VV64500

 CIF (352 x 288) or VGA (640 x 480) resolution sensor
 Using 64MBit memory, 80 picture storage capacity in camera (CIF), 26 (VGA), or 320 (QCIF).
 Using 16MBit memory, 20 picture storage capacity, in camera (CIF), or 80 (QCIF)
 USB/RS232 interface options 
Evaluation kit available
 Low power consumption (typically 75mA) for complete camera and low system cost per pixel
 High speed picture upload with USB
 USB tethered video mode gives a QCIF resolution videoconferencing camera with VfW support

'Continuous' mode for capturing image sequences (whiluntethered) and downloading to AVI file format
 Memory refresh allows picture retention when camera is in standby mode with very low current consumption
 TWAIN/Video for Windows driver support 
Numeric LCD panel supported
 Colour processing and pixel defect detection/correction software available under license as SDK for developmen of OEM software. The license to use the colour algorith (embedded in the PC driver software) is included in the price of the chipset.

   STMicroelectronics (ST), Imaging Division (formerly VLSI VISION Ltd.), STV0680A has utilised its extensive experience in design-ing imaging sensors for the digital still camera market to develop chipsets for modular systems STV0680A will provide the core of a highly cost-competitive new standard in consumer digital stills cameras (DSC).

    The Low Cost Digital Camera chipsets from ST, incorporat-ing a CMOS imaging sensor and STV0680A co-processor (formerly DCA1 ) enable camera manufacturers to offer an end product which is genuinely price competitive with tradi-tional 'point and shoot' film-based cameras.  The STV0680A chipset provides the basis of an easy-to-use, user friendly camera, which will be equally adaptable for use by children and adults for stills photography or dual-mode use (i.e. Digital stills while untethered, and videoconferencing from the same camera). Incorporating a wide range of features, the STV0680A chipset offers exceptional performance at a very competitive price point. ST's aim is to enable manufacturers to offer fully functional DSC products to the end consumer for between $50 and $100. An evaluation kit (EVK) and reference design manual are available, as well as standard TWAIN and Video for Windows drivers. Alternatively, a software development kit (SDK)STV0680A allows access to ST colour processing algorithms under licence, to develop OEM software.

     The STV0680A chipset incorporates ST's high performance VV6444/6410 CIF (352 x 288 pixel) or VV6500 VGA (640 x 480 pixel) resolution CMOS sensors. The complete camera will have 20 picture storage capacity for CIF resolution or 80 for QCIF resolution, when using 16MBit memory. When using 64MBit memory, STV0680A will have 26 picture storage capacity for VGA res-olution or 106 for QVGA resolution. A standby mode which allows full picture retention at extremely low system power consumption gives a battery life of up to several months.

    An example upload and colour processing time for a CIF image to the PC is 0.3 seconds when the USB interface is used, and the STV0680A chipset also offers a high frame rate tethered USB video mode (dependant on PC and USB loading).The STV0680A chipset supports a 2x 7-segment display showing num-ber of pictures remaining, a low battery indicator, and opera-tion mode, as well as a buzzer indicating picture taken,  camera full, and self-timer countdown.

    A CMOS STV0680A solution gives manufacturers inherent benefits, providing a highly integrated compact solution which has a low system cost, is straightforward to implement, and has low power consumption, giving long battery life.