Non Planar Sensors?

Nikolai

From what I understand, a non-planar (say, spherical) sensor shape may drastically improve (=cheapen) lens design. Any rumors of somebody making an effort manifacturing something like this? :scratch
That, and already existent electronically controlled variable curvature lenses would pretty much give us an "artificial eye", i.e. a cheap, small form factor camera with an extremely wide range of capabilities and applications...
Thoughts, tidbits?

ziggy53

The little I know about sensor manufacture would indicate that it is difficult enough producing masks on a flat substrate, so that a curved substrate of any quality is currently impossible. I would suspect another decade or so would be required to achieve the sort of manufacturing capabilities required.

Nikolai

Thanks Ziggy!
I guess I want too much

thoth

I recently read this article about spherical sensors. Perhaps it's not as far away as we think?

Nikolai

thoth wrote:

I recently read this article about spherical sensors. Perhaps it's not as far away as we think?

L_F_L

thoth wrote:

.. this article about spherical sensors. Perhaps it's not as far away as we think?

The camera's resolution is 256 pixels. At the moment, it's difficult to improve resolution due to the limitations of the fabrication facilities

It might be years to get to the MP levels of today's planar sensors.

thoth

L_F_L wrote:

It might be years to get to the MP levels of today's planar sensors.

I absolutely expect it will be. The long wait is for the science to materialize. Once that's happened there's always a mad rush to be the first to develop a vaible method of manufactuering. I expect a few years isn't an unreasonable timeframe to see the first several-megapixel planar sensors hitting the market.

Richard

I expect that we'll see more "biologically" modeled imaging technology in the future, but I would hope to see improved dynamic range first.