputs operate at 1 MP/s speed:
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Photonis Announced InXite Sensor
Photonis new fast 1MP xSCELL camera is powered by a proprietary CMOS-based technology named InXite. The 2e- low noise at 1000fps full resolution rate InXite sensor features 14 bits ADC.
The 1024 x 1024 pixels, 15 µm pitch array is said to deliver have than 70% (other source - 65%) peak QE. The sensor has 2x2 binning mode and also non-destructive read mode to reduce noise to less than 1e- at 10fps. The pixel full well is 10Ke-.
The 1024 x 1024 pixels, 15 µm pitch array is said to deliver have than 70% (other source - 65%) peak QE. The sensor has 2x2 binning mode and also non-destructive read mode to reduce noise to less than 1e- at 10fps. The pixel full well is 10Ke-.
Friday, November 25, 2011
Sony Announces Improved 1/3-inch CCD, Camera Processor for Security Applications
Sony Cx-News vol. 66 has announcements of 0.96MP 1/3-inch CCD and AFE and camera processor for security cameras.
The CXD5148GG AFE, and the CXD4140GG, an "Enhanced Effio-E" for security camera application offer essentially the same feature set with added "IR LED exposure optimization", smaller pin count and lower power. The IR LED optimization function ensures correct exposure and increases visibility by preventing the overexposure that the excessive front lighting of a highly directional infrared LED light source.
The ICX692AQA (primary color filter) and the ICX692AKA (complementary color filter) progressive scan CCDs are capable of rendering 720p HD output at 30fps. A number of technologies used in developing the new 4.08um-pixel based ICX692AQA/AKA have led to significant improvements over the older 3.75um Sony products, the ICX445AQA/AKA. The sensitivity is now 2.1 times (+6.5 dB), saturation signal level (dynamic range) is 1.86 times (+5.4 dB) and smear characteristics have improved by 6 dB compared to the current products.
The vertical register, the readout gate and channel stop regions have been optimized to raise the saturation signal level. These changes have maximized the sensor area that accumulates electric charges produced by photoelectric conversion raising saturation signal level by 1.86 times (+5.4 dB) over the current Sony products. Also, advances in fine fabrication technology have enabled changes in electrode wiring structure that lower the layer of the on-chip microlenses and improve light collecting efficiency. And "photo shielding film" reduces glare from light reflections.
When the lens diaphragm is opened up and a lower f-number is used, it controls the reduction in light collecting efficiency caused by changes in light incident angle.
Also, use of "EXview HAD CCD II" technology has improved high sensitivity in the near infrared light region. In addition, reducing the thickness of the oxide film below the "photo shielding film" has successfully diminished contamination of signals by smearing in the vertical register and raised smear characteristics to -110 dB.
The CXD5148GG AFE, and the CXD4140GG, an "Enhanced Effio-E" for security camera application offer essentially the same feature set with added "IR LED exposure optimization", smaller pin count and lower power. The IR LED optimization function ensures correct exposure and increases visibility by preventing the overexposure that the excessive front lighting of a highly directional infrared LED light source.
The ICX692AQA (primary color filter) and the ICX692AKA (complementary color filter) progressive scan CCDs are capable of rendering 720p HD output at 30fps. A number of technologies used in developing the new 4.08um-pixel based ICX692AQA/AKA have led to significant improvements over the older 3.75um Sony products, the ICX445AQA/AKA. The sensitivity is now 2.1 times (+6.5 dB), saturation signal level (dynamic range) is 1.86 times (+5.4 dB) and smear characteristics have improved by 6 dB compared to the current products.
The vertical register, the readout gate and channel stop regions have been optimized to raise the saturation signal level. These changes have maximized the sensor area that accumulates electric charges produced by photoelectric conversion raising saturation signal level by 1.86 times (+5.4 dB) over the current Sony products. Also, advances in fine fabrication technology have enabled changes in electrode wiring structure that lower the layer of the on-chip microlenses and improve light collecting efficiency. And "photo shielding film" reduces glare from light reflections.
When the lens diaphragm is opened up and a lower f-number is used, it controls the reduction in light collecting efficiency caused by changes in light incident angle.
Also, use of "EXview HAD CCD II" technology has improved high sensitivity in the near infrared light region. In addition, reducing the thickness of the oxide film below the "photo shielding film" has successfully diminished contamination of signals by smearing in the vertical register and raised smear characteristics to -110 dB.
Automotive Camera Market Consolidating
IMS Research reports that automotive camera module supplier base is consolidating so that not all suppliers are benefiting from the strong market growth. The two leading suppliers of front camera modules, Gentex and Continental, have increased their combined share from 49% in 2010 to 58% in 2011. This has obviously been at the expense of the remaining supplier base, in particular the smaller ones with market share of less than 3%.
Helena Perslow, Senior Analyst at IMS Research is not surprised. "Gentex and Continental have both been active in this market since the very beginning and have managed to carve leading positions in their respective niches. As the market grows, we believe it will become increasingly difficult for smaller suppliers to increase their share of the market. There is a steep learning curve in the automotive camera market and OEMs highly value a strong track record in what is essentially a safety application."
What Perslow is saying is good news for established suppliers who already have long-standing relationships with OEMs and are familiar with the industry. However, those smaller suppliers with a market share under 2-3% may struggle to fully benefit from the strong market growth expected.
Looking ahead, in the coming 12 to 18 months the list of leading suppliers is unlikely to change significantly. However, Gentex and Continental face different challenges. Gentex, the market leader, is currently focused on just one specific front camera application - automatic high beam control. Continental, on the other hand, has several front camera applications and combinations available on the market. As the market develops, the number of applications on mass market vehicles will multiply and different combinations will emerge and grow in popularity. Continental looks well placed to benefit from this trend, whilst Gentex will need to diversify to develop new applications if it is to maintain its share of the overall automotive camera market.
Helena Perslow, Senior Analyst at IMS Research is not surprised. "Gentex and Continental have both been active in this market since the very beginning and have managed to carve leading positions in their respective niches. As the market grows, we believe it will become increasingly difficult for smaller suppliers to increase their share of the market. There is a steep learning curve in the automotive camera market and OEMs highly value a strong track record in what is essentially a safety application."
What Perslow is saying is good news for established suppliers who already have long-standing relationships with OEMs and are familiar with the industry. However, those smaller suppliers with a market share under 2-3% may struggle to fully benefit from the strong market growth expected.
Looking ahead, in the coming 12 to 18 months the list of leading suppliers is unlikely to change significantly. However, Gentex and Continental face different challenges. Gentex, the market leader, is currently focused on just one specific front camera application - automatic high beam control. Continental, on the other hand, has several front camera applications and combinations available on the market. As the market develops, the number of applications on mass market vehicles will multiply and different combinations will emerge and grow in popularity. Continental looks well placed to benefit from this trend, whilst Gentex will need to diversify to develop new applications if it is to maintain its share of the overall automotive camera market.
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