The World's Smallest Pixel Image Sensor Released... Samsung Electronics Accelerates Mobile Innovation

50 Million Pixel ISOCELL JN1
Pixel Size Reduced by About 16% to 0.64㎛ Compared to Previous Models
Enabling Thin Smartphone Designs and More

The industry's smallest pixel size image sensor of 0.64㎛ released by Samsung Electronics
[Photo by Samsung Electronics]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heung-soon] Samsung Electronics on the 10th launched the 50-megapixel image sensor 'ISOCELL JN1' with the world's smallest pixel size of 0.64㎛ (micrometers). An image sensor is an electronic component installed in smartphone cameras or small imaging devices that converts light entering the camera lens into digital signals to display images, a type of semiconductor.

The product size of ISOCELL JN1 is smaller than the existing 2.8-inch type, measuring 1/2.76 inches. It is characterized by enabling higher camera performance in mobile devices while allowing for a slim design. In particular, the pixel size of 0.64㎛ means the area of one pixel is about 16% smaller than the existing 0.7㎛ pixel image sensor. As a result, the module height is reduced by about 10%, minimizing the camera protrusion phenomenon.

Samsung Electronics equipped the latest image sensor technologies such as 'ISOCELL 2.0,' 'Inter-scene HDR,' and 'Double Super PD' to capture clearer images even in dark environments.

ISOCELL JN1 optimizes the design of 'ISOCELL 2.0,' which minimizes light loss and interference between pixels, improving sensitivity by 16% compared to the existing 'ISOCELL Plus.' Inter-scene HDR is a function that provides a wide dynamic range by using high-sensitivity and low-sensitivity image data simultaneously in environments with very bright and dark areas, such as tunnel entrances. Double Super PD doubles the number of pixels used for autofocus compared to the 'Super PD' image sensor with the same number of pixels, enabling fast focusing even with 60% less light.

ISOCELL JN1 is compatible with 1/2.8-inch products, lenses, and modules known in the industry as the 'Golden Optical Format.' Optical format refers to the diameter of the area where the lens outside the camera forms an image. The length corresponds to about 1.5 times the diagonal of a typical image sensor. Samsung Electronics expects this compatibility to make ISOCELL JN1 a key product driving growth in its image sensor business revenue.

Samsung Electronics is showing rapid growth in the image sensor market. According to market research firm Omdia, Samsung's image sensor sales last year were $3.342 billion (about 3.73 trillion KRW), a 22.3% increase compared to 2019. This is more than double the global image sensor market growth rate of 10.2% during the same period. Market share stands at 19.6%, second to Japan's Sony (47.9%). The gap between the two companies' shares narrowed from 35.1% in 2019 to 28.3%.

This is the result of continuously enhancing competitiveness by releasing high-resolution products with ultra-small pixels. Samsung Electronics was the first in the industry to launch 1.0㎛ pixels in 2015, 0.9㎛ in 2017, and 0.7㎛ in 2019. At the same time, it also introduced big-pixel products over 1.0㎛, expanding choices for mobile device manufacturers.

Jang Deok-hyun, Vice President of the Sensor Business Team at Samsung Electronics' System LSI Business Division, said, "We will continue to innovate image sensors and provide solutions that both mobile manufacturers and consumers want."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.