Samsung Electronics has introduced ISOCELL Slim 3T2; its smallest high-resolution image sensor. It is the industry’s most compact image sensor at 1/3.4 inches and 0.8μm-pixels, said the company. The ISOCELL Slim 3T2 delivers 20-megapixel resolution for both front and back cameras for mid-range phones.
It promises high color fidelity by adopting Samsung’s ISOCELL Plus technology that enables sensors to capture and absorb more light information for accurate color reproduction even with sub-micrometer-sized pixels.
In order to support smartphones with the latest display features such as the ‘hole-in display’ or ‘notch design,’ front-facing image sensors need to minimize their size. The 1/3.4-inch 3T2 snuggly fits into a tiny module making more space for the display.
As for the rear-facing multi-camera settings for telephoto solutions, the 3T2 adopts an RGB color filter array instead of Tetracell technology. Compared to a 13MP sensor with the same module height, the 20MP 3T2 retains 60% higher effective resolution at 10x digital zoom that presents clearer and more accurate results, says the company. The Samsung ISOCELL Slim 3T2 is expected to be enter mass production in the first quarter of 2019.
Jinhyun Kwon, vice president of System LSI sensor marketing at Samsung Electronics said:
The ISOCELL Slim 3T2 is our smallest and most versatile 20Mp image sensor that helps mobile device manufacturers bring differentiated consumer value not only in camera performance but also in features including hardware design. As the demand for advanced imaging capabilities in mobile devices continues to grow, we will keep pushing the limits in image sensor technologies for richer user experiences.