Samsung’s first integrated automotive-grade ISOCELL image sensor has entered mass production

On July 18, according to the official website, Samsung launched ISOCELL Auto 4AC on July 13. It is an automotive-grade image sensor that can provide 120 decibel (dB) high-dynamic range images (High-Dynamic Range, HDR) and support light-emitting diode (LED) flicker suppression (Light Emitting Diode Flicker Mitigation, LFM) at the same time. It is suitable for high-definition resolution (1280 x 960) vehicle-mounted surround image system (Surround View Monitor, SVM) or rear view camera (Rear View Camera, RVC). This new sensor is Samsung's first integrated imaging solution specifically for automotive customers.

“ISOCELL Auto 4AC combines Samsung’s proven image sensor technology ISOCELL and innovative CornerPixelTM solution to further enhance HDR and LFM performance, delivering exceptional imaging performance regardless of lighting conditions,” said Duckhyun Chang, executive vice president of sensor business at Samsung Electronics. “ISOCELL Auto 4AC is a new starting point for Samsung to expand its automotive sensor product lineup into areas such as autonomous driving and in-car 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 obtain images in low light, and one 1.0µm pixel is placed in the corner of the large pixel to obtain images in brighter environments. The two photodiodes simultaneously obtain images under different exposure conditions. Through synthesis processing, the output image has an HDR of up to 120dB, and the effect of motion blur is minimized, making the sensor's exposure transition smoother in complex brightness environments such as low light to high light, while retaining more details of the road ahead.

By extending the exposure time of small pixels, 4AC can reduce image incompleteness caused by LED light source flicker. This provides more accurate image data for the autonomous driving system to identify information such as LED car lights and LED traffic lights.

Samsung ISOCELL Auto 4AC uses a 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, and RGB565 image data.

Samsung ISOCELL Auto 4AC has obtained AEC-Q100 Grade 2 automotive-grade certification, with an operating temperature range of -40ºC ~ +125ºC, and is currently in mass production.