Samsung trademarks BRITECELL, hinting at a new camera sensor for the Galaxy S7

posted by Daniel P.

Nov 04, 2015, 4:16 AM

Samsung trademarks BRITECELL, hinting at a new camera sensor for the Galaxy S7

Samsung is hard at work on its next-gen phone cameras, it seems - just as we learned that it has developed a 20 MP sensor with a frugal 28nm package, now comes the news that it has patented the term BRITECELL. The patent application doesn't leave us guessing as to what it is about, saying “image sensor for mobile phones” right in the description.

Now, this patent might be related to the new 20 MP sensor, as Samsung lists it with a RWB color pattern for enhancing light sensitivity, and improving the signal-to-noise ratio in low-light conditions, hence the term "BRITE." Given that Samsung still uses ISOCELL to describe the 20 MP sensor, however, BRITECELL might be related to something totally new and yet-unreleased, rather than the new RWB pattern. Yesterday, Korean media spilled the beans on an alleged 12 MP sensor developed by Samsung, which will sport a large 1/2" surface area, allowing for huge pixels that collect more light, instead of mindlessly chasing the megapixel count, with an ever-decreasing pixel size as a result.

Samsung is apparently ready to put the new 12 MP sensor in production very soon, so when it comes to rumormongering, the Galaxy S7 could be equipped either with the new 20 MP, or the speculated 12 MP sensor, depending on what you'd like to believe, and the low-light technology on either of them can be titled with the trademark name BRITECELL. Fun times.

source: Kipris.or.kr via Galaxyclub.nl (translated)

FEATURED VIDEO

Options

44 Comments

39. twens

Posts: 1191; Member since: Feb 25, 2012

Funny enough I have both and s6 edge and an iPhone 6 Plus running iOS 9.0.2. Guess which lags the most???

posted on Nov 04, 2015, 5:57 PM 0

44. phichart

Posts: 335; Member since: May 03, 2014

I phone 6plus

posted on Nov 04, 2015, 8:11 PM 2

31. TeyaIman unregistered

Can we call it lagCELL since it will still lag. My boyfriend's s6 lags crazy and is not enjoyable,

posted on Nov 04, 2015, 11:00 AM 2

33. iushnt

Posts: 3182; Member since: Feb 06, 2013

http://www.phonearena.com/news/The-Samsung-Galaxy-S7-may-cost-10-less-than-expected-at-launch_id75440/comments?post=1317713#post_1317713 Go here and see post 23 and 29. Also one doesn't simply enjoy using bf's s6. U may have to use something else if u know what I mean.

posted on Nov 04, 2015, 11:49 AM 5

38. TeyaIman unregistered

Galaxy devices lag. This is commonly known and reason why people call TouchWiz lagwiz. It lags even on samsungs best phones. It doesnt matter what you say because it doesnt change what i and many many people have experienced. So sorry , try again Samsung

posted on Nov 04, 2015, 2:00 PM 2

43. phichart

Posts: 335; Member since: May 03, 2014

may be your BF's S6 is the fake one.. hahahahah get a life!

posted on Nov 04, 2015, 8:11 PM 1

30. TeyaIman unregistered

Samsung focus on making not laggy phones before doing this

posted on Nov 04, 2015, 10:54 AM 1

42. phichart

Posts: 335; Member since: May 03, 2014

your life is so laggy i think.... so poor

posted on Nov 04, 2015, 8:10 PM 1

28. Guaire

Posts: 898; Member since: Oct 15, 2014

1/2" sensor won't be in S7 for sure. In that case z-height of the camera module gonna be 11 or 12mm at least depending on aspect ratio. Considering Samsung's design language which back camera is always placing on upper mid section of the back means adding thickness of the displayi result gonna be ~12-13mm thickness at camera and that would mean ~5-6mm protrusion for a 6-7mm thick body. 1um pixels allows them to either squeeze more resolution to same size sensor which means ~30MP for 4:3 aspect ratio, ~22MP for 16:9 aspect ratio or they can make it thinner with retaining resolution and get rid of the camera bump.

posted on Nov 04, 2015, 10:09 AM 0

27. talon95

Posts: 1012; Member since: Jul 31, 2012

It all sounds good. I won't mind 12MP, I don't want massive file sizes from a 20MP. If they do use a 20 then they'd better really step up their game and do some binning for low light, and even daylight if you choose to downsize to 12. Isocell is great tech, but I think it does more in daylight to prevent blown highlights from spilling over into adjacent pixels than it does for low light. Either way a bigger sensor sounds great, along with phase detection Please don't leave a massive bulge on the back of the phone though. Blend it into a curved back with a large battery. And I'd like to see a lot more go into the camera software, not that it's not already good, but it seems there are some very interesting things they could be doing if they got some PHDs working on fancy algorithms like the Light L16 is using.

posted on Nov 04, 2015, 9:25 AM 1

18. Amiafanboy

Posts: 67; Member since: May 27, 2015

Now just put in a approx 3500mah battery and a Micro Sd we already have a blockbuster hit on the cards

posted on Nov 04, 2015, 6:02 AM 1

26. Xperia14

Posts: 1208; Member since: Sep 01, 2015

This, and make it waterproof and enable the FM radio again and I'll buy two.

posted on Nov 04, 2015, 9:24 AM 0

15. Supersonic

Posts: 226; Member since: May 15, 2015

The camera of S7 will be another killer item like S6.

