SI Sensors has developed a full service for providing custom CMOS sensors for challenging or niche applications
Software developer SI Sensors has developed a full service for the design, development and manufacture of custom CMOS sensors.
While some companies may require a standard off-the-shelf sensor to meet their product development requirements, others may have specialised demands.
“In our experience opting to create a custom image sensor enables forward-thinking companies to distinguish their products and gain a competitive advantage,” said Philip Brown, the general manager of SI Sensors. “By doing so, they avoid competing in the open market where rival companies have access to the same COTS sensors which limit system performance differentiation.”
For more challenging or niche applications, companies might consider precise electro-optical performance requirement specifications, power or thermal management constraints, and environmental challenges.
The SI Sensors full-service design process includes circuit design, pixel optimisation, simulation, layout, verification, and tape-out. The developer performs electro-optical testing through to mass production testing to ensure the CMOS sensor meets industry standards such as EMVA 1288.
“Developing a new product represents a significant investment in terms of both time and financial resources. Therefore, selecting the right image sensor design partner becomes crucial to capitalise on market opportunities within an appropriate time period,” added Brown.
“We have developed our own IP, which enables proven design blocks to be used or adapted in ways to minimise cost and risk for new custom image sensor designs.”
SI Sensors are a division of imaging system manufacturer Specialised Imaging, which released its SIMD32 camera last month.
