OmniVision Technologies Inc. today announced a new dual-mode digital camera reference design. The new design, which is compatible with both Windows PCs and Mac systems, is designed to work either as an untethered digital still camera or as a desktop video camera.
This doesn’t mean you’ll be seeing a Mac-compatible OmniVision-branded dual-mode digital camera showing up on store shelves any time soon, however — but OmniVision’s work may result in others doing exactly that. OmniVision itself makes CMOS image sensors used in electronic cameras and other optical imaging devices. The company licenses its designs to be produced by OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers), who then create the products under their own brand names.
OmniVision explained that the new solution utilizes the company’s OV8610 CMOS image sensor, which provides performance similar to current CCD-based, dual mode solutions, but with a simpler design and lower cost of materials. The sensor supports 800×600, 640×480 and 320×240 resolutions.
The dual-mode reference design itself features 8MB of internal storage, either SDRAM or NAND FLASH storage, a strobe-light, and a focus-free lens. The design also features an LCD display, auto power-off and other features, like USB connectivity. The drivers developed for the reference design are compatible with both PCs and Macs.
Best of all, the reference design is available for free to OmniVision manufacturing partners who use the company’s image sensors.