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Tuesday, July 13, 2021

Samsung Unveils CornerPixel for Automotive HDR-LFM Applications

BusinessWireSamsung introduces ISOCELL Auto S5K4AC, an automotive image sensor that offers 120dB HDR and LED flicker mitigation (LFM) especially for surround-view monitors (SVM) or rear-view cameras (RVC) in high-definition resolution (1280 x 960). The new sensor is said to be Samsung’s first imaging solution optimized for automotive applications.

The new ISOCELL Auto 4AC combines Samsung’s innovative and market-proven image sensor technologies with a unique CornerPixel solution for advanced HDR and LFM capabilities, offering exceptional viewing experiences regardless of lighting conditions,” said Duckhyun Chang, EVP of sensor business at Samsung. “Starting with the ISOCELL Auto 4AC, we plan to expand our automotive sensor lineup to areas such as camera monitor systems (CMS), autonomous driving and in-cabin monitoring.

The CornerPixel technology features a specialized pixel structure that mitigates LED flicker at over 90Hz. Within a single pixel area, it embeds two photodiodes, one 3.0µm pixel for viewing low light images, and a 1.0µm pixel placed at the corner of the big pixel for brighter environments. With two photodiodes capturing images in different exposures simultaneously, the sensor offers up to 120dB HDR with minimal motion blur.

To minimize LED flickering, the smaller photodiode’s exposure time can be extended, preventing pulsing LED light from being displayed as flickering on the camera screen.

The Samsung ISOCELL Auto 4AC comes in a 1/3.7-inch optical format with 1.2MP resolution and an ISP embedded within the sensor. The 4AC meets AEC-Q100 Grade 2 qualifications, including a -40°C to 125°C operating temperature range, and is currently in mass production.


5 comments:

  1. Copy by Fujifilm Super CCD SR II ?

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  2. Same theory and structure of Fujifilm Super CCD SR II.

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  3. You can say "copycat" because the ideal of a high sensitivity and low sensitivity photosite combined into one pixel, or a dual-sensitivity pixel was used in a CCD but implementing the same thing in a CMOS image sensor is not the same device.
    Actually a dual sensitivity CIS pixel was presented for HDR by Photobit in 1999 and 2001 by Sandor Barna and Michelle (Yibing) Wang respectively at the forerunner of the IISW -- the IEEE Workshop on CCDs and Advanced Image Sensors and the paper is available in the IISS on line library. I am sure the subsequent CCD and now Samsung dual sensitivity pixels are better, and I am not calling them copycats, but just saying this is not a totally new idea for either. Engineering is often the process of taking the best ideas from the past plus some new ideas and making a better machine or device.
    https://www.imagesensors.org/Past%20Workshops/1999%20Workshop/1999%20Papers/39%20Barna%20et%20al.pdf
    https://www.imagesensors.org/Past%20Workshops/2001%20Workshop/2001%20Papers/pg%20137%20YWang.pdf

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