What They Say
Nikkei reported that Canon has developed a new image sensor that is said to be 10 times better at detecting light than conventional devices. The sensor uses a technology called a single photon avalanche diode or SPAD. The device is said to amplify individual photons into ‘a large number’ of electrons. The article reports that the device can also recognise the ‘time of light’ in units of less than a nanosecond to allow more accurate object recognition. It has 3.2 megapixels.
The firm is planning to build a new plant in Hiratsuka, Kanagawa, Japan costing $185 million to make the device and will begin mass production in the second half of 2022. Production uses the same technology for manufacture as CMOS sensors and is around the same cost. It will introduce the full colour camera in its security cameras as well as selling it to other companies.
Panasonic and Sony are also said to be working on SPADs and Sony plans to introduce them for LIDAR in the first half of 2022, although the Sony device is being marketed just as a depth sensor and with just 100K pixels. Canon has previously announced a 1 megapixel device.
What We Think
I need to resist the urge to report ‘interesting things’ that are not actually displays! (BR)
