STMicroelectronics and Sphere Studios jointly create the world's largest movie camera image sensor
This image sensor is specially designed for the world's most advanced photography system, Big Sky, and can capture ultra-high resolution images for the Sphere dome in Las Vegas
On January 18. 2024. China - STMicroelectronics (ST), a globally leading semiconductor company serving multiple electronic applications, and Sphere Entertainment Co., Ltd. jointly announced the latest details of the world's largest image sensor developed for Sphere's Big Sky photography system. Big Sky is a groundbreaking ultra-high resolution professional photography system designed to capture images for the next-generation entertainment media company Sphere in Las Vegas.
Sphere has installed the world's largest high-resolution LED screen in the theater, surrounding the top and surroundings of the audience in the form of a ball screen, creating a truly immersive visual environment. Sphere Studios, a studio under the Sphere umbrella responsible for developing original live entertainment experiences, has designed a Big Sky photography system for this 160000 square foot, 16K x 16K screen. To meet the requirements of Sphere screens for image size and clarity, STMicroelectronics has partnered with Sphere Studios to create the industry's first 18K image sensor for Big Sky, which is currently the world's largest commercial movie camera sensor. When paired with the world's clearest movie lenses, it can capture clear, large frame images in an unprecedented way.
Deanan DaSilva, Chief Architect of the Big Sky project at Sphere Studios, stated: Big Sky has greatly promoted the development of cinematography technology, with each element representing a leap in design and manufacturing innovation. The image sensors on the camera determine the quality of the image. Considering the size and resolution of the Sphere screen, Big Sky's sensors must surpass the photography capabilities of existing sensors. STMicroelectronics collaborates closely with Sphere Studios and utilizes ST's rich technical experience to launch this breakthrough Sexual imaging sensors help create richer immersive visual content for Sphere and even the entire entertainment industry
Executive Vice President of STMicroelectronics Alexandre Balmefezol, General Manager of the Imaging Sub Product Department, stated: For nearly 25 years, STMicroelectronics has been at the forefront of imaging technology, IP, and tools, committed to creating unique solutions with advanced functionality and performance. To create customized sensors that achieve this size, resolution, and speed, while also meeting low noise, high dynamic range, and extremely demanding yield requirements, STMicroelectronics presents a new challenge, while our French Kroll 12 inch (300mm) The first batch of wafers produced by the wafer factory successfully addressed this challenge
As a world leading developer and manufacturer of image sensors, STMicroelectronics' imaging technology and OEM services can meet the needs of various photography markets, including professional photography and cinematography. The size of Big Sky's 316 million pixel image sensor is almost seven times that of a high-end commercial full frame camera image sensor, and the resolution is forty times that of it. The size of the chip is 9.92 cm x 8.31 cm, with an area of 82.4 square centimeters, almost twice the size of a 2-inch photo. Only four such bare chips can be cut on a 12 inch wafer. Equipped with this sensor, Big Sky can capture images at a speed of 120 frames per second, with a data transmission speed of 60 GB per second.
Big Sky also allows cinematographers to capture large format images with just one camera, without the need to stitch together images from multiple cameras, thus avoiding common issues such as close range shooting limitations and image stitching processing. Sphere Studios has applied for ten patents related to Big Sky technology, and the number of patents is still increasing.
Darren Aronofsky's film "Postcard from Earth" is the first film produced using Big Sky and is currently being screened at the Sphere Theater as part of the Sphere screen audiovisual experience. Since its premiere, the film has attracted countless viewers. The film takes the audience on a journey across seven continents, and the stunning images captured through Big Sky allow the audience to immerse themselves without leaving their homes.