Samsung this week announced a new image sensor technology called ISOCELL that promises increased light sensitivity to improve image quality even in low light.
The quality of a picture depends on the amount of light that each pixel can accurately capture. The more light, the likely the better the image (keep in mind that the lens and software also a play a role in image quality). While technologies such as FSI (Front Side Illumination) and later BSI (Back Side Illumination) have helped, they have their own limitations and the push to higher megapixel cameras without increasing the camera size has also offset many of these benefits.
The promise of ISOCELL is its ability to isolate each pixel with a physical barrier. This allows more photons are collected by the correct pixel and reduces crosstalk between pixels that can reduce image fidelity and cause excess lighting as the image below illustrates. It also allows for a slimmer camera module.
Samsung expects to offer its first ISOCELL pixel camera sensor in the S5K4H5YB 8MP imager that will enter mass production by the end of the year. We should see it in the first smartphones sometime next year.
Source : Samsung Tomorrow