OmniVision Launches Family of High Performance 20+ Megapixel Image Sensors for Flagship Smartphones

New PureCel-S™ Sensors Bring Advanced Features and DSC-level Performance to Next-Generation Smartphones

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Nov 03, 2014, 09:00 ET

SANTA CLARA, Calif., Nov. 3, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- OmniVision Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: OVTI), a leading developer of advanced digital imaging solutions, today announced the OV23850 and OV21840, a family of PureCel-S™ 20+ megapixel image sensors with image quality and performance comparable to DSCs and DVCs. Using OmniVision's advanced stacked die process, the OV23850 and OV21840 capture stunning images and video in 23.8-megapixel and 21.4-megapixel resolutions, respectively, while maintaining a compact form factor. The sensors' small footprints paired with increased functionality and performance make the OV23850 and OV21840 ideal camera solutions for the next generation of flagship smartphones.

OmniVision's new family of 20 megapixel sensors bring point-and-shoot image quality and capabilities to next-generation smartphones.

"Industry experts anticipate that 20+ megapixel image sensors will be the next popular resolution threshold for flagship smartphones in 2015. The OV23850 and OV21840 are designed to facilitate the adoption of this resolution range by smartphone OEMs," said Harish Iyer, senior product marketing manager at OmniVision. "We see the megapixel race in the smartphone segment as heating up, with flagship smartphones reaching toward not only DSC-comparable resolutions, but also advanced features such as fast autofocus, HDR mode, burst mode and slow motion video that today are characteristically restricted to DSCs. The OV23850 and OV21840 can provide OEMs with the opportunity to make the full range of these advanced capabilities a reality for their new flagship devices."

The OV23850 and OV21840 PureCel-S sensors leverage the company's new stacked die technology, which separates the imaging array from the image sensor processing pipeline into a stacked die structure. This enables additional sensor functionalities, such as phase detection autofocus (PDAF), two-dimensional contrast fast autofocus and HDR video, while maintaining a small footprint. OmniVision plans to combine the unique two-dimensional contrast-based fast autofocus, which is up to 4x faster than traditional contrast autofocus, with PDAF to offer an optimized hybrid fast autofocus function.

Supporting an active array of 5632 x 4224 pixels (23.8 megapixels) operating at 24 frames per second (FPS), the 1/2.3-inch OV23850 reaches an unprecedented resolution level for capturing images and video in a 4:3 aspect ratio in a form factor suitable for smartphones and similar mobile devices. The 1/2.4-inch OV21840 supports an active array of 5344 x 4016 pixels (21.4-megapixel) operating 27 FPS, enabling ultra-high definition burst photography.

The OV23850 and OV21840 are capable of recording quad high definition (QHD) video at 30 FPS in HDR mode to enable 'always on' HDR preview mode for a resolution size popular with flagship smartphone displays. Additionally, the sensors support 720p HD video at 120 FPS and 1080p HD video at 90 FPS, allowing for crisp slow motion video recording.

The OV23850 and OV21840 fit into 10.5 x 10.5 mm modules with z-heights of 6.3 and 6 mm, respectively. Both sensors are currently sampling and are expected to enter volume production in the first quarter of 2015.

About OmniVision
OmniVision Technologies (NASDAQ: OVTI) is a leading developer of advanced digital imaging solutions. Its award-winning CMOS imaging technology enables superior image quality in many of today's consumer and commercial applications, including mobile phones, notebooks, tablets and webcams, digital still and video cameras, security and surveillance, entertainment devices, automotive and medical imaging systems. Find out more at www.ovt.com.

Safe-Harbor Language
Certain statements in this press release, including statements regarding the expected benefits, performance, capabilities, and potential market appeal, as well as anticipated timing of mass production, of the OV23850 and OV21840 are forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties, which could cause the forward-looking statements and OmniVision's results to differ materially, include, without limitation: potential errors, design flaws or other problems with OV23850 and OV21840, customer acceptance, demand, and other risks detailed from time to time in OmniVision's Securities and Exchange Commission filings and reports, including, but not limited to, OmniVision's annual report filed on Form 10-K and quarterly reports filed on Form 10-Q. OmniVision expressly disclaims any obligation to update information contained in any forward-looking statement.

OmniVision® and the OmniVision logo are registered trademarks of OmniVision Technologies, Inc. PureCel-S™ and PureCel™ are trademarks of OmniVision Technologies, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

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SOURCE OmniVision Technologies, Inc.