FotoNation will demonstrate its new Dust Removal Technology at Photokina 2006 in Cologne, Germany, between 26 September and 1 October.

 

September 25, 2006: FotoNation will demonstrate its new Dust Removal Technology at Photokina 2006 in Cologne, Germany, between 26 September and 1 October.
The company, which is one of the world’s leading embedded imaging and connectivity developers, is already renowned for its in-camera red-eye correction system and face recognition software. It has now turned its attention to the elimination of dust, a major problem with digital SLR cameras and mobile phones. The FotoNation Dust Removal Technology completely and automatically removes dust from digital images and the company has been granted a US patent for its technology and has 10 additional patents pending in the US, Europe and Japan.
The technology uses in-camera software, which dynamically builds a map of every dust-speck and then tracks changes and movement of the dust particles to distinguish the dust from details in the photograph. It then automatically removes the blemished from the images in-camera. Optical modelling calculates how the appearance of dust specs on the sensor change based on the focal length, aperture and exit pupil of the camera’s lens. In addition, the software has built-in intelligence to determine when the situation calls for user intervention.
Dust is also a significant problem in the production of camera modules for mobile phones. Mobile phone camera modules typically consist of an image sensor hermetically sealed inside a plastic package with a lens and image processor. Dust contamination on the image sensor during assembly of the camera module is a costly source of reduced manufacturing yield. The FotoNation Dust Removal Technology can increase manufacturing yield and image quality for these products. Details can be found at www.fotonation.com.