First image from Sony's curved, eye-mimicking camera sensor surfaces

posted by Victor H. / Jul 08, 2014, 2:47 AM

First image from Sony's curved, eye-mimicking camera sensor surfaces

While all current camera technology relies on a flat sensor to capture light, Sony has now developed a CMOS sensor that is curved, mimicking the curvature of the human retina, and this is the historical first public image taken on it.

Sony brags about this new sensor having minimal vignetting and aberration in the corners, something that is often an issue with flat sensors. Good news is that the sensor is fully ready for mass production.

“The first idea was to mimic the eyes of the organism,” Sony Device Manager Yarn Soichiro said about the new sensor.

Sony uses a complex process using a custom “bending machine” to flex the sensor and manufacture the human retina-grade curvature sensor that is also fortified with a ceramic coating after it’s flexed.

At the moment, Sony is ready to produce a full frame sensor for digital cameras, and a smaller one, the size of the one in the Sony Xperia Z smartphones (1/2.3”) for mobile devices like smartphones.

source: Sony Alpha Rumors

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20 Comments

1. Iodine

Posts: 1481; Member since: Jun 19, 2014

Huge bulge.

posted on Jul 08, 2014, 2:52 AM 0

2. irfanil

Posts: 33; Member since: Mar 14, 2013

Think, this will make the module much thinner as it requires one lens instead of 5.

posted on Jul 08, 2014, 3:03 AM 12

16. reckless562

Posts: 1153; Member since: Sep 09, 2013

i Think......the should SHUT UP AND TAKE MY MONEY!!!!! this makes perfect sense to do.....things like this, and the playstation, are why i love Sony

posted on Jul 08, 2014, 6:56 PM 1

7. ikenvape

Posts: 308; Member since: May 28, 2014

Twss sorry just had too

posted on Jul 08, 2014, 4:03 AM 1

15. reckless562

.....thats what She said

posted on Jul 08, 2014, 6:54 PM 0

3. mayur007

Posts: 593; Member since: Apr 10, 2012

If in sonys phone still will capture avg pic Because of sonys software

posted on Jul 08, 2014, 3:07 AM 4

4. ArtSim98

Posts: 3535; Member since: Dec 21, 2012

Didn't they hire a new software engineer to develop a new image processing algorithm?

posted on Jul 08, 2014, 3:15 AM 4

6. spiderpig2894

Posts: 597; Member since: Jan 10, 2012

They are about to hire. Not hired one already.

posted on Jul 08, 2014, 3:53 AM 2

17. reckless562

thank god, All the tech and sensor quality in the world, only to have some Crappy Fruit Company write better softwear for them.......i REALLY HOPE that Sony steals one of their guys...... for reals man...

posted on Jul 08, 2014, 6:59 PM 0

5. Freelist86

Posts: 37; Member since: Jun 10, 2014

on Z3 please!

posted on Jul 08, 2014, 3:29 AM 3

18. reckless562

yes!! plz!!!

8. express77 unregistered

Innovative.

posted on Jul 08, 2014, 4:14 AM 6

19. reckless562

TRUE innovation!!!! GO HOME IPHONE!!!!! Fing liars

posted on Jul 08, 2014, 7:01 PM 1

9. XaErO

Posts: 353; Member since: Sep 25, 2012

Photo looks promising .. but slightly extra blurred (on non-focused areas) !!

posted on Jul 08, 2014, 5:03 AM 0

10. bugsbunny00

Posts: 2264; Member since: Jun 07, 2013

what!..so this censor do what again?

posted on Jul 08, 2014, 5:04 AM 0

11. rency0722

Posts: 158; Member since: Jun 12, 2013

Wrong. Not 1/2.3-type. They are working for 2/3-type, the same size of the sensor found in Lumia 1020.

posted on Jul 08, 2014, 6:29 AM 0

12. TGreg104

Posts: 38; Member since: Jun 14, 2011

coming from a digital film background, I am extremely excited and intrigued by this. That "blur" that XaErO mentioned, is on purpose; the blur is called bokeh, or selective focusing. To achieve this look, the sensor must be able to catch as much light as possible (Full Frame (most bokeh)>Super 35>Super 16, etc). I'm honestly more curious as to what a full frame version of this sensor is capable of, it may close the gap on using physical film when shooting movies. +1 for sony.