Samsung Electronics is striving to remain at the forefront of technological innovations and is challenging the boundaries by making more powerful smartphone cameras – the company has introduced two new 0.8-micrometer (μm) pixel image sensors, the 64-megapixel (MP) Samsung Isocell Bright GW1 and 48 MP Isocell Bright GM2. These image sensors will expand Samsung’s 0.8μm image sensor lineup from the existing 20 MP to ultra-high 64 MP resolutions, thus bringing new standards of photography to smartphones.
Yongin Park, executive vice president of the sensor business at Samsung Electronics, said: “Over the past few years, mobile phone cameras have become the main instrument for recording and sharing our everyday moments. With more pixels and advanced pixel technologies, Samsung Isocell Bright GW1 and GM2 will bring a new level of photography to today’s sleekest mobile devices that will enhance and help change the way we record our daily lives.”
The new 64 MP Isocell Bright GW1 is currently the industry’s highest resolution mobile image sensor, and the new 48 MP Isocell Bright GM2 is the successor to the Isocell Bright GM1 48 MP sensor from last year. Both sensors include Samsung’s upgraded pixel isolation technology Isocell Plus, which reduces light leakage, as well as Tetracell technology, which merges four pixels to allow for improved photos in low-light environments.
Moreover, the GW1 sensor supports real-time high dynamic range (HDR) of up to 100-decibels (dB) delivering richer hues and allowing for significant detail to be retained in the final images. By the way of comparison, the dynamic range of a conventional image sensor, is approximately 60 dB, while that of the human eye is generally considered to be about 120 dB.
According to Samsung, the GW1 is equipped with Dual Conversion Gain (DCG) that transforms the received light into an electric signal depending on the illumination of the environment. This allows the sensor to optimize its full well capacity (FWC) using the collected light more efficiently, especially in bright environments. The GW1 also supports 480 frames-per-second (fps) full HD slow motion recording.
Samsung says that Isocell Bright GW1 and GM2 sensors will be ready for mass production in the second half of this year.
