Company’s APS-C Format 16MP Image Sensor Receives Prestigious Industry Award

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aptina, a leading innovator of CMOS imaging technology, today announced that its high-performance, feature-rich APS-C format 16-megapixel (MP) MT9H004 image sensor was selected as a winner in the 2010 EDN Innovation Award competition. Leveraging the company’s latest pixel innovation, called Aptina™ DR-Pix™technology, the MT9H004 imaging solution was recognized as a winner by EDN magazine for its unique ability to deliver maximum signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) across all scene lighting and ISO speed conditions. EDN Technical Editor Margery Conner noted at the award celebration that “Tonight's winner is a company that has shown creative and technological innovation in sensing the visual world.”

“Tonight's winner is a company that has shown creative and technological innovation in sensing the visual world.”

“It’s an honor for Aptina to have the MT9H004 image sensor be chosen as a winner for this year’s EDN Innovation Award,” said David Orton, Aptina CEO. “The performance of our DR-Pix technology clearly makes this award-winning sensor unique, enabling our customers to create distinctive cameras.”

Aptina’s MT9H004 Sensor with Aptina DR-Pix Technology
To meet the performance and image quality requirements for high-end DSLR and mirrorless cameras, designers require an image sensor with very low readout noise for high ISO-speed settings and a large full-well in low ISO-speed conditions. Through the addition of a pixel-level, dual-conversion gain (DCG) switch, DR-Pix technology combines two modes of operation in one pixel design -- a high conversion gain (HCG) mode with increased sensitivity and low read noise for low-light scenes and a low conversion gain (LCG) mode for large charge handling capacity in bright scenes.

With Aptina’s MT9H004 sensor, a 5dB increase in SNR, almost two full f-stops of range for the camera lens aperture, is achievable under low-light conditions without sacrificing performance in high-light environments, where it can achieve a 47dB max SNR. Other MT9H004 features include 16MP still image capture at 10fps, live-view video support, and 1080p/30fps high-definition video recording.

About Aptina
Aptina is a global provider of CMOS imaging solutions with a growing portfolio of products that can be found in all leading mobile phone and notebook computer brands as well as a wide range of products for digital and video cameras, surveillance, medical, automotive and industrial applications, video conferencing, barcode scanners, toys, and gaming. Aptina enables Imaging Everywhere™ and continually drives innovation in the market as seen with the introduction of the first 14MP CMOS image sensor for point-and-shoot and hybrid cameras (MT9F001), and the industry’s first 5MP SOC with 1/4-inch format (MT9P111). Privately held, Aptina’s investors include Riverwood Capital, TPG Capital and Micron Technology. For additional information on Aptina visit www.aptina.com or subscribe to the latest news from Aptina by copying the Aptina RSS feed into your favorite RSS reader.

©2011 Aptina Imaging Corporation. All rights reserved. Information is subject to change without notice. Aptina, the Aptina logo, DR-Pix, and Imaging Everywhere are trademarks of Aptina Imaging Corporation. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.