Wednesday, March 27, 2024

Sony releases 247MP sensors

Sony recently released a new 247MP rolling shutter CIS available in monochrome and color variants: IMX811-AAMR and IMX811-AAQR.







Monday, March 25, 2024

Job Postings - Week of 24 March 2024

CEA-IRIG

Permanent Researcher in Ultra-Wide-Bandgap Semiconductors

Grenoble, France

Link

Apple

Camera Electrical Engineer - Camera Hardware

Cupertino, California, USA

Link

University of Hawaii

Advanced detector development – Postdoc

Honolulu, Hawaii, USA

Link

Samsung Semiconductor

Senior Program Manager, Image Sensors

San Jose, California, USA

Link

CERN

Applied Physicist for Pixel-Detector Hybridisation and Testing

Geneva, Switzerland

Link

General Motors

Design Release Engineer - Image Quality

Detroit, Michigan, USA

Link

NASA

Far-Infrared Detectors for Space-Based Low-Background Astronomy – Postdoc

Greenbelt, Maryland, USA

Link

Lockheed Martin

Systems Integration Test Engineer/Infrared Testing

Goleta, California, USA

Link

Sony

Automotive Image Sensor Account Manager

Novi, Michigan, USA

Link

Friday, March 22, 2024

Four new videos about the industry

Here are few new videos from image sensor companies.

Two about new hardware built around image sensors:

  • Trinamix-ST under-OLED face recognition camera

 


  • Prophesee AR glassses demo

 


One about new facilities:

  • An official opening of TSMC-Sony plant in Kumamoto where Sony will manufacture its new image sensors:

 


And one about a new sensor series:

  • Omnivision presents its new generation of automotive HDR sensors:

 

A Job Opening with Euresys

Euresys

Sales Manager - Europe            Liège, Belgium or Schongau, Germany           Link

Wednesday, March 20, 2024

Artilux announces room temperature GeSi SPAD

 
HSINCHU, Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Artilux, the renowned leader of GeSi (germanium-silicon) photonics technology for CMOS (complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor) based SWIR (short-wavelength infrared) sensing and imaging, announced today that the research team at Artilux has made a breakthrough in advancing SWIR GeSi SPAD (single-photon avalanche diode) technology, which has been recognized and published by Nature, one of the world's most prestigious scientific journals. The paper, titled "Room temperature operation of germanium-silicon single-photon avalanche diode," presented the Geiger-mode operation of a high-performing GeSi avalanche photodiode at room temperature, which in the past was limited to operation at a low temperature below at least 200 Kelvin. Nature's rigorous peer-review process ensures that only research of the highest caliber and broadest interest is published, and the acceptance and publication of the paper in Nature is another pivotal mark in exemplifying Artilux's leadership in CMOS-based SWIR sensing and imaging.

The research work, led by Dr. Neil Na, CTO of Artilux, has unveiled a CMOS-compatible GeSi SPAD operated at room temperature and elevated temperatures, featuring a noise-equivalent power improvement over previously demonstrated Ge-based SPADs by several orders of magnitude. The paper showcases key parameters of the GeSi SPAD, including dark count rate, single-photon detection probability at SWIR spectrum, timing jitter, after-pulsing characteristic time, and after-pulsing probability, at a low breakdown voltage and a small excess bias. As a proof of concept, three-dimensional point-cloud images were captured with TOF (direct time-of-flight) technique using the GeSi SPAD. "When we started the project, there were overwhelming evidence in the literature indicating that a room-temperature operation of GeSi SPAD is simply not possible," said Dr. Na, "and I am proud of our team turning the scientific research into a commercial reality against all odds."

The findings set a new milestone in CMOS photonics. The potential deployment of single-photon sensitive SWIR sensors, imagers, and photonic integrated circuits shall unlock critical applications in TOF sensors and imagers, LiDAR (light detection and ranging), bio-photonics, quantum computing and communication, artificial intelligence, robotics, and more. Artilux is committed to continuing its leadership in CMOS photonics technology, aiming to further contribute to the scientific community and photonics industry.

