The series of announcements made by OPPO on "OPPO Inno Day 2021" was a display of consciousness to challenge the approach of the terminal function and performance improvement from the SOC design level that Huawei once aimed for.
Of course, the protagonist of the event is the same as the flip -type terminal, but is no other in "Find N", which adopts the form of the For double.The camera function and image quality improvement by the original designed chip, Marisilicon X announced on the first day, are also talked about, but the unique SoC will come out of the Android.
OPPO has been rumored to have developed its own SoC in recent months.SOC, that is, a semiconductor that summarizes the system in one, is a chip specialized in improving camera image quality.
The processing circuit contained in this chip is an NPU (NEURAL PROCESSING UNIT) and ISP (Image Signal Prosessor) specializing in image processing to efficiently perform neural network processing.By limited to highly specific applications, advanced image processing is achieved without increasing battery consumption.
Neural network processing can be applied not only to enhance camera image quality and function, but it is not clear at this time whether it can be used from APIs that actually use Android NPUs.
However, when it comes to the next Find X, which is equipped with marisilicon, it seems that NPUs will also be installed on the built -in SoC side, and if OPPO announcements are interpreted honestly, Marisilicon X is used exclusively for cameras.It would be appropriate to think of it.
It should be evaluated only by a dedicated processor with limited applications, but with a built -in camera with a built -in terminal.However, if the image quality that OPPO claims can be obtained for both still images and videos, Marisilicon X will be a chip that raises the charm of the company's smartphone in the future.
According to OPPO, both NPUs (equivalent to Neural Engine in A15), the performance per power of ISP, and the absolute processing capacity of the ISP are higher than the A15 Bionic, which is installed in the iPhone 13 series.
A15 Bionic is a SOC that contains most functions other than the modem, which is made of TSMC's 5 nanometer process, while Marisilicon X is only a dedicated tip for NPU and ISP produced by TSMC.The ability is high enough, but at this time it will be necessary to consider the restrictions of being different from SOC.
As you can see from the example of the iPhone 13 series, the enhancement of neural network processing is extremely effective in improving camera image quality, and from the perspective of "enhancing the charm of a single terminal", a chip is equipped separately from SoC.The judgment of OPPO, which says, seems to be correct at this time.
According to the published information, the information from the image sensor is all 20 bit, and it seems to realize a signal processing pipeline for directly processing the Bayer sequence sensor RAW data.
Usually, RAW data from the sensor is converted to pixel formats such as RGB and YUV, and video processing is performed.The depth of pixel data will be 10 to 12 bits.
It is considered that the purpose is to eliminate information loss by repeating image processing by processing the RAW (raw) data of the image sensor, which is the main data of the video processing, with an excessive 20 -bit.
Video image quality in dark places and samples that automatically balance the background and subjects even in backlight are published, but data accuracy in dark areas that tends to cause processing errors is essential for these processing.It seems that the camera function that makes use of it will be realized.
Is it the development of your own SoC?
The high -end terminal Find N, which was announced at the same time, uses an attractive and unique form factor.Because Marisilicon X is this high -end terminal, it could be installed separately from the main SoC, but OPPO aims.Incorporate Marisilicon X into the custom order SoC.
If you are a manual who performs RAW development processing with a digital single -lens, etc., you will need some know -how and judgment to fit a large dynamic range in a still image.
Huawei once tried to optimize RAW development with AI processing, achieving surprising high quality at the time.It was out of the essence of a photographer that captures as it is, but many consumers have seen it as a good camera.
Apple has achieved excellent image quality in recent years (although the direction of painting is different), applying the same method as Huawei to achieve more realistic photographic quality. ing.
Marisilicon X uses an extremely advanced signal processing approach, but is a different chip from the SoC, so additional costs, data sharing with SoC, use of software using general -purpose NPUs, etc.It is presumed that they have a problem.That's why OPPO says Marisilicon X is an additional chip for cameras.
However, Marisilicon X, manufactured by a 6 -nanometer process, is planning to launch a 3 nanometer process.
It's just a guess, but at that time, the assumed circuit required for the SoC will be placed, and then the NPU and ISP equivalent to Marisilicon X may be built -in.Looking at the signal processing accuracy of Marisilicon X and the approach of handling RAW as it is, I think that it is looking for future image processing and function implementation that we want to realize with the built -in camera made by the company in the next few years.
Probably, in the farthest in the far, the same as Marisilicon X, or the same advanced, the key to raising the quality of the company's built -in terminal, which is the same as Marisilicon X.It will be a technique.
Furthermore, it should further increase the cost performance of the company -made terminal, which has a high performance for prices.
This is because it is possible to produce the SOC, which is the most expensive of terminal costs, by using its own SOC.Naturally, the manufacturing itself is TSMC, but it will be difficult to create a middle -class terminal by combining the SOC purchased from the US Quarcom.
Perhaps the CPU and GPU will use the circuit purchased from ARM, etc., but a wide -band memory controller for shared memory is placed there.With the future version of Marisilicon X, it is possible to bring the camera with the same image quality and functions that are equal to the Marisilicon X -built -in terminal in one SOC.
These approaches are good at Huawei and Apple, but OPPOs will rise sharply as an Apple rival, as Huawei is being sanctioned by the US government.
The approach to the camera image quality seems to be a more natural development result, whether it has a slightly bruise and a strong impression of Huawei, which has improved the accuracy of subject recognition.The Coloros, which is equipped with the company's terminal, has a very similar usability and functions to the iPhone, and will be a powerful rival in the iPhone series with improved perfection.
