SANTA CLARA, Calif., — January 6, 2010 — OmniVision Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: OVTI), a leading developer of advanced digital imaging solutions, today unveiled its first native high-definition (HD) video sensor built on OmniBSITM pixel technology. The compact 1/6-inch OV9726 delivers 720p HD video at 30 frames per second (fps), making it ideal for high-performance HD cameras in notebooks, netbooks, webcams, mobile phones, portable media players (PMPs) and other mobile entertainment devices. OmniVision has already secured design wins from top tier customers for the OV9726.
“TV and Internet broadcast have already begun to transition to HD. Webcams, cell phones and other portable recording devices are now quickly following suit,” said Nick Nam, senior product marketing manager at OmniVision. “With our OV9726 native 720p HD sensor that operates at 30 frames per second, we open up a new category of image sensors that address the need for small, high-performance HD video recording without any tradeoffs in performance.”
Implementing OmniVision’s 1.75-micron OmniBSI backside illumination pixel architecture, the OV9726 achieves excellent low-light sensitivity of 1,480 mV/lux-sec in the smallest available form factor (1/6.5- inch). With OmniBSI architecture, the image sensor receives light through the back side of the chip. As a result, there is no metal wiring to block the image light, and the entire backside of the image sensor can be photo-sensitive. Not only does this enable a superior image, it also permits the front of the chip surface area to be devoted entirely to processing, and permits an increase in the number of metal layers, both of which result in greater functionality. Capturing light on the back side of the image sensor also reduces the distance the light has to travel to the pixels, and thus provide a wider angle of light acceptance. Widening the angle of acceptance in turn makes it possible to reduce the height of the camera module, and thus the height of the device which incorporates the camera. This design achieves a very low stack height (3.5 mm) in the OV9726 enabling ultra-compact camera modules for mobile devices.
OmniVision’s native HD sensors do not suffer from degradation or image artifacts due to scaling or cropping, which is typically used to achieve HD resolution from larger array sensors. The OV9726 CMOS image sensor supports multiple platform architectures and controllers with both parallel and MIPI interfaces. These support features significantly reduce product development time by allowing system designers to leverage the same opto-electrical design across various products and multiple market segments.
The OV9726 is currently available for sampling, and is expected to enter mass production in the first quarter of 2010.
Safe-Harbor Language
Certain statements in this press release, including statements regarding the expected benefits, performance, capabilities, and potential market appeal of the OV9726 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 OV9726, customer acceptance, demand, and 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 report filed on Form 10-K and quarterly reports filed on Form 10-Q. OmniVision expressly disclaims any obligation to update information contained in any forward-looking statement.