Samsung continues to announce ultra-high decision digicam sensors geared toward inexpensive markets. The corporate simply launched the Samsung ISOCELL HP3, a 200 Megapixel digicam sensor that includes exceptionally small sensing pixels. The factor is: smaller pixels aren’t at all times higher, as their measurement makes it more and more harder to collect pictures.
Every pixel is simply 0.56 μm (sq.), which is tiny, so there’s a 4:1 pixel-binning mode that may equate to a 50 Megapixel sensor with 1.12μm pixels, or perhaps a 16:1 pixel binning that approximates a 12.5 MP sensor with 2.24μm pixels.
It’s also very spectacular that the sensor options quarter-resolution pixel-level section detection autofocus. Every group of two×2 pixels requires an insanely small lens to realize that.
Samsung calls this its pixel-binning function “Tetra pixel,” however the precept is similar as we’ve seen earlier than. Every sensor maker has a distinct implementation and would create a model, maybe for mental property or advertising causes.
It’s vital to know that binning sixteen 0.56 μm pixels into one digital 2.24μm pixel isn’t the identical as one bodily 2.24μm pixel. That’s as a result of every 0.56 μm pixel requires some supporting electronics, and a few sensing space of the chip may be misplaced to that. The extra pixels you’ve, the extra wires and different issues would possibly eat up some sensing space.
The extra electronics may additionally enhance the prospect of introducing (digital) noise which may have an effect on the sensor’s efficiency. Smaller pixels may additionally have an effect on the efficient dynamic vary of the sensor, however fortuitously, that may be compensated by capturing extra HDR frames utilizing stacked pictures.
Previously, we’ve seen degrading efficiency with some 0.7 μm, so I ponder if this sensor would stumble upon comparable points.
These ever-smaller pixels enable smartphone OEMs to market inexpensive digicam telephones with excessive Megapixel specs. That mentioned, it stays to be seen if we’re going to see proportional picture high quality beneficial properties, particularly in low-light.
Nonetheless, relying on the place it’s used, this sensor could possibly be an enchancment over previous sensors on the identical value level. For instance, it could possibly be barely bigger or able to sooner readouts, permitting 8K recording (or 4K in slow-motion) smartphones at a given value vary weren’t able to earlier than.
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