The Center for Artificial Vision believes Aptina is the world’s finest imaging solutions company, and we’re solely focused on enabling you, our customer, to capture, analyze, and render the clearest and most vibrant images possible regardless of application, form factor, resolution, or frame rate.

A leading innovator of CMOS imaging technology, Aptina delivers excellent pixel performance, sensor functionality and camera system capability to a world going visual. With Aptina's high-quality imaging portfolio, customers can deliver new and differentiated solutions faster. Aptina enables imaging everywhere.

How CMOS image sensors work

Both CCD and CMOS technologies are based on arrays of light-sensitive pixels (or photosites), which gather photons of light and convert them to a visible image. CMOS sensors use multiple transistors to amplify and move the charge provided by incoming photons of light, enabling the pixels to be read individually. The CMOS manufacturing process uses standard semiconductor technology, which increases memory photosites, lowers the production cost significantly, and can make integration simpler.

CMOS image sensor advantages

CMOS image sensors have improved by leaps over the last few years. Resolutions are now high enough and run at fast enough frame rates to enable advanced-camera features like electronic pan, tilt, and zoom or image stabilization. CMOS architecture allows for random pixel access and window-of-interest readout for applications requiring image compression, motion detection, or target tracking. CMOS imagers are now designed in to generations of DSCs, IP security cameras, and even intelligent vehicle systems. Their portability and low power consumption have driven these sensors to dominance in markets like mobile handset camera systems; digital SLRs; and high-speed, machine-vision cameras.

SOCs — powerful processing on a single chip

SOCs, which are built right on to the image sensor at the silicon level, have several key advantages. They're designed to work perfectly with the sensor they are attached to, so the SOC's signal processing is at its best when the sensor is the most challenged. They're a compact, one-chip solution, making them easy to integrate, which can potentially lower overall system cost.

About Aptina™ A-Pix™ Technology

Aptina A-Pix is a series of advanced pixel technologies, featuring lightguide and deep photodiode, and 65 nanometer pixel design rules that cost-effectively advance pixel performance. The new, third generation Aptina A-Pix enhances quantum efficiency and minimizes crosstalk to capture sharp images with vibrant colors even in the low-light conditions that challenge traditional sensors. Aptina has already shipped millions of imaging products containing earlier generations of Aptina's reliable and established FSI technology. Aptina A-Pix makes it possible for mobile phone cameras to capture quality images to compete with digital still cameras, and enables a new class of hybrid camera that combines digital still image capture with advanced high-performance HD video.

Aptina™ DR-Pix™ Technology

Aptina's innovative approach to improving low light performance without compromising image quality utilizes a dynamic response pixel, called Aptina DR-Pix technology. Aptina DR-Pix technology combines two modes of operation in one pixel design - low conversion gain mode for large charge handling capacity in bright scenes and a high conversion gain mode with increased sensitivity and low read noise for low-light scenes. The result is a sensor, like the company's 16MP MT9H004, that offers the best possible noise performance over all ISO speed conditions.