OmniVision has come out with an advanced digital image sensor, OV12825 with an image resolution of 12.6-megapixel using RAW CMOS technology.
The new sensor can be used for high resolution still photography and 1080p high definition (HD) videos with a speed of 60 frames per second (FPS). It comes with an electronic image stabilization (EIS) feature as well and hence can be used in sophisticated mobile handsets.
OV12825
Vinoo Margasahayam, the product marketing manager for OmniVision, considers the OV12825 as a fitting solution to the demand for high resolution photography and HD videos in the camera phone market. He added that the OV12825 makes use of the CMOS technology and comes with highly advanced features that are required by the next-generation phones.
The architecture, on which OV12825 has been built, is the 1.4-micron OmniBSI pixel architecture. This architecture gives the best pixel performance and has a low-light sensitivity in the order of 650 mV/(lux-sec). The binning feature in the sensor enhances the sensitivity in the 1080p HD video taken at 60 FPS, while the EIS is maintained. Such advanced features are not found in the currently available 12-megapixel mobile sensors.
The ESI and HD video capture capability of the OV12825 enables high-end camera phones to take still photographs of excellent clarity and HD videos (DSC/DVC). OV12825 consists of an active array of OmniBSI pixels of dimension 4,224 x 3,000 that operates at 15 FPS at full scale resolution. The sensor comes along with a 4-lane MIPI, DVP and LVDS interfaces. The volume production of OV12825 is expected to commence by the second quarter of 2011, however pieces for sampling are ready.