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OmniVision has introduced its first 48 megapixel (MP) image sensor featuring a 0.8 micron pixel size to enable high resolution smartphone cameras in a 1/2" optical format.

The new OV48B is built on OmniVision's PureCel Plus stacked die technology and provides leading edge still image capture and video performance for both mainstream and high end smartphones. Additionally, it offers a wide range of features such as digital crop zoom and a CPHY interface, making it a versatile sensor for all types of rear facing cameras in multi-camera configurations, including main, wide angle and telephoto.

The OV48B integrates an on-chip 4-cell color filter array and hardware re-mosaic, which provides high quality, 48 MP Bayer output in real time. In low light conditions, this sensor can use near-pixel binning to output a 12 MP image with four times the sensitivity. In either case, it can consistently capture the best quality images without motion blur, as well as enabling digital crop zoom with 12 MP resolution and fast mode switch. Additionally, it can be used with a wide field-of-view and a CPHY interface for dual- and tri-camera configurations with dedicated wide- and ultra wide-angle capabilities.

The new sensor also features both DPHY and CPHY MIPI interfaces, which enables fast frame rates using fewer pins. Additionally, the OV48B includes 2x2 microlens phase detection autofocus (ML-PDAF) to boost accuracy, especially in low light.

Output formats include 48 MP at 10 frames per second (fps), 12 MP with 4-cell binning at 30 fps, 4K2K video at 60 fps, 1080p video at 240 fps and 720p video at 480 fps. Pad locations on the left and right of the image sensor, in combination with the industry's smallest 48 MP die size, provide smartphone camera module designers with additional flexibility.

OV48B samples are available now, and volume production is expected in Q4 2019.