Sony on Monday announced its latest and thinnest back-illuminated CMOS image sensor that will no doubt help manufacturers create thinner smartphones. “Sony has succeeded in establishing a structure that layers the pixel section containing formations of back-illuminated structure pixels over the chip affixed with mounted circuits for signal processing, which is in place of supporting substrates used for conventional back-illuminated CMOS image sensors,” Sony explained in its announcement. “By this stacked structure, large-scale circuits can now be mounted keeping small chip size.” The chip’s features include:

• Large-scale signal processing circuits required for higher image quality and better functionality are built-in
• More compact image sensor chip size
• Even higher image quality of the pixel section by adopting manufacturing processes specialized for superior image quality
• Faster speeds and lower power consumption by adopting the leading process for the circuit section

Sony will begin shipping samples to manufacturers in March. The company’s full press release follows after the break.

Sony Develops Next-generation Back-Illuminated CMOS Image Sensor which Embodies the Continuous Evolution of the Camera Expanding Shooting Enjoyment and Advanced Functionality of Smartphones and Other Devices -

Tokyo, Japan – January 23, 2012 – Sony Corporation (“Sony”) today announced that it has developed a new next-generation back-illuminated CMOS image sensor which embodies the continuous evolution of the camera. This image sensor layers the pixel section containing formations of back-illuminated structure pixels onto chips containing the circuit section for signal processing, which is in place of supporting substrates for conventional back-illuminated CMOS image sensors. This structure achieves further enhancement in image quality, superior functionalities and a more compact size that will lead to enhanced camera evolution.

Hereafter, Sony will position it as the next generation back-illuminated CMOS image sensors, and unwaveringly strive to further develop this image sensor and expand its product lineup, thereby contributing to the further development of user-friendly cameras and to shooting enjoyment.

Features of stacked CMOS image sensor

• Large-scale signal processing circuits required for higher image quality and better functionality are built-in
• More compact image sensor chip size
• Even higher image quality of the pixel section by adopting manufacturing processes specialized for superior image quality
• Faster speeds and lower power consumption by adopting the leading process for the circuit section

Background of development

The popularization of smartphones and other devices in recent years has been accompanied by an increasingly diverse use of camera functionality. This has brought heightened demand for more sophisticated cameras, to ensure adaptability to a wider range of scenes and Sony developed this stacked CMOS image sensor to meet such demand. In addition to the higher pixel numbers, superior image quality and faster speeds which conventional image sensors pursued, the newly-developed image sensors further achieve more highly-advanced functionalities and a more compact size, thus paving the way for enhanced camera evolution.
As the first step towards the commercialization of its new CMOS image sensors, Sony has developed a model with built-in signal processing functionality, an element that usually requires external embedment. Samples will be shipped from March, 2012. Accordingly, models have been developed with Sony’s unique “RGBW Coding” function, which facilitates low noise, high quality image capture even in low light condition, and the proprietary “HDR (High Dynamic Range) Movie” function, which achieves brilliant color even when taking pictures against bright light.

About stacked CMOS image sensors
Conventional CMOS image sensors mount the pixel section and analog logic circuit on top of the same chip, which require numerous constraints when wishing to mount the large-scale circuits such as measures to counter the circuit scale and chip size, measures to suppress noise caused by the layout of the pixel and circuit sections, and optimizing the characteristics of pixels and circuit transistors.

Sony has succeeded in establishing a structure that layers the pixel section containing formations of back-illuminated structure pixels over the chip affixed with mounted circuits for signal processing, which is in place of supporting substrates used for conventional back-illuminated CMOS image sensors. By this stacked structure, large-scale circuits can now be mounted keeping small chip size. Furthermore, as the pixel section and circuit section are formed as independent chips, a manufacturing process can be adopted, enabling the pixel section to be specialized for higher image quality while the circuit section can be specialized for higher functionality, thus simultaneously achieving higher image quality, superior functionality and a more compact size. In addition, faster signal processing and lower power consumption can also be achieved through the use of leading process for the chip containing the circuits.

Sony Ericsson has gone through the trouble of creating a three minute thirty second video that showcases just what makes the 8 megapixel shooter on the Xperia Arc function at such a high level. SE details several improved features, such as an enhanced Sony sensor and f/2.4 aperture, that make the Arc’s camera ideal for indoor and low-light conditions. The camera has dozens of configurable options and, as an added bonus, the video was shot in 720p using a second Arc handset. Hit the jump, the video is waiting for you.

[Via Android Central]

We have played with Microsoft’s Kinect before, but now that we have it hooked up in our own living room, we dove a little deeper. Kinect launched today as we all know, and it’s destined to become one of the hottest buys this holiday season. The hype, to put it mildly, was absolutely off the charts leading up to today, so exceptions are sky high. Will Kinect rise to the challenge and deliver the revolutionary gaming experience we all expect, or is Microsoft going to have a millions of disgruntled gamers on their hands this holiday season? Read on, and see what we think after a day of action with Kinect.

