Samsung Electronics has introduced two new products in its ISOCELL Vision image sensor lineup on Dec. 19, designed to act as the eyes for advanced content platforms like mobile, robotics, and Extended Reality (XR).
The newly unveiled ISOCELL Vision 63D image sensor chip is an indirect Time-of-Flight (iToF) sensor that detects light wavelengths to measure and map the three-dimensional information of objects. It finds primary application in service and logistics robots, XR devices, and facial recognition technology.
This sensor measures distance in a manner similar to how bats detect their surroundings using echolocation. However, instead of sound waves, it calculates distance by measuring the phase difference between emitted light wavelengths and those reflected back from the subject. This chip is the industry’s first one-chip iToF sensor, with a built-in Image Signal Processor (ISP) optimized for depth calculation, enabling it to capture depth maps with three-dimensional information without the support of an application processor (AP).
Compared to its predecessor, the ISOCELL Vision 33D, this new product consumes up to 40% less power. It is capable of processing QVGA resolution images optimized for iToF sensor functionality at 60 frames per second.
By enhancing the light absorption rate of pixels using Backside Scattering Technology (BST), it achieves an industry-leading quantum efficiency of 38% at an infrared wavelength of 940 nanometers, minimizing motion blur and delivering sharp images.
The ISOCELL Vision 931, also revealed alongside, is a global shutter sensor that operates similarly to the human eye. It is optimized for capturing moving subjects like those in XR, motion-tracking games, robots, and drones without distortion. Unlike typical image sensors that expose pixels to light sequentially in a rolling shutter method, the global shutter exposes all pixels to light simultaneously, similar to the human eye, capturing fast-moving objects clearly and without distortion.
It supports a 1:1 aspect ratio resolution (640x640), making it ideal for head-mounted display devices like those used in XR. The sensor not only recognizes iris patterns but also smoothly tracks eye movements, facial expressions, and subtle hand gestures.