JAI GO-X with Sony Backside Illuminated CMOS sensors for outstanding pixel technology

JAI has expanded on its GO-X Series by adding 12 5GigE models featuring the latest Sony Pregius S 4th Generation CMOS Backside Illuminated (BSI) sensors. These models have resolutions ranging from 5.1 megapixels to 24.5 megapixels and importantly are designed using readily available components to ensure a prompt delivery process.

JAI GO-X 5GigE camera models are small size, light weight, and require low power consumption. JAI's proven cleanroom assembly manufacturing process provides cameras with high reliability in the field. They are designed with internal membranes to prevent dust migration. Additionally, all the usual features in JAI cameras are provided, including region-of interest (ROI), image flipping, image mirroring, blemish compensation and shading correction. They also offer some new advanced features as described below.

Like the 24 GO-X GigE and CXP models released earlier this year, these 5GigE camera models feature 4th generation Sony Pregius S CMOS BSI sensors - perhaps the most advanced global shutter sensors available.

Backside Illumination (BSI) is a sensor design that allows light to be captured via the back of the photodiodes – hence the term "Backside Illumination." This process of capturing light contrasts with traditional "frontside illuminated" sensor designs where wiring and circuitry are located on the layer above the photodiode and so partially blocking light.

The "S" in Pregius S stands for "stacked" and in the Pregius S design the wiring and circuitry layers are stacked below the photodiodes. A recent increase in sensors designed using BSI technology provides evidence that when photodiodes are closer to the microlenses a wider angle of incidence for capturing incoming light is created. Consequently, with the wider sensing angle and no wiring circuitry getting in the way, BSI pixels are more sensitive than traditional frontside illuminated pixels.

Sony's BSI technology has previously only been available in sensors with rolling shutter. The Pregius S series combines BSI technology with global shutter to allow users to capture crisp, undistorted images in any application.

The 2.74 µm pixel size means that cameras which use the Pregius S sensor can incorporate higher resolutions into smaller sensor sizes – meaning more pixels per square-millimeter of silicon. This means the sensors carry a lower cost-per-megapixel, and this saving gets passed along in the lower camera cost. Smaller sensors means less glass in the lens and so reduces lens cost as well. Smaller pixels typically means lower sensitivity, however the BSI technology makes up for this so that the sensitivity of Pregius S sensors is equal to or even better than larger pixel sensors.

Gradation compression: For scenes containing a few very bright areas, this function lets the camera capture a full 12-bits of shading variation but compresses the output into 8-bit images to increase frame rates and decrease file sizes. Users can define how much compression to apply and where on the 12-bit scale it should begin.

Floating diffusion binning: In addition to 1x2, 2x1, and 2x2 binning performed on the camera's FPGA, JAI's monochrome Pregius S cameras offer 2x2 binning performed directly on the sensor. This "FD2x2 Binning" mode utilizes a readout strategy that combines the readout of four pixels through a single floating diffusion node. This not only lowers the readout noise for higher dynamic range and image quality, it also produces significant increases in frame rate over the FPGA-based binning modes.