Sony to Release SPAD Depth Sensor for Smartphones with the Industry’s Highest Photon Detection Efficiency
Sony just issued the following press text for the release of their new SPAD sensor. Not sure this sensor tech might be used on future APS-C and FF designs too. But surely this innovation sounds exciting:
Sony Semiconductor Solutions to Release SPAD Depth Sensor for Smartphones with
High-Accuracy, Low-Power Distance Measurement Performance, Powered
by the Industry’s Highest*1 Photon Detection Efficiency
Atsugi, Japan — Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation (SSS) today announced the upcoming release of the IMX611, a direct time-of-flight (dToF) SPAD depth sensor for smartphones that delivers the industry’s highest*1 photon detection efficiency.
The IMX611 has a photon detection efficiency of 28%, the highest in the industry,*1 thanks to its proprietary single-photon avalanche diode (SPAD) pixel structure.*2 This reduces the power consumption of the entire system while enabling high-accuracy measurement of the distance of an object.
This new sensor will generate opportunities to create new value in smartphones, including functions and applications that utilize distance information.
*1 Among SPAD depth sensors for smartphones. As of this announcement on March 6, 2023.
*2 A pixel structure that uses avalanche multiplication to amplify electrons from a single incident photon, causing a cascade like an avalanche.