On September 4, 2026, PolarisIC officially launched the PCM7200, China's first commercial 3.2-megapixel SPAD image sensor. Built on PolarisIC's proprietary second-generation 3D-stacked back-side-illuminated architecture, the chip delivers a 2080H × 1568V array with an 8 μm pixel pitch, making it the largest SPAD imaging array in the industry to date. Combined with the self-developed TunRes™ tunable response pixel technology, it effectively reduces the photosensitive power consumption of large-area SPADs and enhances adaptability in strong light and high dynamic range scenarios. The PCM7200 fills a longstanding gap in China's commercial SPAD imaging market and marks the beginning of a new chapter in the commercialization of photon-counting imaging at PolarisIC.

PCM7200 dieshot

Expanding Imaging Boundaries: Imaging Capabilities in All Illuminated Scenes, from Extremely Low Light to High Light

Through full-stack in-house R&D - from device fundamentals and pixel architecture to system integration - and end-to-end optimization, PCM7200 delivers imaging across a broad illumination range, from bright daylight to ultra-low-light nighttime conditions. It significantly expands the adaptability of SPAD imaging in bright-light and high-dynamic-range environments, overturning the conventional belief that "SPAD is only for low-light imaging" and opening new frontiers for imaging applications.

a. Shot indoors, light source color temperature 5000k, lens 25mm F16, exposure time 6.3ms

In outdoor scenes under natural illumination, PCM7200 uses the flexible exposure control enabled by the TunRes™ digital pixel architecture to retain detail in both highlights and shadows. At night, with only moonlight and faint scattered ambient light, its single-photon detection capability still renders scene contours and fine details clearly.

b. Outdoor shooting, shooting time around 3:30 pm, lens 25mm F16

c. Outdoor shooting, moonless, sunny day, around 9 PM, using a 50mm f/1.4 lens

In an extremely dark indoor environment with all natural light blocked and illumination controlled to approximately 0.001 lux - roughly equivalent to a moonless, starless night, where the human eye can no longer resolve scene detail - PCM7200 still delivers 30 fps imagery with smooth grayscale rendition and clearly discernible detail. Grayscale steps, characters, and texture patterns on the test chart remain clearly visible, demonstrating PolarisIC's robust ultra-low-light imaging capabilities.

d. Darkroom shooting,light intensity of 0.001 lux, Lens 50mm F1.4, exposure time 28ms

e. Darkroom shooting, light intensity 0.00015 lux, Lens 50mm F1.4, exposure time 28ms

Breaking the 60-Year Imaging Paradigm: Photon-Counting Architecture Rewrites the Foundations of Image Sensor Technology

Since the invention of CCD in 1969, CCD and CMOS image sensors have always followed the underlying logic of charge integration: pixels accumulate photons to generate analog charges, which are then amplified and output as images through analog-to-digital conversion. After nearly sixty years of development, this technological framework has become highly mature, but its Performance improvements are still constrained by factors such as Readout noise, full well capacity, and conversion gain efficiency, and there is always a trade-off between low‑light sensitivity, dynamic range, and frame rate.

The SPAD photon-counting architecture employed by PCM7200 represents a fundamental shift. Rather than accumulating charge or relying on analog signal amplification, it uses the avalanche effect to convert single-photon events into countable digital pulses, directly counting light at its smallest unit: the photon. This approach delivers three decisive breakthroughs in photon-counting imaging:

• Leap in photosensitivity: SPAD's single-photon response capability and photon-counting architecture physically eliminate Readout noise; under the same operating conditions, Sensitivity is more than 10 times higher than that of traditional CMOS; 
• Breakthrough in frame rate capability: Based on photon-counting architecture, Analog-to-digital conversion can be performed in a distributed manner in both the time and spatial domains, freeing us from the timing constraints of charge transfer and centralized AD sampling, and achieving ultra-high frame rate output even at high resolution;
• Dynamic range extension: SPAD non-linear response provides native high dynamic range, combined with algorithm-level exposure customization supported by digital pixel architecture, enabling an ultra-wide dynamic range of over 150 dB.

PolarisIC does not view SPAD photon-counting imaging as merely "a more sensitive alternative," but as an entirely new foundational architecture for digital sensing. By uniting high sensitivity, high dynamic range, and high frame rates - three core capabilities long considered difficult to achieve simultaneously - it opens application spaces beyond the reach of conventional imaging technologies. Since its founding, PolarisIC has made SPAD imaging a core strategic focus, sustained its R&D investment, and built a complete, closed-loop technology stack spanning devices, processes, architectures, and systems.

