'Quantum Dots' to improve mobile camera quality

Semiconductors with unique light-capture properties - called quantum dots - have been developed by a company based in California. InVisage has unveiled QuantumFilm after years of research and hopes to have the technology in mobile phone cameras as early as the summer of 2011.

Each quantum dot is so tiny that up to three times the number pixels can be squeezed into the equivalent space of current sensors. This new technology also offers better performance in low-light conditions. The first application of QuantumFilm will enable a high pixel count and high performance in tiny form factors; solving silicon's inherent performance-resolution tradeoff.

In contrast, silicon sensors are known to be inefficient at capturing light because the connections that make up the sensor can actually block light that it is supposed to be recording.

"It is becoming increasingly difficult and expensive to develop next-generation image sensors using silicon; essentially, silicon has hit a wall," said Jess Lee, the company's chief executive.

"The fundamental problem is that silicon cannot capture light efficiently, but until now it has been the only option."

InVisage claim QuantumFilm has up to 4x better performance than silicon:

"Today’s image sensors are flawed. And this flaw forces camera users to choose between the convenience of a mobile phone or portable camera and the quality images captured by a large camera. This compromise is required because the current pixel technology is extremely inefficient. The standard silicon pixel will lose 50% of the incoming light to metal lines or transistors blocking the silicon below, commonly called the fill factor. And of the light that does make it through, the silicon itself is only able to convert about 50% of the photons to electrons.This conversion, known as quantum efficiency, cannot be changed. In total, only about 25% of the light that hits the pixel is being converted to an actual image by your camera." a statement reads on their website.



Current DLSRs and "compact cameras" are still too bulky - at least the ones that produce photos suitable for publishing - with the exception of the Leica's latest M8 (but how much is that?). Cool Photo is really looking forward to getting its hands on the first batch of mobile phone cameras that utilise this technology giving everyone the opportunity to produce high resolution photographs without having to carry an SLR everywhere.

For more information on the technology you can visit their website here.