OmniVision Technologies Inc. can stand proud and tall, being the company that holds the current record for rolling out the smallest VGA CameraChip sensor in the world - the OV7960. Featuring the latest generation of OmniVision’s proprietary pixel architecture, this new 1/13-inch VGA sensor is capable of delivering nearly twice the sensitivity and low-light performance (960mV/Lux-sec) when compared against other low cost sensors. More details for the press release are available after the jump.

The OV7690’s new 1.75-micron OmniPixel3-HS architecture combined with a unique, non-linear micro lens shift technology allows for a significant reduction in distance between the sensor and the lens, and thus enables OmniVision to significantly reduce the module height while maintaining the highest levels of image quality and camera performance. The result is an ultra-thin camera module of just 4.5 x 4.5 x 2.8 mm, a critical characteristic both for slim camera phones and for notebook applications where the camera module can be no thicker than the LCD housing.

According to Bruce Weyer, OmniVision’s Vice President of Marketing, “With the VGA camera market still experiencing solid growth and showing even further growth potential, we developed this VGA sensor with our most advanced production pixel technology. Emerging markets offer huge potential for entry-level camera phones, while mature markets look to use the OV7690 for secondary cameras in high-end handsets and integrated laptop cameras. The OV7690 is a great camera solution for mobile handsets and laptop computers that want excellent image quality from a very small VGA sensor, and we believe that the OV7690 will help us increase our leadership position in the VGA market segment.”

The OV7690 is now available for sampling, and the suits at OmniVision are expecting it to begin in volume production sometime in Q3 2008.

Press Release