10171699Development of prototype colour routerClosedFast Start ResponseInnovate UKDigital cameras have become ubiquitous throughout the world, especially in smartphones. Most users are familiar with the fact that their cameras take worse pictures in low-light conditions, such as indoors and at night. Less well known, however, is the fact that a major reason for this degradation stems from the component that converts monochrome images into colour. This component, called the Bayer filter, consists of an array of colour filters which operate by blocking light of the 'wrong' colour. Red filters, for example, only allow red light to pass through while absorbing blue and green light. The filter array results in a pattern of red, green, and blue pixels on the image sensor, but since each filter permits only light of a single colour, two-thirds of all incoming light is lost. With the sensor receiving less information, images in low-light conditions appear noisy and lack contrast. Increasing exposure time can capture more light, but this creates motion blur for moving subjects. Despite rapid advancements in the semiconductor technology underlying image sensors, the Bayer filter has remained fundamentally unchanged since its invention in the 1970s. As such, replacement technology is needed to advance photography to the next level. This project will develop a 'colour router' to replace the Bayer filter in cameras. Instead of blocking light of the 'wrong' colour, as in the filter approach, the router is designed such that different colours of light are directed to the correct locations on the image sensor. This means that almost the entirety of the light entering the camera will reach the sensor, i.e., three times as much compared to current cameras. The result will be photos and video that appear brighter, clearer, and more detailed, particularly when lighting conditions are poor. This will especially benefit cameras with small sensors, such as the selfie camera in smartphones. The colour router will be manufactured using advanced precision manufacturing techniques, based on cutting-edge research spun out of Imperial College London. A prototype router will first be constructed sufficient to cover a high-resolution image sensor, similar to those found in smartphones. This will demonstrate feasibility of the method and lead on the next stage, which will focus on performance improvements and scaling up of production for mass manufacturing.