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Toshiba Expands Lineup of Phase Detection Auto-Focus-equipped CMOS Image Sensors for Smartphones and Tablets

2015-07-30 | Return

July 30, 2015

TOKYO – Toshiba Corporation (TOKYO: 6502) today announced details of the full line-up of its new series of high performance BSI CMOS image sensors equipped with Phase Detection Auto-Focus (PDAF)[1]. Following on from the already announced 16-megapixel(MP) T4KC3-121[2], the company has unveiled 8MP (T4KA3-121), 13MP (T4KB3-121) and 20MP (T4KA7-121) sensors. Sample shipments of devices in the series will start in August, and they will be rolled out in turn.

Originally developed for SLR cameras, PDAF locks in focus at speeds much faster than the auto-focus systems used in smartphones and tablets. This is driving demand for PDAF on those platforms.

In addition to securing high-speed focus of still and moving objects, for needle-sharp, natural images and movies, the new CMOS image sensors also make it possible to create even thinner smartphones and mobile devices: Toshiba’s PDAF does not require a space for an AF sensor in the camera module, as they are embedded in the CMOS image sensor itself.

Toshiba’s main goal with its new line-up of CMOS image sensors is to empower users to capture beautiful images and movies. Toward this, in addition to PDAF, Toshiba supports functionalities such as Bright Mode[3], high speed image capturing and HDR[4]. They also achieve low power consumption and are in the world’s smallest class of chip size[5].

Main Specifications

Part Number		T4KA3-121	T4KB3-121	T4KC3-121[2]	T4KA7-121
Output Pixels		8 megapixel	13 megapixel	16 megapixel	20 megapixel
Optical Size		1/4 inch	1/3.07 inch	1/2.78 inch	1/2.4 inch
Pixel Pitch		BSI 1.12 micro-meter
PDAF		√	√	√	√
Maximum Output Frame (fps)	Normal mode[6]	30fps @8M 60fps @Full-HD 120fps @HD 200fps @WVGA	30fps @13M 30fps @4K2K 60fps @Full-HD 120fps @HD	30fps @16M 30fps @4K2K 60fps @Full-HD 120fps @HD	22fps @20M 24fps @18.8M 28fps @16.3M
Maximum Output Frame (fps)	Bright mode[7]	240fps @HD	120fps @Full-HD	120fps @Full-HD	–
ＨＤＲ		√	√	√	–
Power Consumption [8]		140 mW	170 mW	240 mW	440 mW
Reference Camera Module Size		8.5 mm × 8.5 mm (Auto-focus type) 6.5 mm × 6.5 mm （Fixed focus type）	8.5 mm x 8.5 mm (Auto-focus type) 6.7 mm × 6.7 mm (Fixed focus type)	8.5 mm × 8.5 mm (Auto-focus type)	10.5 mm × 12.0 mm (Auto-focus type)
Sample Price		1, 500 yen	1, 600 yen	1, 600 yen	2, 500 yen
Sample Shipment Schedule		August 17, 2015	August 3, 2015	August 11, 2015	October, 2015
Mass Production Schedule		December, 2015	November, 2015	December, 2015	March, 2016
Mass Production volume		6 million units a month	4 million units a month	2 million units a month	500,000 units a month

[1] ：Phase Detection Auto-Focus (PDAF)
[2] ：The part number for 16 MP CMOS image sensor with PDAF, originally announced as T4KC3, is now T4KC3-121.
T4KC3 will be used as the part number for a 16 MP CMOS image sensor without PDAF.
[3] ： Bright Mode
[4] ： High Dynamic Range (HDR)
[5] ： Toshiba survey, as of July 30, 2015.
[6] ： Frame rate of progressive output.
[7] : Frame rate of interlaced output after progressive conversion processing.
[8] : Reference power consumption at the full pixel output operation in LP mode.

For further information about these products, please visit:
T4KA3-121　　 T4KB3-121　　 T4KC3-121　　 T4KA7-121

Source：http://www.semicon.toshiba.co.jp/eng/