SmartSens, founded in 2017 and headquartered in Shanghai, is a leading developer of high-performance CMOS image sensors. They design and produce chips for a wide range of applications, including surveillance, machine vision, automotive, and smartphone cameras. SmartSens offers a diverse portfolio of sensors, including high-speed options for industrial use and 5MP sensors for analog security cameras. They have consistently held the top market share in the security and surveillance sensor industry for five consecutive years. While SmartSens excels across various sensor applications, their smartphone sensors are gaining significant traction in the mobile industry.

Earlier today, the company announced the release of its latest mobile image sensor, the SC5000CS. This new back-illuminated sensor boasts a 50-megapixel resolution, a size of 1/2.5 inches, and a pixel size of 0.702μm, making it ideal for use in high-end smartphones.

High Dynamic Range and Low Noise in Photos

The SC5000CS is equipped with SmartSens’ proprietary SFCPixel-SL technology, which is designed to improve low-light performance and dynamic range. This technology uses a pixel-level dual conversion gain design to reduce read noise (RN) and fixed pattern noise (FPN). According to SmartSens, the SC5000CS has RN and FPN as low as 1.0e- and 0.2e-, respectively, significantly improving over previous-generation sensors.

In addition to its low-light performance, the SC5000CS also supports dual exposure non-overlapping HDR, and line-interleaved HDR modes. This allows the sensor to capture images with a wider dynamic range, which is essential for capturing high-quality photos in challenging lighting conditions.

Another key feature of the SC5000CS is its ability to capture 4K video at 60fps. This is made possible by the sensor’s Summing mode, which combines the output of four pixels into one. This effectively increases the pixel size to 1.404μm, which is large enough to capture high-quality video footage.

The SC5000CS incorporates SmartSens’ Sparse PDAF technology, enabling precise and fast focusing on select pixels. This ensures quick and clear image capture, especially in dynamic scenes, while reducing the power consumption of the mobile CIS.

SmartSens’ advanced design and process in reading circuit technology enable the SC5000CS to achieve lower power consumption compared to competitors. This translates to extended battery life for smartphones, a major concern for many users.

The SC5000CS is currently accepting samples and is expected to enter mass production in Q2 2024. This means that we can expect to see smartphones equipped with this sensor later this year. Earlier this month, SmartSens also introduced SC580XS, a 50-megapixel smartphone image sensor with a 1/1.28-inch optical format, offering improved low-light performance and 4K video capabilities at 120fps.

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SmartSens, a Chinese CMOS manufacturer, has unveiled its latest smartphone image sensor, the SC580XS, which comes with several key improvements over its predecessor, the SC550XS. This compact 1/1.28-inch sensor offers enhanced features and capabilities, positioning SmartSens competitively in the smartphone image sensor market, alongside major players like Sony, Samsung, and OmniVision.

SmartSens SC580XS Key Features:

The SC580XS stands out with its 50-megapixel resolution and 1/1.28-inch optical format, a step up from the earlier 1/1.56-inch SC550XS model. It utilizes the same 22nm HKMG Stack process but with several key improvements. The sensor boasts a pixel size of 1.22µm, but in a four-in-one mode, this effectively increases to 2.44µm, which is pivotal for high-quality video recording. This feature allows the SC580XS to support 4K video at an impressive 120fps, making it ideal for advanced smartphone camera applications.

The SC580XS achieves a low readout noise of 0.7e-, which, combined with its correlated multiple sampling technology, enables a substantial reduction in noise by up to 40%. This results in clearer images, especially in low-light conditions. Compared to similar sensors in the industry, the SC580XS offers a significant reduction in both readout noise and fixed pattern noise.

The image sensor also stands out for its PixGain HDR technology, greatly enhancing the dynamic range to 120dB. This feature reduces motion artifacts, ideal for capturing fast-moving subjects. The sensor also supports multiple HDR modes, including triple exposure HDR and PixGain HDR+VS, further enhancing image quality in diverse lighting conditions.

Whether you’re capturing a fleeting moment or snapping a group selfie, fast and accurate autofocus is essential. The sensor offers enhanced focusing capabilities through AllPix ADAF and Sparse PDAF technologies, ensuring quick and accurate focusing in various lighting conditions. Additionally, the sensor prioritizes energy efficiency with improved readout circuitry and the 22nm HKMG process, allowing for extended smartphone use without excessive battery drain.

