Sony announced world’s first 16.41 Megapixel Exmor R™ CMOS image sensors for mobile phones

Sony announced the commercialization of two new “Exmor R” back-illuminated CMOS image sensors with dramatically improved photographic performance including significantly high sensitivity and low noise. In addition, Sony will launch two new lens modules equipped with these image sensors, which also include the smallest and thinnest*1 model for mobile phones. This is also the first time that “Exmor R” is commercialized for the use in mobile phones. The Exmor R™ CMOS Sensor inside selected Cyber-shot™digital cameras and Handycam® camcorders captures extraordinarily detailed pictures even in low-light. Exmor R™ CMOS Sensortechnology by Sony lets you enjoy fabulous, low noise images in all shooting conditions. VIDEO QUALITY (Low Light) EXAMPLE

Good news guys for the next camera mobile phone may have good news for Sony Ericsson mobile phone and Sony Ericsson XPERIAAndroid with this update of the sensors. With these sensors will have more power in actions for both photography and videos and more for realism and fidelity in color with good image sharpness “clarity”.

“IMX081PQ” is world’s first*1 type 1/2.8 back-illuminated CMOS image sensor which realizes 16.41 effective megapixel resolution, and adopts the industry’s smallest*1 unit pixel size of 1.12μm. “IMX105PQ” is a type 1/3.2 back-illuminated CMOS image sensor which realizes 8.13 effective megapixel resolutions for higher sensitivity and adopts a unit pixel size of 1.4μm. By embedding these highly sensitive sensors into mobile phones, including those without camera flash, users can capture high quality photos and videos even in low light settings.

About Back-illuminated CMOS image sensor “Exmor R”:
Sony first announced the development of “Exmor R” on Jun, 2008. “Exmor R” has been incorporated in Sony’s digital imaging products since 2009, and its use in other products has continued to expand. “Exmor R” CMOS image sensor features Sony’s independently developed back-illuminated structure, realizing significantly higher sensitivity as well as lower noise. In this back-illuminated CMOS image sensor, light is directed onto the silicon substrate from behind, allowing light to be used with a level of efficiency not possible with conventional front-illuminated structures.

Exmor R™ CMOS Sensor Specifications:

Model Name IMX081PQ IMX105PQ Number of effective pixels 4672(H)×3512(V) 16.41M pixels 3288(H)×2472(V) 8.13M pixels Image size Diagonal 6.5mm (Type1/2.8) square pixel Diagonal 5.76mm (Type 1/3.2) square pixel Unit cell size 1.12μm□ 1.4μm□ Frame rate Full 15fps 15fps 1/2 sub sampling 30fps 30fps 1/8 sub sampling 120fps 120fps HD mode 1080-30P / 720-60P 1080-30P / 720-30P Sensitivity 205 digit (10Bit) 310 digit (10Bit) Saturation signal 820 digit (10Bit) 1023 digit (10Bit) Power supply Analog 2.7 +0.2/-0.1V 2.7 +0.2/-0.1V Digital 1.2 ±0.1V 1.2 ±0.1V Interface 1.8 ±0.1V 1.8 ±0.1V Major function 3-wire serial communication, I2C, serial data output, supports flexible input clock Output MIPI 4,2,1 Lane MIPI 2,1 Lane

<Lens module>

Model Name	IU081F	IU105F2
Module size*2	10.5(W)×10.5(D)×7.9(H)mm	8.5(W)×8.5(D)× 5.67(H)mm
AF actuator	Voice coil motor
Lens construction	4 groups 4 elements (Plastic)
F-number	F2.6	F2.4
Focal length (35mm conversion)	28mm
Camera output	MIPI (4 Lane)	MIPI (2 Lane)

Launch date of Sony Exmor R™ CMOS sensor is planned for january, 2011 – April, 2011.

How it works: Exmor R™ CMOS Sensor in close-up:

Shooting in low light is a tough test for any digital camera and camcorder. If you’re indoors or shooting at dusk you’ll often be disappointed by grainy, unnatural pictures spoiled by noise. But now you can keep on shooting incredible images… even when the lights are low.
The high-resolution Exmor R™ CMOS Sensor developed by Sony for Cyber-shot™ and Handycam® captures amazing, detail-packed Full HD video and still images with superb contrast, rich colours and less picture noise.
With Exmor R™ CMOS Sensor you’ll see the difference in every scene, especially dimly-lit interiors and atmospheric twilight moments.