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Posts Tagged ‘ISOCELL’

Samsung’s new ISOCELL GN1 sensor features Tetracell tech, phase detection on all active pixels

20 May

Samsung Electronics has launched a new image sensor that is designed for use in the primary camera of high-end smartphones. Like other sensors from the the ISOCELL family, the ISOCELL GN1 comes with the company’s pixel isolation technology that creates a barrier around each pixel in order to reduce color cross-talk.

At 50MP the sensor´s native resolution is fairly moderate when compared to the 108MP juggernaut used in Samsung’s latest flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S20 Ultra, but has other tricks up its sleeve: it’s Samsung’s first image sensor to combine Dual-Pixel autofocus with the company’s Tetracell technology, allowing for increased light sensitivity in low light as well as precise and fast autofocus performance in all light conditions.

The GN1 comes with 100 million phase detection autofocus (PDAF) sites, meaning all of the sensor’s active pixels double as focus pixels, allowing for fast focusing in all light conditions and at all angles. Dual Pixel technology places two photodiodes side-by-side within a single pixel. When an image is captured the outputs from the two photodiodes are merged into a single pixel. Samsung also offers a software feature that can analyze light information from both photodiodes to compute image output that is comparable to a 100MP file.

Tetracell uses pixel-merging methods to increase light sensitivity in low light conditions. Four adjacent pixels are merged into one doubling the effective pixel size from 1.2?m to 2.4?m and quadrupling the light sensitivity at a 12.5MP output size. In bright light the sensor can operate as a standard Bayer sensor and capture full-sized 50MP images.

In addition the GN1 sensor offers a Smart-ISO function that ‘intelligently sets the optimal ISO value, and a real-time HDR mode. Electronic image stabilization uses data from the device’s built-in gyro to avoid shaky video and blurry images and video shooters can make use of an 8K video mode that can record at 30 frames per second.

Overall the GN1 looks like a very versatile image sensor that can adapt to a multitude of shooting situations. In bright light the 50MP resolution should allow for excellent detail. In dimmer conditions the Tetracell tech can deliver images with low noise and a wide dynamic range. At the same time the all-sensor Dual-Pixel autofocus system is making sure subjects are in focus, even in difficult scenes.

Samsung says mass production of the ISOCELL GN1 sensor has started this month. We’ll find out how it performs in real-life conditions once the first GN1-equipped devices make an appearance in the marketplace.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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This is how the Samsung ISOCELL Bright HMX 108MP mobile image sensor works

18 Dec

More recently we have seen a significant increase of resolution in high-end mobile image sensors, with market leaders Sony and Samsung launching sensors with pixel counts that are firmly in medium format camera territory.

However, in the mobile world, the high resolutions aren’t so much about an increase in detail. Instead, they allow for improved digital zooming with only a small loss in detail, and the option to use pixel-binning methods in difficult light conditions in order to improve noise levels.

Samsung has now published a video and blog post detailing the technology and improvements in its ISOCELL Bright HMX 108MP sensor that is deployed in the Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Pro and will likely also be used in the upcoming Galaxy S11 series.

The sensor’s large 1/1.33″ surface combined with 0.8?m-sized pixels allows for the massive pixel count and increased light gathering capability compared to smaller variants. It uses Samsung’s ISOCELL Plus technology which minimizes optical loss and pixel crosstalk by installing a barrier around each pixel.

Previously this barrier was made from metal. In this latest generation of ISOCELL sensors, it is now made from an ‘innovative new material that minimizes optical loss and light reflection’. Samsung says the material also allows the photodiode to absorb more light, allowing for much better performance than you would usually get from such small pixels.

In addition, Samsung has implemented its Smart-ISO technology which lets the sensor pick the best level of signal amplification for a given lighting situation, reducing highlight clipping and noise levels.

