Samsung announces new 3D photo sensor: what it’s for

Samsung has announced its new 3D ToF sensor to measure depth: what it’s for Isocell Vizion 33D

Samsung is launching its new 3D photo sensor. It’s called Isocell Vizion 33D and, according to what the South Korean company says, it allows you to measure the distance between the camera and the subject to be captured in order to allow you to identify the depth data in real time.

With Isocell Vizion 33D, the manufacturer seems to have left behind the entire range of ToF (Time of Flight) of old generation, diving instead on the most advanced 3D sensors. The difference seems, at least on paper, quite obvious: according to Samsung, this new type of ToF allows to improve the photographic experience as well as the AR / VR, scan in three dimensions and produce bokeh effects during video recording. These are just a few of the interesting features of this new technological evolution, the use of which on smartphones could actually put the spotlight on mobile photography.

Samsung, what is Isocell Vizion 33D

Samsung’s latest generation sensor is a high-resolution ToF. Through Deep Trench Isolation (DTI) technology, Isocell Vizion 33D enables maximum isolation between pixels, reducing the crosstalk effect that normally generates data contamination between adjacent pixels. Backside Scattering (BST) technology, on the other hand, boosts the sensor’s quantum efficiency, or the amount of light that can be recorded by a sensor.

Samsung, Isocell Vizion 33D features

The sensor plays on the ability to track moving objects through low latency, emphasizing the depth factor. Playing an important role at this juncture is the 4-tap demodulation system, all coupled with support for shooting at up to 120 fps.

Samsung’s 4-tap demodulation system works in a simple but effective way: each pixel in the sensor is able to simultaneously receive four phase signals, at 0°, 90°, 180° and 270° respectively. In this way, the processor is able to process an image with its own specific depth through a single click of the camera, avoiding annoying blurring effects due to the rapid movement of the subject.

Samsung, the applications of Isocell Vizion 33D

At a distance of up to 5 meters, the Samsung sensor can detect the distance to the subject with extreme precision. By recording this data, it can then use the information to create images with improved depth and 3D effect.

Not only that, thanks to the improved depth perception, Isocell Vizion 33D could also be used in the future for more accurate facial recognition. In this way, risks related to payment services that can be triggered through facial recognition could enjoy greater accuracy in the process and security in protecting users from fraud.