Planet82 SMPD Image Sensor to Spell the End of Flash?

Planet82 Press Release

Planet82 Demonstrates World’s First Image Sensor That Takes Digital Pictures in the Dark, Without a Flash - First Nanotechnology-Based Image Sensor Debuts in the United States at CES

LAS VEGAS, NV—(MARKET WIRE)—01/05/2006—Planet82 Inc., a global leader of nanotechnology, announced today the first U.S. demonstration of its innovative and highly sensitive image sensor, Single Carrier Modulation Photo Detector (SMPD), which uses nanotechnology to enable cameras to take high resolution photos or video in the dark—without a flash.

The world’s first chip of its kind, Planet82’s SMPD image sensor is 2,000 times more sensitive to light than other image sensors. Until now, taking a picture in the dark without a flash or taking a picture of a candle-lit birthday cake without any other light in the room would yield a dark photograph. Planet82 makes it possible to take clear images even when the light level is less than 1 lux (or up to 0.1 lux). One lux is equivalent to the brightness from one candle one meter away in a dark room. Human eyes can barely distinguish images at less than 1 lux.

"Planet82’s SMPD image sensor will change how professional and amateur photographers and videographers capture images and video,” said Dr. Hoon Kim, Ph.D., and chief technology officer for Planet82 and director of the Nano Scale Quantum Devices Research Center at the Korea Electronics Technology Institute (KETI). “We’re thrilled to bring our technology to the United States, and show how effective it truly is at taking pictures and video without any light.”

Current image sensors generally need hundreds of thousands of photons to perceive light. Planet82’s SMPD image sensor is designed to perceive light using only a handful of photons. To make this possible, Planet82 applied the principles of quantum mechanics to produce thousands of electrons out of one photon. It also minimized the aperture ratio and increased the number of pixels per unit density on the chip—boasting low unit production cost and power consumption.

Planet82’s SMPD image sensor can be mass-produced using standard CMOS process without additional investment for facilities. It is half the size of the current CCD image sensor used in digital cameras and closed circuit television cameras (CCTVs), and CMOS image sensors used in camera phones. Additionally, digital cameras and camera phones have low sensitivity to dim light, therefore making it difficult to take a picture in the dark without a flash. As the market for these devices continues to grow exponentially, so too will the market for image sensors. iSuppli estimates that the global image sensor market will reach $9.4 billion by 2008.

Planet82 expects SMPD image sensor will firstly be available in CCTVs, camera phones and vehicle rear-view sensors in Q1/Q2 2006. The SMPD technology also makes it ideally suited for applications in healthcare, the military, environmental industries and more, as well as electrical appliances such as digital cameras or camcorders.

About Planet82
Headquartered in Seoul, Korea, Planet82 is a global leader of nanotechnology. In 2003, Planet82 acquired the patent and intellectual property rights to mass produce nano photodiode and nano biotechnology services from the Korea Electronics Technology Institute (KETI). Today, Planet82 leads the development of the world’s first Single Carrier Modulation Photo Detector image sensor (SMPD) image sensor, enabling cameras to take high resolution photos or video in the dark—without a flash. Planet82 is listed on KOSDAQ.

Published: Thursday, January 12, 2006

Reader Comments

1. The fact that they are starting in the small sensor market, i.e., CCTVs,
   camera phones, and vehicle rear-view sensors, where noise is not so
   critical, tells me that they still need to get the costs down to go into the
   digital camera and camcorder market where the larger sensors will be
   needed to get a respectable signal-to-noise ratio. Still, it is nice to see
   CMOS technology being put to good use.

   GARY POGODA at 04:55pm on Thursday, January 12, 2006

2. I hope that my suspicions that manufacturers intentionally keep us a a certain level of picture quality isn't true. This new technology will affect all aspects of imagery! Maybe this announcement was the reason that Nikon announced today that it will no longer produce film cameras!! The CMOS possibility in compact cameras is the subject that, probably, is MOST attractive to us, we all want a real small/thin compacts that will produce grainless/ noiseless images, the trouble being evident is that IF we can make Superior images with consumer compacts, how will that affect the SLR field, will it then take a place along- side the digital Hasselblads? Will Pros be doing there shoots with IXY sized cameras? I think it's logical to assume this!!
   A compact digital camera without aperture restrictions: with APO lens development and IS perfections, and mostly noiseless, CMOS sensors....SUPER images are almost there! Exciting stuff! WOW!!!

   nick in japan at 03:02am on Friday, January 13, 2006

3. I think you are right about pros shooting with compact digicams, but
   only to supplement their DSLRs (e.g., using the compact rather than
   switching lenses). We still have a long way to go until it becomes an
   option for pros to give up DSLRs completely, especially since further
   advances in DSLR technology will always keep them one step ahead.

   GARY POGODA at 11:20am on Friday, January 13, 2006

4. We are interested in your nano technology photosensor products.we are from india We need English speaking contacts so that we can speak to you

   Raghavendra at 03:55am on Friday, May 18, 2007