Samsung’s Tetracell Technology helps increase performance in low light by merging clusters of four pixels into single pixels, combining the native 0.8?m pixels into larger 1.6?m ones. Even in this mode, the ISOCELL Bright HMX sensor can still deliver 27MP image output which should be more than enough for any mobile application. The complete article is available on the Samsung website.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Samsung announces 43.7MP ISOCELL Slim GH1 mobile sensor with 0.7?m pixels

24 Sep

Samsung has announced its tiniest camera sensor to date, the ISOCELL Slim GH1.

Designed specifically for ‘slim full-display devices,’ the pixels measure just 0.7 micrometers (?m) each for a total 43.7-megapixels (7,968 x 5,480 pixels) of resolution. As its name suggests, the ISOCELL Slim GH1 uses Samsung’s ISOCELL Plus technology, which uses pixel isolation to minimize color cross-talk, an issue that becomes more problematic the smaller pixels get.

Samsung also notes the ISOCELL Slim GH1 offers its Tetracell technology, which uses pixel-merging methods to give the sensor ‘light sensitivity equivalent to that of a 1.4?m-pixel image sensor.’

The ISOCELL Slim GH1 is capable of recording 4K video at up to 60 frames per second by using Samsung’s Tetracell technology to downsample the footage down to 3,840 x 2,160 pixels, a resolution that covers the standard resolution of 4K video (3,840 x 2,160 pixels). It also features phase detection autofocus, real-time HDR capabilities and gyro-based electronic image stabilization (EIS).

Samsung says it will start production of the ISOCELL Slim GH1 by the end of the year, meaning we probably won’t see it inside any devices until 2020. Based on the ‘Slim’ nomanclature and the mention of ‘selfie’ in the press release, it’s likely this particular sensor will be used as a front-facing camera, although it’s certainly not limited to such implementations.

Press release:

Samsung Introduces Industry’s First 0.7?m-pixel Mobile Image Sensor

Samsung ISOCELL Slim GH1 offers 43.7 megapixels in an extremely compact package, ideal for slim full-display smartphones

Samsung Electronics, a world leader in advanced semiconductor technology, today introduced the industry’s first 0.7-micrometer (?m)-pixel image sensor, the 43.7-megapixel (Mp) Samsung ISOCELL Slim GH1. Thanks to advanced ISOELL Plus technology, the new ultra-high-resolution GH1 image sensor embraces 43.7-million 0.7?m-sized pixels in a super-small package, providing the optimum solution for slim full-display devices.

“Samsung has been stepping up in pixel technology innovation from the industry’s first 1.0?m-pixel image sensor, to most recently, 0.8?m ultra-high-resolution sensors at 64Mp and 108Mp,” said Yongin Park, executive vice president of the sensor business at Samsung Electronics. “We are pleased to deliver yet another breakthrough with the industry’s first 0.7?m pixel image sensor, the ISOCELL Slim GH1 that will enable sleeker and more streamlined designs as well as excellent imaging experiences in tomorrow’s smartphones.”

The ISOCELL Slim GH1 is the industry’s first mobile image sensor to adopt the smallest pixel size in the industry at 0.7?m. By utilizing ISOCELL Plus, Samsung’s latest pixel isolation technology that minimizes color cross-talk and optical loss, the tiny 0.7?m pixels are able to absorb sufficient light information to produce bright and vivid photographs. In low-light environments, the GH1 makes use of pixel-merging Tetracell technology that enables higher light sensitivity equivalent to that of a 1.4?m-pixel image sensor.

For video recording at 4K (3,840×2,160) resolutions, the ISOCELL Slim GH1, with a high resolution of 7,968×5,480, is able to take 4K videos with minimum loss in field of view (FoV), while most high-resolution image sensors crop or scale down full image resolutions that result in a reduced FoV. Using Tetracell technology, the GH1 is converted down to 3,984×2,740, a resolution that snugly covers the 4K (3,840×2,160) resolution, allowing users to capture more detailed backgrounds when recording high-resolution videos or selfies at 60T frames per second (fps).

