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Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation
STARVIS™ / STARVIS 2 CMOS Image Sensor
IMX676-AACR1, IMX835-AQJ1, IMX585-AAQJ1, IMX307LQD/LQR, IMX335LLN/LQN, IMX412-AACK, IMX323LQN
There is a need for surveillance cameras to film with clear images in a variety of environments. Sony's image sensors meet this need by providing high-sensitivity performance suitable for night filming.
STARVIS Technology STARVISTM / STARVIS 2
STARVIS technology is characterized by ultra-high sensitivity, pushing the boundary of mechanical recognition to enrich society and bring safety, security, and convenience to people.
With sensitivity superior to that of the human eye, it enables object shape and color recognition even in dark locations and obtains the required information with accuracy, contributing to greater safety and security in society.
Features
CMOS image sensors with outstanding levels of low noise and high sensitivity performance
STARVIS / STARVIS 2 technology, dedicatedly developed for CMOS image sensors for security cameras, has made it possible to simultaneously demonstrate sensitivity beyond the human eye as well as outstanding low noise characteristics. These sensors can accurately reproduce colors and textures of targets which are difficult to distinguish in dark locations, drastically improving their performance in low-illuminance environments where security cameras are used.
HDR technology that can accurately capture images regardless of brightness
Two type of HDR functions are prepared to assist the security cameras to shoot under complex lighting comditions.
DOL HDR is best suited for slow-moving objects and Clear HDR for high-moving objects. The installed HDR varies depending on the model. Please check the product lineup.
High-quality imaging characteristics in the near infrared (NIR) region
This series of image sensors are capable of capturing images under the near-infrared light in addition to the visible light.
By emitting near-infrared light as auxiliary light, they can clearly capture the shapes and the gradation of the objects even in"jet-black" darkness.
STARVIS™ / STARVIS 2 Product Lineup （Color）
*Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation Authorized Distributor
STARVIS technology is characterized by ultra-high sensitivity, pushing the boundary of mechanical recognition to enrich society and bring safety, security, and convenience to people.
With sensitivity superior to that of the human eye, it enables object shape and color recognition even in dark locations and obtains the required information with accuracy, contributing to greater safety and security in society.
Features
CMOS image sensors with outstanding levels of low noise and high sensitivity performance
STARVIS / STARVIS 2 technology, dedicatedly developed for CMOS image sensors for security cameras, has made it possible to simultaneously demonstrate sensitivity beyond the human eye as well as outstanding low noise characteristics. These sensors can accurately reproduce colors and textures of targets which are difficult to distinguish in dark locations, drastically improving their performance in low-illuminance environments where security cameras are used.
HDR technology that can accurately capture images regardless of brightness
Two type of HDR functions are prepared to assist the security cameras to shoot under complex lighting comditions.
DOL HDR is best suited for slow-moving objects and Clear HDR for high-moving objects. The installed HDR varies depending on the model. Please check the product lineup.
High-quality imaging characteristics in the near infrared (NIR) region
This series of image sensors are capable of capturing images under the near-infrared light in addition to the visible light.
By emitting near-infrared light as auxiliary light, they can clearly capture the shapes and the gradation of the objects even in"jet-black" darkness.
STARVIS™ / STARVIS 2 Product Lineup （Color）
STARVIS™ / STARVIS 2 Product Lineup（Monochrome）
Technical Features
Super-high sensitivity beyond the human eye
Image sensors capture light and convert it to electrical signals in order to create images and other data. It is a significant advantage for image sensors to capture images accurately in dark locations. To achieve this, it is crucial to sense the faintest light in darkness and convert this to electrical signals efficiently without allowing noise contamination.
STARVIS technology is designed to capture the faintest light in a dark place, such as a small alleyway without street lights, convert this light into noise-less electrical signals, and deliver an image of the target object through the realistic rendition of its shapes and colors.
Technology that delivers high sensitivity
Light travels into an image sensor through a lens and reaches a photodiode, which converts the light into electrical signals. It is this photodiode that holds the key to higher sensitivity—how efficiently it collects light.
The arrangements of photodiodes are a determining factor in an image sensor’s sensitivity. In a structure known as front-illuminated, photodiodes are placed behind a wiring layer. In this structure, the problem is that incident light is deflected or absorbed on the wiring layer before reaching the photodiodes, compromising the image sensor’s sensitivity. By contrast, with STARVIS the photodiodes are positioned on top of the wiring layer in the back-illuminated structure. This configuration resolves the light loss that was caused by the wiring layer, significantly increasing the amount of light that reaches the photodiodes. As a result, this structure has improved the sensitivity by over 4.6 times*1.
The closer proximity between the on-chip lens and each photodiode means that the photodiodes can receive rays at larger angles of incidence, which helps to improve the imaging performance of the image sensor when combined with a low f-number lens.
*1) Comparing the image sensors for security camera applications: IMX236 (front-illuminated) and IMX585 (back-illuminated).
Super-high sensitivity beyond the human eye
Image sensors capture light and convert it to electrical signals in order to create images and other data. It is a significant advantage for image sensors to capture images accurately in dark locations. To achieve this, it is crucial to sense the faintest light in darkness and convert this to electrical signals efficiently without allowing noise contamination.
STARVIS technology is designed to capture the faintest light in a dark place, such as a small alleyway without street lights, convert this light into noise-less electrical signals, and deliver an image of the target object through the realistic rendition of its shapes and colors.
Technology that delivers high sensitivity
Light travels into an image sensor through a lens and reaches a photodiode, which converts the light into electrical signals. It is this photodiode that holds the key to higher sensitivity—how efficiently it collects light.
The arrangements of photodiodes are a determining factor in an image sensor’s sensitivity. In a structure known as front-illuminated, photodiodes are placed behind a wiring layer. In this structure, the problem is that incident light is deflected or absorbed on the wiring layer before reaching the photodiodes, compromising the image sensor’s sensitivity. By contrast, with STARVIS the photodiodes are positioned on top of the wiring layer in the back-illuminated structure. This configuration resolves the light loss that was caused by the wiring layer, significantly increasing the amount of light that reaches the photodiodes. As a result, this structure has improved the sensitivity by over 4.6 times*1.
The closer proximity between the on-chip lens and each photodiode means that the photodiodes can receive rays at larger angles of incidence, which helps to improve the imaging performance of the image sensor when combined with a low f-number lens.
*1) Comparing the image sensors for security camera applications: IMX236 (front-illuminated) and IMX585 (back-illuminated).
Illustration of front- and back-illuminated structures in cross section
*Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation Authorized Distributor
