December 17, 2014 – SVCam Products
© Sony

Released at the end of 2013, the Sony IMX174 sensor has taken the world by storm. Almost every camera manufacturer now includes it in their lineup—SVS-VISTEK is no exception, integrating it into their new EXO series (EXO 174). This shouldn’t come as a surprise, though; after all, this sensor represents Sony’s crowning achievement in CMOS imaging technology.

But let’s not stop there. While the IMX174 shines brightly under the Sony brand names Exmor and Pregius, other players like ON Semiconductor (ON Semi) are flexing their muscles with alternative designs that deliver exceptional image quality. For instance, ON Semi’s Python series—a next-generation evolution from their earlier Vita lineup—marks a significant leap forward in sensor design.

CMOSIS isn’t resting on its laurels either. Their engineers have developed innovative approaches to noise reduction and other key challenges in CMOS sensors, proving they’re just as competitive as Sony in this space.

What Are Exmor and Pregius?

First off:

  • Exmor: This is a registered trademark of Sony. It refers to their breakthrough innovation within CMOS architecture—specifically replacing aluminum interconnects with copper wiring for better performance. Think higher quantum efficiency, cleaner signals, and overall improved sensor quality.

But wait, there’s more!

Sony also introduced the “Pregius” brand—a name that subtly hints at its prestigious nature. This marks Sony’s latest advancement in high-speed readout technology designed to combat rolling shutter artifacts while maintaining image fidelity under demanding conditions.

CMOS vs. CCD: The Noise Problem

Noise is a common enemy across all CMOS sensors, especially when dealing with analog signal pathways running across the entire chip length before reaching A/D converters. Reducing these paths from one central converter design to multiple distributed ones (one per row in an image sensor matrix) significantly cuts down propagation time and noise.

This technique is called Correlated Double Sampling (CDS)—a method that’s now standard across most CMOS manufacturers. However, the implementation varies: Sony uses a dual-sampling approach under their Exmor/Pregius umbrella, while ON Semiconductor implements it differently with their Python series.

CMOSIS CDS Approach

Belgian semiconductor house CMOSIS has developed its own flavor of double sampling called “Real Double Sampling.” Unlike other approaches that require extra circuitry, theirs keeps things simple by allowing each pixel to be sampled twice without any additional hardware overhead. This makes it ideal for compact designs like the EXO series.

ON Semiconductor’s Python Series

Python isn’t just about CDS—it adds a layer of innovation through its “in-pixel Correlated Double Sampling” (ipCDS). Instead of performing double sampling externally, this method integrates it directly within each pixel amplifier. By averaging two samples before converting to voltage, ipCDS delivers superior noise immunity and dynamic range.

Why go through all that trouble?
The goal is simple: improved signal-to-noise ratio at high speed—especially critical for machine vision applications demanding global shutters.

But here’s the catch: Global shutter behavior isn’t native to CMOS sensors—it requires complex circuitry and introduces challenges like noise accumulation during readout (which rolling shutters avoid). This explains why rolling shutter sensors tend to be smaller with higher sensitivity, while global shutters deliver cleaner motion blur-free images.

Wrapping Up

Over the past year, sensor manufacturers have made tremendous strides in defeating noise—Sony leads with their IMX174, followed closely by CMOSIS and ON Semiconductor. Each has its own unique approach to achieving high-quality results tailored for specific applications like industrial imaging or consumer cameras.

As part of our commitment to excellence, we’ve expanded the EXO series not just with Sony sensors but a full range covering multiple resolutions (from 0.3MP up to 12MP) and technologies—CMOS alongside CCD options—all backed by German engineering quality designed for scalability.

© Sony
Image credit: © Sony

Last Updated: 2025-09-05 04:01:10