posted on Nov 04, 2015, 5:28 AM 6

10. sergiobr

Posts: 718; Member since: Feb 25, 2013

The manufacturers are getting close to 1" as Nokia did with 808 (1/1.2"). But we have to wait, because they won't kill the golden goose. Bring us the big sensors Sammy !!!

posted on Nov 04, 2015, 4:54 AM 2

37. combatmedic870

Posts: 987; Member since: Sep 02, 2015

Uhhhhh...panasonic made it to 1" this year already. CM1 yo.

posted on Nov 04, 2015, 1:07 PM 1

9. Kumar123 unregistered

What a stupid name. Samsung said the same thing about their ISOCELL and how great it would be in low light situation but it turns out S5 had the worst camera when it comes to night scene. There was nothing "Revolutionary" about ISOCELL and It will be same for this stupid "BRITECELL" sensor. Its a stupid name for a sensor and it will performs like stupid sensor. BTW, Sony's sensor >>>>>>>>>>>> Samsung's sensor. That's why they always send the phone that has Sony sensor inside to dxomark, not their own sensor. Because they know their sensor is inferior.

posted on Nov 04, 2015, 4:52 AM 12

13. g2a5b0e unregistered

Did Samsung kill your family? They have must have because you're mighty hateful about a company that has nothing to do with your personal life. My suggestion: grow up.

posted on Nov 04, 2015, 5:19 AM 23

14. Ordinary

Posts: 2454; Member since: Apr 23, 2015

LOL Basically 99% of his posts are only: I hate Samsung and I want attention.

posted on Nov 04, 2015, 5:22 AM 29

16. g2a5b0e unregistered

Exactly. These fanboys act like this stuff is personal. These are just companies trying to make money. I have better things to do with my life than constantly talk trash about inanimate objects. Must suck to be that bitter.

posted on Nov 04, 2015, 5:29 AM 19

21. epdm2be

Posts: 836; Member since: Apr 20, 2012

Don't forget that people pay big bucks for that tech. And if it later proves not having any benefit at all then they feel betrayed... Sure, if you have the opportunity (read: money) to buy a new high-end phone whenever something new comes about then praise yourself lucky. Most of us have to keep using the device for quite a long time before we can obtain something new. So I perfectly understand these reactions. In the case of the S5-camera. Compared to e.g. a Z1(compact) it IS better. Even in low-light. I have an S5 and my dad has a Z1compact, which is from the same time, so I have first hand experience.

posted on Nov 04, 2015, 7:13 AM 1

32. iushnt

Posts: 3182; Member since: Feb 06, 2013

The note 5 with ISOCELL is performing great in my brother's hand. This guy is just butthurt

posted on Nov 04, 2015, 11:38 AM 5

17. Carbo

Posts: 42; Member since: Aug 07, 2015

Samsung knows how to make excellent sensors, just look at the NX1.

posted on Nov 04, 2015, 5:35 AM 4

20. maherk

Posts: 7084; Member since: Feb 10, 2012

Oh boy, the brainless hating zombie is at it yet again. You do realize that the Note 4, S6, S6 Edge, Note 5, Edge+ comes equipped with either a Sony sensor or the ISOCELL sensor? And that tests showed that in some scenarios, the ISOCELL slightlyyy outperforms the Sony sensor? Andddd that Samsung went with the Sony sensor alongside their own sensor mainly because they weren't able to produce enough sensors for their flagships?? And I always knew you were brainless zombie, but never knew you were a crystal gazer as well.

posted on Nov 04, 2015, 6:49 AM 17

22. xdza1979

Posts: 296; Member since: Aug 08, 2015

Same troll, different accounts..

posted on Nov 04, 2015, 7:50 AM 4

8. Neros

Posts: 1016; Member since: Dec 19, 2014

Best mobile camera of 2015.

posted on Nov 04, 2015, 4:48 AM 6

19. Neros

Posts: 1016; Member since: Dec 19, 2014

Ops, *2016 Silly me :P

posted on Nov 04, 2015, 6:20 AM 8

2. manojmcn

Posts: 634; Member since: Jul 16, 2015

Whatever be the sensor, it's guarenteed to be the top notch one. For harware spec, Sammy always puts the best ones in the flagships.

posted on Nov 04, 2015, 4:35 AM 22

4. Baracus

Posts: 223; Member since: Sep 15, 2012

They may be the best by phone standards but not by proper camera standards and a bigger sensor will bring phone cameras up to a whole new level especially in low light use.

posted on Nov 04, 2015, 4:38 AM 3

24. Ashoaib

Posts: 3309; Member since: Nov 15, 2013

why not 1/1.7inch CCD sensor? which is used in some canon's compact cameras and produce very true colors with great detail... samsung and any other company always try to imply that, what they have created is the best in the world and take more light and bla bla bla... but in reality, it turn out normal or just marginally better

posted on Nov 04, 2015, 8:11 AM 1

36. combatmedic870

Posts: 987; Member since: Sep 02, 2015

It's simply too large of a sensor probably. Also note that canons stopped using CCD sensors in the S95. CMOS sensors are now what's used for canons S series and almost every new camera now(besides maybe some medium format.) The larger the sensor, the larger the lens. Right now they are around 1/2.4 I think. I think to a 1/2.0 sensor would be a decent jump.....who knows If you want IQ of the Canon S series in a S series you will be waiting for a little while.

posted on Nov 04, 2015, 1:02 PM 2

view all comments

Latest Stories

View more news