Sony’s new sensor is aimed at the automotive industry

Oct 27, 2014 08:58 GMT  ·  By

Sony is in the business of making smartphones and tablets, but some could say the company is best known for being one of the leading innovators in the digital imaging ecosystem.

As we have been telling you in the past, Sony is currently working on some exciting projects which might materialize at some point into an 8K camera and an update to the current NEX-7 that could bring about support for 4K video shooting.

Sony launches new CMOS sensor tech

But while we wait on that, Sony took the opportunity to unveil a new CMOS image dubbed the IMX224MQV, which offers the highest sensitivity in its class (1/3-inch type sensors).

But what’s special about the new technology is that it can capture colors even in extremely low lighting conditions of 0.005 lux. Pretty amazing, huh?

The new CMOS sensor has been designed by Sony for automotive purposes as the company expects demand for automotive cameras to grown in the upcoming years.

According to Sony, the 1/3 –inch type sensor can shoot photos at 1.27MP which might not sound all that impressive in normal conditions, but bear in mind that automotive cameras have different purposes.

These systems are mounted on cars in order to provide vital information, such as forward collision warning or following distance indication. So vehicles equipped with such camera systems will be able to distinguish colors, not only the shapes of objects.

The PlayStation maker claims the setup will be able to identify people and objects at 0.005-lux. This is the equivalent to a moonless night, but the capabilities of the sensor are expected to increase proportionally to the lightning conditions outside.

Sony says the technology is based on extended exposure times not on multiple exposures and that the Wide Dynamic Range system delivers a higher image quality in dim-lit environments.

But that’s not all, the new IMX224QV arrives with an improved pixel structure that is expected to bestow higher sensitivity in a near-infrared spectrum.

Sony’s new sensor technology will go into mass-production starting December 2015.

The new sensor tech might see some other uses at later times

Even if the device maker made a point in highlighting that the new sensor is aimed at the automotive industry, where it aims to make a difference safety-wise, it is not out of the question that Sony will apply some of the things it discovered while building this sensor in future digital products.

But for the time being, this is just a supposition and only time will tell if we’re right or not.

Difference in shooting with new Sony sensor and standard sensor
Difference in shooting with new Sony sensor and standard sensor
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New Sony sensor lets the camera shoot in color in the dark
Difference in shooting with new Sony sensor and standard sensor
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