STMicroelectronics expands BrightSense portfolio with energy efficient sensors designed for edge AI and compact electronics

STMicroelectronics expands BrightSense portfolio with energy efficient sensors designed for edge AI and compact electronics

(IN BRIEF) STMicroelectronics has introduced two new ultralow-power global-shutter image sensors, VD55G4 and VD65G4, designed to enable always-on vision in compact, battery-powered devices. Part of the ST BrightSense portfolio, the sensors offer up to ten times lower power consumption compared to conventional solutions and feature a detect-and-wake architecture that activates processing only when needed. They are targeted at applications including wearables, AR/VR devices, smart home appliances, and medical equipment, providing AI-ready image data while maintaining energy efficiency. The sensors integrate easily with low-power microcontrollers and are supported by a full development ecosystem, helping accelerate the deployment of edge-based vision solutions. This innovation reflects the growing importance of low-power, always-on capabilities in next-generation electronics.

(PRESS RELEASE) GENEVA, 28-Apr-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — STMicroelectronics has launched a new generation of ultralow-power global-shutter image sensors designed to bring always-on vision capabilities to compact, battery-powered devices. The VD55G4 (monochrome) and VD65G4 (RGB color) sensors expand the company’s ST BrightSense portfolio and are now available to early adopters.

The new sensors are engineered to meet the growing demand for intelligent, power-efficient vision systems across applications such as wearables, augmented and virtual reality devices, smart home technologies, and medical equipment. Designed to operate under strict constraints on energy consumption, size, and cost, they provide high-quality image capture while enabling AI-ready data processing at the edge.

A key feature of the VD55G4 and VD65G4 sensors is their ability to significantly reduce power consumption—using up to ten times less energy than conventional global-shutter sensors when operating at approximately 800×700 resolution and 10 frames per second. This efficiency is achieved through an optimized architecture and an always-on detect-and-wake mechanism, allowing the sensors to monitor scenes continuously and activate the main processor only when necessary.

The compact sensors integrate seamlessly with low-power microcontrollers and cost-effective system-on-chip platforms, simplifying implementation in space-constrained designs. Their small footprint and built-in image processing capabilities help reduce system complexity and overall cost, while enabling responsive, event-driven vision applications.

In wearable devices, the sensors support features such as presence detection, glance recognition, and contextual alerts, all while maintaining long battery life. For AR, VR, and extended reality headsets, they enable precise tracking and spatial awareness without significantly increasing power consumption. In smart home appliances and IoT devices, the sensors facilitate local data processing, reducing reliance on cloud connectivity and lowering standby energy usage.

The sensors are manufactured using a 3D-stacked architecture on 300 mm wafers at STMicroelectronics’ Crolles facility, combining advanced semiconductor processes to deliver both performance and efficiency. To support developers, the company is also providing a comprehensive ecosystem that includes development boards compatible with platforms such as STM32 and Raspberry Pi, turnkey camera modules, software tools, and a development kit to accelerate embedded vision projects.

By enabling continuous, low-power vision capabilities, STMicroelectronics aims to support the next wave of intelligent devices that rely on edge AI and energy-efficient operation, expanding the possibilities for always-on applications across consumer and industrial markets.

ST is also offering the full companion ecosystem with multiple tools and resources, including:

• development boards for platforms such as STM32 and Raspberry Pi,
• turnkey camera modules,
• evaluation software, platform drivers,
• a software development kit to accelerate embedded vision projects.

These upcoming public resources will help designers quickly prototype and deploy always-on vision solutions with these new sensors.

Pricing information and sample requests are available from STMicroelectronics sales offices. Learn more about ST BrightSense portfolio at: www.st.com/industrial-consumer-cmos-image-sensors

About STMicroelectronics
At ST, we are 48,000 creators and makers of semiconductor technologies mastering the semiconductor supply chain with state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities. An integrated device manufacturer, we work with more than 200,000 customers and thousands of partners to design and build products, solutions, and ecosystems that address their challenges and opportunities, and the need to support a more sustainable world. Our technologies enable smarter mobility, more efficient power and energy management, and the wide-scale deployment of cloud-connected autonomous things. We are on track to be carbon neutral in all direct and indirect emissions (scopes 1 and 2), product transportation, business travel, and employee commuting emissions (our scope 3 focus), and to achieve our 100% renewable electricity sourcing goal by the end of 2027. Further information can be found at www.st.com.

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SOURCE: STMicroelectronics