Introduction: The Unique Positioning of the IMX935

Within Sony's latest family of industrial global shutter sensors, the IMX935 series stands out as a noteworthy member. It shares the exact same fundamental specifications as the IMX925 series introduced in our previous analysis: a 1.2-inch optical format, 24.5 effective megapixels, and a 2.74μm pixel size. However, its frame rate is capped at 225 fps (8-bit), approximately half that of the IMX925.

This difference is not merely a performance downgrade but rather Sony's precise response to the diverse needs of the industrial vision market. While the IMX925 meets the most demanding high-speed inspection requirements with its extreme 442 fps capability, the IMX935, operating at 225 fps, strikes an optimal balance among performance, power consumption, system bandwidth, and cost. For the vast majority of applications that do not require extreme speed but still demand high frame rates while prioritizing energy efficiency and system integration, the IMX935 offers a more pragmatic choice. For system integrators seeking the best camera module for balanced applications, this represents an ideal compromise.

Sony has simultaneously launched the monochrome version (IMX935 AMJ) and the color version (IMX935 AQJ), continuing its consistent product strategy of allowing system designers the flexibility to choose the most appropriate configuration based on application requirements. Whether designing a compact camera module board or a specialized Endoscope Camera Module, this choice is critical.

Part I: Technical Specification Comparison of IMX935 AMJ and IMX935 AQJ

1.1 Common Technology Platform

Both sensors are based on the same Pregius S back-illuminated stacked structure, which separates the pixel layer from the circuit layer. This design ensures high sensitivity while achieving the high-speed readout capability inherent to a global shutter.

1.2 Frame Rate Performance

The IMX935 series achieves the following frame rates at full-pixel output:

This frame rate level ensures smooth capture of high-speed moving objects without placing excessive demands on system bandwidth and data processing capabilities. At 225 fps, the sensor captures 225 images per second, each containing 24.55 million pixels, resulting in a data rate of up to 5.5 billion pixels per second. This is sufficient to match the requirements of the vast majority of industrial inspection scenarios. For a designer creating a small camera module for a high-speed line scan application, this performance is transformative.

1.3 Positioning Differences from the IMX925

With half the frame rate, the IMX935 offers lower power consumption, reduced data bandwidth requirements, and a more competitive system cost, making it a perfect complement to the IMX925. Sony's official materials indicate that the IMX925/IMX935 series improves power efficiency by more than double compared to the previous generation IMX530. This means that even when operating at lower frame rates, the IMX935 achieves exceptional energy efficiency. For applications where the USB interface of a module camera might be a bottleneck, this bandwidth efficiency is invaluable.

1.4 Core Differences Between Monochrome and Color Versions

The fundamental difference between the IMX935 AMJ and IMX935 AQJ lies in the presence or absence of a color filter array. This distinction leads to several key characteristics:

Photosensitivity and Sensitivity: The monochrome version, by removing the color filter, allows incident light to reach the photodiodes directly, resulting in higher quantum efficiency. In low-light environments, the monochrome version can capture weaker signals, which is particularly important for applications requiring short exposure times or low-light imaging. This makes it the premier camera module choice for applications like fluorescence-guided surgery.

Spatial Resolution: In the monochrome version, each pixel independently records brightness information, achieving the theoretical maximum resolution of 24.55 million pixels. The color version, however, requires a demosaicing algorithm to reconstruct color, a process that introduces a certain degree of detail loss. For applications demanding极致 (ultimate) detail, such as a high-end inspection camera for PCB verification, the monochrome version offers an不可替代 advantage.

Output Format: The monochrome version outputs pure grayscale images, making it ideal for quantitative analysis and 3D measurement. The color version outputs raw data in Bayer format, requiring subsequent color processing to restore full-color images.

Spectral Response: The monochrome version covers the full spectrum from visible light to near-infrared, making it suitable for multispectral and fluorescence imaging. The color version achieves color separation through the Bayer filter, ensuring accurate color reproduction.

