Monday, June 12, 2017

OmniVision Introduces 1/36-inch Imager

PRNewswire: OmniVision introduces the OV6948, one of the world's smallest commercially available image sensors. Initially developed for small-outer-diameter medical endoscopes and catheters, the OV6948 can be designed into a wide range of applications, including dental, veterinary, IoT, industrial, wearable and forensic devices. The OV6948 leverages OmniBSI+ pixel technology in a package that measures just 0.575 mm × 0.575 mm.

The product features:

  • 1/36-inch optical format
  • 200 × 200 pixel capture at 30 frames per second (FPS)
  • Sensitivity: 1000 mV/lux-sec
  • Analog data output with the ability to transmit up to 4 meters with minimal noise
  • 0.575 mm x 0.575 mm package size (4 pads total) for easy integration

The OV6948 is currently sampling and is expected to start mass production in Q2 2018.

7 comments:

  1. So, almost a quarter million dice per wafer or perhaps a US nickel per chip. Did I do this rough estimate correctly? Everything else in the COGS probably costs more than the silicon.

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  2. Maybe the main problem comes from the fact the dicing saw cannot last for one wafer :) !
    What could be the applications for such tiny device?

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  3. One time use medical imagers are beneficial to avoiding infections that happen as a result of inconsistent and poor sterilization of medical electronic equipment.
    I remember like 3-4 years ago in the news, there were cases where these fiber imagers caused infection and I think death, also there might have been recalls and modifications to the sterilization procedures as a result.
    When such a piece of equipment costs $50, it's easy to justify it as one time use, and avoid complicated and sometimes ineffective sterilization procedures.

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  4. We have used the sensor last year as an early customer for the development of a medical endoscope.

    There is no problem with the dicing of such a device, there are many other electronic devices of very small size like op-amps, small EEPROMs, magnetic sensors. Image sensors are usually the most extreme in terms of large dimensions.

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    Replies
    1. What signal does the sensor output with only 4 pins? CVBS?

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  5. It's good to see that OVT is researching, designing, and manufacturing a unique sensor. Unfortunately this sensor has a limited market and hopefully OVT is selling at a decent price for viability.

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