QuantumFilm the next step for digital cameras?

 

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Posted on 24 Mar 2010 at 10:01

A new sensor technology will revolutionise digital cameras, claimed research firm InVisage. The company today announced its QuantumFilm sensors, which apparently use custom-designed semiconductors to create the world's first quantum dot-based sensor. We're not exactly sure what all that means, and even a trip to Wikipedia didn't clear it up, but the gist of it seems that adding a layer of quantum dots to the underlying technology of a traditional CMOS chip provides a far more sensitive sensor than is currently possible.

"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 CCD and CMOS), QuantumFilm covers 100 percent of each pixel. The material is added as a final wafer-level process, which allows for easy integration into standard semiconductor foundries. The process adds minimal cost on top of the standard layers of silicon processes."

It all sounds great, particularly the minimal cost part. InVisage bandies about some rather meaningless terms, like 4x higher performance and 2x higher dynamic range. Bizarrely, the company claims to be targeting the mobile phone market, where it says the technology can greatly improve results from the small sensors used. This may be the case, but the cynic in us says it's more probable that the technology is only ready for use in very small sensors; after all if it's as good as they say then why not go straight for full-frame DSLR sensors, as professional photographers will be more than happy to pay for such grandiose performance claims, if proven true.

Still, we like the idea of a mobile phone camera that can take half-way decent snaps, and look forward to seeing a working prototype of the technology.

Author: Seth Barton