Siliconfile, Dual Aperture to dev't distance tracking sensor

South Korean CMOS image sensor developer Siliconfile Technologies recently joined forces with Dual Aperture to build an image sensor capable of capturing real-time distance information and also takes pictures at the same time.

Start-up Dual Aperture has developed a four-colour sensor that includes, red, green, blue and infra-red pixels, instead of the traditional GRGB Bayer filter pattern. The sensor uses two separate apertures, one for the RGB spectrum and the other for the IR spectrum, to simultaneously capture two distinct images with different sharpness levels.

The ability to do this on a single image sensor, as opposed to dual sensors typically used for 3D image capture, would be a boon to gesture recognition systems, the companies said.

Under the terms of the agreement, Dual Aperture will license the technology to Siliconfile will then include the technology, together with related image processing algorithms and application software, into sensors and sensor modules.

Such sensors will be able to both capture and reconstruct a conventional colour image but also provide real-time depth information. The depth information can be used to support refocusing of lens systems and also support the preparation of 3D image pairs for stereoscopy and for gesture tracking.

"Dual Aperture's technology will enable new dimensions in photography with a multipurpose camera that uses a low cost, low power, single CMOS image sensor," said Do Young Lee, CEO of Siliconfile Technologies, in a statement.

"Because of its small form factor and low power usage, Dual Aperture's 4-colour sensor technology can be used in a variety of consumer devices, including smart phones, tablets, PCs, TVs and automobile applications," said David Lee, CEO of Dual Aperture.