CMOS sensors for niche vision applications
Drawing upon a team of specialists with a broad range of experience in image sensor design and a growing intellectual property (IP) portfolio – SI Sensors provides a cost-effective full service for design, development, and manufacture of custom CMOS sensors.
Some new product developments may employ a standard commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) sensor that meets all, or enough, of the client’s product development requirements. However, for more challenging, or niche applications with specialised requirements, often there is not a COTS sensor available to meet client requirements.
Niche applications often demand more specialised sensor features including precise electro-optical performance requirement specifications, power or thermal management constraints, and environmental challenges.
Philip Brown, General Manager of SI Sensors said “In our experience opting to create a custom image sensor enables forward-thinking companies to distinguish their products and gain a competitive advantage. By doing so, they avoid competing in the open market where rival companies have access to the same COTS sensors which limit system performance differentiation.”
He added “Developing a new product represents a significant investment in terms of both time and financial resources. Therefore, selecting the right image sensor design partner becomes crucial to capitalise on market opportunities within an appropriate time period. We have developed our own IP, which enables proven design blocks to be used or adapted in ways to minimise cost and risk for new custom image sensor designs.”
SI Sensors aim is always to achieve the best balance between image sensor performance and cost (optimised value) for customers. The full-service CMOS image sensor design offered by the company includes circuit design, pixel optimisation, simulation, layout, verification, and tape-out. In addition, to ensure performance and consistent quality and reliability SI Sensors perform detailed electro-optical testing from characterisation through to mass production testing adhering to industry standards such as EMVA 1288.
