OmniVision Brings 8-Megapixel Selfies to Mainstream Smartphones

SANTA CLARA, Calif., Sept. 14, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- OmniVision Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: OVTI), a leading developer of advanced digital imaging solutions, today announced the OV8856, a new 1/4-inch 8‑megapixel PureCel^® sensor designed for mainstream mobile devices. Built on OmniVision's 1.12-micron pixel architecture, the OV8856 offers industry-leading image quality and improved performance when compared with previous generation 8-megapixel image sensors. Together with an extremely compact form factor, the OV8856 is an ideal solution for front- and rear-facing cameras in mainstream smartphones.

"The global market for 8-megapixel sensors is booming, with analysts expecting over one billion in annual unit sales by 2017¹. A vast number of mainstream mobile handsets are already using 8-megapixel cameras for their rear-facing cameras. Looking forward, industry observers expect a strong trend toward an ever-increasing number of mobile handsets with their former 1/4-inch 5-megapixel cameras upgraded to 1/4-inch 8-megapixel cameras²," said Arun Jayaseelan, product marketing manager at OmniVision. "The capabilities and compactness of the OV8856 address the increasing consumer demand for higher resolution and more advanced features in mobile front- and rear-facing cameras."

The 1/4-inch OV8856 leverages OmniVision's PureCel^® pixel architecture to capture full-resolution 8-megapixel images and video at 30 frames per second (FPS), and 1080p high definition (HD) video at 60 FPS. This power-efficient sensor also supports interlaced HDR (iHDR) for high dynamic range video. The sensor uses a high-speed four-lane MIPI interface and can output full-resolution, 8-megapixel 30 FPS video over two MIPI lanes without requiring any data compression. The OV8856 is one of the smallest 8-megapixel sensors in the market today, and is approximately 15 percent smaller than OmniVision's previous generation OV8858 image sensor. The OV8856 can fit into a 6.5 mm x 6.5 mm fixed focus module with a z-height of approximately 4 mm.

OmniVision also announced today the OV8855, a variation of the OV8856 that supports phase detection autofocus (PDAF) for faster and more accurate focusing. Both sensors are currently available for sampling, and are expected to enter volume production in the fourth quarter of 2015.

About OmniVision
OmniVision Technologies (NASDAQ: OVTI) is a leading developer of advanced digital imaging solutions. Its award-winning CMOS imaging technology enables superior image quality in many of today's consumer and commercial applications, including mobile phones, notebooks, tablets and webcams, digital still and video cameras, security and surveillance, entertainment devices, automotive and medical imaging systems. Find out more at www.ovt.com.

Safe-Harbor Language

Certain statements in this press release, including statements regarding the expected benefits, performance, capabilities, and potential market appeal, as well as anticipated timing of mass production, of the OV8856 and OV8855 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 OV8856 and OV8855, customer acceptance, demand, and other risks detailed from time to time in OmniVision's Securities and Exchange Commission filings and reports, including, but not limited to, OmniVision's annual report filed on Form 10-K and quarterly reports filed on Form 10-Q. OmniVision expressly disclaims any obligation to update information contained in any forward-looking statement.

OmniVision® and the OmniVision logo are registered trademarks of OmniVision Technologies, Inc. PureCel® is a trademark of OmniVision Technologies, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

¹ TSR: "CCD/CMOS Area Image Sensor Market Analysis", June 2015
² TSR: "CCD/CMOS Area Image Sensor Market Analysis", June 2015

Company Contact:  
Scott Foster
OmniVision Technologies
408.567.3077
[email protected]

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SOURCE OmniVision Technologies, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.ovt.com