Product category:
Analogue and Mixed Signal ICs
News Release from: Eastman Kodak Image Sensor Solutions | Subject: KAC-01301
Edited by the Electronicstalk Editorial
Team on 16 February 2006
CMOS sensor aims for mass-market
handsets
A new 1.3Mpixel CMOS image sensor is targeted at the high-volume camera phone market.
Eastman Kodak Company continues to expand its portfolio of CMOS image sensors for mass-market consumer applications with the release of a new 1.3Mpixel CMOS image sensor targeted at the high-volume camera phone market The Kodak KAC-01301 image sensor expands Kodak's existing portfolio of CMOS imagers, which provides manufacturers a range of solutions designed specifically for high-volume markets such as digital still cameras and mobile devices
This article was originally published on Electronicstalk on 21 Mar 2005 at 8.00am (UK)
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The new product further demonstrates Kodak's commitment to develop next generation, cost effective CMOS image sensor devices that provide the image quality currently available from CCD image sensors, while taking advantage of the power, integration, and cost benefits traditionally associated with CMOS technology.
"As the use of camera phones expands throughout the world, consumers continue to look for product choices that offer increasing levels of image quality and functionality at affordable prices", said Chris McNiffe, General Manger of Kodak's Image Sensor Solutions group.
"With the KAC-01301, we are expanding our portfolio to provide camera phone manufacturers a new, cost effective image sensor with outstanding image quality and performance for the 1.3Mpixel product tier".
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Eastman Kodak Company is making it easier for camera phone manufacturers to build next-generation devices that offer improved image quality and multimedia capabilities.
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New high-resolution image sensors allow commercial, studio and other professional photographers to capture digital images with the most life-like detail possible.
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The Kodak KAI-16000 is billed as the highest resolution interline transfer CCD image sensor available for commercial and industrial markets.
"Kodak remains committed to developing and offering a comprehensive portfolio of CMOS image sensors for high-volume consumer markets such as camera phones, leveraging the technological innovation and advancement for which Kodak is well known".
The Kodak KAC-01301 was optimised specifically to enable cost-effective designs in next-generation mobile phones.
With the rapid growth of imaging enabled phones, designers of mobile baseband and graphics processors are integrating basic image processing functions into the core components of the phone's design.
The KAC-01301 leverages this architecture by outputting raw, unprocessed data, thereby reducing the sensor's overall size and cost.
In addition, the extremely wide optical chief ray acceptance angle of the KAC-01301 enables construction of imaging modules with very low profiles, supporting the continuing trend toward smaller components within mobile devices.
This new product joins two existing Kodak image sensors designed for the consumer image device market: the KAC-3100 - a 3.1Mpixel image sensor designed for camera phone applications requiring high resolution and outstanding imaging performance; and the KAC-5000 - a 5Mpixel image sensor targeted at the digital still camera and digital video applications.
Key to the design of all three sensors is the use of Kodak Pixelux technology, an architecture that uses low dark current pinned photodiodes and a four-transistor (4T) shared pixel structure to enable the manufacture of CMOS image sensors that approach the size of the smallest CCD pixels offered today, while providing improved photosensitivity and lower noise compared with standard CMOS image sensors.
The shared pixel architecture inherent in these devices also allows for charge-domain binning of multiple pixels on the imaging array, enabling operating modes with increased sensitivity for low light image and video capture.
In addition to expanding its existing family of products, Kodak continues development of its next generation platform for small-pixel CMOS image sensors, based on the continuing evolution of Kodak's pixel architecture, as well as new system-on-chip components which can be integrated into these devices.
These advances will allow designers to more broadly leverage the benefits of CMOS technology through a new class of small-pixel imaging devices designed for consumer applications.
Image sensors based on these new platforms are expected to begin sampling in the first half of 2006.
The KAC-01301 image sensor is expected to sample in Q2 of 2006 and is the latest addition to Kodak's extensive and growing line of image sensors, delivering the core technology that drives the most advanced developments in digital imaging applications.
A pioneer in image sensors, Kodak develops, manufactures and markets both CCD and CMOS image sensors for applications ranging from satellite and medical imaging applications to digital cameras and machine vision.
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