OmniVision Technologies, Inc., a supplier of CameraChip solutions for high-volume imaging applications, today announced broad support from digital signal processing (DSP) chip providers Grandtech, Sunplus and Winbond for its recently announced 1.3 mega-pixel CMOS CameraChip. The CameraChip and the DSP are core components of a highly integrated digital camera design.
Grandtech is a developer, manufacturer and marketer of digital still camera and scanner integrated circuits (ICs). Sunplus is a developer, manufacturer and marketer of high-quality, high-added-value consumer IC products. Winbond is a developer, manufacturer and marketer of personal computer, telecommunications and consumer electronics products.
Each has announced digital still camera reference designs that incorporate their respective DSP and OmniVision's OV9620 1.3 mega-pixel CMOS CameraChip. Reference designs help manufacturers integrate complementary technologies quickly, enabling them to more rapidly bring low-cost digital cameras to market. Grandtech is supporting the OV9620 with their GT8920 DSP reference design. Sunplus is supporting the OV9620 with their SPCA504A DSP reference design. Winbond is supporting the OV9620 with their W99682 DSP reference design.
"These reference designs are an important milestone for the success of our recently announced 1.3 mega-pixel CameraChip," said Raymond Wu, executive vice president at OmniVision. "The availability of these reference designs will help camera manufacturers more quickly develop and market low-cost digital cameras that can support standard 35mm quality prints." 1.3 mega-pixel resolution is generally considered the level required for printing digital images. More pixels enable clearer and larger prints.
OmniVision's OV9620 CameraChip outputs image data in raw RGB Bayer pattern format. The DSP processes the raw RGB data and performs a number of adjustments that optimize the image. In addition, the DSP generally provides a number of other control functions widely considered necessary for highly integrated camera designs. Such control functions include file formatting and compression into JPEG or other file formats, TFT controls, mass storage interface and flash controls.
The OV9620 is a 1.3 mega-pixel CMOS CameraChip in a 48-pin package. Although data output is in raw RGB format, the chip integrates auto-white balance, auto-exposure, auto-gain control and performs correlated double sampling. As announced in November of this year, the current OEM price is $12.50 in volumes of 100,000 or greater, and the OV9620 is currently shipping in mass production volumes. Pricing and availability are subject to change.
For more information, visit www.ovt.com.