OmniVision claims 8 megapixel OmniBSI sensor turns cellphone imaging world "upside down"
By Thomas Ricker 
posted May 27th 2008 3:19AM
posted May 27th 2008 3:19AM
Digital Camera 101: As manufacturers continue pushing the Megapixel Myth by stuffing more and more pixels onto rapidly shrinking sensors, the outcome is poor performance on top of poorly lit images of increasingly low quality. Now OmniVision, the largest CMOS image sensor manufacturer today, says they've solved the pixel size problem though backside illumination (BSI) technology. In essence, BSI helps maximize photon collection by circumventing obstructive metal and dielectric layers on the top-side of the sensor die. The result is improved light absorption, thinner overall camera modules, and increased sensitivity and F stops with reduced crosstalk. However, as EETimes' crack staff of Electrical Engineering super-nerds point out, BSI is not a new technology. In fact, several manufacturers lay claim to BSI patents. However, OmniVision seems to be the first to take the tech to mass production for consumers. To prove it, they'll release an 8 megapixel OmniBSI CameraChip sensor brimming with the new tech for sample in June. Couple it with a decent cameraphone lens and image processing circuitry and we might be in for a treat.[Via EETimes]
I wouldn't mind a high quality 2MP camera in my phone... it takes good pics as-is but they could be better... anything much more than 2MP in a phone is a bit unnecessary... unless of course its one of the big ones that's essentially a camera with a phone built in... otherwise bring a camera with you.
I think having a 5-8 megapixel cam phone that can take good night shots would be well loved.Especially from concert goers like me who like to photograph the night.
Agreed.
n82
I'd take a phone-cam that takes non-blurry shots...yea, thanks Samsung.
I really have no idea why the manufacturers push the pixel limit that much in compact and prosumer cameras at the cost of noise and image degradation. I really wonder who needs that many megapixel. I still do commercial works with my 6 Megapixel Nikon D70 (actually I'm correcting some shots of cookies for a commercial in Lightroom right now), and from my experience I know that 6 Megapixel is enough for quality letter-size (or A4 size) print, while 3 Mpix is enough for standard-size photos. So why to they insist on 8 Mpix monsters with noise levels from hell even at ISO 200? Would it be that hard to produce a 3-4 Mpix compact model with decent quality of images and color up to ISO 1600? I mean, how many of you develop your pictures on letter-sized (or A4 sized) format on regular basis? Who needs those megapixel at the cost of quality?
Who needs even 3-4MP when you're shooting though a piece of plastic :/
...is it really that hard to atleast make that tinyass lens from glass? I mean thats an additional what? half cent?
Nokia use Carl Zeiss.
Yahhh trick yahhhhhhhhhh!
WOW, backside illumination is a great thing, previously it was mostly used for astronomy application (where cost of the sensor is minor compared to the rest). This mobile phone sensor is probably not as efficient as these expensive stuff. But this should really increase the sensor efficiency.
Another advantage is that these should not need any micro lenses anymore.
I would prefer to see this technology in sensors with less megapixels or even better bigger sensors, like DSLRs :)
5D Mk II with backside illumination sensor? :)
Here is an example how the efficiency could be improved:
http://www.ccd.com/ccd101.html
I doubt this omnivision sensor will show that much improvement, but still :)
OK, take that technology, put it in a small 4MP sensor. Allow it to capture said photons through something vaguely optically sound. Then sell it to me.
I'd say the image stabilization is much much more important than gigapixels.
They should try to develop "sensor shake resistance" for mobile phones - might be then the CrapCams (tm) and BlurCams (tm) might become relevant.
I'm almost positive that many cam phones in Japan and Korea already have OPTICAL image stabilization.. Just us western world wankers with the blurred party pics...
I'd would really love a phone that can take high quality pics.
iPhone + Richo GR DIGITAL = Love at first sight
that'd be Ricoh GR Digital
Backside illumination. Heh.
I've always wanted to illuminate my backside.
Image quality is mostly about The Glass (lens). No good Glass, no Glass at all (in cell phone) - no quality, even with 25MPx sensor. That's all.
^^^True with film. Not necessarily true with digital cameras. Good lenses couple to a bad sensor will still create a bad photo. With digital, you need both the lens and sensor to be good.