Targets Competing CCD Solutions
SUNNYVALE, CA — July 29th, 2002 — OMNIVISION Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: OVTI), a leading independent supplier of single CameraChip™ solutions for high-volume imaging applications, today announced the release of the first of its next generation OV7400 series black and white CameraChips™ specifically tailored for both commercial and household security and surveillance applications.
The OV7431 is an NTSC-only CameraChip™ designed to enable low-cost, single-chip solutions in applications where performance in low-light conditions is paramount.
“By improving the CameraChip’s low-light capabilities, we have produced a cost-effective solution capable of competing in the security and surveillance market against more expensive and complex CCD technologies,” said John Lynch, vice president of Sales and Marketing for OMNIVISION. “With this offering, camera manufacturers can produce high sensitivity camera solutions with all of the cost and power benefits of CMOS imaging technologies.”
Technical Specifications
The OV7431 operates at 0.05 lux. Operation at less than 0.1 lux is generally considered the threshold for low light security applications. Lux, a unit of illumination equivalent to .0929 foot-candles, determines the level of light necessary to obtain a clear picture. The low lux level of the OV7421 means that the imaging device can produce a quality image with extremely low light, a feature considered beneficial to mass security applications. The product’s low (5.0 volt) power, small size and low cost, coupled with its low lux operating requirements, make this solution even better suited for the mass security market than many of OMNIVISION’s previously successful products.
Designed for EIA (the black and white equivalent of NTSC, the 510×492 pixel video standard in the United States and Canada), the OV7431 delivers composite video capable of directly driving a display device, such as a television or monitor. The OV7431 offers an image array in a standard 1/3-inch format and provides real-time frame rates for video and other imaging applications. Functions incorporated in the OV7431 CameraChip™ include automatic gain control (AGC), automatic exposure control (AEC), gamma correction, automatic level control (ALC) and automatic black level calibration.
Price and Availability
OV7431 samples available now. Initial volume pricing is expected to be below $10.00. Please contact your local sales representative for additional information.
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 (PDAs), 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.
OMNIVISION and CameraChip™ are trademarks of OMNIVISION Technologies, Inc. All other trade, product or service names referenced in this release may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.
Safe Harbor
The foregoing press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements notably statements regarding the pricing of the OV7431, and its suitability for the mass security market are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the Company’s forward looking statements include: failure of the OV7431 to gain market and customer acceptance would adversely affect the Company’s revenues, earnings and business; any delay in the introduction or continued manufacture and development of the OV7431 would adversely affect the Company’s revenues, earnings and business; latent defects in the OV7431 could damage the Company’s reputation with its customers and suppliers and negatively impact the Company’s business and the other risks detailed from time to time in the Company’s Securities and Exchange Commission filings and reports, including, but not limited to, the Company’s fiscal 2001 Form 10-K and Forms 10-Q for the first three quarters of its fiscal year 2002. The Company disclaims any obligation to update information contained in any forward-looking statement.