Nikon announced the development of a new 1-inch 17.84MP stacked CMOS 4k 1000 fps sensor



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Here is the latest: Nikon announced the development of a new 1-inch 17.84MP stacked CMOS 4k sensor that can achieve 1000 frames per second:

Google translated additional information:

Developed stacked CMOS image sensor

February 17, 2021 PRESS RELEASE

Nikon Corporation (President: Toshikazu Umatate, Minato-ku, Tokyo) is a stacked CMOS with a total pixel count of approximately 17.84 million pixels that realizes high-resolution imaging with 1000 frames per second, HDR characteristics of 110 dB, and 4K x 4K. We have developed an image sensor.

This result was announced at the ISSCC (International Solid-State Circuits Conference) held in San Francisco, USA from February 15, 2021.

Configuration diagram of top chip (left) and bottom chip (right)

Development background

As an optical equipment manufacturer, Nikon is also engaged in research and development of cutting-edge image sensors, which are the core of video technology, based on optical technology, precision measurement / processing technology, and material technology. Currently, image sensors are used not only in the video field such as digital cameras and smartphones, but also in various industrial fields such as automobiles. In all fields, there is a demand for image sensors that achieve all of compactness, light weight, high frame rate, wide dynamic range, and high resolution.

The technological development of image sensors is indispensable for Nikon, which leads the video industry, and we will continue to research and develop sensors in response to market demands.

Main features

1. The industry’s highest level of HDR characteristics of 110 dB and high-speed shooting of 1000 frames per second are compatible *

This sensor uses a fine-pitch layered connection technology that can handle 2.7 um pixel size, which makes it possible to control the top chip with the image sensor directly from the logic circuit of the bottom chip. It has a high resolution of × 4K pixels, a wide dynamic range of 110 dB, and high-speed video recording of 1000 frames per second. High-speed readout enables super slow motion shooting of up to 1000 frames per second.

It also has a wide dynamic range of 134 dB for shooting 60 frames per second.



Image taken at 1000 frames per second

2. Exposure can be controlled for each area on the screen

The top chip has 16 x 16 pixels as one block, and 264 x 264 blocks (4224 x 4224 pixels) are divided and arranged on one screen. It is possible to finely control the exposure time of these blocks from the bottom chip for each area on the screen.

With this function, you can express a wide dynamic range, and even for subjects with a large difference in brightness, you can clearly shoot the entire screen without crushing the dark areas or overexposing the bright areas.

Configuration diagram per block
Image taken with this sensor. Since the dynamic range is wide, both dark and bright areas can be imaged.
Image taken with a general camera. The photo on the left is an image with the exposure adjusted to the bright part on the right. The photo on the right is an image with the exposure adjusted to the dark area on the left.

Main Specifications

Manufacturing process 65 nm BSI + 65 nm CMOS stacking process
Image sensor 1-inch CMOS image sensor
Pixel size 2.7 × 2.7 μm
frame rate 1000 fps
Dynamic range 110 dB (at 1000 fps)

134 dB (at 60 fps)
Total number of pixels Approximately 17.84 million pixels (4224 x 4224 pixels)