Samsung launches two sensors for robotics and XR

Samsung Electronics has released two new ISOCELL Vizion sensors — a time-of-flight (ToF) sensor, the ISOCELL Vizion 63D for high-resolution 3D images, and a global shutter sensor, the ISOCELL Vizion 931 for capturing dynamic movements without distortion. The ISOCELL Vizion portfolio, introduced in 2020, includes ToF and global shutter sensors designed for a range of mobile, commercial and industrial applications.

ISOCELL Vizion sensors

ISOCELL Vizion 63D

Measuring distance and depth by calculating the time it takes the emitted light to travel to and from an object, the ISOCELL Vizion 63D indirect ToF (iToF) sensor measures the phase shift between emitted and reflected light to sense its surroundings in three dimensions. The iToF sensor targets service and industrial robots, extended reality (XR) devices and facial authentication that require high-resolution and precise depth measuring.

ISOCELL Vizion 63D iToF sensors for robotics and XR (Source: Samsung Electronics)

The iToF sensor, based on the industry’s smallest 3.5㎛-pixel size, offers VGA resolution (640 × 480) in a 1/6.4” optical format, which makes it suited for compact devices. It can also process images at up to 60 frames per second (fps) in QVGA resolution (320 × 240), a display resolution used in commercial and industrial markets.

Samsung said the ISOCELL Vizion 63D is the industry’s first iToF sensor with an integrated depth-sensing hardware image signal processor (ISP). It precisely captures 3D depth information without the help of another chip, enabling up to a 40% reduction in system power consumption compared to the previous ISOCELL Vizion 33D product, the company said.

The Vizion 63D sensor claims the highest level of quantum efficiency (QE) in the industry, reaching 38% at an infrared light wavelength of 940 nanometers (nm), thanks to backside scattering technology (BST). The result is sharper image quality due to the enhanced light sensitivity and reduced noise for minimal motion blur.

The ToF sensor supports both flood (high resolution at short-range) and spot (long range) lighting modes, extending the measurable distance range from its predecessor’s five meters to 10.

ISOCELL Vizion 931

The ISOCELL Vizion 931 is optimized for capturing dynamic, or rapid, movements without distortion, making it suited for motion-tracking in XR devices, gaming systems, service and logistics robots as well as drones  The global shutter image sensor captures sharp images of moving objects by capturing the entire scene at once, similar to how human eyes see, instead of line by line from top to bottom in rolling shutter sensors, Samsung said.

ISOCELL Vizion 931 global shutter image sensors for robotics and XR (Source: Samsung Electronics)

Packing more pixels in a smaller form factor in a one-to-one ratio VGA resolution (640 × 640), the ISOCELL Vizion 931 is optimal for iris recognition, eye tracking as well as facial and gesture detection in head-mounted display devices like XR headsets, Samsung said.

The ISOCELL Vizion 931 also reported the industry’s highest level of QE, achieving 60% at 850-nm infrared light wavelength. Samsung attributes the QE to the Front Deep Trench Isolation (FDTI), which uses an insulation layer between pixels to maximize light absorption, together with the BST technology.

The Vizion 931 can connect up to four cameras to the application processor using a single wire. The benefit for designers is less wiring and a smaller PCB for greater design flexibility and smaller devices.

The ISOCELL Vizion 63D and ISOCELL Vizion 931 sensors are currently sampling.