More Info on Samsung 16MP 1.34um-Pixel Sensor

Samsung published flyer of its 1.34um BSI pixel-based 16MP sensor, the S5K2P1, announced in Sept. 2011. The flyer has Macbeth pictures in normal and low-light modes (lens is not specified):

Having SNR of 35dB at 40% gray level means that this 40% signal is at least 3100e-. Then the 100% signal can reach 7.7Ke-. If true, it's quite an achievement for that small pixel.

Correction: As written in comments, the gray level is closer to 20% (19.8%, according to Poynton). Then the full well should be beyond 15Ke-, hard to believe. The flyer only mentions on-chip bad pixel and lens shading corrections, says nothing about noise reduction.

The production schedule seems to be delayed as compared with the September announcement. The flyer says that the S5K2P1 is sampling now with volume production scheduled for Q1 2012.

Movidius and Toshiba Present 3D Imaging Platform

EETimes: Movidius announces it has partnered with Toshiba to develop a 3D system solution for the smartphone market. Movidius' MA1178 3D processor has been combined with Toshiba's 8MP EDOF cameras to enable 3D camera module manufacturers to deliver a 3D imaging solution for top of the range smartphones. EDOF cameras offer distinct advantages over traditional autofocus in terms of 3D synchronisation.

The Movidius MA1178 Dual ISP and video processor compensates for sub‐optimal vertical alignment of the camera sensors and for differences between pitch, yaw and roll of the sensors.  Also variations in sensor colors are balanced. The system solution offers flexibility for customers to implement a symmetric or asymmetric set up of either two 8MP EDOF cameras or a combination of 8MP and 3MP EDOF cameras:

The Movidius MA1178 ISP features:

• 2D&3D Video Capture up to HD 720p
• 2D Image Capture up to 8MP
• 3D Image Capture up to 8MP
• Dual ISP Pipelines
• Half Side-by-Side 3D Capture Format
• Dual Camera Rectification Algorithms
• Auto-synchronization of AE, AWB, AF or EDOF
• Automatic Convergence
  <0.75m – to – far object distances

ST Announces 40W LED Flash Controller

ST announces STCF04, an integrated camera flash and torch controller that raises the maximum power of an LED flash module from a few Watts, typical of today’s designs, to over 40 Watts, producing the brightness equivalent to an outdoor security floodlight. The STCF04 is used in a configuration combining a supercapacitor, a discrete high-current MOSFET switch and high-power white LEDs.

A complete flash module built using the STCF04 occupies around 60mm2 of pc-board space. Although larger than other LED modules of lower power, the result remains significantly smaller and simpler than a xenon circuit while satisfying the demand for very high-energy flash illumination.

The STCF04 is currently sampling with full production planned at the end of Q1 2012 The controller is priced at $2.00 for orders of 1000 pieces. Two major partners – Murata which is leading producer of supercapacitors and OSRAM which is a top-tier supplier of flash modules for leading smartphone platforms have begun using the device to showcase the best capabilities of their latest products.

CCD vs CMOS Sensors in Traffic Applications

A recent Adimec blog post discusses the merits of CCD and CMOS sensors in traffic camera applications. The article concludes: "In 1 to 2 years, CMOS image sensors will outperform CCD regarding traffic requirements in high speed applications. It may then take some time for CMOS to take over in systems as the market accepts the change and makes all of the corresponding system changes".

Thanks to GA for the link!

Omnivision's 1.4um 10MP Sensor Wins Electronic Design Magazine's Best of 2011 Award

PR Newswire: 10MP OV10810 has been named the best image sensor of 2011 by Electronic Design Magazine, as part the publication's annual 'Best Electronic Design' awards. Determined by staff editors, the awards recognize the most significant designs and innovations of the year across fifteen categories, ranging from power and communications to components and displays.

"The OV10810's ability to capture full-frame 10-megapixel images while simultaneously recording 1080p high-definition video sets it apart from other image sensors," said Mathew Dirjish, component editor at Electronic Design Magazine. "The complete convergence of high-resolution still photography and high-definition video places it in the top ranks of this year's best image-sensing technologies."

"The OV10810 leverages our second generation OmniBSI pixel architecture", said Devang Patel, senior product marketing manager at OmniVision. I'm a little confused about the difference between the second generation OmniBSI, OmniBSI-2 and OmniBSI+. Interesting that neither initial OV10810 announcement nor the product's page mention the second generation of OmniBSI.

