Date: 08/11/2008

CMOS image sensor for machine vision and holographic data storage applications

Cypress Semiconductor is sampling new CMOS image sensor with digital data throughput of 13.2 Gbps. The new 3.0-megapixel LUPA-3000 sensor offers a triggered and pipelined synchronous shutter with a frame rate of 485 frames-per-second (fps) and windowing capability for undistorted images and fast readout.
The LUPA-3000 sensor features a fully synchronous snapshot shutter, making it possible to read one image while the next is being acquired and to capture moving objects without distortion. The sensor has 32, 8-bit digital LVDS outputs that allow image data to be transferred over longer distances on the circuit board, thus simplifying layout. The windowing capability enables the user to read out only regions of interest in the image, increasing the effective frame rate. It also has a dual slope capability to maintain good contrast in shadowed regions without saturating bright areas in scenes with a high contrast ratio.

The LUPA-3000 sensor has 1696 x 1710 pixels with 8 µm x 8 µm pixel size. The image sensor integrates a programmable offset and gain amplifier for each channel of the LVDS outputs. Each channel runs at a 206 MHz pixel rate, which results in 485 fps frame rate at full resolution. Higher frame rates can be achieved by windowed or sub-sampled readout modes, which are all programmable over the SPI interface. On-board sequencer generates all internal exposure and read-out timings. The LUPA-3000 sensor also features an 8-bit on-chip analog-to-digital converter (ADC) for digital output and on-chip timing control for easy application development.