OmniVision Technologies Inc., a supplier of CMOS image sensors, has launched its first image sensor designed for the automotive market. The OV7940 is a high-performance, highly integrated analog CMOS image sensor based on OmniVision's proprietary OmniPixel technology. This true single-chip solution can be used in numerous automotive driver-assistance applications.

Market analyst firm Techno Systems Research (TSR) projects that application volumes for CMOS image sensors will surpass those for CCD sensors next year, and that by 2008, 20 million CMOS sensors will be in use in the automotive market.

The OV7940 is built to stringent, high-end specifications that meet the automobile electronics council AEC-Q100 criteria encompassing a series of tests including, but not limited to, preconditioning, humidity, high temperature cycle, mechanical, optical and electrical test parameters. For example, it uses a 48-pin quad flat pack (QFP) arrangement that attaches the sensor to the PCB, enabling it to withstand severe vibration, and expansion and contraction in extreme temperatures. Its OmniPixel technology design has an extended operational temperature range of -40 °C to +85 °C and its high sensitivity makes it suited for low light conditions.

The OV7940 is suitable for applications where high-performance image sensors are important. Besides the color OV7940, a black-and-white version, the OV7440, is available. Both devices support the NTSC and PAL formats. These devices are available for sampling and are expected to be in volume production in the third quarter.
OmniVision Technologies Inc. •(408) 542-3000 • www.OVT.com