Samsung System LSI Tech Day 2023: Experts Present Cutting-Edge Image Sensors and Automotive SoC

The rapid emergence of generative AI has brought on the hyperscale era, which is demanding new technological solutions. With this dynamic as a backdrop, Samsung Electronics hosted Samsung System LSI Tech Day 2023 on October 5 at the Device Solutions America headquarters in San Jose, California.

Participants from approximately 300 customer and partner companies attended the event to get a glimpse at the latest semiconductor technology across a wide variety of applications. The event put a great emphasis on how System LSI Humanoid will realize hyper-intelligence, hyper-connectivity, and hyper-data — including smart health processors, Internet of Things (IoT) security solutions, and automotive processors.

To get a deeper understanding of the innovative technology that took center stage, Samsung Semiconductor Global Newsroom sat down with Kyu Min Kyung from System LSI’s Sensor Solution Team and Harold Hwang from Device Solutions America (DSA) Automotive System on Chip (SoC) Marketing Group America.

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Image Sensors Equal to the Human Eye

Samsung’s ISOCELL mobile image sensors capture every detail in ultra-high resolution and at wide angles, ensuring you get the most out of your photos. And since mobile photography has become such an integral part of our daily lives, pushing ISOCELL sensors even further is a key focus of Samsung Semiconductor.

To get the latest information about the image sensor technology shown at the event, we interviewed Kyu Min Kyung from the Sensor Solution Team, who leads solution planning and advanced technology proof of concept (PoC).

Q. What technology did you present at Samsung System LSI Tech Day 2023?

I presented Zoom Anyplace, which is an ultra-high resolution zoom technology based on a 200 megapixel (MP) image sensor. Zoom Anyplace is a total solution with a range of useful applications for customers, and I led its development.  

Q. How will Zoom Anyplace change smartphone photography?

Zoom Anyplace can automatically track objects in large spaces while simultaneously shooting close-up shots with a maximum of 4x zoom. For example, when taking a picture of a child playing on the lawn, you can simultaneously capture both a full view of the lawn and the child’s face — in 4K quality. For our demo at this event, we recreated everyday situations experienced by customers and made videos that showcased the advantages Zoom Anyplace will bring.

Q. Why was ISOCELL HP2 used in the Zoom Anyplace exhibition?

To properly implement Zoom Anyplace, we have to zoom in on the subject using accurate tracking. This requires multiple image processing units (ISPs) to secure high-quality image data without deteriorating image quality. ISOCELL HP2 is more than up to this task and enables us to fully utilize Zoom Anyplace.  

Q. Can you tell us how Samsung developed this ultra-high resolution sensor technology?

In the second half of last year, my team surveyed domestic and international customers about their needs for mobile camera functionality. The results showed that our customers wanted to reduce image shake and maintain video quality when zoom magnification was adjusted or multiple subjects were being captured at the same time. Based on these findings, dedicated product research and development were carried out and eventually the ultra-high resolution sensor was created.

Q. Lastly, how was your experience at Samsung System LSI Tech Day 2023?

A lot of time and hard work have gone into developing Zoom Anyplace, not only at our headquarters but also in our labs overseas. I’m excited to showcase this technology here, and I’m also truly looking forward to it being commercialized and bringing improved photography experiences. I’d like to thank everyone at Samsung, as well as our customers and partners, for their support and encouragement.

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Enabling Safe Driving for Tomorrow with Superior Automotive Processors

The future of mobility has arrived, and cars are no longer just a means of transportation. They are transforming into a space where people share their life experiences, like a home. But the delivery of these experiences requires a highly connected set of systems, operated by powerful processors.

At Samsung System LSI Tech Day 2023, Samsung Semiconductor revealed the Exynos Auto V920, an automotive processor that effectively delivers convenience, safety, and infotainment. We talked to Harold Hwang, from DSA Automotive SoC Marketing Group America, to learn about how Samsung Semiconductor is using the V920 to push the envelope in modern automotive computing.  

Q. The Exynos Auto V920 is gaining traction as the automotive processor to drive next-gen automotive experiences. How was it developed?

With the rapid advancement of the automotive industry — including the enhancement of in-vehicle infotainment (IVI) for passengers, the development of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), and the introduction of autonomous driving — the demand for automotive components that can apply and support these functions has increased significantly. Samsung offers other Exynos SoC product lines, but we established the Exynos Auto line to meet automotive’s specialized requirements.

The Exynos Auto V920 was redesigned to meet the latest industry trends and to implement customer feedback on previous generations. As a result, the V920 provides the performance necessary for modern IVI requirements and, in preparation for the future, partial ADAS support.

Q. Which technologies and features take the Exynos Auto V920 to the next level?

First, we applied the latest CPU intellectual property (IP) from Arm to increase the computational performance by more than 50 percent compared to the previous model. Second, the Samsung GPU features a new architecture developed in collaboration with AMD, significantly increasing graphics performance. Finally, the performance of the embedded AI accelerator and NPU has more than doubled, which enables better support for ADAS.

Q. What new experiences will the Exynos Auto V920 enable?

With impressive performance improvements and an all-new graphics processor, users will experience faster response times and smoother animations with the Exynos Auto V920. It will also enable users to enjoy large in-vehicle displays running at 5K resolution, as well as enhanced AI capabilities.

Q. Where do you think the automotive processor industry is headed?

While previous automotive systems were based on distributed and independent automotive electronic control units (ECUs), today’s automotive systems are increasingly based on central domain controllers. In other words, they are moving away from multiple common chipsets to a single powerful chipset. I expect that future automotive semiconductors, including the next-generation Exynos Auto product line, will evolve toward a single chipset with higher computing power, faster graphics processors, and more powerful AI accelerators.

Q. What message would you like to convey to Samsung Semiconductor Newsroom readers?

Samsung prides itself on being at the forefront of technological innovation, and the system semiconductor technologies and products showcased at this event exemplify this notion. We are confident that the interest shown by visitors at Samsung System LSI Tech Day 2023 will result in superior solutions for their future projects. We would also like to express our deepest gratitude to the researchers at SAIT for their generous support of the event’s display booths through the Samsung Semiconductor Newsroom.

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As these two interviews have shown, Samsung Semiconductor is continuing to make advancements toward future technologies that will transform our daily lives. Furthermore, it is now time to take a step beyond generative AI toward proactive AI. With Samsung System Semiconductor’s innovative technology as a foundation, this is a future that looks more possible than ever.