SmartSens has announced that the SC580XS is currently available for sampling and is expected to enter mass production in the first quarter of 2024.

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OmniVision, a key player in CMOS image sensors, faced difficulties after losing Apple as a client in 2011. Following its acquisition by Visionox, it shifted its focus to serving Chinese smartphone brands. The OV50H sensor is now adopted by numerous top Chinese manufacturers, strengthening China’s domestic supply chain and positioning OmniVision as a potential rival to industry giants like Sony and Samsung.

Now according to a recent tip from a popular Weibo tipster, Fixed Focus, suggests that there are advanced discussions between Chinese-made CMOS solutions and Samsung. This hints at the possibility of integrating domestic CMOS technology into Samsung’s smartphone supply chain, which would be a significant milestone for Chinese technology.

Earlier, the tipster also disclosed details about OmniVision’s upcoming OV50K sensor, featuring the innovative LOFIC technology. This advancement allows for enhanced performance in high-brightness scenarios by increasing the Full-Well Charge capacity, thus offering a wider dynamic range and effectively tackling overexposure issues.

This development is not limited to Samsung. Honor is also reportedly planning to incorporate OmniVision sensors across its product line. The OV50H sensor will be featured in some Huawei and Honor models, while the more advanced OV50K sensor will be used in higher-end Honor series models.

The tipster also suggests that “super affordable telephoto smartphones” may become less common next year. This is because domestic CMOS manufacturers initially sold their products at cost to gain market share, but in 2024, they are expected to adjust prices to ensure profitability.

Currently, Sony’s IMX989 and LYT900 sensors lead the market. However, OmniVision’s new offerings, coupled with support from major players like Samsung, Huawei, and Honor, could reshape the competitive landscape in the sensor industry.

At the same time, various Chinese entities, including Huawei, are exploring the development of their own CMOS image sensors, fostering an environment conducive to domestic production.

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Huawei is venturing into developing its own CMOS image sensor, a move triggered by sanctions that led to a rift between Huawei and its lens supplier, Sony. According to a Weibo tipster, the development process spans from wafer to chip, incorporating several innovative alterations, notably in thinning stop layers associated with epitaxial layers. These innovations enable compatibility with prevalent back-illuminated (BSI) technology.

Huawei’s Reason for Creating New CMOS Sensor

When sanctions hit Huawei, Sony, the original supplier of image sensors, halted their shipments, affecting both companies. Sony sought permission to resume supplies, but their relationship with Huawei had already strained. Consequently, Sony’s annual revenue experienced a multibillion-dollar dip due to the suspension of CMOS sales to Huawei.

This venture is not exclusive to Huawei; numerous domestic manufacturers in China are exploring the development of their own CMOS sensors. Back in January last year, at CES 2022, another Chinese brand, OMNIVISION, unveiled a 200-megapixel CMOS sensor, dubbed OVB0B. It boasts a resolution of 16384×12288 pixels, holds the record for the world’s smallest pixel size at 0.61μm, and features a large 1/1.28-inch sensor size. It can also output 12.5 million pixels following 16:1 binning, equivalent to 2.44μm.

The recently launched Huawei Mate60 series could potentially be among the last to use Sony sensors, as there is anticipation that the upcoming P70 series or Mate70 series may introduce Huawei’s new self-developed CMOS image sensor.

Huawei’s venture into self-developed CMOS technology, along with innovations like the Kirin 9000S, represents a significant step forward for the company, bringing promising advancements to its product line.

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Smartphone shipments have been on the rise since the past few years, although it could see a decline this year because of COVID-19. The reason behind the increased demand is the new features and technology that phone makers keep introducing at regular intervals.

Thus, demand for several components has been on the rise since the past few years and it seems that image sensors have seen major growth. A report from Counterpoint Research says that demand for CMOS Image Sensors aka CIS for smartphones has increased about eightfold over the past decade. In the year 2019, it crossed the 4.5 billion units market.

Even though the smartphone shipments are expected to decline this year, the CMOS Image Sensor shipments will probably rise and have an all-time high shipment, hitting almost 5 billion units this year, claims Senior Analyst Ethan Qi.

