e2v Launches New Onyx 1.3M for Premium Performance in Low Light Conditions e2v s Onyx family of image sensors is designed for the most demanding outdoor camera and industrial machine vision applications, where illumination budgets are restricted or where high-speed inspection is required. Available from imaging distributor FRAMOS, the new Onyx EV76C664 is a 1.3 megapixel CMOS image sensor which features an electronic global shutter (true snapshot) or a rolling shutter for low light applications, with excellent sensitivity and enhanced performance in the near-infrared spectrum. It has been designed using e2v s advanced CMOS imaging technology and is ideal for many different types of application where premium performance imaging is required. The Onyx EV76C664 has an innovative pixel design which offers excellent performance in low-light conditions, but also caters for all-light environments (typical of outdoor camera applications) where wide dynamic range is needed. It has high-resistivity, deepdepletion silicon in order to increase its NIR sensitivity. The sensor uses digital double sampling to achieve low noise in both rolling and global shutter modes. The one-inch optical sensor format comes with a pixel size of 10µm and provides the ideal solution for low noise, precise images and high sensitivity at short exposure times. Alla Schengel, line manager e2v at FRAMOS explains: The Onyx EV76C664 is available in monochrome and sparse colour filter versions with a period of four pixels which makes it an excellent solution for security systems and other low light applications. Furthermore, three different wide dynamic range modes (bi-exposure mode, log mode and multi-slope mode) allow pixel information from different exposures to be combined, so that scenes with a very high dynamic range can be handled. The data are output via six LVDS channels and this makes a frame rate of 100 fps possible at 12 bit. The high readout speed at full resolution ensures that the sensor is suitable for applications where fast data transfer and processing times are needed. Together with its enhanced NIR sensitivity and high dynamic range, this makes the new FULL HD CMOS sensor the perfect choice for applications in surveillance and security, traffic, industrial inspection and medical and scientific imaging. With 35 years of experience, FRAMOS is in tune with the requirements of today s imaging customers and is ideally positioned to help its clients innovate and remain competitive in a diverse imaging market. As a global imaging partner, FRAMOS is able to support its customers with a broad portfolio of services that ranges from sensors to solutions on a worldwide basis.
AR0135 the new automotive-grade ON Semiconductor global shutter sensor This 1/3-inch format, 1.2-MP imaging device has been designed to address the challenging requirements of automotive in-cabin cameras. Distributed from global imaging expert FRAMOS, the new global shutter sensor allows the camera to freeze fast moving scene data, and ensures effective synchronisation with pulsed light sources. The AR0135 sensor incorporates a new innovative global shutter pixel design, with 10X lower dark current and 4X higher global shutter efficiency vs. previous-generation products. These improvements allow the sensor to produce clear, low-noise images, in both low-light and bright scenes, and in high-temperature environments. This performance enables the required eye tracking and gesture detection functionality in nextgeneration automotive in-cabin systems. *1 The improved GSE reflects itself in the image quality at low exposure times and high illumination levels. In the table below the AR0134 and AR0135 are compared under the same operation situation. It can be easily seen that the AR0135 image does not suffer from the ghosting artefacts that prevented the AR0134 being used in applications with undefined illumination conditions. AR0134 200 µs AR0135 200 µs At the same time the sensor maintains the full register, package and pinout compatibility with its predecessor. The sensor is now available as a monochrome engineering sample and will go into mass production at the beginning of Q4 2016. With a deep knowledge from sensor to system the FRAMOS industry and product experts provide additional services like development support, engineering and logistics to support customers to get use of the new sensor for their applications and projects. *1 https://www.onsemi.com/powersolutions/product.do?id=ar0135at
FRAMOS Partners with French Pyxalis for True Sensor Customization Image sensor technology is a highly developed field where a large number of manufacturers provide the market with thousands of sensor varieties for most applications off the shelf. They are used especially in the emerging Mobile and Consumer Electronics market as well as in Automotive, Medical and Security industry. Special applications require performances and features not offered by standard detectors. Time of flight, avalanche photodiodes and ultra-high-speed are only a few examples where customized sensors are the better choice. Camera manufacturers with the goal in creating premium products with more added value strive for customization too. Typically, in consumer grade customization, customers want to differentiate from competitors with an exclusive sensor. FRAMOS as one of the top global image sensor distributors works with Sony, On Semi and e2v for a diversified standard portfolio and even some small sensor adaptions like cover-class remove. A partnership with Pyxalis was established in order to provide customers with the service of fully customized sensors and to support architecture, design, prototyping and characterization. Pyxalis specializes in design services and custom solutions development for advanced CMOS image sensors. The team based in the area of Grenoble provides strong technical experience and an emphasis on innovation with more than 30 filed patents and has an impressive track record of right-first-time advanced image sensor products. New Standard Image Sensor Product: Low Noise, High Dynamic Range Sensor 3MP / 120dB The newest innovation off-the-shelf customization Pyxalis offers is the HDPYX sensor. Integrating multiple HDR techniques to reach up to 120dB linear dynamic range. Linearity is key where color reconstruction is important or true intensity estimation has to be made. Combining a dual gain with charge conservation pixel allows the HDPYX sensor to capture image linearly up to 90dB. To reach 120dB, the HDPYX sensor uses two different integration times: one for odd lines and one for even lines. Both integration times end at the same moment, with the transfer of the data from the photodiode to the floating diffusions. Secondly, the unique feature is a true Dual-Core image sensor, running two 32bits micro-processors to operate the device. The frame management core takes care of every aspect linked to the operating mode of the sensor, such as shutter type, windowing, subsampling and integration time calculation. The line management core takes care of the Black level correction, ADC driving, data formatting and HDR reconstruction. The sensor platform was manufactured in Tower Jazz 180nm technology and characterized at Pyxalis lab. The sensor produces 20bits HDR images and has been measured down to 2.4e- RMS, with recent optimization in pixel driving. A sequencer covers all the typical requirements of machine vision sensors like programmable shutter type, trigger mode, multiple dynamic regions of interests and programmable output types. An innovative development strategy mixing the advantages of modulation and customization Designed as a modular platform rather than a full-custom sensor, the device is made to adapt various types of scientific and surveillance applications. Scalable in terms of number of spectral bands, dedicated grading filters can be deposited directly on the sensor if required. In terms of packaging, the basic package is BGA type but custom ceramic is also offered. The sensor can also be tuned in term of wavelength as Thick EPI for NIR, ultra-tick EPI for direct X-ray and backside versions are currently envisaged. As it is designed to be modified, each derivation of the platform is much cheaper than full-custom while maintaining unique performance parameters. The HDPYX detector is nominated for the VISION Award 2016. With a deep knowledge from sensor to system the FRAMOS industry and product experts provide additional services like consulting and logistics to support customers to get use of the new sensor series for their applications and projects.
