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Optoelectronic Sensors, Switches and Receivers
News Release from: OmniVision | Subject: OmniPixel2
Edited by the Electronicstalk Editorial
Team on 03 October 2005
Handset sensor boasts smaller pixels
OmniPixel2's pixel size of just 2.2 x 2.2um is less than half the size of the first generation OmniPixel structures, and represents one of the industry's smallest pixel sizes commercially available.
OmniVision Technologies has unveiled its new OmniPixel2 architecture OmniPixel2's pixel size of just 2.2 x 2.2um is less than half the size of the first generation OmniPixel structures, and represents one of the industry's smallest pixel sizes commercially available
This article was originally published on Electronicstalk on 26 Sep 2007 at 8.00am (UK)
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OmniPixel2 also features three major new process and technology developments on both the sensor and system level, enabling better performance per area and a further reduction in overall sensor size.
The company has also introduced its first 3Mpixel CameraChip designed for mobile applications and based on the new OmniPixel2 architecture.
"With OmniPixel2 already sampling at major customers through our new OV3630, we believe that our 2.2 micron pixel is among the first commercially available, giving OmniVision and its partners a direct competitive advantage, especially in the camera phone market", said Jess Lee, Vice President of the Mainstream Products Business Unit at OmniVision.
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"We strive to keep our customers highly competitive".
"Earlier this year we brought 1.3Mpixel image sensors into the mainstream camera phone market".
"We expect that OmniPixel2 will allow OmniVision to move even higher resolutions into the mainstream, enabling our customers to introduce compact, high resolution camera phones".
To increase the pixel density within a compact sensor size and to maximise the performance of the smaller pixel, OmniPixel2 features three major technology developments.
First is the research activity that resulted in a proprietary new process and innovative pixel design.
This allowed an increase in the fill factor of 40% along with more vibrant and truer-to-life colour reproduction.
Secondly, OmniPixel2 sensors are designed with a zero-gap micro-lens, eliminating the space between the lenses that are placed over each pixel, thus more efficiently directing the light to the pixel's active area.
This allows the pixels to capture over 20% more light and therefore make more effective use of the smaller pixel's active area.
Thirdly, the OmniPixel2 architecture brings significant improvements to the pixel's dynamic range through higher quantum efficiency and improved full well capacity.
The quantum efficiency, which measures how effectively pixels convert the captured photons to electrons, was improved through OmniVision's new proprietary 0.13um process.
These process improvements, designed to optimise image performance, also give rise to a further increased full well capacity, which means that OmniPixel2 has even better full well capacity than its larger 3.18um predecessor.
Combined, these improvements are the key to the new sensors' higher dynamic range, which measures performance in extreme bright or dark conditions.
"OmniVision was one of the early pioneers in CMOS imaging", Lee commented, "and we are leading the way with the introduction of OmniPixel2".
"This enables our customers to develop the smallest, most competitive high-resolution camera solutions".
"Today, we also launched the 3Mpixel (OV3630) camera chip: the first in a full range of OmniPixel2 products that OmniVision will release in the coming months".
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