Cologne, Germany—Aptina, a provider of CMOS imaging solutions, released the AR1820HS digital camera image sensor for the consumer market. Unveiled at photokina, the sensor targets high-end compact digital cameras and high-end consumer DV applications.
The AR1820HS is engineered to deliver 18 megapixel high-resolution images with a new high-performance 1.25-micron backside illuminated (BSI) pixel, fitting in the 1/2.3-inch mainstream DSC optical format.
The sensor utilizes Aptina A-PixHS technology, which brings Aptina’s BSI pixel technology together with advanced high-speed sensor architecture to enable a new class of high-performance cameras. A-PixHS technology provides high efficiency, low noise and low power consumption. The BSI pixel maximizes the efficiency with which the light is captured by inverting the sensor to put the photo sensitive region closer to the lens and by implementing advanced engineering techniques found in A-Pix technology. The advanced high-speed sensor architecture leverages the speed and sensitivity of the BSI pixel to enable fast, vivid video and image capture.
“The AR1820HS image sensor and Aptina’s A-PixHS technology provide OEMs with the combination of exceptional image quality and the high-speed capture features needed to create a compelling new generation of consumer camera products,” said Sandor Barna, vice president and general manager of Aptina’s Consumer Camera business.
“The rich feature set and flexibility of the AR1820HS sensor allows cameras to implement a wide array of capture modes.”
The native 18MP resolution can be read out at 24 frames per sec, enabling high-resolution, high-speed burst still image capture. In video modes, the sensor is said to output a 16:9 aspect ratio, full field-of-view 14MP at 30 fps and a binned 8MP at 60 fps. “This over-sampled image readout enables superior resolution, noise performance and cleaner overall video,” added Barna. Additionally, over-sampled video provides extra area for electronic image stabilization and steady digital zooming. The AR1820HS pixel summing capability should provide camera designers with the option of faster 1080p 60 and 1080p 120 video modes, or lower power consumption video options.
San Jose, California-based Aptina’s AR1820HS image sensor is currently sampling in limited volumes and will be in mass production in Q3CY13. aptina.com