Part II: Core Technical Advantages of the IMX935 Series

2.1 Pregius S Technology: Ensuring High Image Quality with Tiny Pixels

The IMX935 series incorporates Sony's proprietary Pregius S global shutter technology. Through a back-illuminated pixel structure and a stacked configuration, it achieves high sensitivity and high saturation capacity within a tiny 2.74μm pixel.

The significance of this technological breakthrough includes:

Maintaining excellent low-light performance while ensuring high pixel density.

Low dark current characteristics ensure clear imaging in low-light environments.

High saturation capacity expands dynamic range, preserving details in both highlights and shadows within a single exposure.

The stacked structure allows for the integration of various functions, enhancing system integration.

2.2 Global Shutter: Perfect Capture of High-Speed Motion

Unlike the rolling shutter commonly used in consumer cameras, the IMX935 employs a global shutter design where all pixels are exposed simultaneously. This means that when capturing high-speed moving objects, there is no "jello effect" where the image appears tilted or stretched.

For rapidly moving circuit boards, wafers, or electronic components on an industrial production line, this is crucial. Even if the object moves during the exposure period, the global shutter maintains the geometric integrity of its form, providing a reliable foundation for subsequent measurement and analysis. Any high-performance Endoscope Camera Module used in a dynamic surgical field benefits immensely from this.

2.3 1-Shot HDR Function: Preserving Details in Complex Scenes

The IMX935 series is equipped with a 1-Shot HDR function, which can expand the dynamic range in a single exposure while maintaining the original frame rate and resolution.

This function holds significant importance for industrial inspection. Consider PCB inspection as an example: a circuit board simultaneously contains highly reflective metal solder joints and light-absorbing black solder mask, resulting in a vast brightness difference. Traditional sensors often struggle with this, either overexposing highlights or underexposing shadows. The HDR function can preserve details in both areas simultaneously, significantly reducing the misjudgment rate. For a versatile inspection camera used in quality control, this feature is invaluable.

2.4 Monochrome-Exclusive Pixel Binning Modes

The monochrome version, IMX935 AMJ, supports various pixel binning modes, including 2×1 horizontal, 1×2 vertical, and 2×2 binning. These modes allow maintaining resolution in a necessary direction while enhancing sensitivity and speed, tailored to the application scenario.

In applications such as 3D laser profilometry, this function is particularly important. By maintaining vertical resolution while performing horizontal binning, it is possible to improve the signal-to-noise ratio and frame rate without compromising measurement accuracy.

2.5 Color-Exclusive Specific Color Readout Function

The color version, IMX935 AQJ, supports reading only specific color pixels, allowing for sub-sampled readout of blue, red, or green pixels. By switching between sub-sampled imaging and full-pixel imaging, a single sensor can be used for both standard color imaging and imaging under specific wavelength illumination patterns.

This function holds unique value in multispectral imaging and fluorescence detection, allowing flexible switching between different imaging modes without changing the sensor.

2.6 C-Mount Compatibility: A Major Convenience for System Integration

The dimensions of the IMX935 series are compatible with the most ubiquitous lens mount in machine vision: the C-mount. Achieving approximately 24.55 million pixels with a 1.2-inch image size offers several integration advantages:

Direct compatibility with a vast array of existing C-mount lenses, eliminating the need for special optical adapters.

Helps reduce the overall size of the camera system, enabling more compact vision modules.

Lowers system integration costs and shortens product development cycles.

Paves the way for the miniaturization and high performance of industrial cameras.

This makes it an ideal core for a small camera module designed for space-constrained industrial environments.

2.7 Advanced SLVS-EC Interface

The IMX935 series adopts a new version of the SLVS-EC high-speed interface, supporting rates up to 12.5 Gbps per lane. The high data rate of a single channel can reduce the number of lanes needed to transmit the same amount of data, thereby expanding the choice of FPGAs.

The IMX935 supports multiple lane configurations (8/6/4/2/1), allowing system integrators the flexibility to choose based on bandwidth needs and FPGA capabilities. This simplifies the design of the supporting camera module board.

Part III: Suitability Analysis for Endoscope Camera Modules

This is a question of primary concern for medical device developers: Can the IMX935 series be used in an Endoscope Camera Module?

