Fujifilm and Panasonic’s organic CMOS image sensor boosts dynamic range and sensitivity
Posted in: Today's Chili
We’ve all been enjoying the benefits of AMOLED displays for several years now — high contrast ratios, wide viewing angles and vivid colors — so it was only a matter of time until organic films ended up in image sensors. Fujifilm and Panasonic have been working on organic CMOS image sensors and just showed the results of their collaboration at the 2013 Symposium on VLSI Technology in Kyoto. By replacing the traditional silicon photodiode with an organic photoelectric conversion layer, researchers have created image sensors with a dynamic range of 88dB (the industry’s highest), a 1.2-fold increase in sensitivity (compared to traditional designs) and a 60-degree range of incident light (vs. 30-40 degrees, typically). What does this mean in practice? Less clipping in bright scenes, better low-light performance and richer colors and textures. The companies plan to promote these new organic CMOS image sensors for use in a wide range of imaging applications, including next generation cameras and phones. We can’t wait!
Filed under: Cellphones, Cameras, Mobile
Source: Fujifilm
Just when you thought that the megapixel wars are over, here we are with word that Toshiba’s spanking new TCM5115CL 20-megapixel image sensor is being prepared to roll out to the masses, with it being the highest-resolution ever image sensor constructed that will target point-and-shoot cameras. Hmmm, perhaps it is the dawn of a new megapixel war, and who are we to argue with the industry movers and shakers? Just when you thought that there was no longer any more point to cramming in additional pixels onto small image sensors, here we are with Toshiba’s version, where this new 1/2.3-inch image sensor will pack in 25% more pixels than usual.
