Your camera phone might just become your camera. Kodak has created a new camera chip that would be the world’s first 1.4 micron, 5 megapixel camera chip. What does that mean, exactly? It means the next time you take a picture of your lover in various manners of undress, it won’t look like pixels vomited all over their body.
Which is generally a good thing.
The technology could be incorporated into mobile phones and other, smaller gadgetry as early as next winter, says Kodak. The KAC-05020 Image Sensor has at least double the sensitivity to light than current devices, the images are far crisper and moving images are actually, well, more or less clear.
Part of the move is an attempt by Kodak to earn some money from its vast portfolio of imaging patents. The company will earn $1.4 billion in patent-licensing royalties by 2011 — proving that good ideas are just as profitable as actually making those ideas.
Samples of the new sensor are expected this Spring and then, if all goes smoothly, you may see camera phones get them in a year’s time.
Check out Kodak’s Image Sensor site to see more of their wares.