High-Resolution CMOS Image Sensors with a 3.45 µm Pixel and Global Shutter Function for Industrial and Traffic Applications Sony are continuing their outstanding PREGIUS CMOS Global Shutter series with further high-resolution image sensors for crisp, clear, distortion-free images at high speeds. Available globally from Sony s distribution partner, FRAMOS, any of these sensors can meet all industrial requirements: high resolution, high sensitivity, high frame rates and high sensitivity in the near infra-red region. Fulfilling all these performance metrics, the new models IMX255 with 8.9 MP and IMX253 with 12 MP are intended for industrial, traffic, microscopy and other applications where high sensitivity or precise image acquisition for fast-moving objects is needed. At just 3.45 µm, the new IMX253/IMX255 family of devices provides the smallest pixels in the industry for this spectrum. They offer greater sensitivity, less noise, improved image quality, higher resolutions and faster imaging than the existing IMX174 and IMX249 (5.86 µm) sensors from the first PREGIUS generation. In addition, they are more sensitive in the infra-red spectrum than their predecessors, reaching ca. 18% at 850 nm. Dr. Silviu Grecu, Sensor Expert at FRAMOS, explains: All demands of the imaging market were considered by Sony s CMOS design engineers: In addition to their high resolution, the Pregius IMX255 and IMX253 are fitted with many unique functions for industrial and ITS applications. With their high sensitivity and small pixels, they represent an impressive development when compared with the existing 5.86 µm. The IMX255 has a sensor size of 1 (diagonal 16.1 mm) and the IMX253 of 1.1 (diagonal 17.6 mm). That enables the user to use small C- mount lenses instead of large full-frame optics. The readout noise and the dark current are amongst the lowest available on the market. The multiple region of interest feature, with up to 64 possible regions of interest, offers greater freedom to transfer only the relevant data for the application, thus achieving higher frame rates without compromising on image information. To support fast image processing, both models generate high frame rates in 8, 10 and 12 bits per pixel (for example, 64 and 88 fps at 10-bit and full resolution). The bandwidth of around 7 Gbps brings interfaces like USB 3.0, CameraLink Full and CoaXpress CXP6 to their limits. Camera manufacturers that want to use the full bandwidth have to consider USB 3.1, 10 GigE and other interface standards that support bandwidths higher than 7 Gbps. In addition, these new CMOS image sensors feature a range of added functions such as a variable-speed shutter function, different exposure processes and external trigger modes. Just as important for automation in production and manufacturing: both image sensors support hardware trigger modes to control image-taking using external trigger signals from light barriers or strobe controllers. These modes allow users to adjust the memory and readout time to suit their requirements. IMX253 and IMX255 sensors are equipped with a global shutter pixel, enabling high-quality image capture that is not affected by focal plane distortion and flash bands. The colour image sensors offer sub-sampling, horizontally and/or vertically, inverted readout and multiple frame output. The monochrome image sensors also have a pixel addition (binning) function in addition to colour image functions. Compared to the other SONY CMOS Global Shutter models, the IMX253/IMX255 family impresses with its high resolution. The IMX255 can deliver 4K images, making it suitable for both industrial applications and traffic surveillance, as well as for other specialised uses. Whereas conventional traffic cameras must be installed one per lane, the IMX255 can capture multiple lanes with a single camera whilst maintaining the same resolution. The IMX255 uses the same package as the IMX253 to ensure pin compatibility. The IMX253 and IMX255 facilitate an expanded line-up for customers by aligning the optical centre and pin layout of the package with the existing IMX250 (5 MP). With the IMX255 and IMX253, Sony are launching two more outstanding alternatives to the outgoing CCD sensors. The new sensors are a very good replacement for the discontinued CCD sensors ICX834 and ICX814/815. With a deep knowledge from sensor to system, the FRAMOS industry and product experts provide additional services like development support, reference design kits, engineering and logistics to support customers in using the new sensor series for their applications and projects.