OmniVision Technologies introduced the OV5645, a system-on-chip (SOC), 5-megapixel CameraChip sensor which targets the low-to-mid end of the mobile phone market. As the successor to OmniVision’s OV5640, the new OV5645 has retained only a MIPI port, “eliminating both the bandwidth-limited DVP interface and the costly embedded JPEG compressor.” As a result, the updated sensor saves costs by reducing significant amounts of silicon, while maintaining full compatibility with most baseband processors today. In addition, with an embedded autofocus control with voice coil motor driver, the OV5645 offers further cost savings for manufacturers, making it a highly attractive alternative to other 5-megapixel sensors currently on the market.
The OV5645 also features a new picture-in-picture (PIP) architecture, which is based on a master/slave configuration where a secondary camera can be connected to a master camera (OV5645), allowing manufacturers to convert existing single-camera smartphone designs to dual camera systems without the need for more expensive baseband processors.
When it comes to frames per second, the OV5645 offers 720p HD video at 60 FPS and 1080p HD video at 30 FPS with complete user control over formatting and output data transfer.
The new chip is now available for sampling, with mass production expected to begin in Q1 2013.