The set up process wasn’t as involved or as intricate as we thought, and literally within 7 minutes from ripping open the cardboard-packed black glossy Kinect unit we were up and interacting with the gaming system. The Kinect is perched atop a motorized stand that automatically adjusts to your position as you move closer or further away from the unit. In addition to the main video camera in the middle of the device, there are sensors on either side (IR and depth) and four separate microphones to help with voice recognition and background noise elimination.

We tested three games over the course of the day, and all three were fun to play. The star of the show, without question, was Dance Central. It’s probably the best Kinect game out on the market on launch day. Think of it as Rock Band for dancing. It’s basically pretty simple, yet it’s a tremendous amount of fun — even if you just plain suck at dancing… not that we suck at dancing or anything.

Both the technology behind the physical attachment and the software that’s processing everything seem to be truly next-level — until you really start playing with it.

Interacting with Kinect for Xbox 360 was a great experience. However, as we move further and further from an actual controller, things start to get a little messy. With the Nintendo Wii, there might have been some issues with the Motion Bar not seeing the controllers properly, or possibly not detecting them perfectly; but with the Kinect, that physical controller layer has been removed completely. While the concept is novel, it also means that the Kinect system is going to misinterpret movements in a lot of cases. Because labs are forced to make controls very general rather than precise, they effectively have to dumb down most games in order to use this new motion-controlled interface. If players are throwing a ball, for example, they can’t really control what direction it’s throw in or even how hard since there isn’t an accurate means of judging velocity. Kinect just knows that the player made a throwing gesture.

Kinect is a big step for Microsoft, and a huge new product for the Xbox division and company as a whole. We’re pretty confident Microsoft will continue to improve and refine the Kinect product. The potential for greatness is definitely there, and once Microsoft makes some key improvements, Kinect will probably be the most exciting product in the gaming category. Right now it’s definitely not a replacement for a physical controller, but we sure as heck had a lot of fun playing.

If you like to measure your cell phone in megapixels, listen up. Sony has just unveiled a 16.41 megapixel, back-illuminated sensor for mobile devices. The 1/2.8-inch thick, color-sensing beast — officially known as the Exmor R IMX081PQ – will be available to manufacturers this coming January and will carry a $30.30 price tag. Sony also announced a more modest 8.13 megapixel sensor that will retail for $18.18.

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Hmmm. Here you are thinking, “Wow, I really want one of those sweet new BlackBerry Curves with an optical sensor trackpad and that slim, sleek body — I’m just not sure what to pay!” $49? $130? $49? $130? The decision is difficult indeed, but it’s time to get cracking folks. The Curve 8520 is now live and ripe for the picking on T-Mobile’s site. You can either cough up $130 and then sit back and relax while Tmo rushes it to your doorstep, or you can get up off your couch and snag one from your neighborhood Walmart for $49. In either case, if cheap is the route you’re looking to go you’ll end up with a sexy entry level BlackBerry handset and Tmo’s insanely competitive $10 BIS plan (well, unless you’re on a BES). The only question is whether saving $81 is worth not having to deal with moving, traffic, Walmart or human contact in general. We’ll just go ahead and call Tmo’s ballooned pricing a recluse tax.

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Nintendo’s got it, Sony should have it soon enough and now Microsoft is apparently getting ready to unveil its take on motion-controlled gaming. Unlike Nintendo and Sony’s solutions however, Microsoft looks to be taking an entirely different approach to the concept by removing a physical remote from the equation and using the actual gamer as the controller — at least where motion is concerned. The solution reportedly entails a sensor bar that observes gamer movement and uses it to control compatible games. You move, it moves. You kick, it kicks. You trip over your coffee table and bust your face, it… Well, we’re not sure what happens then. The bottom line is that this could very well be a tremendous leap where motion-controlled home gaming is concerned and from the sound of it, it could definitely eclipse Sony’s solution which sounds more like catch up than anything else. In both cases however, motion control will definitely be a nice value-add for PS3 and Xbox 360 owners. We just hope Sony and Microsoft aren’t viewing these solutions as game changers — especially where sales are concerned. Sure, the Wiimote might not be as unique once these new products hit the market but its just once piece of the equation as far as Wii appeal goes. Remember, the Wii isn’t stealing the market from Sony and Microsoft. It’s creating an entirely new and much broader market.

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Earlier this morning, Samsung made an announcement that will hopefully soon lead to some major improvements as far as notebook-integrated webcams are concerned. The South Korean electronics giant has developed a 1/4-inch CMOS sensor that is capable of producing high-quality 30 frames-per-second video at 720p and it small enough to fit in just about any bezel surrounding a laptop display. Woh. The new S5K4AW imager is a major step towards a more usable notebook webcam experience compared to the choppy, low-quality caming most are forced to endure today. This new sensor also supposedly provides much better low-light video than current sensors by more than doubling the cam’s binning  performance (dark pixels are grouped and compressed while brighter pixels are enhanced). Various Samsung partners are already sampling the new S5K4AW sensor and the company is aiming at production in the first half of 2009.

[Via Giz]

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