The most interesting fact is that such a high score has been achieved with RYYB color filter pattern in its main sensor. Aptina has patented that pattern several years ago. It's not immediately clear whether Huawei or its CIS supplier have licensed this patent or found a way around it.
Thanks to TS for the pointer!
Update: Few more pictures from Huawei presentation:
I don't catch why the title says ToF? Is this RGB-Z (or RYYB-Z)?
ReplyDeleteThere is a separate ToF sensor. I'll try to make the title more clear
DeleteHuawei needs a stinking license? You don't say.... No thanks, let's just make it, we're China, People's Republic!
ReplyDeleteI don't think you are right in that. First, Huawei does not make image sensors, as far as I know. Most probably, it's supplied to them by some company in Japan or Korea.
DeleteSecond, Aptina patent has a complex history. It appears to be acquired by Deutsche Bank, New York branch in 2016. It might to be a part of assets that ON Semi sold when exiting mobile business. As it stands now, the patent might indirectly belong to Huawei or its supplier. In any case, Aptina-ON Semi is not an owner of this patent anymore.
https://patents.google.com/patent/US20140125838
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DeleteFirst, Vladimir didn't claim that anyone "stole" a license. He merely pointed out with whom the original IP is and raised the question whether they a> license or b) found a way around. The option c) theft was not suggested, hence this comment is entirely inappropriate. As is the last one. Uncompetitiveness? This post is about Huawei "breaking the highscore" - so they're surely lacking competitiveness. And if that comment rather refers to comment on license theft and delusion - this would still not be a great way to address this item.
DeleteI suggest to remove both of the last comments. This is below the level of this very nice blog.
There is often some ambiguity when using the vocabulary "ToF sensor". Typically their are two types, "ToF rangers" and "ToF cameras". The first is using very low number of pixels and mostly used as a proximity sensor: I would therefore call this type "ToF proximity sensor", or "ToF sensor" in short. The other type is "ToF array camera", with real 3D imaging capabilities. The ambiguity arrise because we have to name the image sensor, yes it is some kind of "ToF sensor" too but with much larger number of pixels. In the end I think the big story here is the addition of a "ToF camera", not just a "Tof sensor" as used to have the LG-G3 (yes 5 years ago already!) - Pierre Cambou - Yole Developpement
ReplyDeleteIn the marketing brief they clearly mention ToF camera so I think there is no ambiguity there. Does anyone know whether this is the ToF Sensor from SONY?
ReplyDeleteBoth RYYB and TOF are from SONY.
DeleteMost of the features announced on the P30 Pro are great exaggerations. Like the 409600ISO (I doubt anything about 3200ISO will be usable). Also many online photos seem to exhibit unique colour banding in the sky where both blue and purple can be seen in photos where the sky occupies a noticeable portion of photos.
ReplyDeleteThe improvements over the P20 Pro are mostly in zoom and in the quality of video quality.
"Huawei P30 Pro Gets Highest DxOMark, Uses RYYB CFA in Main Sensor and Dedicated ToF Sensor"
ReplyDeleteYet it produces poor images with strange colors and NR obliterated details.
Legacy sensors using RGB: Red-Green-Blue (R+G say, for a dimmer weak Y, as much as available R+G allows; needs coefficient on G; and boosted R).
ReplyDeleteHuawei uses RYB: Red-Yellow-Blue. (Y say, for bright strong Y; uses coefficients for G; least boosting needed)
Aptina uses RCB: Red-Clear-Blue. (R+Clear say, for Y only as strong as R allows; boosting R is needed, but can use coefficients on Clear for G)