Abstract of article in Nature (Feb 2024): https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-07076-x
The ability to detect single photons has led to the advancement of numerous research fields. Although various types of single-photon detector have been developed, because of two main factors—that is, (1) the need for operating at cryogenic temperature and (2) the incompatibility with complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor (CMOS) fabrication processes—so far, to our knowledge, only Si-based single-photon avalanche diode (SPAD) has gained mainstream success and has been used in consumer electronics. With the growing demand to shift the operation wavelength from near-infrared to short-wavelength infrared (SWIR) for better safety and performance, an alternative solution is required because Si has negligible optical absorption for wavelengths beyond 1 µm. Here we report a CMOS-compatible, high-performing germanium–silicon SPAD operated at room temperature, featuring a noise-equivalent power improvement over the previous Ge-based SPADs by 2–3.5 orders of magnitude. Key parameters such as dark count rate, single-photon detection probability at 1,310 nm, timing jitter, after-pulsing characteristic time and after-pulsing probability are, respectively, measured as 19 kHz µm−2, 12%, 188 ps, ~90 ns and <1%, with a low breakdown voltage of 10.26 V and a small excess bias of 0.75 V. Three-dimensional point-cloud images are captured with direct time-of-flight technique as proof of concept. This work paves the way towards using single-photon-sensitive SWIR sensors, imagers and photonic integrated circuits in everyday life.


Monday, March 18, 2024

Nikon to acquire RED.com

From Nikon newsroom: https://www.nikon.com/company/news/2024/0307_01.html

Nikon to Acquire US Cinema Camera Manufacturer RED.com, LLC

March 7, 2024

TOKYO - Nikon Corporation (Nikon) hereby announces its entry into an agreement to acquire 100% of the outstanding membership interests of RED.com, LLC (RED) whereby RED will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Nikon, pursuant to a Membership Interest Purchase Agreement with Mr. James Jannard, its founder, and Mr. Jarred Land, its current President, subject to the satisfaction of certain closing conditions thereunder.

Since its establishment in 2005, RED has been at the forefront of digital cinema cameras, introducing industry-defining products such as the original RED ONE 4K to the cutting-edge V-RAPTOR [X] with its proprietary RAW compression technology. RED's contributions to the film industry have not only earned it an Academy Award but have also made it the camera of choice for numerous Hollywood productions, celebrated by directors and cinematographers worldwide for its commitment to innovation and image quality optimized for the highest levels of filmmaking and video production.

This agreement was reached as a result of the mutual desires of Nikon and RED to meet the customers’ needs and offer exceptional user experiences that exceed expectations, merging the strengths of both companies. Nikon's expertise in product development, exceptional reliability, and know-how in image processing, as well as optical technology and user interface along with RED’s knowledge in cinema cameras, including unique image compression technology and color science, will enable the development of distinctive products in the professional digital cinema camera market.

Nikon will leverage this acquisition to expand the fast-growing professional digital cinema camera market, building on both companies' business foundations and networks, promising an exciting future of product development that will continue to push the boundaries of what is possible in film and video production.

Sunday, March 17, 2024

Job Postings - Week of 17 March 2024

WeRide

Camera Sensor Engineer

San Jose, California, USA

Link

ISDI

Image Sensor Engineer

London, England, UK

Link

HRL Laboratories

Focal Plane Engineer

Camarillo, California, USA

Link

HRL Laboratories

Senior Infrared Detector Research Scientist

Camarillo, California, USA

Link

Paul Scherrer Institute

Postdoctoral Fellow in detector development

Villigen, Switzerland

Link

Kappa Optronics

Engineer for image sensor and camera technology

Göttingen, Germany

Link

Caeleste

Characterization Engineer

Mechelen, Belgium

Link

University of Amsterdam - NIKHEF

Postdoc position in ALICE and Detector R&D for Experimental Particle Physics

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Link

GE Healthcare

Detector Mechanical Engineer

Hino, Tokyo, Japan

Link