Toshiba Launches 8 Megapixel CMOS Image Sensor for Smartphones and Tablets

Toshiba Corporation's (TOKYO:6502) Semiconductor & Storage Products Company today started mass production shipments of “T4KA3”, an 8-megapixel BSI^[1] CMOS image sensor.

The sensor has a new low power circuit design that cuts power consumption to 46% that of Toshiba’s current 8MP sensors ^[2] , and a chip size that puts it in the smallest class for 8MP sensors.^[3] The small chip size will realize smaller camera modules; 6.5mm square, for example, which is suitable for front-facing camera. In addition, 8MP output at 30fps is possible using MIPI® ^[4] 2 Lanes.

High speed video recording generally requires a high frame rate with short exposure time, resulting in underexposed images.
However, "T4KA3" incorporates "Bright Mode" technology that boosts image brightness up to four times, realizing HD video capture at 240 fps equivalent. It allows smartphones and tablets to record high quality, high speed video, and to offer extended imaging functions, including smooth slow motion playback and high speed continuous shooting.

The new sensor incorporates 8Kbit OTP, which can store lens shading correction data for two conditions, correction data for indoors and for outdoors, for example, which have a different light profiles. These conditions can be separately applied to image correction, and users can switch from one to the other with a simple command.

The product allows smartphones and tablets to record high quality video at high speed, contributing to extended imaging functions such as slow motion replay, while achieving reductions in module size, power consumption and parts in the camera module, opening the way to the design of smaller and thinner mobile devices.

Applications

• Rear- and front-facing camera for smartphones and tablets.

Key Features

• Low power circuit design that reduce power consumption to 46% that of Toshiba current products.
• The world’s smallest class in chip size for 8 megapixel CMOS image sensor
• HD video capture at 240fps.
• “Bright Mode” technology to boost image brightness up to four times.
• Output of 8 megapixel, full-resolution 30fps by MIPI® 2 lanes

Main Specifications
Part Number		T4KA3
Output Pixels		8 megapixels
Optical Size		1/4 inch
Pixel Pitch		1.12 micrometer BSI
Reference Module Size		8.5 mm x 8.5 mm (Auto focus type) 6.5 mm x 6.5 mm (Fixed focus type)

Output Frame Rate (Max.)
Sensor output mode (Output pixels)		Normal mode (Progressive output)		Bright mode (Interlaced output) (After progressive conversion processing)
8M (3280 x 2464) ** MIPI® 4-lane or 2-lane output		30 fps		－
Full-HD (Crop: 1920 ×1080)		60fps		－
HD (Crop & binning: 1280 × 720)		120fps		240fps
WVGA (Crop & binning: 800 × 480)		200fps		－

Notes:
[1] BSI: Back Side Illumination.
[2] Compared with “T4K35”
[3] Toshiba survey, as of February 26, 2015.
[4] MIPI is registered trademarks of MIPI Alliance, Inc.

For further information about this product, please visit:
http://toshiba.semicon-storage.com/info/lookup.jsp?pid=T4KA3&region=apc&lang=en

Customer Inquiries:
Image Sensor Sales & Marketing Department
Tel: +81-3-3457-3370
http://toshiba.semicon-storage.com/ap-en/contact.html

* Information in this document, including product prices and specifications, content of services and contact information, is current on the date of the announcement but is subject to change without prior notice.

About Toshiba

Toshiba Corporation, a Fortune Global 500 company, channels world-class capabilities in advanced electronic and electrical product and systems into five strategic business domains: Energy & Infrastructure, Community Solutions, Healthcare Systems & Services, Electronic Devices & Components, and Lifestyles Products & Services. Guided by the principles of The Basic Commitment of the Toshiba Group, “Committed to People, Committed to the Future”, Toshiba promotes global operations towards securing “Growth Through Creativity and Innovation”, and is contributing to the achievement of a world in which people everywhere live in safe, secure and comfortable society.

Founded in Tokyo in 1875, today’s Toshiba is at the heart of a global network of over 590 consolidated companies employing over 200,000 people worldwide, with annual sales surpassing 6.5 trillion yen (US$63 billion).
To find out more about Toshiba, visit www.toshiba.co.jp/index.htm

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Contact information

Media Inquiries:
Toshiba Corporation
Semiconductor & Storage Products Company
Chiaki Nagasawa, +81-3-3457-4963
semicon-NR-mailbox@ml.toshiba.co.jp