Sony introduces the IMX742, a 1 mm² CMOS sensor with digital output for disposable endoscopes.

Sony Semiconductor Solutions announces the IMX742, a CMOS image sensor with approximately 0.51 effective megapixels for disposable medical endoscopes. According to Sony, it is the industry's first to support digital output and data transmission over a 5 m cable.

Demand for single-use endoscopes is growing in the medical field to help prevent infections and eliminate the need to reprocess equipment after use. Their cameras require extremely compact sensors compatible with increasingly thin insertion sections, while also delivering good image quality and stable signal transmission.

Digital output in one square millimetre

The IMX742 miniaturises peripheral circuitry, including the A/D converter, while retaining sufficient area for the pixel array: 720 × 720 pixels on a 1 × 1 mm chip. Sony's proprietary bidirectional communication technology transmits control and video signals over the same cable, requiring just six pins on the sensor. It is designed for thin endoscopes such as bronchoscopes and ureteroscopes.

Stable 60 fps transmission over a 5 m cable

By digitising images directly on the sensor, the IMX742 delivers lower noise in low-light conditions than analogue output, a key advantage for endoscopes equipped with compact LED light sources with limited brightness. The sensor operates at 30 or 60 fps, ensuring smooth capture of rapid movements during diagnosis and treatment. Its digital signal also supports cables up to 5 m long, providing greater flexibility in system configuration.

Key specifications

Back-illuminated structure; image size of 1.02 mm diagonal (1/17.7 type); 720 (H) × 720 (V) effective pixels; 1.00 μm pixel size; 1.00 × 1.00 mm chip; 30/60 fps; progressive shutter with global reset; Bayer filter; 30-degree CRA; 6-pin WCSP package. Samples are expected in November 2026.

Sony clarifies that the IMX742 is not a medical device: it is supplied as a component for integration into equipment, including medical devices.

Image credits: © Sony Semiconductor Solutions