Atsugi, Japan — Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation (Sony) today announced the commercialization of the IMX487, a 2/3-type CMOS image sensor for industrial equipment, which is compatible with the UV (ultraviolet light) wavelength and comes with global shutter functionality and the industry’s highest*1 effective pixel count of approximately 8.13 megapixels.*2
This product delivers a high level of UV sensitivity and high-quality imaging with minimal noise thanks to components specialized for the UV wavelength and a unique light receiving unit structure. Additionally, the pixels capture UV light with high efficiency, resulting in high UV sensitivity as well as a compact form factor and high resolution made possible by the industry’s smallest*1 2.74 µm square pixel size. It utilizes Sony’s Pregius S global shutter technology, which employs a unique back-illuminated pixel structure on a stacked CMOS image sensor, ensuring distortion-free imaging and high-speed performance.
Sony expects the new sensor to be useful in a variety of applications, including semiconductor pattern defect inspection in the existing UV camera market, thereby contributing to improving productivity in manufacturing processes and helping to solve industrial issues.
*1: Among UV wavelength-compatible CMOS image sensors. As of announcement on September 29.
*2: Based on image sensor effective pixel specification method.
IMX487 UV wavelength-compatible CMOS image sensor
| Model name | Sample shipment date (planned) |
|---|---|
| IMX487 2/3-type (11.1 mm diagonal) approx. 8.13-effective-megapixel*2 CMOS image sensor | September 2021 |
In general, UV cameras enable sorting of materials that would be difficult in visible light, as well as checking for minute scratches and defects on the surface of objects. They have conventionally been used in semiconductor pattern defect inspection; however, to expand the scope of application in the future, demand has continued to grow for an image sensor that not only provides sensitivity in the UV wavelength, but also delivers high resolution, low noise, and high-speed performance.
This product employs material with a high level of UV transmittance for the optical path components where light enters the product, in addition to a unique light receiving unit structure. This design ensures high UV sensitivity, enabling high-quality imaging with significantly reduced noise. Additionally, the pixels capture UV light with high efficiency, resulting in high UV sensitivity as well as a tiny 2.74 µm square pixel size, which helps achieve the industry’s highest*1 effective pixel count of approximately 8.13 megapixels*2 even on a compact 2/3-type format.
The new product also comes with global shutter functionality, which enables distortion-free imaging of moving subjects, and delivers high-speed performance at 193 frames per second (in 10-bit mode) thanks to the high degree of freedom of the wiring layout made possible by the back-illuminated pixel structure.
In addition to conventional UV image sensor applications such as semiconductor pattern defect inspection, the new product can be used to solve a variety of industrial challenges, including sorting plastics and other materials using UV light at recycling plants, inspecting for the application of transparent resin, inspecting for minute scratches on the surface of components, and detecting UV light emitted due to discharges in deteriorating overhead power lines.
The UV wavelength is shorter than visible light (400–780 nm), generally falling between 10 to 400 nm. The product is compatible with the 200 to 400 nm wavelength, which is the most suitable UV wavelength for industrial inspections.
Wavelength of light (10nm–400nm for ultraviolet light)
Application Examples
・Sorting plastics in recycling
Sorting of acrylic resin (PMMA) and polystyrene (PS) by UV light
(Left: Visible light Right: UV light)
・Inspection for the application condition of transparent protection resin
Transparent protection resin applied on the substrate (solid line) is not visible under visible light, but appears black under UV light.
The uncoated area (dotted line) does not appear black even under UV light.
(Left: Visible light Right: UV light)