For sharper photographs and video, the GH1 supports a gyro-based electronic image stabilization (EIS) and a high-performing phase detection auto-focus technology, Super PD, allowing fast and accurate autofocus. In addition, the real-time high dynamic range (HDR) feature delivers more balanced exposure and richer color even in mixed-light environments.

The Samsung ISOCELL Slim GH1 is expected to be in mass production by the end of this year.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Samsung officially unveils 108MP ISOCELL Bright HMX mobile camera sensor

13 Aug

Samsung has officially announced the 108-megapixel camera sensor first teased by Chinese company Xiaomi last week. The new Samsung ISOCELL Bright HMX is the first mobile camera sensor that offers more than 100 megapixels, exceeding the company’s recently announced 64MP sensor. Samsung says the ISOCELL Bright HMX is the fruit of a ’close collaboration’ with Xiaomi.

The ISOCELL Bright HMX is the first mobile sensor to feature a 1/1.33″ size, according to Samsung, which says its Tetracell tech enables the HMX to ‘imitate big-pixel sensors’ for better quality 27MP images.

The 1/1.33″ format equates to around 9.6 x 7.2mm, which is around 40% smaller than a 1″-type sensor, but nearly 3 times larger than the 1/2.5″-type chips in the many of smartphones. The Tetracell design, much like Sony’s ‘Quad Bayer’ technology, places four pixels under each color of its color filter, making it easy to combine pixels to give better performance at 1/4 resolution, but also means additional processing needs to be done to attempt to replicate what a standard Bayer sensor would capture, if it had 108 megapixels.

Samsung’s ‘Tetracell’ tech makes low light (and, potentially, HDR) images easier to produce, but means processing is required to attempt to recreate what a standard Bayer sensor would have produced.

The sensor will be paired with what Samsung calls its Smart-ISO ‘mechanism,’ which it says toggles between a high ISO in darker environments and a low ISO in bright settings. This sounds like it may be describing a chip with more than one gain mode. Samsung claims this increases pixel saturation and the promise of ‘vivid photographs.’ The new HMX supports recording video at up to 6K 6016 x 3384 at 30fps.

Talking about the new product is Xiaomi President Lin Bin, who said:

‘We are very pleased that picture resolutions previously available only in a few top-tier DSLR cameras can now be designed into smartphones. As we continue our partnership, we anticipate bringing not only new mobile camera experiences but also a platform through which our users can create unique content.’

The company hasn’t yet revealed what those ‘new mobile camera experiences’ will be. Samsung plans to start mass-producing the ISOCELL Bright HMX in August.

Samsung Takes Mobile Photography to the Next Level with Industry’s First 108Mp Image Sensor for Smartphones

Samsung’s partnership with Xiaomi brings innovation to mobile cameras with new ISOCELL Bright HMX

Samsung Electronics, a world leader in advanced semiconductor technology, today introduced 108 megapixel (Mp) Samsung ISOCELL Bright HMX, the first mobile image sensor in the industry to go beyond 100 million pixels. With the latest addition, Samsung will expand its 0.8?m image sensor offerings from its recently announced ultra-high 64Mp to 108Mp, a resolution equivalent to that of a high-end DSLR camera. Samsung ISOCELL Bright HMX is a one-of-a-kind mobile image sensor and is the result of close collaboration between Xiaomi Corp. and Samsung.

With over 100 million effective pixels enabling extremely sharp photographs rich in detail, the ISOCELL Bright HMX also produces exceptional photos even in extreme lighting conditions. Being the first mobile image sensor to adopt a large 1/1.33-inch size, the HMX can absorb more light in low-lit settings than smaller sensors and its pixel-merging Tetracell technology allows the sensor to imitate big-pixel sensors, producing brighter 27Mp images. In bright environments, the Smart-ISO, a mechanism that intelligently selects the level of amplifier gains according to the illumination of the environment for optimal light-to-electric signal conversion, switches to a low ISO to improve pixel saturation and produce vivid photographs. The mechanism uses a high ISO in darker settings that helps reduce noise, resulting in clearer pictures. For advanced filming, the HMX supports video recording without losses in field-of-view at resolutions up to 6K (6016 x 3384) 30-frames-per-second (fps).

