Sony's new cameraphone image sensor is more compact, records HDR video

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Sony backside-illuminated CMOS sensor

Sony has announced a new image sensor for cell phone cameras that promises to offer a more compact size while preserving the ability to capture high quality images. The new sensor is a backside-illuminated CMOS chip that promises to have superior low light capabilities.

Sony describes the new sensor as layering "the pixel section containing formations of back-illuminated structure pixels onto chips containing the circuit section for signal processing, which is in place of supporting substrates for conventional back-illuminated CMOS image sensors." Translated, that means the image sensor is smaller than previous models, but still performs better.

One of the new features that the sensor is capable of is called HDR (High Dynamic Range) Movie that takes the HDR still photo phenomenon and translates it to video. Videos shot in HDR Movie mode have more detail in bright and dark areas of the scene.

Sony plans to ship an 8 megapixel version of the sensor to cell phone manufacturers in March, with a 13 megapixel version arriving in June. Check out the video below for a look at how the HDR Movie feature works. [via Engadget]