OmniVision PureCel image sensors

Omnivision PureCel image sensors refer to imaging technologies developed by OmniVision Technologies Inc.

OmniVision is not a household name when tech is mentioned. Until Xiaomi used the OV48C as the main sensor for the Mi 10 Ultra, I didn’t even take them seriously. Now I do. I have to.


Read: Samsung S5KHP1 vs OmniVision OVB0B


OmniVision PureCel image sensors

The table shows how OmniVision PureCel image sensors are ranked from the best to the worst.

NameResolutionSensor sizePixel size
OVB0B200MP1/1.28"0.61μm
OV64A64MP1/1.34"1.0μm
OV64B64MP1/2.0"0.7μm
OV64C64MP1/1.7"0.8μm
OV60A60MP1/2.8"0.61μm
OV50A50MP1/1.5"1.0μm
OV48C48MP1/1.32"1.2μm
OV48B48MP1/2.0"0.8μm
OV40A40MP1/1.7"1.0μm
OV32C4C32MP1/3.14"0.7μm
OV32A32MP1/2.75"0.8μm
OV32B32MP1/3.14"0.7μm
OV24B24MP1/2.83"0.9μm
OV20880-4C20MP1/2.76"1.0μm
OV2088020MP1/2.76"1.0μm
OV2038120MP1/2.76"1.0μm
OV16E1016MP1/2.80"1.12μm
OV16A1016MP1/3.06"1.0μm
OV13B1013MP1/3.0"1.12μm
OV13A1013MP1/3.4"1.0μm
OV1289512MP1/2.3"1.55μm
OV12D2Q12MP1/2.43"1.4μm
OV12A1012MP1/2.8"1.25μm
OS1204011.3MP1/2.49"1.4μm
OHO8A8.77MP1/2.49"1.4μm
OXO8A4Y8.3MP1/1.73"2.1μm
OXO8B4O8.3MP1/1.73"2.1μm
OXO8B4C8.3MP1/1.73"2.1μm
OHO8B8MP1/1.8"2.0μm
OSO8A108MP1/1.8"2.0μm
OSO8A208MP1/1.8"2.0μm
OVO8A108MP1/4.4"1.0μm
OV88658MP1/3.2"1.4μm
OV88568MP1/4"1.12μm
WOV88588MP1/4"1.12μm

Keep in mind that different Sensors have different uses. The lower resolution sensors are mostly used as secondary cameras (selfie, ultrawide, macro etc.) for more expensive phones or as main cameras for cheap phones.


History

OmniVision Technologies (OVT) Inc. is a Chinese/Taiwanese company. It was founded in Taiwan in 1995. Its main focus was the research and development of imaging technologies.

To achieve this goal, it bought out other imaging tech companies like Aurora and CDM Optics. It also acquired patents from Kodak as well.

In 2019, Omnivision was bought by Will Semiconductor Group. This group then merged it with SuperPix Micro technology to form the Omnivision group.

The company’s headquarters is now in Santa Clara, California (USA). It also has offices in Western Europe and Asia.


Read: Samsung Isocell CMOS sensors


Technology

All smartphone image sensors today are based on CMOS technology and OmniVision sensors are no different. However, OmniVision calls its modified CMOS technology, PureCel.

PureCel has undergone several transformations to get to where it is right now. It is good enough to make OmniVision PureCel image sensors, a force to be reckoned with.

Recently OmniVision released the world’s second 200MP camera. A sign that it’s not going to slow down anytime soon.


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