“For ISOCELL Bright HMX, Xiaomi and Samsung have worked closely together from the early conceptual stage to production that has resulted in a groundbreaking 108Mp image sensor. We are very pleased that picture resolutions previously available only in a few top-tier DSLR cameras can now be designed into smartphones,” said Lin Bin, co-founder and president of Xiaomi. “As we continue our partnership, we anticipate bringing not only new mobile camera experiences but also a platform through which our users can create unique content.”

“Samsung is continuously pushing for innovations in pixel and logic technologies to engineer our ISOCELL image sensors to capture the world as close to how our eyes perceive them,” said Yongin Park, executive vice president of sensor business at Samsung Electronics. “Through close collaboration with Xiaomi, ISOCELL Bright HMX is the first mobile image sensor to pack over 100 million pixels and delivers unparalleled color reproduction and stunning detail with advanced Tetracell and ISOCELL Plus technology.”

Mass production for Samsung ISOCELL Bright HMX will begin later this month.

* Samsung first announced its ISOCELL technology in 2013, which reduces color-cross talk between pixels by placing a physical barrier, allowing small-sized pixels to achieve higher color fidelity. Based on this technology, Samsung introduced the industry’s first 1.0um-pixel image sensor in 2015 and 0.9-pixel sensor in 2017. In June 2018, Samsung introduced an upgraded pixel isolation technology, the ISOCELL Plus

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Samsung’s ISOCELL Plus promises better color accuracy and low light performance

28 Jun

Samsung’s ISOCELL smartphone image sensor technology was introduced in 2013. It uses physical barriers between neighboring pixels to reduce color crosstalk and expand the capability to capture light, compared to conventional backside-illuminated (BSI) image sensors.

Now the Korean company has launched ‘ISOCELL Plus’ which has been developed in cooperation with FujiFilm. It replaces the metal grid at the front of the pixels with a new ‘mystery’ material, providing even better separation between pixels.

This material reduces reflections and light absorption by the barriers between pixels, leading to increased light sensitivity of up to 15% and better color fidelity. According to Samsung the technology allows for the design of sensors with 0.8µm and smaller-sized pixels without a loss in performance. This is 1/3rd the size of the pixels in a typical 1″-type sensor and should allow smartphone sensors with a resolution of 20MP and higher.

“We value our strategic relationship with Samsung and would like to congratulate on the completion of the ISOCELL Plus development,” said Naoto Yanagihara, corporate vice president of Fujifilm. “This development is a remarkable milestone for us as it marks the first commercialization of our new material. Through continuous cooperation with Samsung, we anticipate to bring more meaningful innovation to mobile cameras.”

In combination with other new mobile imaging technologies, such as multi-frame stacking and multi-sensor camera modules, ISOCELL Plus should allow for the design of smartphone cameras with even better low light performance than we’re seeing in current models.

Samsung will be showcasing the new sensors at Mobile World Congress Shanghai come end of June, but for now there is no word on when to expect the new technology in a production smartphone.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Samsung’s new ISOCELL Dual module will bring dual-cameras to budget smartphones

08 Feb

Dual-camera setups that allow for better zooming and a background-blurring fake bokeh effect have become pretty much a standard feature on flagship smartphones; however, they are still far less common on cheaper ‘budget’ devices. That’s all about to change. The image sensor division of device maker Samsung just launched the new ISOCELL Dual camera module, which was specifically designed for use in budget devices.

