Omnivision, a California based cellphone camera sensor manufacturer, has introduced a new image sensor for smartphones which is about 20 per cent smaller in size than the current lots. If used, this can help in making slimmer smartphones.
The reduction in the size of the sensor has been made possible by the adoption of the Omni BSI-2 technology that employs a 1.1 micron fabrication process as opposed to a 1.4 micron fabrication process used earlier.
An integrated image scale on the sensor allows the camera to maintain full field of view in 1080p high-definition (HD) video recording at 30 frames per second and 720p HD video recording at 60 frames per second also. Additionally, the sensor also offers better image stabilisation for both still photographs and 720p videos.
So overall the new sensor offers betterment both in terms of video recording as well as still image capturing while offering features that were earlier expected from bigger cameras only.
Apart from other smartphone manufacturers, Apple is also expected to adopt the technology for its upcoming devices. However, with the iPhone 5 due in a couple of months, it is confirmed that the new sensor will not be featuring on that device. But with a slimmer version of the iPhone, pictures of whose was shown in few leaked images, it is highly expected that the device will feature this new sensor.
And not just the smartphones, the sensor can also be used in the iPod Touch 3G that is expected to come sometime next year.