OMNIVISION Provides Mobile Handset Manufacturers with Ready-to-Integrate Customizable Camera Solutions
SUNNYVALE, CA — July 22, 2002 — OMNIVISION Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: OVTI), a market-leading independent supplier of CMOS CameraChip™ solutions for high-volume imaging applications, today announced availability of the OV7635FB CameraChip™ module for integration into mobile phones and PDAs. Designed specifically to simplify camera integration and to lower cost and power requirements, OMNIVISION’s customizable camera module solutions are targeted at clip-on and embedded cameras for cellular handsets and Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs). The OV7635FB provides a fully processed industry standard VGA color image that can be stored, forwarded and displayed using multimedia processors already embedded in mobile devices, or through companion processor chips such as OMNIVISION’s OV528 jpeg compression chip announced on July 1st.
“This module is a technological achievement in terms of size, power consumption, performance and cost,” said Kimble Dong, vice president of Systems for OMNIVISION, “Our CameraChip™ already puts out fully processed data, so by packaging this as a small, fully functional camera module, we make it easy for manufacturers to integrate camera functions into their mobile devices. With our solution they can stay experts on their devices, and leverage our expertise on cameras and images.”
The OV7635FB is a CameraChip™-on-board device with a flexible circuit interface and a fixed focus multiple element lens. The module takes advantage of OMNIVISION’s proprietary analog processing CameraChip™ technology to provide a single chip YUV output camera solution. With advanced algorithms, it cancels Fixed Pattern Noise (FPN), eliminates smearing, and drastically reduces blooming. These functions enhance the image quality and eliminate the need for additional image processing. Competing image sensor offerings require a second chip to process and enhance the image or require complex adaptation of the embedded multimedia processor to perform this required task. All adjustable camera functions are programmable through an integrated serial SCCB interface. These functions include:
- Exposure control
- White balance
- Color saturation
- Windowing
- Gamma gain
- Color matrix
- Hue control
The OV7635FB standard CameraChip™ mobile device module is specifically designed to allow for customization to meet specific needs of high volume mobile device manufacturers with special size and orientation requirements.
Module Features
Resolution: 326,688 pixels
Image Array Lens Format: 1/4″ lens
Available Output Resolutions: VGA/QVGA format
Module Dimensions: 10mm x 9mm x 7.1mm module size (w/o flexible cable)
Output formats: YCrCb 4:2:2 ITU-656, RGB Raw Data
Physical Interface: 20-lead 0.5 mm pitch flex
Voltage Requirements: 3-Volt operation at 20 mA, low power dissipation
OMNIVISION’s OV528 JPEG compression chip can be combined with the OV7635FB module to provide an optimized but comprehensive camera solution for mobile phones and PDAs. The combined solution provides mobile device manufacturers with a cost effective and tightly integrated solution for JPEG still image capture at VGA resolution. Images can be preprocessed at various sizes and depths, allowing it to be previewed on multiple LCD formats and sizes.
The OV7635FB is available immediately in volume. Pricing is below $12.00 US.
About OMNIVISION
OMNIVISION Technologies, Inc. is an independent CameraChip™ solutions provider. Utilizing proprietary design technology for its highly integrated still-photo and video camera solutions for high-volume imaging applications, OMNIVISION integrates multiple image processing and capture functions into a single CameraChip™ design. With the addition of only a lens, the result is a low-cost CameraChip™ that consumes less power, has a greater environmental functioning range and has a smaller footprint than typical CMOS multi-chip image sensor solutions. OMNIVISION’s CameraChip™ solutions are in cell phones, personal digital assistants, automobiles and industrial machine vision applications, as well as surveillance and biometric security applications. OMNIVISION is based in Sunnyvale, California. For more information about the company, visit our Website at www.ovt.com.