View Full Version : Quantum film might replace CMOS sensors


Andrew Smith
March 25th, 2010, 11:50 PM
Behold, the next technology ...

Quantum film might replace CMOS (http://www.pcauthority.com.au/News/170250,quantum-film-might-replace-cmos.aspx)

Not quite video news yet, but ... "Quantum film could replace conventional CMOS image sensors in digital cameras and are four times more sensitive than photographic film."

Andrew

Peter Weisberg
March 26th, 2010, 12:23 AM
So this would basically be the same as film only with higher resolution and better quality? But that doesn't address all the advantages of a fully solid state digital workflow and not having to get the film developed and all the other extra work involved with treating film. It mentions using the technology for camera phones but I can't see a camera phone needing film to operate... unless there is some crucial information i'm missing here this seems like kind of a dumb technology...

Jack Zhang
March 26th, 2010, 12:56 AM
It'll only be good if it's a global shutter method of acquisition. CMOS' biggest problem is the Rolling Shutter.

I might see this as finally making a digital replacement for IMAX resolution cams or finally making cheap UHDV acquisition possible.

Andrew Smith
March 26th, 2010, 01:10 AM
It's called a 'film', but it's a sensor that uses quantum dots (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_dot) as a technology.

See EETimes.com - Quantum film threatens to replace CMOS image chips (http://www.eetimes.com/news/design/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=224000253) for more technical info.

Andrew

Shaun Roemich
March 26th, 2010, 01:25 AM
What would be really interesting would be a solution to randomly scatter the grain over a number of frames, just like in real film. Oversize imager on an eccentric-driven motor drive with positional tracking of the orbit as metadata? Hmmmm....

Andrew Smith
March 26th, 2010, 01:28 AM
Sounds a bit steam-punk to me.

I suspect that the quantum dots will be laid down in a controlled pattern, as you would require for a sensor.

Andrew