3.1 Feasibility Assessment

From a technical standpoint, the IMX935 series offers distinct advantages for endoscopic applications, but its suitability requires a detailed analysis.

Size Advantage Analysis: The sensor's package size is 24.5mm × 21.4mm. While this dimension still exceeds the 10–12mm diameter limit of traditional flexible endoscope tips, it is a dramatic reduction compared to the previously introduced IMX927/928/929 series (45mm × 52mm). This makes the IMX935 a much more realistic option for achieving ultra-high resolution in rigid endoscope systems.

C-Mount Compatibility: Supporting C-mount means the IMX935 can be easily connected to various endoscopic optical systems and surgical microscope interfaces via standard adapters. This is a tremendous convenience for integrating medical imaging systems. It simplifies the design of any module camera USB used in a surgical setting.

Scope of Applicability:

For rigid endoscopes such as laparoscopes, thoracoscopes, and arthroscopes, the sensor can be placed in the camera head outside the body, making the 24.5mm × 21.4mm dimension perfectly acceptable.

For surgical microscope integration, the sensor can be mounted inside the microscope body, with no size constraints.

For industrial borescope applications, the size constraints are even more lenient, making integration less challenging.

3.2 Unique Value for Endoscopic Applications

If used in an endoscopic imaging system, what unique advantages does the IMX935 series offer?

Clinical Value of Global Shutter: In thoracoscopic or laparoscopic surgery, heartbeats, respiratory motion, and vascular pulsations all cause tissue displacement. A global shutter effectively reduces motion blur, providing surgeons with clearer real-time images. This is crucial for delicate procedures such as vascular anastomosis and nerve dissection.

Clinical Application Potential of 225 fps: While routine surgery does not require the extreme frame rate of 225 fps, in certain specialized applications like vocal cord vibration analysis, heart valve motion studies, and high-speed ophthalmic imaging, this ultra-high frame rate can capture dynamic details that traditional endoscopes cannot record.

Fluorescence Application Prospects of the Monochrome Version: The high sensitivity of the monochrome IMX935 AMJ, combined with the sensitivity boost from its binning modes, makes it exceptionally well-suited for Indocyanine Green (ICG) fluorescence imaging. In ICG-guided hepatobiliary and oncological surgeries, a monochrome sensor can capture near-infrared fluorescence signals more clearly, helping surgeons identify tumor boundaries and lymphatic drainage. For this task, it may well be the best camera module available.

Value of Authentic Color Reproduction in the Color Version: The color IMX935 AQJ is suitable for surgical scenarios requiring accurate tissue color judgment, such as gastrointestinal lesion identification and laparoscopic exploration. The 24.55MP ultra-high resolution allows surgeons to maintain a wide field of view while magnifying suspicious areas for closer inspection without losing detail.

Clinical Significance of Energy Efficiency: Compared to the IMX925, the IMX935 consumes less power, which is particularly important for surgical equipment that needs to run for extended periods. Lower heat generation translates to more stable image quality and a more comfortable clinical experience.

3.3 Comparison with Mainstream Endoscope Sensors

The IMX935 achieves an excellent balance among resolution, speed, and power consumption, making it an ideal choice for rigid endoscope applications that require both high performance and energy efficiency. Its size and capabilities make it a prime candidate for the next generation of Endoscope Camera Module design.

Part IV: Panorama of Main Application Fields

4.1 2D/3D Automated Optical Inspection (AOI)

The primary target market for the IMX935 series is Automated Optical Inspection, one of the most important applications of machine vision in industry.

In electronics manufacturing, as the trend toward component miniaturization accelerates, traditional inspection equipment faces the challenge of insufficient resolution. The 24.55MP resolution allows a single shot to cover a larger area of a PCB while maintaining clear identification of micro-components. The global shutter ensures distortion-free images of circuit boards moving at high speed, and 1-Shot HDR simultaneously preserves details on both metal pads and the dark substrate. Any high-end inspection camera built for AOI would benefit from this sensor. In 3D AOI applications, the high signal-to-noise ratio of the monochrome version directly translates into more accurate height measurement results.

