Sony
Pregius S 4th Generation CMOS sensors
The
Sony Pregius S 4th generation of Backside Illuminated CMOS sensors
is a pixel design capable of powering a new generation of machine
vision cameras for use in a wide range of vision systems. This
new technology has been deployed in JAI's
new GO-X family which includes 24 models including 12 with
CoaXPress interface and 12 with GigE Vision (1000BASE-T).
How does Pregius S Technology benefit
industrial camera users?
Backside illumination
for better sensitivity
Global Shutters to eliminate motion distortion
Small pixels provide high resolution in compact sensor
formats
Range of aspect ratios to fit application requirements
Additional on-sensor circuitry for advanced functionality
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Backside
illumination for better sensitivity
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Backside
Illumination (BSI) is a sensor design that allows light to be
captured via the back of the photodiodes hence the term
"Backside Illumination." This process of capturing light
contrasts with traditional "frontside illuminated" sensor
designs where wiring and circuitry are located on the layer above
the photodiode and so partially blocking light.
The "S" in Pregius S stands for "stacked"
and in the Pregius S design the wiring and circuitry layers are
stacked below the photodiodes.
A recent increase in sensors designed using BSI technology provides
evidence that when photodiodes are closer to the microlenses a
wider angle of incidence for capturing incoming light is created.
Consequently, with the wider sensing angle and no wiring circuitry
getting in the way, BSI pixels are more sensitive than traditional
frontside illuminated pixels.

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Global
Shutters to eliminate motion distortion
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Sony's BSI
technology has previously only been available in sensors with
rolling shutters. The Pregius S series combines BSI technology
with global shutters to allow users to capture crisp, undistorted
images in any application.
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Small
pixels provide high resolution in compact sensor formats
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The
2.74 µm pixel size means that cameras which use the Pregius
S sensor can incorporate higher resolutions into smaller sensor
sizes meaning more pixels per square-millimeter of silicon.
This means the sensors carry a lower cost-per-megapixel, and this
saving gets passed along in the lower camera cost. Smaller sensors
means less glass in the lens and so reduces lens cost as well. Smaller
pixels typically means lower sensitivity, however the BSI technology
makes up for this so that the sensitivity of Pregius S sensors is
equal to or even better than larger pixel sensors.
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Range
of aspect ratios
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4:3
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16.9
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Additional
on-sensor circuitry for advanced functionality
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Gradation
compression: For scenes containing
a few very bright areas, this function lets the camera capture a
full 12-bits of shading variations but compresses the output into
8-bit images to increase frame rates and decrease file sizes. Users
can define how much compression to apply and where on the 12-bit
scale it should begin.
Floating
diffusion binning: In addition to 1x2, 2x1, and 2x2 binning
performed on the camera's FPGA, JAI's monochrome Pregius S cameras
offer 2x2 binning performed directly on the sensor. This "FD2x2
Binning" mode utilizes a readout strategy that combines the
readout of four pixels through a single floating diffusion node.
This not only lowers the readout noise for higher dynamic range
and image quality, it also produces significant increases in frame
rate over the FPGA-based binning modes.
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Features
of JAI GO-X series:
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Small size, light weight, and low power consumption
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Cleanroom assembly and internal membranes to prevent dust migration
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Proven manufacturing process for high reliability in the field
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All the usual features in JAI cameras like region-of interest (ROI),
image flipping, image mirroring, blemish compensation and shading
correction. Plus, more advanced features like two different sequencer
modes and JAI's automatic level control function (ALC).
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Advanced
Features
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Xscale - a flexible, sub-pixel scaling function to help match pixel
sizes, optical formats, and resolutions when replacing older cameras.
Binning allows the addition of whole-pixels, Xscale allows the addition
of fractions of pixels and so offers much greater flexibility.
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Xpress - available in the new monochrome GigE Vision models, this
function provides lossless compression to reduce data size and increase
frame rates over standard GigE Vision bandwidths.
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Gradation Compression
- For scenes containing a few very bright areas, this function lets
users capture a full 12-bit of shading variations but compress the
output into 8-bit images to decrease file sizes. Users can define
how much compression to apply and where on the 12-bit scale it should
begin.
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Colour Space Conversion - The colour models offer a colour space
conversion function when using the in-camera 5x5 RGB debayering
option. This lets users select what colour gamut works best for
their needs. Choices include RGB, Adobe RGB, HSI, CIE XYZ, and a
colour matrix circuit that lets users program their own custom RGB
format.
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Colour Enhancement - The colour models also include a function that
can be used to increase the intensity of selected primary/complementary
colours (red, green, blue, cyan, magenta, yellow) up to 2X their
captured intensity.
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Key
specifications
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Resolutions from 5.1 to 24.5 megapixels
CoaXPress, GigE Vision interfaces or 5GBASE-T models.
Sony Pregius S CMOS imagers with global shutters and backside
illumination (BSI) technology
Small but sensitive pixels (2.74 µm square pixels)
New functions for sub-pixel image scaling (Xscale), GigE
Vision compression (Xpress), and more
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Need a price or more application information? Please
email Adept Turnkey or call our offices
Adept
Turnkey Pty Ltd is "The Machine Vision and Imaging Specialists"
and distributor of JAI products in Australia and New Zealand. To find
out more about any JAI product, please call Adept Turnkey at Perth
(08) 9242 5411 / Sydney (02) 9905 5551 / Melbourne (03) 9384 1775
or contact us online. |