e2v has launched its ground breaking new Emerald family of Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) image sensors. This new product family features the world’s smallest true global shutter pixel available on the market today (2.8 µm). With a smaller optical format and higher resolutions, the new sensors lead to improved performance and reduced system costs for customers.
This new generation of image sensors marks a significant improvement of Dark Signal Non Uniformity (DSNU), that is 10 times improved when compared to other CMOS products. This allows cameras to perform better in high temperatures and enables long exposures to be used in low-light applications such as microscopes or outdoor cameras for surveillance, speed and traffic applications.
e2v’s Emerald family comprises a 16 MP (4096 × 4096 pixels), which is the first to be released, a 12 MP (4096 × 3072 pixels) and a 8 MP (4096 × 2160 pixels). These high resolution formats are a world first and include a one inch optical format, which can be interfaced with a compact C Mount lens. This innovation makes the new sensors ideal for a wide range of industrial applications.
The whole Emerald family features the same pixel, processing, readout structures and ceramic Land Grid Array (LGA) package to simplify integration, helping to lower development costs for camera makers. The new products have dedicated embedded features including High Dynamic Range (HDR) modes, 8/10/12 bit Analog to Digital Converters (ADCs), modulable high speed outputs (60 fps at 10 bits, full 16 MP resolution), and a number of convenient power saving modes. These impressive features are the result of e2v working closely with customers to anticipate their future needs and to address the growing trends of the machine vision market.
Gareth Powell, Marketing Manager for Professional Imaging at e2v, said, “Our new Emerald sensors use advanced CMOS image process technology and pixel design to offer a low noise global shutter pixel, with an electro-optical performance tuned to meet the demanding requirements of the machine vision industry. The sensors deliver Quantum Efficiency of more than 65%, a full well capacity of over 7ke, a typical temporal noise of 4e- and a new low-noise mode to offer typically around 2e-.”
