Two new camera sensors from Samsung promise future smartphones new features without the ugly camera bump. The ISOCELL Slim 2X7 is the first sensor in the industry with pixel size below 1.0μm, while the ISOCELL Fast 2L9 delivers ultra-fast autofocus at a reduced pixel size from the previous Dual Pixel sensor.
At 0.9μm, ISOCELL Slim 2×7 has the industry’s smallest sensor pixel size. The result is higher megapixel count in a thinner module, without sacrificing smartphone real estate. This allows a 24MP sensor to be created without any extra bulk. Also in the sensor is Tetracell technology, which promises better low-light images and more details in well-lit environment. It works by pixel-binning – combining four neighboring pixels to work as one. Designed mainly for front-facing cameras, it allows better image capture in any lighting situation.
The ISOCELL Fast 2L9, on the other hand, brings Dual Pixel technology in a package with reduced pixel size. Dual Pixel technology uses two photodiodes instead of one every pixel. This gives the sensor quick focus on small still objects, as well as better lock and tracking for moving objects even in low-light situations. Plus, the new sensor promises Bokeh (or depth-of-field) effect without the need for two sensors; a single sensor will suffice.
Samsung has traditionally used its own camera sensors for its smartphones, so we will be seeing these new sensors in upcoming smartphones – perhaps on the Samsung Galaxy S9. The company is also a major OEM, so these sensor may also appear in other manufacturers’ smartphones in the near future.
(Source: Samsung)
