In the field of image capture, a timing mismatch between the flicker in light source and the camera’s exposure mechanism results in horizontal lines or alternating light and dark bands in the image—an effect that is especially noticeable in video recordings.

■  Flicker Characteristics of Light Sources

Artificial light sources commonly exhibit periodic fluctuations in brightness. While the human eye typically cannot detect flickers above 80Hz, camera imaging components capture the full variation in light intensity. As a result, the recorded image may display ripple-like patterns or other patterns across the frame.

■  Exposure Synchronization Conflict
Most modern cameras use rolling shutter technology where CMOS sensors scan the image line by line, with a slight delay in exposure time between each row of pixels. If the brightness of the light source changes during exposure, such as high-frequency flicker of LED lights, electronic screens, etc., each row may capture different light intensities, resulting in visible horizontal bands in the final image.

In contrast, a global shutter exposes all pixels simultaneously, helping to reduce or eliminate these bands. However, due to its higher cost and reduced dynamic range, global shutter technology is mainly used in specialized fields, such as industrial cameras.

To systematically solve the issues mentioned above, the flicker sensor detects the ambient light source in real time and adjust the camera’s exposure parameters dynamically, so as to eliminate the crosstalk at the hardware level.

The MT321X series are widely used in screen-based devices such as smartphones, tablets, and laptops, as well as in camera modules, wearables, smart glasses, smart home products, industrial IoT devices, and Instrumentation devices. These sensors provide core support for creating healthier light environments across a range of smart applications.

From “detecting flicker” to “defining light health,” flicker sensors are quietly reshaping the way people, devices, and environments interact with light. This technology is expanding from high-end fields such as industrial inspection and medical equipment into affordable consumer electronics, gradually becoming the “guardian of light environment quality” in the smart era.

As a semiconductor fabless company, we continuously drive the evolution of sensors toward miniaturization and intelligence through innovative solutions such as multi-spectrum fusion detection and embedded edge computing, offering global customers comprehensive solutions for healthy lighting environments.