ISOCELL Auto 4AC Image Sensor with CornerPixel Technology for Automotive Applications

13 July 2021 - 0 Comments

Samsung Electronics has introduced an automotive image sensor ISOCELL Auto 4AC that offers advanced 120-decibel high dynamic range (HDR) and LED flicker mitigation (LFM) especially for surround-view monitors or rear-view cameras in high-definition resolution. It offers a safer driving experience with an enhanced field of view for the driver with its CornerPixel technology. The Samsung ISOCELL Auto 4AC comes in a 1/3.7-inch optical format with 1.2 million 3.0-micrometer pixels, and for streamlined client system installations, an image signal processor (ISP) is embedded within the sensor.

The CornerPixel Technology of the Sensor features a specialized pixel structure that mitigates LED light over 90-hertz (Hz). Within a single pixel area, it embeds two photodiodes, one 3.0µm pixel for viewing low light images, and a 1.0µm pixel placed at the corner of the big pixel for brighter environments. With two photodiodes capturing images in different exposures simultaneously, the sensor offers up to 120dB HDR with minimal motion blur, allowing smoother transitions between dark and bright areas while preserving more details of the road ahead.

Moreover, to minimize LED flickering, the smaller photodiode’s exposure time can be extended, preventing pulsing LED light from being displayed as flickering on the camera screen. This delivers a more pleasant viewing experience for the driver and more accurate image data on LED-embedded objects for the automotive system to recognize.

Features

Two photodiodes within a single pixel area
Two photodiodes capturing images in different exposures simultaneously
To minimize LED flickering, the smaller photodiode’s exposure time can be extended