Samsung announces that its first integrated automotive-grade ISOCELL image sensor has been put into mass production

Seoul July 13, 2021, Samsung launched the ISOCELL Auto 4AC, which is an automotive-grade image sensor that provides 120 decibels (decibel, dB) high-dynamic-range images (High-Dynamic Range, HDR) and supports light-emitting diodes (LED) Flicker suppression function (Light EmitTIng Diode Flicker MiTIgaTIon, LFM), suitable for high-definition resolution (1280 x 960) car Surround View Monitor (SVM) or rearview camera (Rear View Camera, RVC). This new sensor is Samsung's first integrated imaging solution specifically for automotive customers.

Samsung’s first integrated automotive-grade ISOCELL image sensor "ISOCELL Auto 4AC combines Samsung’s market-proven image sensor technology ISOCELL and innovative CornerPixelTM solutions to further enhance HDR and LFM performance, providing extraordinary performance regardless of light conditions. Samsung Electronics executive vice president of sensor business Duckhyun Chang said, “ISOCELL Auto 4AC is a new starting point. Samsung plans to expand the automotive sensor product lineup to areas such as autonomous driving and in-vehicle monitoring (Camera Monitor System, CMS). ."

Samsung's first integrated automotive-grade ISOCELL image sensor

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 obtain images in dark light, and one 1.0µm pixel is placed in the corner of the large pixel to obtain images in a brighter environment. Two photodiodes acquire images under different exposure conditions at the same time. Through the synthesis process, the output image has an HDR of up to 120dB, and the effect of motion blur is minimized, making the sensor's exposure transition under complex brightness environments such as dark light to high brightness. Smoother, while retaining more details of the road ahead.

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

Samsung ISOCELL Auto 4AC uses 1/3.7 inch photosensitive area, 1.2 million pixel resolution (1280x960), 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 certification, and its operating temperature ranges from -40ºC to +125ºC. It is currently in mass production.