The OV7940 is a new analog CMOS image sensor based on OmniPixel technology. It is a single-chip device that the company says can be used in numerous automotive driver assistance applications.
The automotive market is an important growth market for image sensors, with cameras fast becoming a standard feature on new cars, commented Hasan Gadjali, director of marketing for advanced products at OmniVision. He added that the product is expected to enable a module cost of under $30.
According to the company, the OV7940 uses a 48-pin Quad Flat Pack (QFP) arrangement that attaches the sensor to the PCB, enabling it to withstand vibration, expansion and contraction in extreme temperatures.
The OV7940 is also suitable for applications where high-performance image sensors are important, for example, in mainstream CCTV and security systems, currently dominated by CCDs.
The device is currently available for sampling and expected to be in volume production in the third quarter of 2005.
