Image sensor technology is a highly developed field where a large number of manufacturers provide the market with thousands of sensor varieties for most applications off the shelf. They are used especially in the emerging Mobile and Consumer Electronics market as well as in Automotive, Medical and Security industry. Special applications require performances and features not offered by standard detectors. Time of flight, avalanche photodiodes and ultra-high-speed are only a few examples where customized sensors are the better choice. Camera manufacturers with the goal in creating premium products with more added value strive for customization too. Typically, in consumer grade customization, customers want to differentiate from competitors with an exclusive sensor.

Framos as one of the top global image sensor distributors works with Sony, ON Semiconductor and e2v for a diversified standard portfolio and even some small sensor adaptions like cover-class remove. A partnership with Pyxalis was established in order to provide customers with the service of fully customized sensors and to support architecture, design, prototyping and characterization. Pyxalis specializes in design services and custom solutions development for advanced CMOS image sensors. The team based in the area of Grenoble provides strong technical experience and an emphasis on innovation with more than 30 filed patents and has an impressive track record of right-first-time advanced image sensor products.

The newest innovation off-the-shelf customization Pyxalis offers is the HDPYX sensor. Integrating multiple HDR techniques to reach up to 120dB linear dynamic range. Linearity is key where color reconstruction is important or true intensity estimation has to be made. Combining a dual gain with charge conservation pixel allows the HDPYX sensor to capture image linearly up to 90dB. To reach 120dB, the HDPYX sensor uses two different integration times: one for odd lines and one for even lines. Both integration times end at the same moment, with the transfer of the data from the photodiode to the floating diffusions. Secondly, the unique feature is a true Dual-Core image sensor, running two 32bits micro-processors to operate the device. The frame management core takes care of every aspect linked to the operating mode of the sensor, such as shutter type, windowing, subsampling and integration time calculation. The line management core takes care of the Black level correction, ADC driving, data formatting and HDR reconstruction.

The sensor platform was manufactured in Tower Jazz 180nm technology and characterized at Pyxalis lab. The sensor produces 20bits HDR images and has been measured down to 2.4e- RMS, with recent optimization in pixel driving. A sequencer covers all the typical requirements of machine vision sensors like programmable shutter type, trigger mode, multiple dynamic regions of interests and programmable output types.