Samsung Electronics has introduced IsoCell Auto 4AC, a sensor that enhances surround-view monitors (SVM) or rear-view cameras (RVC) and is the company’s first imaging solution optimised for automotive applications.
The IsoCell Auto 4AC is an automotive image sensor that offers advanced 120-decibel (dB) high dynamic range (HDR) and LED flicker mitigation (LFM), especially for SVMs and RVCs, in high-definition resolution (1280 x 960).
Duckhyun Chang, executive vice president of sensor business at Samsung Electronics, said: “The new IsoCell Auto 4AC combines Samsung’s innovative and market-proven image sensor technologies with a unique CornerPixel solution for advanced HDR and LFM capabilities, offering exceptional viewing experiences regardless of lighting conditions.
“Starting with the IsoCell Auto 4AC, we plan to expand our automotive sensor line-up to areas such as camera monitor systems (CMS), autonomous driving and in-cabin monitoring.”
Various lighting situations on the road may pose obstacles to the driver. Quick transitions from a low-lit environment to a brighter one, such as exiting a tunnel, may require a few seconds for the driver’s eyes to adjust. Also, flickering from LED headlamps or road signage, such as street lamps and traffic lights, could become increasingly noticeable on the automotive system’s camera screen.
The CornerPixel technology in IsoCell Auto 4AC features a specialised 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.
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 recognise.
The IsoCell Auto 4AC comes in a 1/3.7-inch optical format with 1.2 million 3.0-micrometer (µm) pixels, and for streamlined client system installations, an image signal processor (ISP) is embedded within the sensor. It meets stringent AEC-Q100 Grade 2 qualifications, including a -40°C to 125°C operating temperature range, and is currently in mass production stage.
