Wavelength-Detecting Sensor Eliminates Bayer Filter, Triples Resolution

From LensRentals Blog:

Using Energy to Detect Color

I [Roger Cicala] was able to talk with Dr. Eno Lirpa, one of the optical physicists on the Baceolus team, about their new sensors.

“When looked at from a physics point of view, current sensor technology is just a foolish design”, Lirpa says. “You give away so much resolution just to detect color. It’s just not necessary. Every photon already carries a color message.”

Every first-year physics student learns the simple formula E = hc/ ? where E equals photon energy and ? it’s wavelength. If you know a photon’s energy it’s simple to calculate wavelength and therefore determine the photon’s color.

For example, blue light, with a wavelength of 400nm has an energy of 3 electron volts per photon, while 700nm wavelength red light has an energy level of 1.77 electron volts, and green light 2.43.

“It’s a fairly simple engineering matter to measure a photon’s energy as it strikes the camera sensor, but everyone has been so focused on cramming more megapixels onto the chip,” Lirpa continues. “There hasn’t been much interest in adding additional technologies to the chip.”

There is no Bayer array over a Baceolus sensor. Other manufacturers have used new back-illuminated sensor technology to move the wiring behind the actual photosensor, rather than in front of the sensor.

Baceolus goes one step further. They’ve taken advantage of a back illuminated sensor to place energy sensing circuitry in front of each photo well. A simple calculation converts energy level to wavelength, determining that photon’s color

Read the entire fascinating article on the LensRentals Blog.