audio/videoZONE Products for the week of August 26, 2002
Agilent Technologies Says . . .
Agilent Technologies' smaller CMOS image sensors enable
lower cost digital camera solutions
Agilent Technologies Inc. announced a new family of color and monochrome
CMOS (complementary metal oxide semiconductor) image sensors. The smaller
sensors, supplied in a 25 percent smaller and 50 percent thinner surface-mount
package than previous versions, enable the design of compact, lower cost
consumer and industrial digital camera solutions.
The Agilent VGA color image sensors (640 x 480 pixel) are ideal for PC cameras, detachable cameras for mobile phones and PDAs, and for digital still and dual-mode cameras. The CIF monochrome image sensors (352 x 288 pixel) are excellent choices for biometrics (identifying individual human characteristics such as fingerprints), surveillance and security, machine vision and bar code scanners.
"This introduction significantly enhances our image sensor product portfolio," said Jason Hartlove, vice president and general manager of Agilent's Sensor Solutions Division. "As the CMOS image sensor market leader, we will continue to apply our IC design expertise and high-volume manufacturing to deliver products that meet the needs of our customers."
Agilent's CMOS image sensors are provided in the new industry-standard 32-pin CLCC (ceramic leadless chip carrier) package. The package has dimensions of 10.7 mm x 10.7 mm x 1.65 mm compared to the 13.5 mm x 14.5 mm x 3.80 mm of the previous Agilent image sensors supplied in the PQFP (plastic quad flat pack) package. The CLCC package features a flat top and more accurate height placement due to flat pins, making optical adjustment quicker and simpler. This new package also features enhanced thermal performance assuring operating stability over a wider temperature range.
These CMOS image sensors also offer high sensitivity and a low-noise design for capturing more detailed pictures in a variety of lighting conditions. The sensors offer an anti-blooming feature that prevents the whiteout of images taken with a flash, as well as low power consumption that enables more efficient power management and longer battery life.
The Agilent CMOS image sensors integrate a highly sensitive active pixel
photodiode array with timing control and onboard A/D conversion. These image
sensors, when coupled with compatible image processors from either Agilent
or selected Agilent partners, provide a complete imaging system to enable
rapid end-product development for camera manufacturers.
analogZone Says . . .
These new CMOS sensors, which include their own ADC and timing represent a major breakthrough in pricing and the CLCC package that has been chosen will considerably reduce mechanical alignment times on the production line compared to earlier offerings. We will talk here about the color offerings as the examples.
The ADCS-1021 offers a 452 x 288 CIF resolution with a capable 30 fps for digital video and using a fixed 8-bit ADC; the clock rate can be up to 32 MHz and the optical format is 1/4 inch. The ADCS-2021 offers a 640 x 480 VGA resolution at up to 15 fps and uses a programmable 10-bit ADC; clock can be up to 25 MHz and the optical format is 1/3 inch. The VGA version offers a slightly larger dynamic range at 65 dB (compared to 61 dB for the ADCS-1021.) Both parts offer an 8-bit 1x - 40x programmable gain range before A/D conversion, and a 42% fill factor. Gain control is independently adjustable for G, B and R channels. Exposure is a minimum 0.5 us and then goes up in 0.5-us increments. Control is I2C compatible/UART with a separate system clock.
Both parts operate at a nominal 3.3 V (with separate analog and digital supply pins) and have a typical consumption of 150 mW with 150 uW standby. Programming can be undertaken for gains and exposure, of course, and there is also programming available for window size, panning, frame rate, and data rate, while horizontal, vertical, shutter syncs can also be programmed.
These parts must be matched up to a digital image processor -- of which there are many available -- to provide color, color space, and gamma corrections, etc. but nonetheless the total package of electronics is going to cost less than the optical system in most applications. These small packages should find some ready homes and given a good board layout will offer very high end consumer results. We should expect to see them finding them behind lenses in still cameras, PC cameras, handhelds and toys.
All four sensors are in production. The CIF-resolution products (the
monochrome ADCS-1121 and the color ADCS-1021) are priced under $5 in volume,
while the VGA-resolution products (the monochrome ADCS-2121 and the color
ADCS-2021) are priced at less than $7. All four are, as noted, in CLCC-32.