Canon develops 250 MPixel CMOS image sensor

Sept. 8, 2015
Canon Inc. announced that it has developed a CMOS image sensor that incorporates approximately 250 million pixels (19,580 x 12,600 pixels) and targets various applications. 

Canon Inc. announced that it has developed a CMOS image sensor that incorporates approximately 250 million pixels (19,580 x 12,600 pixels) and targets various applications.

The 29.2 x 20.2 mm CMOS image sensor was installed into a prototype camera (pictured) and was reportedly able to capture images that showed the (legible) lettering on the side of an airplane flying at a distance of approximately 11 miles from the shooting location.

Canon’s newly-developed CMOS image sensor achieves a readout speed of 1.25 billion pixels/s, which is made possible through advancements like circuit miniaturization and enhanced signal-processing technology. As a result, the sensor enables the capture of ultra-high-pixel-count video at a speed of 5 fps. Video footage captured by the prototype camera achieved a resolution that was approximately 125 times that of Full HD (1,920 x 1,080 pixels) video and approximately 30 times that of 4K (3,840 x 2,160 pixels) video.

The company is reportedly considering the application of this CMOS technology in specialized surveillance and crime prevention, ultra-high resolution measuring instruments and other industrial applications.

View the Canon press release.

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About the Author

James Carroll

Former VSD Editor James Carroll joined the team 2013.  Carroll covered machine vision and imaging from numerous angles, including application stories, industry news, market updates, and new products. In addition to writing and editing articles, Carroll managed the Innovators Awards program and webcasts.

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