The new module comes with a built-in set of algorithms and functions and can be configured two ways: either for low-light performance by combining image data from two sensor, or to provide a bokeh effect feature. For the low-light setup, Samsung couples two 8MP sensors; for the bokeh effect, the module is assembled with a 13MP and 5MP image sensor combination.

Samsung will likely use the module in its own entry-level devices but, like it does with its sensors, RAM modules and other components, the company is also offering the technology to other OEMs. This will allow smaller companies to integrate dual-cam technology into their products without the need for large R&D budgets and software optimization.

We should see the first production smartphones using the ISOCELL Dual module sometime later this year.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Samsung launches ISOCELL image sensor brand

28 Jun

Samsung Electronics has introduced its image sensor brand ISOCELL at the 2017 Mobile World Congress (MWC) Shanghai. Samsung originally launched the ISOCELL technology, which reduces crosstalk between pixels through physical barriers, in 2013 and has now decided to use the moniker as a brand name.

“Samsung ISOCELL is a brand that represents the essence of our leading pixel technologies. We expect the ISOCELL brand to help consumers easily acknowledge and confide in camera performance as well as overall quality of the device,” said Ben Hur, Vice President of System LSI marketing at Samsung Electronics. “With our advanced image sensor technologies, Samsung will continue to bring innovation to cameras used in smartphones and other applications.”

ISOCELL sensors comprises four sub-brands: Bright, Fast, Slim and Dual which are tailored to specific mobile device market demands:

  • ISOCELL Bright sensors deliver bright and sharp images with high color fidelity and reduced noise in low light environments
  • ISOCELL Fast sensors provide fast autofocus onto still or moving objects even when dark
  • ISOCELL Slim sensors adopt the smallest pixel sizes available in the market at 0.9-1.0um, yet produce high quality images for the slimmest devices
  • ISOCELL Dual sensors can be mixed and matched in various combinations on consumer devices to bring about features demanded in the latest dual camera trend

The latter works in a similar way to the dual-camera modules in more recent Huawei high-end phones. combining an RGB with a monochrome sensor. If the rumors are true we will see the ISOCELL Dual sensors for the first time in the upcoming Samsung Note 8 which is likely to be launched around the IFA trade show in Berlin at the beginning of September.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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ZTE Axon 7 features 20MP Samsung ISOCELL sensor

26 May

Chinese smartphone maker ZTE has announced its latest high-end device, the Axon 7. It comes with an impressive camera specification that includes a 20MP Samsung ISOCELL sensor, fast F1.8 aperture, a sapphire glass lens front element, optical image stabilization and on-sensor phase detection autofocus. A dual-LED flash helps with illumination in dim conditions, and in video mode the camera is capable of recording footage with 4K resolution. The front camera comes with an 8MP sensor. 

The other components of the device match the camera’s high-end specifications. The Axon’s aluminum unibody houses a 5.5-inch AMOLED panel with 2560 x 1440 Quad-HD resolution that is covered by 2.5D curved Gorilla Glass 4 and the Android OS is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 chipset. In terms of memory consumers get to choose between a version with 4GB RAM and 64GB storage or a 6GB/128GB premium model. There is also a microSD-slot for expansion. A hearty 3140 mAh battery supports the Quick-charge 3.0 standard. There are also a dedicated audio chip, dual speakers, a fingerprint reader and a USB Type-C connector.

The Axon 7 will be launched in China first in July and make its way to international markets at a later stage. Official pricing will be revealed closer to launch, but is expected to be below $ 500 which sounds like an interesting offer for such a well-specified device.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Samsung explains the Galaxy S5’s ISOCELL sensor

14 Mar

samsungisocell.jpg

Samsung revealed its innovative ISOCELL image sensor technology in September last year, but it has taken until now for the concept to be applied in a device. The Galaxy S5, announced at Mobile World Congress, is the first smartphone from the Korean manufacturer that comes with an ISOCELL camera. Check out the video from Samsung that explains the technology in more detail. See video

News: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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