Samsung Shrinks 5 Megapixel Image Sensor

Samsung Electronics has developed a 5 megapixel imaging sensor for use on mobile phones, digital cameras and camcorders.

The 5M CMOS sensor has a 1/2.5-inch lens aperture with a pixel measurement of 2.2 by 2.2 microns, developed using 0.13-micron process technology, this new sensor is 50 percent more sensitive to light. This will result in sharper images and less problems in low light situations.

Samsung also reduced the sensors size by 30 percent compared to other models of the same resolution. This means it can be used in smaller gadgets and mobile phones.

A 3.2M-pixel CIS, for camera phones was also announced. Pixels measure 2.25 by 2.25 microns in a 1/3-inch lens aperture with serial interface applied for accelerated data processing speeds.

Samsung plans to begin mass-production of the 5M-pixel CIS in the fourth quarter of 2005 and the 3.2M-pixel CIS with an embedded image signal processor (ISP) by the first half of 2006.