Samsung Electronics has launched a next-generation image sensor, making a full-scale foray into the sensor market in various advanced industries.

Samsung Electronics unveiled two next-generation products in its 'ISOCELL Vizion' image sensor lineup for advanced content platforms such as mobile, robot, and XR on the 19th.

The 'ISOCELL Vision 63D' is an indirect time of flight (iToF) sensor that detects light wavelengths to measure three-dimensional information of objects. It is used in various future cutting-edge industries such as mobile, robotics, and XR.

The 'ISOCELL Vision 931' is a global shutter sensor that simultaneously exposes all pixels to light and takes pictures, much like the human eye, and is optimized for fields such as XR, motion tracking games, robots, and drones that require capturing moving subjects without distortion.

The ISOCELL Vision 63D measures distances using a principle similar to how bats use sound waves to detect their surroundings. Instead of sound waves, it quickly and accurately calculates the distance by using the phase difference between the emitted light wavelength and the wavelength reflected back from the subject, thereby obtaining three-dimensional information about the object.

Through this, it is expected to be utilized as a key product in various cutting-edge applications such as serving/logistics robots, XR devices, and facial authentication.

This product is the industry's first single-chip iToF sensor. It features a built-in Image Signal Processor (ISP) optimized for depth calculations, enabling depth map capture without AP support. Furthermore, compared to its predecessor, the ISOCELL Vision 33D, system power consumption is reduced by up to 40%.

The ISOCELL Vision 63D processes QVGA resolution images at 60 frames per second, optimized for implementing iToF sensor functions.

Samsung Electronics achieved an industry-leading 38% quantum efficiency at 940nm (nanometers) using Backside Scattering Technology (BST), which enhances pixel light absorption. This minimizes motion blur, delivering clear images.

It also supports both a high-resolution surface light source mode and a point light source mode that enables long-distance measurement, doubling the maximum measurable distance from 5 meters to 10 meters. It is essential for driving/service robots that need to quickly and accurately recognize the surrounding situation and move.

In addition, the ISOCELL Vision 63D is optimized for small, portable or wearable devices by implementing VGA (640x480) resolution in a 1/6.4" optical format size with the industry's smallest 3.5㎛ (micrometer) pixel size.

The ISOCELL Vision 931 is an image sensor that uses global shutter technology rather than the rolling shutter method of existing image sensors for high-resolution cameras.

While conventional image sensors use a rolling shutter method that sequentially exposes pixels to light to take pictures, a global shutter exposes all pixels to light simultaneously, like the human eye.

This allows for clear, distortion-free capture of even fast-moving objects, making it ideal for use in fields where speed and accuracy are crucial, such as XR, motion tracking games, robots, and drones.

In particular, the ISOCELL Vision 931 supports a 1:1 ratio resolution (640x640), making it optimized for recognizing fine movements such as eye tracking, facial expressions, and hand gestures as well as iris recognition in head-mounted display devices such as XR devices.

In addition, by applying the FDTI (Front Deep Trench Isolation) method that forms an insulation layer between the backscattering technology and pixels, it has achieved a quantum efficiency of 60%, the highest in the industry, at 850 nm infrared.

Additionally, the multi-drop function allows up to four cameras to be connected simultaneously with a single data line, enabling device manufacturers to design products more easily.

“The ISOCELL Vision 63D and ISOCELL Vision 931 are the culmination of Samsung Electronics’ differentiated next-generation image sensor technology and know-how,” said Lee Hae-chang, Vice President of the Next-Generation Sensor Development Team at Samsung Electronics’ System LSI Business Division. “Samsung Electronics is developing iToF sensors, global positioning sensors, and other next-generation image sensor technologies.”“We plan to lead the rapidly growing next-generation image sensor market based on the ISOCELL Vizion lineup, including the bee shutter sensor,” the company said.

Samsung Electronics is currently providing samples of both products to customers.