SmartSens Adds New 4MP CMOS Image Sensor to Its SL Series for Intelligent Security Applications

Shanghai, China, October 22, 2024 SmartSens Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. (SSE STAR MARKET: 688213), a technologically-advanced CMOS image sensor supplier, recently announced a new CMOS image sensor of SmartSens Star Light (SL) Series, the 4-MegaPixel (MP) SC485SL. Leveraging SmartSens’ advanced technologies including SmartClarity^®-3, Lightbox IR^®, and SmartAOV^™ 2.0, SC485SL provides superior performance in high sensitivity, high dynamic range, low noise, imaging at high temperatures, low power consumption, etc., which makes it ideal for camera upgrades of intelligent security applications such as AI dark-light full-color cameras.

Main features

SmartAOV^™ 2.0 technology

As SmartSens’ first CIS to employ SmartAOV^™ 2.0 technology, SC485SL supports Always-On Video (AOV). When a moving target is detected, the sensor is awakened quickly by built-in functions including AEC/AGC/AWB, and captures videos at a frame rate of 30fps. When a moving target is not detected, the sensor captures videos at a low frame rate of 1fps. Therefore, the AOV enables the camera system to capture all-day videos 24/7.

Compared with its predecessor, the SmartAOV^™ 2.0 technology has the following upgrades:

· Enhanced image processing effect: the built-in AWB function of the CIS has been raised to 16x gain, which covers a wider range of the color temperature, thus achieving better image color restoration effects.

· Optimized booting time: by decreasing the number of I2C configurations, the image transmission time of CIS is reduced, thereby accelerating its booting process.

· Interrupt mode: CIS sends a logic level to the System-On-Chip (SoC) when the booting is completed. This interrupt mode is friendly for SoC, compared with the conventional polling mode (The SoC obtains the CIS’ booting status by reading the register).

Low light imaging

SC485SL utilizes SmartSens’ advanced technologies including SFCPixel^®, Lightbox IR^®, and multi-exposure HDR to achieve enhanced imaging performance in low-light or dark environments. SmartSens’ proprietary SFCPixel^® technology and the BSI pixel structure equip the new image sensor to achieve growth in sensitivity and Quantum Efficiency (QE). At the 520nm wavelength of visible light, the QE of SC485SL is 15% higher than its predecessor. Meanwhile, Lightbox IR^® provides significant improvement in the sensors’ Near-Infrared (NIR) sensitivity. Compared with its predecessor, SC485SL has a 1-time jump in QE at the 850nm wavelength, and a 1.6-time surge in QE at the 940nm wavelength, enabling its clear, accurate image capture in low light conditions.

SC485SL employs CMS2, CM4, and 12-bit quantization modes, which can effectively reduce read noise, thus improving its dynamic range. Compared with its predecessor, SC485SL has a significant reduction of 38% in Read Noise (RN) and 10% in PRNU, respectively. The SNR1s of SC485SL is 39% lower than its predecessor. These enable the sensor to deliver detailed, accurate image output with low noise even in low light scenes such as underground parking lots, and outdoor places at night.

The new sensor SC485SL supports ColGain HDR^®, 2-exposure staggered HDR, and 3-exposure staggered HDR of up to 120dB, providing customers with options for their camera solution development. The sensor's high dynamic range yields an image output with clear and rich highlight and shadow details in strong or low-light/illumination environments.

Imaging at high temperatures

Thanks to SmartSens’ advanced technologies such as SmartClarity^®-3, etc., the new BSI sensor delivers optimized imaging performance at high temperatures. At a temperature of 80°C, SC485SL has significant reductions of 73% in DarkCurrent (DC), and 40% in White Pixel (WP) when compared with similar stacked BSI CIS in the industry, thereby enabling its high-quality, stable image output in high-temperature environments.

Low power consumption

The precise control of internal modules equips SC485SL to achieve ultra-low power consumption. The SC485SL image sensor supports three output formats, including 30fps, 60fps, and 90fps. The power consumption of SC485SL is less than 300mW@90fps and 210mW@60fps respectively, which provides effective power savings for the whole camera system.

SC485SL is sampling now and will be mass-produced in Q4 2024. For more information or to request a sample, please contact SmartSens Sales Representatives: cs@smartsenstech.com

About SmartSens Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.

SmartSens Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. (SSE STAR MARKET: 688213) is a high-performance CMOS image sensor (CIS) chip design company. It is headquartered in Shanghai and has research centers in many cities around the world. SmartSens has been dedicated to pushing forward the frontier of imaging technology and growing in popularity among customers since it was established. SmartSens’ CMOS image sensors provide advanced imaging solutions for a broad range of areas such as surveillance, machine vision, automotive and cellphone cameras. SmartSens is committed to continuous innovation of products and fueling growth in numerous industries by delivering a more comprehensive portfolio of image sensors. Learn more at SmartSensTech.com.