Samsung has announced that it is sampling two new ISOCELL image sensors for mobile cameras. The Samsung ISOCELL Bright GW1 is a 64MP image sensor, while the ISOCELL Bright GM2 is a 48MP sensor. In the past, Samsung’s 0.8-micrometer (μm) image sensor lineup was only capable of 20MP.
Discussing the hardware products, which are expected to enter mass production in the second half of the year, Yongin Park, executive vice president of 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.”
Samsung’s ISOCELL Bright GW1 uses pixel-merging Tetracell technology, coupled with a remosaic algorithm, in order to produce 16MP images in low-light areas and 64 MP images in brighter settings. Samsung has been able to add support for real-time high dynamic range (HDR) of up to 100-decibels, which is quite close to the human eye which is around 120-decibels. Conventional image sensors have a dynamic range of 60-decibels, so Samsung’s GW1 is able to produce better images.
The GW1 also uses Dual Conversion Gain (DCG) to use light more efficiently, producing higher quality images. Additionally, Super Phase Detection (PD) allows for full HD recording at 480 frames-per-second on “smooth cinematic slow motion videos.”
GM2 also supports DCG and Super PD. Like GW1, it uses Tetracell technology in low-light environments and a remosaic algorithm in well-lit settings to produce high-quality images but only to 48-megapixels.
With the hardware going into production in the second half of the year it’ll be likely to enter consumer products towards the end of the year or sometime next year.