As technologies like the Internet of Things (IoT) provide better usability, performance, and a variety of applications, imaging technology is becoming more and more popular. The quality and performance of imaging devices are becoming critical with each day. Sony Starvis sensors belong to a product family from Sony that focuses on high-performance requirements that require very good low-light quality, HDR, and so on.
Even though this application is widely used, current advancements in sensor technology have made it superior to even its most recent predecessors. Surveillance cameras must be able to capture sharp images in a range of settings. The high sensitivity performance of Sony’s image sensors, which are appropriate for night-time cinematography, satisfies this necessity.
In this post, we will explore the latest Sony Starvis CMOS image sensor from Sony and its features.
What is STARVIS Technology?
Sony’s STARVIS brand adds value in the area of sensitivity, which is regarded as the most important attribute of security cameras. Back-illuminated CMOS image sensors for security cameras become more sensitive due to STARVIS technology. The efficiency of STARVIS’s use of light is increased throughout a wide variety of wavelengths, enhancing the system’s sensitivity not just in the visible light spectrum but also in the near-infrared light spectrum, which is widely used by security cameras.
As a consequence, STARVIS accomplishes two or more times the sensitivity of the current CCD image sensor and reaches a sensitivity of 2,000 mV or more per 1 m2 pixel size.
Sony Starvis: CMOS Image Sensor with Back Illumination by Sony
Contrary to front-illuminated image sensors, back-illuminated image sensors capture images from the back side, where there are no wires or circuitry to obstruct the image. As a result, a greater range of light is collected on the photodiode, leading to high sensitivity.
This makes back-illuminated image sensors advantageous for low light conditions, allowing the camera to produce high-quality images with very low levels of illumination. In addition, back-illuminated image sensors have larger pixels than front-illuminated image sensors, making them more efficient and capable of capturing greater levels of detail. It also features an increased signal-to-noise ratio as well as a higher dynamic range. Furthermore, it employs the very first pixel, which was created specifically for security use in a back-illuminated structure.
It is essential to accurately capture both regions in security camera photographs where light and dark areas coexist. In order to meet this need, security camera visual recognition performance is improved due to Starvis technology, which makes it possible to clearly capture both the light and dark regions. This new technology was designed to take advantage of the capabilities of surveillance cameras in various applications, such as identifying faces and license plates.
Features of Sony STARVIS
There is no universal camera that can be used for all applications. However, each application has its own specific set of needs, ranging from low-cost instructional cameras to high-end machine-learning cameras that can function in extremely low light. Accordingly, the features and capabilities of cameras must be evaluated on a case-by-case basis to ensure that they meet the requirements of each specific application.
Beyond the capabilities of the human eye: Images and other data are produced by image sensors by capturing light and converting it to electrical impulses. The ability of image sensors to take accurate pictures in low-light conditions is a key advantage. It is essential to detect the smallest light in the dark and convert it to electrical impulses effectively without permitting noise contamination to do this.
Greater Sensitivity to Near-Infrared and Visible Light: To work well day and night and in completely dark environments, security cameras need to be sensitive to near-infrared light and have adequate vision under low visible light illumination.
Technology with increased sensitivity: Through a lens and a photodiode, light enters an image sensor and is transformed into electrical impulses. This photodiode’s efficiency at collecting light is what holds the secret to greater sensitivity.
Use of low-noise technology: With the use of photodiodes, image sensors capture light, transform it into electrical signals, and then output a picture as digital values. The signals can be amplified to brighten a dark image (setting a higher gain level). Higher gain levels, on the other hand, result in an equivalent magnified noise in the electrical impulses and a grainy image.
Capturing light ranges not visible to the naked eye: Standard cameras, including smartphone cameras and mirrorless cameras, use image sensors that are made to recreate images as humans perceive them in the light (visible light). Certain image sensors for specialized uses, such as security cameras, are made to operate in the near-infrared (NIR) spectrum, which is invisible to the human eye.
For an example of high-performance imaging technology, you might find our IMX415 Low Light 4K USB 3.0 Camera particularly interesting. It leverages advanced sensor technology to enhance performance in challenging lighting conditions.
Wrapping Up
In conclusion, Sony Starvis sensor-based cameras offer high-quality black-and-white imaging in both dark and light conditions, with an impressive F-number sensitivity dependence. Even in daylight settings, particularly in low-light indoor spaces, Starvis cameras’ exceptional low-light performance is apparent. This makes Starvis cameras the ideal choice for security systems, both indoor and outdoor.
We (Vadzo) are developing embedded camera systems using Sony Starvis image sensor cameras. Our camera systems equipped with Sony Starvis image sensors provide superior quality images, even in dark or low-light settings, which ensures that all important information is captured correctly, as the features discussed above.
To learn more about the superior quality that Starvis image sensors offer, feel free to Contact Us.
To explore more about the capabilities and features of our products, including the IMX415 Low Light 4K USB 3.0 Camera, feel free to visit our cart page for additional details and options.
