50Mpixel image sensor is designed for smartphone rear-facing cameras
At CES in Las Vegas this week, Omnivision has introduced the OV50H high-resolution 1.2 micron pixel image sensor in a 1/1.3-inch optical format. It supports multiple HDR modes and high frame rates for smartphone rear-facing cameras, advised the company.
It has dual conversion gain (DCG) technology and its low light and autofocus performance enables it to support 12.5Mpixels at 120 frames per second with a high dynamic range (HDR) at 60 frames per second. It is Omnivision’s first sensor to feature horizontal / vertical (H/V) quad phase detection (QPD).
The OV50H is built on Omnivision’s PureCel Plus-S stacked-die technology. It features the company’s first H / V QPD autofocus technology which enables 2×2 phase detection autofocus (PDAF) across the sensor’s entire image array. H / V mode ensures that both horizontal and vertical orientations are in the same frame with 100 per cent coverage to improve distance calculation, quicken autofocus and enhance low light performance, said Omnivision.
There is also on-chip remosaic for the QPD colour filter array to optimise the sensor for wide, rear-facing cameras in high-end smartphones.
Four-cell binning enables 12.5M mode for video and preview with 2.4 micron equivalent sensitivity for low light performance and up to 120 frames per second with 4x low light sensitivity
The sensor also features 8K video with on-chip remosaic; 4K + EIS at 120 frames per second linear and 60 frames per second HDR.
DCG HDR and staggered HDR support different HDR modes and staggered HDR in crop zoom mode. There is also full 50Mpixel Bayer output and 2x crop zoom functionality.
The sensor is also able to achieve 12.5M at 30 frames per second HDR with 100+dB dynamic range when using DCG + very short staggered exposure HDR or three-exposure staggered HDR.
Samples of the OV50H will be available in April 2023.
“The growing demand for 50MP CIS [CMOS image sensor] products that feature a large pixel size and bigger optical formats presents an opportunity for smartphone OEMs to launch devices that deliver exceptional camera performance,” commented Jeffrey Mathews, senior analyst at Strategy Analytics (part of TechInsights).
The market research company expects smartphone CIS products with 50MP+ resolution will surpass 800 million units in shipments in 2023.
The OV50H is intended for smartphone designs with larger optical formats. According to Arun Jayaseelan, senior product marketing manager, Omnivision: “Consumers continually want image and video quality improvements in their new phones. The OV50H combines high resolution, large pixel size and high dynamic range to deliver premium image preview and 8K video with on-chip remosaic. In addition, it offers the best low-light and autofocus performance in its class.”
