Rambus Readies Lensless Image Sensor Platform
LONDON — Intellectual property licensor Rambus is going to provide a "platform" for the maker community and others to use to experiment with its previously announced lensless image sensors, according to CEO Ron Black.
Rambus is developing a lensless form of image sensor that replaces the lens with a diffraction grating and computation. Image sensors for smart objects don't necessarily need to see the world the same way, or in as much detail, as humans. They can use lower cost, lower energy image sensors and a little computation.
Black told financial analysts during a conference call the discuss the company's 4Q14 and full year financial results that since announcing the development (see Rambus develops lensless image sensor for IoT) the company has been inundated with interest from all segments of the industry ranging across medical, automotive, industrial and consumer.
The use of gratings and computation can provide a non-bulky optical sensor that can be added to many things as a means of providing contextual awareness.
"Many of the parties requested us to provide a platform for the industry at large and especially the maker community in which to innovate. At the risk of leaking too much, we will be launching such a platform at this year's MWC [Mobile World Congress] and hope to generate even more interest and more importantly some commercial relationships for the Lensless Smart Sensor this year and next," said Black.