Samsung announces mass production of its first integrated automotive-grade ISOCELL image sensor

July 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Today, Samsung introduced ISOCELL Auto 4AC, an automotive-grade image sensor that delivers 120 decibel (dB) High-Dynamic Range (HDR) images ) and supports Light Emitting Diode Flicker Mitigation (LFM) at the same time, suitable for high-definition resolution (1280 x 960) vehicle Surround View Monitor (SVM) or rear view camera (Rear View Camera, RVC). The new sensor is Samsung’s first integrated imaging solution for automotive customers.

Samsung’s first integrated automotive-grade ISOCELL image sensor

“ISOCELL Auto 4AC combines Samsung’s market-proven image sensor technology ISOCELL with the innovative CornerPixelTM solution to further enhance HDR and LFM performance, delivering exceptional image performance regardless of lighting conditions.” Executive Vice President, Sensor Business, Samsung Electronics President Duckhyun Chang said, “ISOCELL Auto 4AC is a new starting point, and Samsung plans to expand its automotive sensor product lineup to areas such as autonomous driving and in-vehicle monitoring (Camera Monitor System, CMS).”

With CornerPixelTM technology, ISOCELL Auto 4AC can provide drivers with a safer driving experience. CornerPixelTM technology has a unique pixel structure. Two photodiodes are embedded in one pixel area, one 3.0µm pixel is used to acquire images in low light, and one 1.0µm pixel is placed in the corner of the large pixel to acquire images in brighter environments. 2 photodiodes simultaneously acquire images with different exposure conditions, and through composite processing, the output image has HDR up to 120dB, and the effect of motion blur is minimized, enabling the sensor to transition exposure in complex brightness environments such as low light to high light Smoother while preserving more detail of the road ahead.

By extending the exposure time of small pixels, 4AC can reduce the image defects caused by LED light source stroboscopic. This provides more accurate image data for the automatic driving system to identify LED lights, LED traffic lights and other information.

Samsung ISOCELL Auto 4AC adopts 1/3.7-inch photosensitive area, 1.2 million pixel resolution (1280×960), 3.0μm pixel size, and built-in ISP image processing function, which can output YUV422, RGB888, RGB565 image data.

Samsung ISOCELL Auto 4AC has obtained AEC-Q100 Grade 2 automotive grade certification, and the operating temperature covers -40ºC ~ +125ºC, and it has been mass-produced.