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There are broadly two types of CMOS image sensors. One uses rolling shutters that capture images by scanning the scene, and the other adopts global shutters that take images in the focal plane in one shot. While the rolling shutter causes distortion in the images of fast-moving objects, the global shutter is able to capture a high-speed moving image without focal plane distortion by capturing the entire object before output. It is also easy to synchronize with flash in, for example, machine vision inspection processes, enabling to improve the takt time.

High-speed signal processing and high image quality are some of Pregius’ advantages. Pregius enables high-speed, high-precision machine vision inspection in a production line, significantly enhancing the productivity. Additional features, such as recording only specified areas in an image, help to make image inspection more efficient, further enhancing the efficiency of production lines.

Pregius comprises an optical receptor (photodiode) with the excellent low-noise property of CCD and a memory component. The light simultaneously sensed by each photodiode of all pixels is converted to digital signal and transferred to their respective memory components before processed. By processing the simultaneous digital signals all at once, the resulting image has no distortion. It thus offers an ideal functionality for moving object inspection.
The key to the high speed of CMOS image sensors with Pregius technology is the parallel processing. The CMOS image sensors are equipped with A/D conversion circuits, which transform the analog signal from the pixel to a digital signal. An array of several thousands of these circuits arranged horizontally realizes the high-speed processing by operating simultaneously. In the A/D conversion circuit, the analog circuit that causes noise has been changed to a different configuration so that it automatically suppresses noise. In this way, the technology both realizes the high speed and low noise in one sensor.