Samsung Electronics, a world leader in
advanced semiconductor solutions, today announced that it has
developed two new CMOS image sensors – the S5K4E2 and the S5K5CA –
for the mobile phone market. Designers and manufacturers of
high-end smart phones and slim mobile handsets can now integrate
one of these high-performance, cost efficient, small form factor
imagers into their next generation design.
“Consumers want a more feature rich experience
when using their mobile handsets,” said Dr. Dojun Rhee, vice
president, System LSI marketing, Samsung Electronics. “To meet the
diverse needs of the mobile phone market, we’ve expanded our
product line-up to include imagers that support HD video
capabilities while fitting into an ever decreasing module space.”
The S5K4E2 CMOS Image Sensor
Using its proprietary pixel technology SEES (Samsung Enhanced
Energy Steering), Samsung’s new S5K4E2 imager is an
ultra-sensitive 1/4-inch, 1.4 micron, 5Mpixel chip with an
integrated extended depth of field (EDoF) IP for crisp, sharp
images. The EDoF enables in-focus range from 15cm to infinity with
optimum image quality. The new functionality supports the barcode
and business card scanning features available in mobile operating
systems. In addition, Samsung’s new 5Mpixel imager can capture
clear video images at up to 15 frames per second at full
resolution. The SEES pixel, integrates more light into an optimized
pixel structure to present clear, high resolution images. Advanced
noise removal logic is also used to further improve image
performance.
Designed to fit into a 6.5mm x 6.5mm module with a
height dimension of 4.5mm, the S5K4E2 imager is suitable for
ultra slim smart phones and other imaging applications which
require cost and size competitiveness compared to conventional
auto-focus solutions. The S5K4E2 also supports 1.2V digital power
supply voltage for low power consumption and has a four-channel
anti-shading correction feature for image enhancement processing.
The S5K5CA SoC Imager
Samsung’s new S5K5CA is a 1/5-inch, 1.4 micron, 3Mpixel imager
that combines both the image signal processor (ISP) with the CMOS
image sensor into a single system-on-chip (SoC) solution. In doing
so, Samsung is able to reduce the overall module size by 25
percent over its preceding 3Mpixel SOC imager, the quarter-inch
1.75-micron 3Mpixel solution. This SoC is ideal for 6.5mm x 6.5mm
fixed focus camera modules; the current small form factor
requirement for slim mobile handsets.
The S5K5CA’s
embedded ISP performs sophisticated image processing functions to
enrich user experience with outstanding image quality on par with
1/4-inch, 3Mpixel 1.75 micron imager as well as 720 progressive
high definition (HD) video capabilities. The S5K5CA also offers a 10
percent improvement in signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) for better color
precision against the previous 3Mpixel imaging solution.
By including a
new JPEG rotation feature that reduces frame buffer memory needed
to rotate images, users can save JPEG runtime up to two seconds.
Availability
Samsung’s new
S5K4E2 is currently sampling and will be in mass production by
the end of the first quarter 2010. Samsung’s S5K5CA is in volume
production for many of the world’s top handset manufacturers today
with products on the market expected later in 2010.
