At DEMO Spring 2010, a technology show being held in Palm Desert, CA, the venture-backed start-up firm InVisage has announced a new sensor that it claims to be four times higher performing than silicon-based sensors used in digital cameras today.

With a QuantumFilm based sensor, says InVisage, today's iPhone's 3 mega-pixel sensor could take 12 MP images of the same noise performance, and with twice the dynamic range. The firm also claims its new sensor to be compatible with current CMOS manufacturing processes.

"The first QuantumFilm-enabled product, due out later this year, solves the crucial challenge of capturing stunning images using mobile handset cameras," says the firm.

The focus of its announcement centres on elevating the performance of lower performance image takers like mobile phones, as opposed to DSLR and larger-format cameras, photography, even though higher dynamic range and better noise performance would be welcomed there.

Silicon-based image sensors capture on average 25 per cent of light, but QuantumFilm captures between 90-95 per cent. "This increase in efficiency will deliver improvements across the entire imaging market, allowing QuantumFilm to be the de-facto next generation camera platform," concludes the firm, hinting that the technology might be headed to higher-end, dedicated image capture devices.

InVisage says QuantumFilm is based on "quantum dots," which are semiconductors with unique light-capture properties. QuantumFilm works by capturing an imprint of a light image, and then employing the silicon beneath it to read out the image and turn it into versatile digital signals. Just nanometers in size, the quantum dot-based material is deposited directly on top of the wafer during manufacturing. And unlike silicon-based image sensor technologies such as BSI (back-side illumination) and FSI (front-side illumination), QuantumFilm covers 100 per cent of each pixel.

QuantumFilm is said to be more light sensitive across the entire spectrum than silicon. The technology holds promise in ultimate performance sensors that, like today's Foveon, can capture all three colours (R,G,B) at each pixel. Also, selective light absorbtion formulations could enable a sensor without a colour filter, for further image improvement.

"It is becoming increasingly difficult and expensive to develop next-generation image sensors using silicon; essentially, silicon has hit a wall," says Jess Lee, InVisage President & C.E.O. "The fundamental problem is that silicon cannot capture light efficiently, but until now it has been the only option. The disruptive nature of QuantumFilm builds on silicon's success in electronics, and elevates its function using new materials that are engineered from the ground up for light capture."

InVisage is reportedly working with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company to produce a working sample sensor in 10 months; and intends to market its first camera by the end of 2011.

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