OmniVision Technologies, Inc. has developed the OV6948, the winner of the Guinness World Record for “The Smallest Image Sensor Commercially Available” with its size of 0.575 mm x 0.575 mm.

Derived from this ultra small imager, the company also announced its OVM6948 CameraCubeChip—a fully packaged, wafer-level camera module measuring 0.65 mm x 0.65 mm, with a z-height of just 1.158 mm.

OmniVision developed these medical imagers to address the market demand for decreased invasiveness and deeper anatomical access.

Utilizing a wafer-level packaging technology, the OVM6948 module can be integrated into a catheter or endoscope with a diameter as small as 1.0 mm. With this camera’s small size and high 200 x 200, or 40 KPixel backside-illuminated resolution, high quality images can be captured from within the body’s narrowest blood vessels for neuro, ophthalmic, ENT, cardiac, spinal, urology, gynecology and arthroscopy procedures.

The OVM6948 is the only ultra small “chip on tip” camera with backside illumination, which provides high image quality and better low-light performance to help reduce LED heat, along with improved sensitivity. It also allows for the use of superior lens technology over other front-side illumination cameras in this class. Additionally, this color analog camera with OmniBSI+ technology enables easy calibration in production and is reflowable with a 4-pin interface for simplified integration.

Other key features of this camera module include a wide 120-degree field of view and an extended focus range of 3 mm to 30 mm. Its image array is capable of capturing 200 x 200 resolution images and video at up to 30 frames per second, and its analog output that can transmit over 4 meters with minimal noise. The camera also offers low power consumption of 25 mW, generating less heat for better patient comfort and flexible procedure durations.

The OVM6948 is available now for volume production in the tray format, along with an evaluation kit.