Nikon Developed 1 inch 4K Stacked CMOS Sensor w/ 1000fps

Nikon Japan today issued a press release that Nikon has developed 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.

Press release: (Translated)

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.

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 sizes, making it possible to control the top chip with an image sensor directly from the logic circuit of the bottom chip, and despite the size of a 1-inch sensor, 4K. 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.

• *At a pitch of 2.7 μ pixel size or less. As of February 15, 2021, according to Nikon research.

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.

Main Specifications