High-Quality Video Capabilities Redefine the DSC Market
SUNNYVALE, CA — April 19, 2006 — OMNIVISION Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: OVTI), a world leading supplier of CMOS image sensors, today unveiled its second-generation, 5 megapixel CameraChip™. The OV5620 offers a small form-factor, 5 megapixel CMOS camera that surpasses CCD sensors in performance. Furthermore, the OV5620’s advanced high-definition (HD) video modes with vivid colors make this CameraChip™ especially attractive for next generation digital still cameras (DSCs) and hybrid cameras, which take both still and video pictures.
“After several years of exponential growth, the DSC market has slowed down significantly, and the pixel race seems to have found its sweet spot around 5 megapixels,” said Brian O’Rourke, Senior Analyst at market research firm In-Stat. “With so many DSCs sold today featuring 5 megapixels, the key market differentiators in this segment are shifting away from the pixel count and towards advanced features such as video.”
The OV5620 offers two unique video modes. The first is a D1 resolution (720×480) at 60 frames per second (fps), which is slightly larger than the VGA resolution (640×480) found in most DSCs today. Because D1 is a TV resolution, the user can plug an OV5620 enabled camera directly into a TV and enjoy smooth, high-quality video playback. The second is a 720P resolution (1280×720) at 30fps, which is considered an entry-level, HD video specification. This allows the user to play video back directly through an HDTV display.
“Because most traditional DSCs use CCD technology and thus are unable to produce high frame rates at high resolution, their video features are limited,” said Jason Liu, senior product marketing manager at OMNIVISION, “Based on our testing of products containing the OV5620 versus those containing CCD sensors, the OV5620 will offer camera makers significantly enhanced video performance over CCD sensors, while maintaining an affordable price.”
Using its new OmniPixel®2 architecture, OMNIVISION significantly improved both performance and image quality in the OV5620, while reducing overall sensor size, making the OV5620 an ideal solution for DSCs, hybrid cameras and high-resolution camera phones. With an optical format of just 1/2.5 inches, the OV5620 fits easily into popular 3x zoom lens modules, making it one of the first 5 megapixel CMOS camera modules to compete in the CCD-dominated mainstream DSC market segment.
New on-chip features include an OmniQSP signal processing core for high-grade picture processing that enables 50/60 Hz auto flicker detection, LCD scaling, lens shading correction, defect pixel correction, edge enhancement and noise reduction functions. The integrated VarioPixel®-2 technology offers a new pixel binning processing, which results in improved image quality with reduced sub-sampling artifacts and greater performance in low light condition.
The OV5620 comes in both a 48-pin, lead-free CLCC package and a 40-pin, lead-free CSP-2 package, both of which are now available for sampling.
Safe-Harbor Language
Certain statements in this press release, including statements regarding the performance, achievements and capabilities of and markets for the OV5620 CMOS image sensors, and the anticipated competitive advantage of the OV5620, 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 the OV5620 CMOS image sensors; the development of the market for CMOS sensors in the digital still camera and hybrid markets as well as in markets for other portable applications incorporating image sensors; the rapid changes in technical requirements for digital still and hybrid cameras; competitive risks; as well as other risks detailed from time to time in OMNIVISION’s Securities and Exchange Commission filings and reports, including, but not limited to, OMNIVISION’s most recent annual report filed on Form 10-K and quarterly report filed on form 10-Q. OMNIVISION expressly disclaims any obligation to update information contained in any forward-looking statement whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.