Aptina, SE on Image Sensor Future

Image Sensor Conference interviews Mats Wernersson, Master Engineer - Camera Research, Sony Ericsson and Gennadiy Agranov, Aptina's VP Imaging Technology

A quote from Mats Wernersson's interview:

Q: The megapixel race seems to be over, as consumers are becoming more savvy about the quality of the images their devices capture - how does this affect you and how do you react to these needs?

A: It is a relief that we don't have to hunt for a larger number of pixels for every new generation of phones. But there is still some market pressure for high numbers. We could make a better balanced system with somewhat better perceived image quality if we could pick the megapixel number purely from a technical and image quality point of view.

Few quotes from Gennadiy Agranov's interview:

"...there is the market for sports cameras that consumers can attach to bicycles, helmets, surfboards, skis, cars, motorcycles etc. to capture exciting video and images of their personal sporting adventures. Aptina has a strong position in this market, with what we believe is well over 70% market share, and we expect to secure this position through advances in our high-speed HD video enabled sensor offerings.

...Manufactures of sensors for the mobile market are passing the gate of 1.4 micron pixel node and working on 1.1micron pixels and smaller. The automotive market is moving from 5-6 micron pixels to 3-4 micron pixels. Sensors for the high-end digital camera market are targeting smaller pixels in the 2um - 4um range.

...It is interesting while the world economy and the semiconductor industry are expected to grow in the low single digits of percentage in the coming years, we see the narrower semiconductor segment of image sensors as growing in excess of 15% year-over-year going forward."

Tutorials on Average Signal, QE

Albert Theuwissen's new blog post talks about seemingly simple thing - how to measure average response to light. The simple thing has many caveats though.

DALSA Imaging Blog has a new post on QE basics, with promise to publish more on pixel design.

1M fps CCD Camera

Photron announced 1M fps fast camera, the FASTCAM IS-1M, based on ISIS-CCD (In-Situ Image Storage-CCD), better known as IS-CCD. The IS-CCD uses an image storage buffer immediately beside the light sensitive portion of the 10-bit pixel to greatly increase the speed achievable by conventional high speed cameras. The 100 frame in-situ image buffer is said to provide an adequate synchronous record duration for the majority of ultra high speed phenomena such as ink jet droplet measurement, micro PIV, combustion, crack propagation or blast dynamics.

The camera resolution is 312 x 260 pixels and it consumes 150W. Its datasheet has nice pictures of various high speed events.

Chipworks Reveals Samsung 1.1um BSI Pixel with RGB-W CFA

Chipworks reverse engineering report reveals a second 1.12um pixel in the wild - Samsung S5K3L1. "The Samsung S5K3L1YX03 is a 12.1 Mp, 1.1 um pixel pitch back illuminated CMOS Image Sensor and represents only the second company (to date) to ship at this pixel generation".

Another quote:

"The S5K3L1 supports 12Mp full resolution images at 30 frames per second (fps) and 1080p full HD video at 60fps, 720p at 90fps, and VGA resolution images at 120fps. The new image sensor also includes an on-chip pixel correction feature. In addition, the 12Mp imager offers an RGB-white color filter array, which delivers advanced sensitivity while reducing noise, resulting in a 30 percent brighter image over that of a conventional RGB color filter array. The RGB-white filter feature works in conjunction with a complimentary [complementary - thanks to EF] logic chip".

Thanks to EK for the link!

PCMag: Microsoft Develops New Kinect In-House

PC Magazine: "A tipster tells PCMag.com that Microsoft is developing the new Kinect system in-house instead of relying on PrimeSense".

EETimes: Ilan Spillinger, CVP Hardware and Technology, Interactive Entertainment Business at Microsoft emphasizes his company role in bringing Kinect technology to the market: "With Kinect, it’s was all about the ability to believe. It was taking the raw technologies in their early stages, building demos, and creating something that no one ever shipped before, something that on paper costs a lot, and is clearly not just a consumer-electronic device. How do you pick technology and put soul into it? How can you effectively work closely with content developers, the creators, to formulate a compelling story about why this technology brings new experiences to the market?"

Update: EETimes published report from Ilan Spillinger's presentation, including a Youtube video:



BBC reports that Microsoft has launched a version of Kinect to work with Windows-based PCs. The new hardware features a "near mode" which allows it to track movements as close as 40cm away, compared to 50cm on the original model. However, the updated device costs nearly twice as much as the Xbox 360 version.

Microsoft links the increase to enhanced features - including "skeletal tracking" and improved speech recognition - as well as the cost of developing a device that works across several systems, rather than a single games console. Kinect for Windows' general manager Craig Eisler told the BBC that the company subsidized the Xbox version and recouped the money from games and other related sales.