As manufacturers are unleashing mobile devices which come equipped with incredible features, a superior megapixel camera which competently captures clear, sharp images also seems to be a great inclusion. OmniVision has now introduced its first 5 megapixel image sensor which utilizes the company’s proprietary OmniBSI-2 pixel architecture dubbed OV5690.
The new 1.4-micron backside illumination pixel permits for a complete five megapixels in a 1/4-inch optical format, and merges superior image quality with a 20 percent reduction in camera module height. This indeed claims to be a suitable option for sleek smartphones and tablets. The OmniVision OV5690 5 megapixel image sensor renders optimized features comprising 1080p high-definition video recording at 30 frames per second, an incorporated scaler, and 2 x 2 binning functionality with re-sampling filter.
“With industry sources placing 5-megapixel CMOS image sensors at more than 15 percent of the overall sensor market today, we view 5-megapixel sensors as occupying as a sweet spot in the market,” commented Per Rosdahl, product marketing manager at OmniVision. “Some industry analysts believe that market share may exceed 30 percent by 2014 driven by the demand for higher performance resolution and increasingly slim mobile handsets, smart phone and tablet designs. With the OV5690 CameraChip, OmniVision brings a highly competitive, no-compromise solution to market, combining best-in-class performance while enabling extremely thin building height.”
In addition, the scaler enables electronic image stabilization, while balancing full field of view in 720p and 1080p HD video modes, and allows for HD video with digital video zoom functionality. The device’s post-binning re-sampling filter precisely lowers spatial artifacts and eliminates image artifacts around edges, offering sharp, vibrant color images for 720p/60 HD video in binning mode. The sensor sports a standard two-lane MIPI/LVDS interface, and fits into the industry standard 8.5 x 8.5mm module size with a z-height below 5mm, or around 20 percent lower than current industry-leading 1/3.2-inch 5-megapixel image sensors.
The OmniVision OV5690 5 megapixel image sensor is now being sampled by key customers and mass production is anticipated to start in the second half of 2011.