EDITOR’S PICK: Samsung expects lukewarm demand for the upcoming Galaxy Note20 series

This is likely because of the multi-camera setup and 3D sensing sensors for the smartphones that manufacturers have made a norm. Almost all smartphones getting launched these days have a multi-camera set up — the majority of which feature either the triple-camera sensor or quad-camera setup.

Counterpoint’s Component Tracker, each smartphone shipped in the first quarter of this year packed more than 3.5 image sensors on average. It also witnessed around 20 percent growth in the high- to mid-range smartphones’ quad-camera setup.

Given the current market conditions because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, smartphone shipments are expected to decline significantly. In fact, the report predicts a 10 percent year-on-year decline compared to last year.

UP NEXT: Google’s Android graph shows Android 10 has the fastest adoption rate yet

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The world’s second-largest memory chipmaker, SK Hynix, will be strengthening its CMOS sensor business this year. This means the South Korean giant will join the likes of Sony and Samsung in the smartphone image sensor business in 2020 bringing more than four new CMOS image sensors for smartphones.

SK Hynix has rebranded its CIS (CMOS Image Sensor) business as ‘Black Pearl’. In the first half of 2020, the brand will focus on providing telephoto and wide-angle sensors for smartphones. So Black Pearl will directly take on Sony’s Exmor and Samsung’s ISOCELL image sensor brands. The company has already started shipping three new image sensors to smartphone manufacturers. The fourth image sensor will enter mass production this month.

The company’s recent push into the CMOS image sensor business comes as a result of the increasing demand for camera sensors in smartphones. According to Strategy Analytics, the average number of cameras per smartphone increased from 2.2 in 2017 to 3.9 in 2020.

Editor’s Pick: Sony can’t keep up with overwhelming image sensor demands

Four Black Pearl Sensors in Q1: Two Telephoto & Two Ultra-Wide

SK Hynix will be shipping out four new sensors by the end of Q1 2020, this includes two telephoto sensors and two ultra-wide-angle sensors. All four sensors feature 1.0 µm pixels and 8MP to 20MP in resolution. They are likely aimed at mid-range to upper mid-range smartphones.

Hi-1634 and Hi-2021 are the two ultra-wide-angle camera sensors with 16MP and 20MP resolutions respectively. Both sensors support quad-pixel technology to combine four pixels into one to capture brighter, clearer pictures. The other two sensors are: Hi-847 and Hi-1337 with 8MP and 13MP resolutions respectively. These two are telephoto sensors offering up to 3x optical zoom.

SK Hynix also confirmed it will launch a 0.8um 48MP camera sensor in the second half of 2020.

With another significant player in the market, the image sensor industry will be a lot more interesting in 2020. Unfortunately, we don’t know which brands are going to use the new Black Pearl image sensors. With the sensors already shipping to customers, hopefully, we’ll get more details very soon.

UP NEXT: Samsung shifts its production from Korea to Vietnam amid Coronavirus outbreak

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Samsung has penned down an official blog post that explains how it achieved the Super Slow-mo feature of the Galaxy S9 (S9 Plus). The new Super Slo-mo mode lets users record at 960fps for just 0.2 seconds which translates into 6 seconds of playback. But how exactly does it work?

Samsung sensors are CMOS (complimentary metal-oxide semiconductor) sensors. Even with the improvement in autofocus, when you take a picture of a fast moving object, the images are distorted. So Samsung set to work on a new CMOS sensor that would be fast enough to significantly reduce distortion and camera shake, and also provide new features.

So what new features should the camera have? Samsung agreed on slow-motion recording. To achieve that, they had to make a sensor  fast enough to record at super high speeds which can then be slowed down for the super slow-mo effect.

Making the sensor fast enough wasn’t easy as it needed to be four times faster than previous generation. It also had to have a better pixel and be able to handle the bandwidth for the high frame rates required for the image sensor output and video processing of the application processor.

The solution was to add a dedicated DRAM memory chip to the CMOS sensor and new circuit, instead of waiting till they are sent to the DRAM on the phone itself. So you get a three-layer sensor instead of two in older models.

READ MORE: Samsung Already Developing Exynos 9820 and 5G RF Chip

The new sensor allows users record at 960fps for 0.2 seconds (almost 6 seconds when played back). The recorded video can be saved as a Gif file that is between 3 to 15MB in size. Samsung says the process is automatic so no need for fumbling with settings. However, you can choose between recording a single take or multiple takes with up to 20 Slow-mo segments.

(Source, Via)

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