One of the killer features of the Apple Vision Pro is the use of simple gestures to control every aspect of the VisionOS. The camera built into the bottom area of the headset is able to read the gestures of a specific user to move an object, scroll a web page, tap an icon to open an app, etc. Now, Samsung hopes to use similar technology in future XR headsets to compete with Apple's Vision Pro.
Samsung has confirmed two next-generation image sensors. The most relevant is the "Isocell Vision 931", a global shutter sensor that works in a similar way to the human eye. A typical image sensor uses a rolling shutter method to expose the pixels to light in turn, but a global shutter exposes all pixels to light at the same time, similar to the human eye. The advantage is that even fast-moving objects can be shot clearly without distortion.
It supports a 1:1 scale resolution (640x640) that smoothly recognizes not only the iris but also fine movements such as eye tracking, facial expressions, and gestures on head-mounted displays such as XR devices.
These advertised features appear to be aimed at similar features found in Apple's Vision Pro.
Samsung's second sensor brand is the Isocell Vizion 63D. Samsung notes that similar to how bats use echolocation to navigate in the dark, the TOF sensor measures distance and depth by calculating the time it takes for emitted light to move in and out of an object.
In particular, Samsung's Isocell Vizion 63D is an indirect TOF (ITOF) sensor that measures the phase shift between emitted and reflected light to perceive the surrounding environment in 3D. With its outstanding accuracy and clarity, the Vizion 63D is ideal for service and industrial robots, as well as XR devices and facial authentication, where high-resolution and precise depth measurements are critical.
The Isocell Vizion 63D is the industry's first ITOF sensor with integrated depth sensing hardware image signal processor (ISP). With this innovative single-chip design, it accurately captures 3D depth information without the need for additional chips, reducing system power consumption by up to 40% compared to previous Isocell Vizion 33D products.