INTEL IMX091PQ

IMX081PQ, High Picture Quality Cellular Phone CMOS
IMX091PQ, Image Sensors Feature Full HD Video
IMX111PQ
Due to the recent improvements in communications infrastructure and falling prices for data storage,
it is now possible for ordinary users to handle large amounts of data on cellular phones.
According to these developments, there are now increasing opportunities for shooting high-definition still and moving images with a
cellular phone, including demands for picture quality that exceeds the framework of existing cellular phone camera functionality.
Sony has now developed a product line of 16M-pixel, 13M-pixel and 8M-pixel CMOS image sensors with 1.12 µm unit pixel∗1,
the industry's smallest, and that provide full HD video imaging (1080 p at 60 or 30 frame/s)∗2.
∗1: As of October, 2010 (based on Sony's research)
∗2: The IMX091P and IMX111PQ are under development now (July 2011)
IMX081PQ
■ Diagonal 6.52 mm (Type 1/2.8)
16.41M effective pixels
■ Frame rate: 15 frame/s
IMX091PQ
■ Diagonal 5.87 mm (Type 1/3.06)
13.25M effective pixels
■ Frame rate: 15 frame/s
IMX111PQ
■ Diagonal 4.60 mm (Type 1/4.0)
8.17M effective pixels
■ Frame rate: 22.5 frame/s
∗
"Exmor R" is a trademark of Sony Corporation.
The "Exmor R" is a Sony’s CMOS image
sensor with significantly enhanced imaging
characteristics including sensitivity and low
noise by changing fundamental structure of
"Exmor" pixel adopted column-parallel A/D
converter to back-illuminated type.
There are increasing market requirements
for not only high picture quality but also
smaller and thinner model to increase design
flexibility in recent cellular phones represented
by smartphones.
To respond to these market needs, Sony is now
the first in the industry to succeed in the mass
production of back-illuminated CMOS image
sensors with the industry's smallest 1.12 μm
unit pixel cell configuration.
High S/N Ratio and High Picture Quality
Achieved through High Color Reproducibility
This is not the first time for Sony to develop
back-illuminated CMOS image sensors. This
configuration is more efficient at converting
incident light on the sensor into electrons than
current front-illuminated structure. In creating
the IMX081PQ, IMX091PQ and IMX111PQ
products of this release, Sony improved
the back-illumination process to obtain an
ultrafine pixel of 1.12 μm unit pixel.
As a result, we managed to increase the
sensitivity of the photodetector per unit pixel
by about 1.35 times compared to a current 1.4
μm front-illuminated structure.
This has also increased the saturation signal
level by 1.15 times (converted to value per
unit area) enabling capture of higher picture
quality images.
In addition, the color mixture issue was
improved by optimizing a condensing structure
and the back-illuminated structure, when
compared to a current front-illuminated structure
with a 1.4 μm unit pixel. (See figure 1).
As a result of these improvements, despite
their small size these sensors allow the capture
of even higher definition images that faithfully
reproduces the color of the subject with less
image graininess.
High-Resolution Still Images and
High Sensitivity Video
Sony provides the IMX081PQ and IMX091PQ
with 16.41M and 13.25M effective pixels, to
respond to end user needs to take more detailed
images and to capture even clearer videos. By
providing 4 lanes of MIPI interface (CSI-2
compliant), a high-speed serial interface for
cellular phones, both sensors are capable of an
all-pixel data output at 15 frame/s.
Thanks to addition/averaging processing of
up to four pixels of the same color in vertical
and horizontal direction of 1080 p 60 frame/s
video, a high signal-to-noise ratio is achieved.
And these can produce full HD video with
minimal camera shake by setting the margin
pixel area and using the image stabilization
function provided by the image processor.
Ideal for Smartphones
A feature of recent smartphone design is the
increasing demand for cellular phones with
even thinner cameras.
To meet this demand, the IMX091PQ and
IMX111PQ can be provided with optical lenses
that allow even thinner cellular phones.
Also, substituting high-speed CPUs to process
images for dedicated image processors is a
strong ongoing trend. The IMX081PQ,
IMX091PQ and IMX111PQ have a function
for correcting image quality to optimum image
data built into the sensor. This function easily
provides high picture quality even without
processing by an dedicated image processor
(See figure 2).
Thanks to the concerted effort by the
members of our project team, we were able
to develop a back-illuminated CMOS image
sensor with a unit pixel of a mere 1.12 µm
and quickly build a 16M-pixel, 13M-pixel and
8M-pixel product lineup. These products will
meet the requirements for mobile device
miniaturization like smartphones and cellular
phones while also satisfying the demand for
high picture quality.
Please select Sony image sensors for your
products to experience Sony image sensor
technology.
Figure 1
Spectral Sensitivity Characteristics
Spectral characteristics for the 1.12 µm back-illuminated CMOS image sensor and
the 1.4 µm front-illuminated CMOS image sensor standardized for each G peak
Solid line:
1.12 µm back-illuminated
CMOS image sensor
Dotted line: 1.4 µm front-illuminated
CMOS image sensor
100%
Relative response
80%
60%
40%
20%
0%
400
450
Figure 2
500
550
600
Wavelength [nm]
650
700
Comparison Image Samples
Output image
(Sensor internal signal processing = Off; Current processing)
Output image
(Sensor internal signal processing = On; This image shows only
noise reduction.)
Table 1
Device Structure
Item
IMX081PQ
Diagonal 6.52 mm (Type1/2.8)
Image size
IMX091PQ
IMX111PQ
Diagonal 5.87 mm (Type 1/3.06) Diagonal 4.60 mm (Type 1/4.0)
Total number of pixels
4672H × 3552V
Approx. 16.59M pixels
4224H × 3176V
Approx. 13.42M pixels
3296H × 2512V
Approx. 8.28M pixels
Number of effective pixels
4656H × 3496V
Approx. 16.28M pixels
4208H × 3120V
Approx. 13.13M pixels
3280H × 2464V
Approx. 8.08M pixels
Fabrication process
Back-illuminated process
←
←
Unit cell size
1.12 µm (H) × 1.12 µm (V)
←
←
Output format
MIPI 4, 2, 1 Lane
←
MIPI 2, 1 Lane
I2C
←
←
Analog
2.7 +0.2/–0.1 V
←
←
Digital
1.2 ± 0.1 V
←
←
I/O
1.8 ± 0.1 V
←
←
41.7 dB (Max.)
←
←
6 to 60 MHz
Control signal interface
Power supply
specifications
PGA
←
←
Dot defect compensation
←
←
Noise reduction
←
←
720 p
60 frame/s
225 Mpbs/Lane × 4 Lane
60 frame/s
186 Mpbs/Lane × 4 Lane
60 frame/s
540 Mpbs/Lane × 2 Lane
1080 p
60 frame/s
432 Mpbs/Lane × 4 Lane
60 frame/s
432 Mpbs/Lane × 4 Lane
30 frame/s
405 Mpbs/Lane × 2 Lane
Input clock frequency
Signal processing
function within
sensors
Moving picture
specifications