Samsung launches its first dedicated ISOCELL camera sensor for automobiles

Although Samsung is the world's second-biggest brand in the smartphone camera sensor segment, it has just now launched its first dedicated camera sensor for automobiles. The ISOCELL Auto 4AC is made specifically for vehicles and it solves some challenges that are unique to the automobile segment. With this sensor, the company is eyeing the growing connected and smart car market.

The ISOCELL Auto 4AC is a 1/3.7-inch sensor with a resolution of 1.2MP and an individual pixel size of 3μm (microns). This new ISOCELL camera sensor uses unique CornerPixel technology that places 3μm pixels and 1μm pixels in a single pixel. The 3μm pixels are used in low-light conditions, while 1μm pixels are used in bright conditions. The CornerPixel tech is claimed to be extremely helpful in conditions with both bright and dark parts in the same scene such as tunnels entries and exits and underground parking lot exits.

System LSI (Samsung's business arm that makes camera sensors and Exynos chips) claims that its new automobile camera sensor can offer vivid HDR videos (with a dynamic range of 120dB) in real-time without any motion artifacts. The ISOCELL Auto 4AC can be used as a front-view, rear-view, or surrounding-view camera in a vehicle. The sensor can also lengthen the exposure time to reduce the LED flicker of traffic signals and headlights of surrounding vehicles.

The ISOCELL Auto 4AC, which has a built-in ISP, is also highly reliable and can operate in extreme temperatures of -40°C to 125°C, allowing it to satisfy the Auto Grade 2 criteria in the AEC-Q100 (Automotive Electronics Council-Q100) certification. AEC-Q100 is a reliability certification for automotive parts. The company is planning to launch cameras and other sensors for autonomous cars.

Deok-Hyun Jang, Vice President of Sensor Business Team at Samsung Electronics' System LSI Division, said, “ISOCELL Auto 4AC' is a groundbreaking product that applies Samsung Electronics' long-established mobile image sensor technology with high stability and cutting-edge technology for cars. We plan to expand our lineup of image sensors for vehicles to include not only view monitors and rearview cameras, but also autonomous driving and in-cabin cameras.”