ON Semiconductor expands leading image sensors

     ON Semiconductor is expanding its Interline TransferEMCCD(IT-EMCCD) image sensor lineup with new options not only for low-light industrial applications such as medical and scientific imaging, but also for commercial and military applications for high-end surveillance.

     The new 4-megapixel KAE-04471 features 7.4 micron pixels larger than existing IT-EMCCD devices, doubling the new device's light-gathering power and improving image quality in low-light conditions. The pin and package of the KAE-04471 are compatible with the existing 8-megapixel KAE-08151, making it easy for camera manufacturers to take full advantage of existing camera designs to support new devices.

     The new KAE-02152 has the same 1080p resolution and 2/3 inch optical format as the existing KAE‑02150, but combines an enhanced pixel design with improved near-infrared (NIR) wavelength sensitivity, an improvement critical for applications such as surveillance, microscopy and ophthalmology. The KAE-02152 is fully pin-compatible with the existing KAE-02150, and both devices come in a package that includes an integrated thermoelectric cooler, simplifying the task of developing a cooled camera design for camera manufacturers.

     Herb Erhardt, vice president and general manager of the Industrial Solutions segment of ON Semiconductor's Image Sensors Division, said: "As the demand for sub-lux imaging solutions expands into the surveillance, medical, scientific and defense markets, customers are looking for new image sensor options with the critical performance required for these applications. "The new products from On Semiconductor enable customers to choose from our IT-EMCCD lineup in a variety of resolutions, pixel sizes, sensitivities, color configurations and package options to meet their low-light imaging needs."

     The Interline Transfer EMCCD device combines a unique output structure with two proven imaging technologies to achieve a new low noise, high dynamic range imaging class. While the Interline Transfer CCD provides excellent image quality and uniformity with an efficient electronic shutter, this technology is not always suitable for low-light imaging. Although EMCCD image sensors perform well in low-light conditions, they used to be low-resolution devices with limited dynamic range. The combination of these technologies enables EMCCD's low-noise architecture to scale to multimillion pixel resolutions, and the innovative output design allows the output of standard CCD (normal gain) and EMCCD (high gain) to be used to capture a single image, extending the dynamic range and scene detection from sunlight to starlight in a single image.

     ON Semiconductor is now offering an engineering version of KAE-04471, with a production version available in the second quarter of 2017. The engineering version of the KAE-02152 is available in a standard package as well as a package combined with an integrated thermoelectric cooler, with production versions of both configurations available in the third quarter of 2017. All IT-EMCCD devices are available in ceramic micro-PGA packages and in black and white and Bayer color configurations.