Samsung’s New Sensor Technology Eliminates Distortion in Action Photos

Key Takeaways

1. Action photography on smartphones has struggled with image distortion when capturing fast-moving subjects, leading to skewed images.
2. Samsung has developed a high-resolution global shutter sensor that allows for instant freezing of scenes, addressing these distortion issues.
3. This new sensor overcomes the “jello effect,” where quick-moving objects appear bent due to timing differences in image capture.
4. The sensor utilizes a modified rolling shutter system with a new pixel layout and incorporates an analog-to-digital converter directly into the pixels for faster processing.
5. With a resolution of 12MP and a pixel size of 1.5 microns, the sensor is expected to be used in ultrawide or telephoto lenses in future Galaxy flagship models.

Action photography using smartphones has faced challenges with image distortion, especially when capturing fast-moving subjects, which often appear skewed or warped. According to a recent article from Sisa Journal, Samsung might have tackled this problem by creating a high-resolution global shutter sensor. Most smartphone cameras today operate with a rolling shutter that captures pixel lines one after another, but this new technology reportedly offers global shutter-like functionality, enabling instant freezing of scenes.

Tackling the Jello Effect

This advancement addresses the well-known “jello effect,” where quick-moving objects look bent due to the camera capturing the top part of the image at a different time than the bottom part. Samsung has managed to overcome the low-resolution challenges typically associated with traditional global shutters by implementing a modified rolling shutter system that simulates global functionality through a newly designed pixel layout. The publication notes that an analog-to-digital converter is now incorporated directly into the pixels, which greatly speeds up the transition of analog signals to digital data.

High-Speed Processing Capability

According to a representative from Samsung Electronics, as reported by Sisa Journal, four pixels share one converter, enabling the sensor to process information at remarkable speeds, while an optical flow algorithm mathematically adjusts for movement. This sensor boasts a resolution of 12MP and pixel size of 1.5 microns, suggesting it is more likely to be used in an ultrawide or telephoto lens rather than the main lens in upcoming Galaxy flagship models.

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