SUNNYVALE, California – APRIL 26, 2006 – OmniVision Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: OVTI), a world leading supplier of CMOS image sensors, today launched its OV7949, the newest member of its automotive CameraChip™ family. The OV7949 is a new high-performance, highly-integrated analog CMOS image sensor based on OmniVision’s proprietary OmniPixel® architecture. The single-chip sensor’s excellent low-light sensitivity and significantly reduced blooming make it ideal for automotive applications.
Reduced blooming capability is important for rearview cameras, which need to be able to ‘see’ even when faced with bright headlights of trailing vehicles. Similarly, reduced blooming capability is important for ‘black box’ cameras, which are intended to visually document accidents for liability or insurance purposes, where the brightness of the brake lights of a vehicle directly in front of the sensor can blur or disturb the image and prevent a clear documentation of events.
“We believe the strong performance of the new OV7949 in extreme low-light conditions, combined with reduced blooming and exceptional dynamic range, make this the sensor of choice for our automotive customers,” commented Hasan Gadjali, Vice President Advanced Products at OmniVision. “Product evaluation of the OV7949 by top-tier automotive suppliers and OEMs is already underway, and early feedback has been very encouraging.”
The OV7949 is an enhanced, pin-compatible PQFP packaged upgrade to its predecessor, the OV7940, which was launched last year. The new OV7949 has an operating temperature range of -40°C to +105°C and is built to the stringent specifications of the Automobile Electronics Council AEC-Q100 criteria encompassing a series of preconditioning, humidity, high temperature cycle, mechanical, optical and electrical test parameters.
The OV7949 is currently available in sample quantities.
Safe-Harbor Statement
Certain statements in this press release, including statements regarding the performance and capabilities of and the anticipated demand for OmniVision’s OV7949 CMOS image sensor, are forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties, which could cause the forward-looking statements and OmniVision’s results to differ materially, include, without limitation: potential errors, design flaws or other problems with the OV7949 CMOS image sensor; customer acceptance and demand for the OV7949; and the other risks detailed from time to time in OmniVision’s Securities and Exchange Commission filings and reports, including, but not limited to, OmniVision’s annual reports filed on Form 10-K and quarterly reports filed on Form 10-Q. OmniVision disclaims any obligation to update information contained in any forward-looking statement.