A new silicon image sensor chip said to have resolution equal to film was unveiled Monday by startup Foveon Inc., Santa Clara, Calif.
The chip uses a similar technique as modern film to capture the highest quality color image -- by embedding red, blue and yellow layers in the silicon over the pixel array so each pixel captures all the primary colors. Jim Lau, Foveon chief executive, said this is similar to film which records different colors of light penetrating to different layers of photosensitive material.
National Semiconductor Inc, an investor in Foveon, will produce the sensor at its fab in Portland, Me.
By contrast, CCD and CMOS image sensors can detect only one color at each pixel and mathematically estimate the remaining two colors not detected. Lau said this limits the range and accuracy of color captured.
Also because each pixel in the Foveon sensor detects all primary colors, fewer pixels are needed, or conversely, a much higher resolution with greater number of pixels than CCD or CMOS sensors can be produced in the same area die.
Sigma Corp. has introduced the first digital camera using the new Foveon sensor. The firm claimed photos from the camera can be enlarged up to 30 inches, exceeding the quality of even 35mm film.
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