Sony Unveils Exmor Image Sensor for Mobile Phones

By John Read - Published November 15th 2008 - 20:01

Tagged: camera • News • Sony

Sony has announced that it will soon be shipping its new IMX060PQ or Exmor 1/2.5 CMOS image sensor designed for use in mobile phones. The sensor claims the title of both the industry's smallest unit size at just 1.4 μm and the industry's highest pixel count at 12.25 effective megapixel resolution. In addition to the sensor Sony also announced its new lens module, the IU060F. The module is 1/3.2 with 12.25 effective megapixel resolution and is also the industry's smallest and thinnest of its class.

Above: Lens modules (from left to right) "IU060F" "IU046F"
Below: CMOS Image sensors "Exmor" (from left to right)"IMX060PQ" "IMX046PQ" "IMX045PQ"

These products should greatly increase the image quality of mobile phone cameras in the coming years. Some of the major features of the Exmor and the lens module include:

Realizes high-definition image quality equivalent to compact digital still cameras
Realizes high sensitivity and high S/N through its unique pixel structure and lens
- Sensitivity equivalent to 90mV in 1.75µm unit cell
"Column-Parallel A/D Conversion method" achieves high frame rates:
- "IMX060PQ" : 10fps
- "IMX046PQ"/"IMX045PQ" : 15fps
Industry's smallest and thinnest lens module, also equipped with lens, auto-focus and Interface functions
Unique lens design to achieve high resolution
"Piezo" type lens motor that reduces power consumption when shooting video images
Equipped with 28mm wide-angle lens (35mm conversion) popular in digital cameras ("IU060F" only)

The sensor and lens modules will ship at various times over the next year. The Exmor Type 1/3.2 8.11 effective megapixels CMOS Image sensor "IMX046PQ" supposedly will ship this month while the Type 1/2.5 12.25 effective megapixels "IMX060PQ" and Type 1/4 5.15 megapixels "IMX045PQ" CMOS Image sensors are expected to ship in March 2009. The Type 1/3.2 8.11 megapixels Lens module "IU046F" is expected to ship in February 2009 while the Type 1/2.5 12.25 megapixels Lens module "IU060F" is expected to ship in September 2009.

[via Sony]

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