Optimized for Mobile Devices
Samsung Electronics has unveiled the industry's smallest ultra-high definition image sensor.
The tech giant took the wraps off the ISOCELL Slim GH1, the industry’s first 0.7-micrometer (μm) pixel image sensor, on Sept. 24.
The company launched the world's first 1.0-µm pixel image sensor in 2015, firing the first salvo in the competition for miniaturization of image sensors. It introduced the world's first 0.9-µm pixel product in 2017 and the world’s first 0.8-µm pixel product last year. Once again, the company has overcome the limits of micro-processing technology by releasing a 0.7-µm pixel image sensor.
The new image sensor has 43.7-million 0.7-µm pixels in a super-small package. It can reduce the camera module size and thickness compared to using a sensor with the same number of 0.8- µm pixels, so it is optimized for mobile devices requiring a slim design and high resolution.
Recently, many new smartphones are adopting a bezelless design with the display taking up 90 percent of the front. This trend is expected to fuel demand for image sensors that can hold more pixels in a limited space.
However, as the size of a pixel becomes smaller, the amount of light received by the image sensor decreases and image quality suffers due to interference between adjacent pixels. The new product addresses this issue through ISOCELL Plus technology and Tetracell technology, Samsung said.
Samsung Electronics plans to start volume production of the ISOCELL Slim GH1 within this year. For video recording at 4K (3,840×2,160) resolution, the ISOCELL Slim GH1, with a high resolution of 7,968×5,480, is able to take 4K videos. In addition, it supports electronic image stabilization (EIS) and subject focus technology 'Super Phase Detection (PD)' at the same time, so you can shoot a photo quickly and clearly in situations with fast moving subjects such as sports events.