OmniVision OH02A1S: One Sensor, Dual Imaging – Shrinking Endoscope Footprint

The OmniVision OH02A1S delivers simultaneous white‑light RGB and IR monochrome capture in a single CMOS medical image sensor, enabling chip‑on‑tip endoscopes to drop a second imager. This integration trims device size, reduces cost, cuts power consumption, and minimizes heat, enhancing both surgical workflow and patient safety.

With the OH02A1S, surgeons can switch instantly between high‑definition RGB and IR views or display both modalities together on one monitor, or side‑by‑side on two screens. The smaller footprint and lower heat output allow the endoscope to reach deeper anatomical regions than larger, dual‑imager systems, while the 90 mW power draw keeps thermal noise to a minimum.

OH02A1S functional block diagram. (Source: OmniVision)

The sensor utilizes a 1.4‑µm PureCel pixel array with 4×4 binning, delivering exceptional quantum efficiency for low‑light performance and a wide dynamic range for clear imaging across bright and dark regions. It outputs 1080p (1920×1080) at 60 fps or 720p (1280×720) at 90 fps via a two‑lane MIPI interface and incorporates 2 kbits of on‑chip one‑time‑programmable memory for configuration flexibility.

Available in a 1/6‑in. optical format, the OH02A1S RGB‑IR medical image sensor fits into a compact 3.8×2.9‑mm chip‑scale package.

>> An earlier version of this article was originally published on our sister site, EDN.