ON’s IT-EMCCD image sensors. Image credit: ON Semiconductor
ON Semiconductor has expanded its portfolio of interline transfer electronic multiplication CCD (IT-EMCCD) image sensors that double the light gathering capability and improve image quality under light starved conditions.
The image sensors are targeted at low-light industrial applications such as medical and scientific imaging as well as commercial and military applications for high-end surveillance. The 4 megapixel KAE-04471 sensor uses larger 7.4 micron pixels than existing IT-EMCCD devices while being pin compatible with the existing 8 megapixel KAE-08151 image sensor.
While EMCCD image sensors excel under low-light conditions, they have not been available as low resolution devices with limited dynamic range historically. The low-noise architecture of ON’s IT-EMCCD sensors can be extended to multi-megapixel resolutions. The output design allows both standard CCD and EMCCD outputs to be utilized for a single image capture—extending dynamic range and scene detection from sunlight to starlight in a single image.
Engineering grade versions of the image sensors are available now with production versions available in the second quarter of this year.