4.2 3D Inspection (Light Cutting Method)

3D inspection based on the light cutting method involves projecting a laser line onto an object and using a camera to capture the reflected light, thereby obtaining contour information such as height, position, and shape of the object under inspection.

The high frame rate and global shutter characteristics of the IMX935 series make them exceptionally well-suited for light cutting applications. The 200 fps 10-bit output enables high-speed in-line inspection, and the global shutter ensures precise capture of the laser line. To enhance 3D accuracy in environments requiring higher contrast, the monochrome version can utilize its binning modes for enhanced sensitivity.

4.3 3D Inspection (Structured Light Method)

3D measurement based on the structured light method uses a projector or laser to project a specific pattern onto the target object. By analyzing the deformation of the pattern in the captured image, high-precision 3D measurements are achieved.

The high frame rate and high resolution of the IMX935 series enable large-area, stable 3D measurements in a short time, shortening inspection time and achieving more accurate results. The 225 fps high-speed output is sufficient to meet the needs of most structured light 3D measurement systems.

4.4 Volumetric Imaging and Sports Analysis

Volumetric imaging technology aims to capture the movement of people or objects in 3D space and reproduce it digitally. The high frame rate and global shutter of the IMX935 series allow for high-resolution imaging of fast-moving subjects, capturing fine details without motion blur.

In sports analysis, this aids in analyzing athlete movements, improving the accuracy of motion reproduction, and enhancing visual realism.

4.5 Semiconductor and Precision Electronics Inspection

Applications such as wafer defect detection, chip packaging quality inspection, and mask inspection have increasingly stringent resolution requirements. The high pixel density of the IMX935 series allows for covering a larger wafer area in a single shot, reducing the need for image stitching and improving inspection efficiency.

4.6 Lithium-Ion Battery Inspection

With the expansion of the new energy vehicle industry, lithium battery quality inspection has become critical. Applications like electrode coating uniformity checks, separator defect inspection, and electrode alignment measurement all require imaging systems with high resolution and sensitivity. The 225 fps output of the IMX935 series matches the inspection needs of most lithium battery production lines.

4.7 Flat Panel Display Inspection

Pixel-level defect detection on OLED and LCD panels requires high-resolution imaging systems. The 24.55MP resolution of the IMX935 allows it to simultaneously capture micro-defects in multiple regions of a large display panel in a single shot.

4.8 Scientific Research and Professional Imaging

In fields like high-speed physical phenomenon recording and biological motion analysis, the IMX935 series shows great potential. The global shutter ensures the geometric fidelity of captured motion, while the high resolution provides ample detail for subsequent analysis.

Part V: Selection Recommendations

Scenarios for Choosing the Monochrome Version (IMX935 AMJ):

The inspection target does not rely on color information, such as semiconductor wafers, precision metal parts, or lithium battery electrodes.

Using structured light or laser for 3D measurement, outputting height maps.

Operating in low-light environments where maximum sensitivity is required.

Performing fluorescence or multispectral imaging requiring high response in the near-infrared band.

Conducting quantitative analysis where measurements and judgments are based on grayscale values.

Needing to utilize the monochrome version's exclusive pixel binning modes to enhance sensitivity.

Scenarios for Choosing the Color Version (IMX935 AQJ):

The inspection target includes color-coded components or markers.

Color consistency judgment is required, such as in pharmaceutical packaging or print quality control.

Intuitive color images need to be output for manual review or presentation.

Inspection involves color-based sorting, such as food grading.

Information from multiple color channels needs to be captured simultaneously.

Needing to utilize the color version's exclusive specific color readout function for multispectral imaging.

Scenarios for Choosing IMX935 over IMX925:

Frame rate requirements are moderate, and 225 fps is sufficient for the application.

Greater focus is placed on system power consumption and energy efficiency.

There is a desire to reduce data bandwidth requirements and simplify system design.

A more competitive system cost is sought.

The application requires long periods of continuous operation with higher demands on heat dissipation.