Four leaps in four years: From Line Arrays to 3.2MP Area Arrays, with a Fully Domestic Supply Chain

The development of SPAD imaging chips covers the entire chain, including device design, process development, digital architecture, system integration and optical integration, and requires continuous engineering accumulation and collaborative development with the supply chain. Faced with the challenge of a weak industrial chain foundation, PolarisIC has always insisted on cooperating with the supply chain to evolve, verifying each generation and continuously accumulating technical data and engineering experience. Over the past four years, PolarisIC has embarked on a clear and resolute path of independent iteration.

In September 2022, PolarisIC launched PCL7150, the first line scan array SPAD image sensor in China. Although it is only a line scan array chip with one-dimensional detection capability, it has for the first time enabled PolarisIC to achieve full-chain capabilities from pixel design, process verification, tape-out manufacturing to system integration, laying the foundation for subsequent breakthroughs.

PCL7150 photon counting line scan array chip

In September 2023, PolarisIC completed the internal verification of a 260 × 200 pixel Frontside-Illuminated (FSI) SPAD area array image sensor. This phase focused on validating control of pixel uniformity as the architecture scaled from a line array to an area array. Results showed that uniformity across all key array metrics met target specifications. On the strength of this milestone, PolarisIC formally launched development of its 3D-stacking process platform, establishing the engineering foundation for megapixel-class SPAD image sensors.

In December 2024, PolarisIC's first 3D-stacked SPAD image sensor, PCM7130, completed tape-out and achieved powered on. It was also the company's first area-array chip fabricated entirely through China's domestic supply chain and was showcased at CIOE Shenzhen in September 2025. Built on back-side-illuminated (BSI) SPAD technology, PCM7130 offers an effective resolution of 1280 × 720 and an 11.5 μm pixel pitch. Wafer-level hybrid bonding provides pixel-to-pixel interconnects between the photosensitive and logic tiers, at a scale more than three orders of magnitude greater than that of stacked CIS devices. Powered of of PCM7130 completed the loop across BSI SPAD design, megapixel integration, and the 3D-stacking process platform, formally establishing PolarisIC's core SPAD image-sensor technology and process foundation.

PCM7130 Photon-Counting Imaging Chip

In April 2026, the PCM7200 tape-out was completed and powered on. Based on PolarisIC second-generation 3D stacking technology platform, it took only one year and four months from the completion of the PCM7130 tape-out to the lighting up of the PCM7200 tape-out. This is not a simple patch to the previous generation chip, but a system-level leap based on the process data and device models accumulated from the PCM7130, which has completed process platform upgrades, device iterations and architecture optimizations within a year and a half: the number of pixels has jumped from 920,000 to 3.2 million, an increase of nearly 3.5 times; the pixel pitch has been reduced from 11.5 μm to 8 μm; and the full resolution frame rate has been pushed to 1000 fps. The PCM7200 incorporates the self-developed TunRes™ tunable response pixel technology from PolarisIC, which significantly optimizes chip power consumption and greatly improves response adaptability in strong light and high dynamic range scenarios. At the same time, PolarisIC has carried out in-depth optimization around consistency and stability, perfecting the underlying fundamentals that determine the commercial value of products. PCM7200 has passed the EMVA1288 standard test, and the results show that the key image quality indicators——Sensitivity, dynamic range, etc.——are significantly better than traditional CIS products. There are no shortcomings in other indicators either, which shows that the PCM7200 is a truly commercially viable and mass-producible SPAD image sensor chip.

Four chips in four years, from line scan array to area array, from front-illuminated to 3D stacked, from 1.5k pixels to 3.2 megapixels, from a non-domestic supply chain to a fully domestic supply chain—— PolarisIC has completed the systematic construction and continuous accumulation of technology, platform, and supply chain, paving a solid road for the large-scale application of SPAD image sensors.

Continuing to tackle key challenges: Building photon-counting industry ecosystem with upstream and downstream partners

In China, SPAD technology has been applied in industries such as ranging, but SPAD imaging, an important branch, has long lacked mature products and large-scale industrial practice. The PCM7200 represents a crucial breakthrough in the domestic SPAD imaging field, taking us from zero to one. This breakthrough stems from PolarisIC long-term commitment to its technical roadmap and its continuous efforts to overcome industrialization challenges. It also stems from PolarisIC consistent commitment to investing heavily and doing the right thing at critical stages.

Looking to the future, PolarisIC will drive the accelerated development of the SPAD photon-counting imaging industry through continuous innovation. On the one hand, we are continuously pushing the limits of product performance, approaching physical limits; on the other hand, we are collaborating with downstream customers and ecosystem partners to conduct in-depth joint development, connecting the entire imaging chain from " chip–optics–ISP–end applications," and accelerating the formation of the industry ecosystem.