Samsung is one of the few manufacturers that have used Under-Display Camera (UDC) technology in commercial mobile devices. The Galaxy Z Fold series has included such cameras for years in the inner screen. Now, the company has patented an optical sensor-based UDC tech that would help it solve the problems of the current implementation.
In the smartphone industry, Nubia is the one that has bet the most on the UDC implementation in its flagship Z series. However, the company has not been able to fully address image quality issues inherent to the technology. After all, it relies on a sensor hidden under the screen, with all the difficulties that this entails. The same applies to Samsung, whose UDC implementation is even behind Nubia’s. The Z Fold devices integrate a low-resolution Under-Display Camera (4 MP), and its presence is more noticeable on the screen under certain conditions.
Samsung’s new optical sensor-based Under-Display Camera targets foldable and rollable phones
That said, the South Korean giant would be working on improving its UDC implementation as a next tech breakthrough. A new patent from Samsung uncovers a more efficient and discreet optical sensor-based Under-Display Camera system. The patent also includes sketches showing where the sensor would be located. Interestingly, the sketches show the external display of a Z Fold device. So, the company would be looking for a way to get rid of the visible punch hole to offer a true full-screen experience on the external screen as well.
As reported by Teleprompter, the patent addresses the two main problems of the UDC tech. The new system seeks to both improve the image quality of the pictures and better hide the sensor area on the screen to avoid image distortion. The system works by tweaking in real time the image output in the sensor area according to luminance and gradation parameters. This is possible thanks to a dedicated display driver IC.
This implementation either turns off the pixels or displays an image that helps minimize visual distortion in the area. Currently, Nubia does a good job in this section, and Samsung is lagging behind.
Lastly, the patent mentions that the technology is designed for foldable and rollable devices. So, it doesn’t seem like Samsung has any plans to implement an Under-Display Camera on the Galaxy S or A series. Still, it’s good that the company is trying to offer better experiences with innovative technologies on its foldable phones.
