50MP image sensor with high dynamic range
Omnivision has launched a high dynamic range (HDR) image sensor for video capture in rear-facing main cameras in high-end and mainstream smartphones.
The OV50E image sensor features 1.0-micron pixel in a 1/1.5-inch optical format with single exposure high dynamic range support. It uses staggered HDR and Omnivision’s DCG technology to reduce motion artifacts for improved HDR and crop zoom support, 100% quad phase detection (QPD) for enhanced autofocus, and better low light performance over previous-generation image sensors.
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A built-in dual conversion gain combination provides single exposure HDR support. The maximum dynamic range reaches more than 100dB. In addition, OV50E’s second-generation QPD enables 2×2 phase detection autofocus (PDAF) across the sensor’s entire image array for 100% coverage, resulting in improved distance calculation, faster autofocus and better low-light performance.
An on-chip remosaic for the QPD colour filter array provides full Bayer resolution.
The OV50E can achieve up to 64x analog gain for full resolution, or 256x analog gain for 4 cell binning resolution. Built on a stacked die technology, the OV50E can also use near-pixel binning to output a 12.5MP image or 4K2K video with four times the sensitivity, yielding 2.0 micron-equivalent performance for preview and video. In either case, the OV50E can consistently capture the highest quality images, as well as enabling 2x digital crop zoom with smaller resolution and fast mode switch.
Output formats include 50MP, or 8K video, with QPD autofocus at 30 frames per second (fps); 12.5MP with QPD autofocus at 60fps; 4K2K video with QPD autofocus at 60fps; and 1080p at 240fps. The OV50E supports the CPHY/DPHY MIPI interface and dual DOVDD 1.8/1.2v.
“Video consumption is quickly becoming the predominant source of information for people, and smartphones are replacing professional equipment for video capture. However, smartphones have historically not been great for zooming,” said James Liu, senior product marketing manager at Omnivision. “Our OV50E provides video HDR crop zoom support, which allow users to seamlessly switch between full and smaller resolution with full HDR capabilities. Adding the industry’s best low light still image performance gives consumers one phone that does it all.”
OV50E samples will be available in Q3 2022
