![]() ![]() This marks the smallest phase detection pixel generation we’ve seen and only the second time we’ve seen them on a back-illuminated chip (Toshiba was first 1.4 µm). Phase-detection pixel pairs are distributed across nearly the entire active pixel array. The primary camera chip, having S5K2P2XX die markings, features a 1.12 µm pixel pitch. We’ve removed the 16 MP ISOCELL primary and 2.0 MP secondary camera chips from the respective camera modules and found two back-illuminated Samsung CMOS image sensors. What will we find in upcoming Samsung flagship phones? Time will tell, however it appears that at this moment in time Samsung can go toe-to-toe with Sony and win. While Samsung hasn't been first to market with new technology elements such as BSI, per-pixel DTI, VTG pixel transistors, or stacked chip, it continues to successfully bring these technologies into mass production. It announced a stacked chip image sensor in February at Mobile World Congress. The Samsung CIS group isn’t stopping there. We also expect to find phase detection autofocus (AF) pixels and will update our teardown when we have more details. For clarity: this is not from the Galaxy S5, but we expect to uncover the same fundamental structures as we dive in to our 16 MP ISOCELL analysis. Below is a cross-section of an 8 MP version of Samsung’s ISOCELL technology showing the F-DTI and VTG. We found both of these technology elements in 2013 from other companies: F-DTI from STMicroelectronics in its HTC ONE UltraPixel camera chip, and VTGs from Sony in a Cyber-shot camera. The salient points include: the successful implementation of front deep trench isolation (F-DTI) and vertical transfer gates (VTG). Samsung described ISOCELL technology in a February webinar and again at Image Sensors 2014, promoting it as the next key image sensor technology after back-illuminated (BSI) sensor technology. Announced in September, 2013 ISOCELL reportedly enables a 30% reduction in crosstalk and 30% increase in full well capacity. Not to be outdone, the Samsung image sensor team developed its ISOCELL technology. This apparent trend continued on to the Galaxy S4 and Note 3, which used the popular 13 MP Sony IMX135 featuring Sony’s stacked chip (Exmor-RS) technology. All the Galaxy S III phones we analyzed used 8 MP Sony camera chips, suggesting the Sony team captured all the business for the third iteration of Samsung’s marquee smartphone. Going back to the Galaxy S II we found back-illuminated Samsung and Sony 8 MP, 1/3.2” optical format CMOS image sensor chips in S II phones from different regions. One of the biggest stories of the Galaxy S5 is the new 16 MP, 1/2.6” optical format primary camera module. ![]()
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