Cheaper Digital Cameras Are Creating Strong Demand for Flash Chips
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Motorola's camera-on-chip sensor integrates analog, signal processing
Semiconductor Business News
(01/02/01 12:11 p.m. EST)
PHOENIX--Motorola Inc. here today rolled out a new 1.3-megapixel image sensor for digital cameras, video systems and imaging applications. Fabricated with Motorola's ImageMOS technology, the "camera-on-a-chip" device contains analog and digital signal processing circuits, said the company.
The new MCM20027 chip expands Motorola's CMOS image sensor portfolio from several custom and standard products to include a 1.3-megapixel device for SXGA-resolution applications, said Larry Arbaugh, manager of Image Capture Operations at Motorola in Phoenix. "This will enable camera manufacturers to develop higher-quality consumer products at affordable prices," he claimed.
Motorola said it plans to begin offering samples of the MCM20027 image sensor in January. The suggested resale price of the CMOS sensor is $22 in quantities of 10,000 units.
The MCM20027 has been designed to operate as a 1,280-by-1,024 pixel progressive scan image sensor with integrated correlated double sampling (CDS), programmable gain amplifier (PGA) and analog-to-digital converter (ADC), said Motorla. The 6-by-6 micron pitch between pixels provides light sensitivity to 3 lux at 10 frames per second, said the company.
The CMOS image sensor device incorporates an integrated Bayer RGB color filter array and microlenses. The sensor outputs 10-bit Bayer encoded RGB data with all appropriate frame-timing signals.
Motorola said its new sensor requires less than 250 mW of power and has a power-savings mode of 100 microwatts for power-sensitive battery applications. The sensor architecture supports programmable "window-of-interest" for pan-and-scan, digital zoom and other sub-sampling modes required for next-generation digital camera products, according to Motorola.
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