Samsung Announces 8.4-megapixel CMOS Sensor

Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., Seoul, South Korea, announces an 8.4-megapixel CMOS image sensor with a 1.4 um pixel design. The new CIS chip provides a high signal to noise ratio, a key measure of overall image quality, says the company. Samsung achieved the high-resolution level by implementing advanced light sensing features and minimized noise levels. Notably, an extended photo diode technology was implemented to achieve higher light sensitivity and saturation levels, resulting in an enhanced fill factor.

Samsung says it provides the same image quality as the charge-coupled device (CCD) image sensors currently used in most digital cameras and camcorders, while using only power of a CCD image sensor. The company predicts it will quickly replace CCDs in all three key applications, mobile phones, digital cameras and camcorders.