Product category: Optoelectronic Sensors, Switches and Receivers
News Release from: OmniVision | Subject: OV3642 CameraChip sensor
Edited by the Electronicstalk Editorial Team on 12 February 2008
Camera sensors provide low-light boost
TrueFocus technology optimises optics, sensors and image processing to maximise camera performance and minimise system size and cost.
OmniVision Technologies has released the OV3642, a 1/4in, 3Mpixel CameraChip sensor with TrueFocus technology embedded on-chip The fully integrated OV3642 is built with OmniVision's new OmniPixel3-HS technology which delivers double the sensitivity of other manufacturers' 1/4in 3Mpixel SOC sensors, offering best in class low light performance
This article was originally published on Electronicstalk on 21 Feb 2005 at 8.00am (UK)
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According to OmniVision Technologies, the OV5610 5Mpixel camera chip has already achieved eight design wins in digital still camera and video camera markets.
TrueFocus technology optimises optics, sensors and image processing to maximise camera performance and minimise system size and cost.
Using TrueFocus in camera phones enables true "point-and-shoot" capability, where the entire scene, from 200mm to infinity, is always in focus, a benefit that applies equally to video capture.
There are no moving optical components and thus there is no delay in image capture.
TrueFocus technology enables instant one-click capture.
The OV3642 has an embedded microcontroller to support an internal auto focus engine that is controllable via its general purpose I/Os.
This provides customers the flexibility to use the OV3642 in a variety of camera designs targeting fixed focus, TrueFocus and auto focus solutions.
"With the OV3642, our customers can now benefit from a single-chip solution that offers best-in-class low light performance combined with extended focal-range capability at a competitive cost point, all in a package that fits standard 8.5 by 8.5mm sockets", said Per Rosdahl, Director of Marketing at OmniVision.
The OV3642 also includes an embedded image stabilisation function to prevent image blur, thereby producing sharper images.
This feature is especially important in low light situations, where cameras need a longer exposure time and require the photographer to keep a steady hand.
The OV3642 image array operates at up to 15 frames per second in full resolution (QXGA) transferred over either a two-lane MIPI interface, or a traditional parallel interface.
The sensor also contains an integrated JPEG compression engine simplifying bandwidth limited-interfaces.
The parallel port can also be used as input for an external secondary camera, allowing the camera to use the OV3642's image signal processor (ISP) and share the MIPI interface.
For identification and production control purposes, the OV3642 includes one-time programmable memory.
All required image processing functions are programmable through the SCCB interface.
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