Eyeo Emerges From Stealth With Human-Like Color Vision for Cameras
▼ Summary
– Dutch startup Eyeo raised €15mn to advance its photonics-based camera technology, which triples light sensitivity compared to current image sensors.
– Eyeo’s waveguide color-splitting technology captures brighter, clearer images in low light and mimics human eye color fidelity without using traditional color filters.
– The technology eliminates light-blocking filters, allowing for smaller pixels and higher-resolution cameras in devices like smartphones, VR headsets, and drones.
– Eyeo aims to commercialize its sensors, with plans to deliver evaluation kits to customers in two years and improve current designs using fresh funding.
– The funding round was co-led by Imec.xpand and Invest-NL, with participation from QBIC, HTGF, and BOM, targeting applications in ultra-compact and high-performance imaging.
Dutch startup Eyeo has secured €15 million in funding to commercialize its revolutionary camera sensor technology, promising to transform how devices capture images with unprecedented color accuracy and light sensitivity. Emerging from stealth mode, the company aims to address long-standing limitations in digital imaging through an innovative approach that mimics human vision more closely than ever before.
Born out of Belgium’s renowned nanoelectronics research center Imec, Eyeo has developed a proprietary waveguide-based color-splitting system that fundamentally changes how cameras process light. Unlike conventional sensors that rely on color filters—which waste over 70% of incoming light—Eyeo’s design uses microscopic structures to precisely guide different wavelengths to their respective pixels. This breakthrough not only preserves nearly all available light but also enables pixel sizes smaller than half a micron, pushing the boundaries of resolution and compactness.
The implications for consumer and professional imaging are substantial. Smartphones could achieve DSLR-quality photos in low-light conditions, while AR/VR headsets might shrink in size without sacrificing visual fidelity. Security systems and drone cameras would benefit from crisper footage with truer colors, even in challenging environments. According to CEO Jeroen Hoet, the technology establishes “a new standard for the future of imaging” by overcoming compromises that have persisted for decades.
What sets Eyeo apart is its biologically inspired approach to color reproduction. Traditional Bayer filter arrays approximate human vision by interpolating color data from adjacent pixels, often resulting in artifacts or inaccurate hues. In contrast, Eyeo’s waveguide architecture captures each color channel directly, mirroring the eye’s natural response to different wavelengths. The result is lifelike imagery with minimal noise, particularly valuable for applications like medical imaging or cinematography where color precision matters.
Beyond superior image quality, the technology offers practical manufacturing advantages. Smaller pixels mean sensors can pack higher resolution into existing form factors, potentially reducing production costs for device makers. Early partnerships with major sensor manufacturers suggest the industry recognizes this potential, with evaluation kits expected to reach customers within two years. The recent funding round, led by Imec.xpand and Invest-NL with participation from QBIC, HTGF, and BOM, will accelerate these commercialization efforts.
As the line between human and machine perception blurs, Eyeo’s innovation arrives at a pivotal moment. From augmented reality to autonomous vehicles, advanced imaging capabilities are becoming the backbone of next-generation technologies. By rethinking something as fundamental as how cameras see color, this Dutch startup might just redefine what’s possible across countless devices—all while making them smaller, sharper, and more true to life.
(Source: The Next Web)