Part VI: System Integration Considerations

6.1 Interface and Bandwidth

The IMX935 series supports the new version of the SLVS-EC interface, with rates up to 12.5 Gbps per lane. Outputting 24.5MP 8-bit images at 225 fps generates a data rate of approximately 5.5 billion pixels per second, corresponding to a bandwidth requirement of about 44 Gbps. This can be achieved using 4-lane or 2-lane configurations, providing flexibility for system integration. This is a key consideration when designing the supporting camera module board.

6.2 Connection with Mainstream Platforms

Several industrial camera manufacturers have already begun developing products based on the IMX925/IMX935 series. FRAMOS, for example, is offering engineering samples, with the monochrome version available for early ordering and the color version expected to provide engineering samples in September 2025. System integrators can either directly adopt mature camera platforms or develop their own based on reference designs.

6.3 C-Mount Lens Compatibility

The 1.2-inch format of the IMX935 is compatible with C-mount lenses, the most ubiquitous standard for industrial cameras. System integrators can directly select from a vast array of existing C-mount lens products, eliminating the need for special optical design.

6.4 Thermal Design

The IMX935 series consumes less power when running at 225 fps compared to the IMX925. Sony's optimized energy-efficient design has improved power efficiency to more than double that of conventional products, further reducing cooling requirements. This makes the IMX935 more suitable for compact camera designs and applications requiring long periods of continuous operation.

6.5 Sample Availability Information

According to Sony's official release, the IMX935 series is scheduled to begin sampling in May 2025. Partners like FRAMOS have already opened reservations for engineering samples, with the monochrome version available first and the color version expected to provide engineering samples in September 2025.

Part VII: Technology Outlook and Industry Impact

The introduction of the Sony IMX935 series completes the product lineup at the 24.5MP resolution level on the Pregius S technology platform. Compared to the speed-obsessed IMX925, the IMX935, with its 225 fps frame rate, offers a more balanced choice in terms of power consumption, system bandwidth, and cost.

This product strategy reflects Sony's profound understanding of the diverse needs of the industrial vision market. Not all applications require the extreme speed of 442 fps; instead, a focus on energy efficiency, system integration convenience, and cost-effectiveness is a common demand shared by a vast number of industrial users.

For system integrators, the pin-compatible design of the IMX935 series allows for flexible switching with the IMX925 on the same camera platform. This means camera manufacturers can build a universal hardware platform and choose flexibly between speed and power consumption based on customer requirements, significantly shortening product development cycles.

For medical device developers, the breakthrough in size achieved by the IMX935 series makes it a more realistic option for achieving ultra-high resolution in rigid endoscope and surgical microscope systems. The application prospects of the monochrome version in fluorescence imaging, and the potential of 225 fps high-speed imaging for capturing rapid physiological movements, are particularly worthy of attention.

For end-users, this means the range of choices for inspection equipment has further broadened. Whether the need is for extreme speed or a balanced energy-efficient solution, a matching sensor scheme can be found.

Conclusion

The IMX935 AMJ and IMX935 AQJ are two precisely positioned products within Sony's Pregius S technology platform. They achieve an outstanding balance among 24.55MP resolution, 225 fps high-speed output, and a compact 1.2-inch format, providing an ideal core component choice for industrial vision applications that demand high-performance imaging but place a greater emphasis on energy efficiency and system cost.

Compared to the speed-focused IMX925, the IMX935 meets the needs of a vast number of mainstream industrial inspection scenarios with lower power consumption and reduced system bandwidth requirements. The two complement each other, together building a complete 24.5MP high-speed imaging solution.

For medical device developers, although direct integration into the tip of a flexible endoscope remains a dimensional challenge, in areas such as rigid endoscopes, surgical microscopes, and examination room equipment, the IMX935 series offers the technical possibility for ultra-high-definition dynamic imaging. The application prospects of the monochrome version in ICG fluorescence-guided surgery, along with its excellent energy efficiency, deserve focused attention. Whether as the core of a next-generation Endoscope Camera Module, a specialized inspection camera, or a versatile small camera module for OEMs, the IMX935 sets a new standard for balanced performance.