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OmniVision makes 1080p video chats possible with a new front-facing camera module for mobile

By Daniel Petrov

Updated: May 30, 2012, 9:30 AM

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OmniVision makes 1080p video chats possible with a new front-facing camera module for mobile

OmniVision keeps pushing the envelope in mobile camera modules. After revealing a 16MP smartphone sensor capable of 4K2K video to go into production in the fourth quarter, now it is introducing the OV2722.

This one takes care of the front-facing camera, because what's the point of having a rear camera that can record with 3840 x 2160 definition, if you your front cam can't muster 1920 x 1080 - the current standard for higher-end smartphones' main cameras.

Should come in pretty handy for all those IM programs, more so that it is back-illuminated, reducing the oh-so-familiar noisy and grainy feeds we are accustomed to in video chats. It is less than 3mm thick, and backwards compatible with the existing pin connectors, so manufacturers can just pop it in for their upcoming handsets or tablets, as it is already in mass production.

source: OV

OmniVision Expands Native 1080p High Definition CameraChip™ Line-up with 1/6-inch OV2722

OmniBSI+™ Pixel Enables High-Performance HD Video Solution for Smartphone, Tablet, Notebook and Ultrabook Applications

SANTA CLARA, Calif., May 29, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- OmniVision Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: OVTI), a leading developer of advanced digital imaging solutions, today introduced the OV2722, the Company's second-generation native 1080p high-definition (HD) CMOS image sensor, designed specifically for ultra-portable applications where high performance and low profile are critical. Using OmniVision's new OmniBSI+ pixel architecture, the OV2722 delivers improved sensitivity and image quality with a module height of less than 3 mm, making it an ideal choice for the burgeoning smartphone, tablet and Ultrabook™ markets.

"We believe that current market trends are quickly moving beyond 720p, and we are seeing strong demand for premium quality 1080p HD video sensors that can meet the criteria and specifications of online video sharing platforms such as Skype™, and unified communications platforms such as Microsoft® Lync®," said Nick Nam, director of product marketing at OmniVision. "In addition, many high-end cameras are required to have extremely small form factors so that they can fit inside next-generation smartphones, tablets, notebooks and Ultrabooks. The OV2722 is specifically crafted to meet these stringent performance requirements and design specifications, making it the ideal choice for these high-end devices."

The OV2722 is a 1/6-inch native 1080p HD CMOS image sensor, offering full field of view video with optimized image quality, sensitivity, color reproduction and clarity without scaling or cropping. Built on the new 1.4-micron OmniBSI+ pixel, the OV2722 offers significant performance improvements over the first generation, OmniBSI™-based OV2720, including a 60 percent increase in full-well capacity, a 10 percent increase in quantum efficiency and a 10 percent improvement in low-light performance. Additionally, the OV2722 is designed to fit extremely thin modules with a z-height of less than 3 mm, while maintaining pin-to-pin compatibility with its predecessor, making it a drop-in replacement for system designers.

The OV2722 supports multiple platform architectures and controllers with both parallel and MIPI interfaces. It allows system designers to leverage the same opto-electrical design across various products and multiple market segments to reduce product development time. Exposure control, white balance and defective pixel canceling are programmable through the serial camera control bus (SCCB) interface.

The OV2722 is currently in volume production.

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Daniel, a devoted tech writer at PhoneArena from 2010 to 2025, has been engrossed in mobile technology since the Windows Mobile era. His expertise spans mobile hardware, software, and carrier networks, and he's keenly interested in the future of digital health, car connectivity, and 5G. Beyond his professional pursuits, Daniel finds balance in travel, reading, and exploring new tech innovations, while contemplating the ethical and privacy implications of our digital future.