Image sensors
in identification of a CMOS device, it will sometimes result in selection of a CCD’.
CMOS: better, faster, stronger With Sony’s announcement expected to accelerate the shiſt towards CMOS, there will no doubt be further enhancements to CMOS technology in coming years, in a bid to develop better alternatives to CCD sensors. ‘Te major advance will be on CMOS image
sensor global shutter pixels with CCD-like electro-optical performance. Sony has made the first step in that direction,’ commented Dr Lou Hermans, COO at Cmosis. Global shutter is considered important for
industrial vision as it avoids distortion, ensuring image quality when capturing fast-moving objects. Sony recently launched its second generation
of Pregius global shutter CMOS sensors, which combine aspects of both CCD and CMOS in a pixel design. Daniel Diezemann, senior vision consultant at IDS Imaging Development Systems, described the architecture for the IMX174 sensor, part of the Pregius family, as ‘like a CCD pixel in a CMOS sensor’, in an interview for Imaging and Machine Vision Europe. Te latest Pregius sensors offer resolutions
up to 12 megapixels and a reduced pixel size of 3.45µm to enable higher resolution and support smaller optics. Te sensor read noise has also been lowered to 3e-
to enable quality, low noise
imaging at low light conditions. ‘Te new Sony Pregius CMOS technology
sets a new benchmark for global shutter CMOS performance,’ added Gibbons of Point Grey. ‘Global shutter CMOS is continuing to improve and has become a viable alternative to CCD
NEXT-GENERATION CMOS
The improvements in CMOS technology in recent years have meant they are now used in an increasing number of applications, and in April and May 2015, two three-year projects were launched for advancing CMOS image sensors for use in different markets. The CISTERN project,
standing for ‘CMOS Image Sensor Technologies Readiness for Next Generation Applications’, is investigating future CMOS architectures for several industries, including broadcast and entertainment, high-end security, and multispectral imaging. At the
same time, EXIST (Extended Imaging Sensor Technologies) is looking to develop new image sensors for systems designed to improve citizen security, safety, and healthcare. The image sensor research within EXIST will focus on enhancing and extending the capabilities of current CMOS imaging devices for better performance, including sensitivity, dynamic range, quantum efficiency, among other parameters. Key developments will be improvements in hyperspectral and multispectral capabilities. Camera manufacturer Adimec is a partner on both
projects, contributing video processing developments for security and medical applications. For CISTERN, Adimec will develop video processing optimised for security applications and expertise with integrated camera lens assemblies, while on EXIST the company will look at video processing for very high data rates and multi/ hyperspectral cameras. Other project partners
include R&D institutions Imec and Fraunhofer IMS, as well as companies Cmosis, Grass Valley, Softkinetic, Thales Angenieux, Adimec, Silios, Sofradir, Focal, and Quest.
sensors for a wide range of applications.’ Image quality will continue to be developed
over the next few years in order to compete with what CCD technology offers. ‘In the past, VGA was a commodity product in machine vision in terms of resolution; two megapixel sensors could be the commodity product in the next year, and three megapixels or five megapixels in the next five years,’ noted Sony’s Destruels. ‘Advances in CMOS technology will
undoubtedly continue, resulting in devices that offer improved imaging performance, faster output speeds, higher resolutions, and improved functionality,’ added On Semiconductor’s Ringoot.
Industry 4.0 Te fourth industrial revolution, referred to as Industry 4.0, has also been much talked about within machine vision this year. Trough digitisation, Industry 4.0 looks to transform manufacturing with smarter machines, soſtware and processes, resulting in the flexibility to produce smaller product volumes locally that cost less and require less labour (see the article on Industry 4.0 on page 4). Tis drive towards more
flexible manufacturing affects how factory floor customers perceive machine vision products. ‘Manufacturers look for machine vision systems that can interface easily to robots and PLCs. Vision platforms must be versatile and support a wide range of applications and lend themselves to various tasks and product lines without requiring costly re-tooling,’ noted Sam Lopez, director of sales
On Semiconductor supplies both CCD and CMOS, including the Python family of CMOS sensors
and marketing at Matrox Imaging, in an article for Imaging and Machine Vision Europe. Te features of CMOS technology make
CCDs continue to be sold… for very critical
applications, such as end of line inspection of flat panel displays
it better equipped to meet the requirements for digital production, according to Krepil of Framos: ‘Te reduction in energy consumption and falling camera and system costs clearly indicate that the move towards Industry 4.0 and automated production and quality assurance is gaining speed,’ he said. ‘Te CMOS development will lead to simpler and faster image processing and this will
therefore become more widely used. ‘Machine vision and every aspect of process
automation will be an important component of future technological and industrial development,’ Krepil continued. ‘In parallel with the increase in CMOS sensor efficiency, the efficiency of machine applications will also grow, while the process activities and business costs will fall significantly.’ Ease-of-use of vision systems will also play
an important role in flexible manufacturing and automation within Industry 4.0. ‘On the basis of the increasing usability of the applications, which is similar to that of apps and drag-and- drop programming, machine vision will be accessible to non-engineers, as we are already seeing in the field of smart cameras,’ Krepil remarked. ‘Tis means that it [machine vision] will no longer be the domain of experts; [machine vision] will become the new norm in manufacturing companies. Te further development of CMOS sensors will play an important role in this respect.’ O
24 Imaging and Machine Vision Europe • Yearbook 2015/2016
@imveurope
www.imveurope.com
On Semiconductor
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