Hoping your next smartphone may have more megapixels while being even thinner than the last? Us too, but we aren’t known to skimp on image quality — an unfortunate conundrum of squishing more pixels right into a tighter space . Enter Toshiba’s new CMOS sensor, advancing on both fronts, with 8 megapixels and what the firm reckons is the smallest pixel size within the industry at 1.12 micrometers. Also present is backside illumination , helping maximize photon accrual — which should make a undeniable Steve oh-so proud. Currently being sampled, the teensy gizmo plans to enter mass production later this year. Interested? Peep the total release after the break.
Develops 1.12 micrometer products for smartphones
7 Jul, 2011
1.12 micrometer pixel CMOS image sensor
TOKYO- Toshiba Corporation (TOKYO: 6502) today announced the launch of a brand new 1.12 micrometer pixel CMOS image sensor, the most recent addition to its CMOS image sensor line-up, that provides the industry’s smallest level pixel size with enhanced sensitivity and improved imaging performance of back-side illumination technology (BSI). Sampling of the recent sensor will begin on the end of this month and mass production will follow from the tip of 2011.
As smartphones get smaller and their image sensors continue to supply higher resolutions, now in a variety from 5M pixels to 8M pixels, the challenge here’s of smaller pixels, where miniaturization may end up in a fall off in performance. BSI overcomes this and brings a brand new level of responsiveness to CMOS imaging. BSI sensors deploy lenses at the rear of the sensor, on its silicon substrate, not at the front, where wiring limits light absorption. This positioning boosts light sensitivity and absorption, and allows formation of finer image pixels in smaller CMOS image sensors, bringing it more advantageous for movies applications besides.
Toshiba has made full use of the benefits of BSI to attain image pixels with a pitch of one.12 micrometers, and to pack 8.08 million of them right into a 1/4-inch sensor. The recent sensor achieves high level imaging and processing in an effort to bring a brand new level of image quality to smartphones.
Toshiba expects BSI CMOS image sensors to become the mainstream technology in portable digital technology, with applications expanding from cellphones and digital cameras to smartphones and tablets.
CMOS image sensors are a focal point manufactured from Toshiba’s Analog and Imaging Systems business. The newest addition to and enhancement of its BSI CMOS sensor line-up will reinforce the sensor business and the company’s ability to satisfy the twin market requirements of smaller products and better resolutions.
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