Amidst the deep integration of augmented reality and artificial intelligence, smart wearables are transitioning from proof-of-concept to mass adoption. According to industry data from Sigmaintell, global shipments of AI-powered smart glasses are projected to grow by over 110% year-on-year in 2025. Against this backdrop, achieving sustained, high-quality image output under the severe constraints of module space and battery capacity has emerged as a central technical challenge in this domain.
The GC12C1 adopts a 1/4-inch optical format, and the size of its camera module is precisely controlled at 6.5mm×6.5mm, which lays a hardware foundation for the compact layout of the whole AI smart glasses device. Equipped with 0.9μm pixels and a Bayer color array, the sensor can achieve a video frame rate of 60fps@12MP, balancing imaging real-time performance while maintaining 12MP high resolution. Owing to the balance between size and resolution, 12MP sensors have accounted for more than 90% of the AI smart glasses camera module market, endowing the GC12C1 with natural market adaptability.
As the core technical advantage of the sensor, GalaxyCore's self-developed DAG HDR single-frame high dynamic imaging technology is deeply integrated into the chip design. Through differentiated regulation of high conversion gain in dark areas and low conversion gain in highlight areas, the technology achieves 12-bit high dynamic range image and video output. Based on the technical path of single exposure and single readout, compared with the traditional multi-frame synthesis HDR solution, the GC12C1 not only reduces the power consumption of high dynamic video recording by 40%, but also fundamentally avoids the problem of motion artifacts. This enables camera modules equipped with the sensor to stably adapt to complex lighting scenarios such as backlight and rapid light-dark switching of AI smart glasses, solving the industry common problems of overexposure in highlight areas and lack of details in dark areas of traditional modules.
Power consumption control is a core design requirement for compact camera modules, and the battery capacity limitation of AI smart glasses further increases the stringency of this requirement. The GC12C1 realizes global power consumption optimization relying on GalaxyCore's single-chip integration technology. Measured data shows that its power consumption is 19% lower than that of the previous generation products, effectively reducing system heating while ensuring imaging quality, and directly improving the battery life and wearing comfort of the whole device. More importantly, the sensor supports the AON Always On low-power mode, which can realize continuous environmental monitoring and key event triggering in an extremely low-power state. This feature adapts to the functional upgrade of AI smart glasses from simple shooting and recording to real-time perception and intelligent interaction, allowing the camera module to work stably in the background for a long time.
Addressing the technical shortcoming that 0.9μm small pixels are prone to increase imaging noise in low illumination, the GC12C1 is equipped with GalaxyCore's proprietary FPPI® pixel isolation technology. Through the significant optimization of key performance indicators such as read noise, its read noise is reduced by 27% compared with 1.0μm pixel products, effectively improving the overall signal-to-noise ratio performance. The imaging quality in low illumination directly determines the practical usability of the AI smart glasses camera module, and the application of this technology makes the imaging of the sensor purer in dark environments, filling the performance gap of small pixel sensors in low-light scenarios.
At present, the application scenarios of the GC12C1 have broken through the scope of AI smart glasses. Its compact design and performance advantages are also applicable to camera modules of compact smart terminals with strict space requirements such as thin and light laptops and ultra-thin mobile phones, realizing cross-category technical adaptation. The product has officially accepted sample delivery, providing an immediate technical solution for terminal manufacturers in the R&D and product iteration of camera modules.
The launch of the GalaxyCore GC12C1 is a precise technical R&D by sensor manufacturers aiming at the pain points of camera modules of compact smart terminals. Through the optimization of hardware specifications and the innovation of core technologies, it has created an integrated imaging solution with high dynamic range, low power consumption and high resolution. Facing the evolving forms of new smart terminals, GalaxyCore will continue to iterate image sensor technologies, providing stable and reliable core components for visual perception for camera modules of various devices.
