STMicroelectronics announced the launch of two new ultralow‑power global‑shutter image sensors, the VD55G4 monochrome and the VD65G4 RGB, as part of its BrightSense portfolio. The sensors are aimed at always‑on vision in compact, battery‑powered devices such as wearables, AR/VR and XR headsets, smart‑home appliances and medical equipment.
The VD55G4 and VD65G4 are built on a 3D‑stacked 65 nm/40 nm architecture fabricated on 300 mm wafers at ST’s Crolles plant. They deliver a very small global‑shutter format, an event‑driven “detect‑and‑wake” architecture, and interfaces optimized for low‑power microcontrollers. The new color option and faster response enable richer, AI‑ready vision in edge devices. The sensors achieve up to ten‑fold power savings compared with conventional global‑shutter sensors, with a resolution of approximately 800×700 at 10 fps (804×704 at up to 184 fps) and power consumption of 1–2 mW in sleepy monitoring mode and under 35 mW when streaming video at 60 fps (as low as 0.9 mW in some reports).
By adding these sensors, ST expands its BrightSense line into the always‑on vision market, creating a new revenue stream beyond its traditional automotive and industrial businesses. The 300 mm wafer process and 3D stacking demonstrate ST’s advanced manufacturing capabilities, while the availability of development boards, modules, SDKs and drivers accelerates customer adoption and time‑to‑market. The launch positions the company to capture a share of the expanding smart‑device and edge‑AI market, where power efficiency is a critical differentiator.
The competitive landscape includes other players such as Omnivision, which has also introduced small, low‑power global‑shutter sensors for similar applications. ST’s differentiation lies in its power‑efficiency advantage, 3D‑stacked architecture, and integration with a comprehensive ecosystem of software and hardware tools that support rapid development of AI‑ready vision solutions.
Pricing and availability details were not disclosed in the announcement, and the market size for the always‑on vision segment was not quantified. Nonetheless, the new sensors are expected to drive edge AI in wearables, AR/VR, smart‑home and medical devices, reinforcing ST’s strategic shift toward consumer and edge markets.
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