OmniVision, a developer of advanced digital imaging solutions, has announced that it has achieved a Guinness World Record with its image sensor named OV6948. This is the smallest image sensor in the world, measuring just 0.575 mm x 0.575 mm.
In addition to the sensor, the company also introduced a camera module based on the sensor called CameraCubeChip.
The OV6948 sensor is as small as a grain of sand. (Photo: OmniVision).
In its announcement on the company’s website, a representative from OmniVision suggested that the primary use for this new sensor and camera module would be in medical applications. They asserted that the camera module can be attached to single-use endoscopes to capture high-resolution images of very small parts of the body through blood vessels, such as nerves, the eye, the heart, the spine, the gynecological area, inside joints, and within parts of the urinary system.
The company’s representative noted that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently warned about the risks of cross-contamination associated with the reuse of endoscopes, highlighting the need for preventive measures. The use of ultra-small cameras in single-use endoscopes will address this issue.
Features of the new camera module with its tiny sensor include a 120-degree field of view along with a focus range from three to 30 mm. The sensor’s image array allows for a resolution of 200 x 200 or 40 KPixel and can process video at a speed of 30 frames per second. The camera module also has an analog output to transmit image data over distances of up to four meters with minimal noise. Additionally, the camera will be significantly cooler than traditional probes, allowing for longer usage times inside patients, consuming only 25 mW of power.
The company also announced that the camera module features a microchip design and measures only 0.65 mm x 0.65 mm square, with a thickness of just 1.158 mm, nearly the size of a grain of sand. The small size of the sensor allows for its use not only in endoscopy but also with catheters and tubes. The size difference will undoubtedly be appreciated by patients who have undergone uncomfortable and sometimes painful invasive procedures with current technology. The company also hopes to expand its potential user base to include veterinarians, dental practitioners, and professionals in related industries.
