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Posts Tagged ‘sensor’

Did you ever think that you'd see a CMOS sensor measuring 202 x 205 mm? That's 7.95 x 8.07 inches to our fine imperial friends. Its impressive size -- about 40 times more massive than Canon's largest commercial CMOS sensor -- translates to staggering light-gathering capabilities, capturing images in one one-hundredth the amount of light required by a professional DSLR. Superior yet, the sensor is matched by new circuitry allowing for video capture at 60fps in just 0.3 lux of illumination (think full moon on a clear night). Unfortunately, the press release is more concerned with promoting Canon's engineering prowess than with product launch. Nevertheless, we are impressed.

Continue reading Canon develops world's largest CMOS sensor, shoots 60fps video in moonlight

Canon develops world's largest CMOS sensor, shoots 60fps video in moonlight originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 31 Aug 2010 05:07:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Oh sure, household names like Pentax are already producing cameras with 40 megapixel sensors, and we've seen quite a few gigapixel images crafted with a pinch of black magic, but Canon's newest innovation may take the mainstream megapixel race to its next logical level. Or should we say... illogical level. There's no two ways about it -- just trying to comprehend an APS-H-sized CMOS sensor with 120 megapixels is downright painful, and we're inclined to believe the company's claim that it's the world's highest resolution for its size. This new concoction has a pixel count of around 7.5 times larger than the company's highest-resolution commercial CMOS sensor of the same size (which is pegged at 16.1 megapixels), yet it still supports burst shooting of up to 9.5fps. Furthermore, it's fully capable of capturing 1080p video, but the one detail we're all eager to ingest isn't listed. For now, though, the plan is to let you know about the first camera to ship with it inside at Photokina 2030.

Continue reading Canon proudly intros 120 megapixel CMOS sensor, probably won't hit a DSLR in your lifetime

Canon proudly intros 120 megapixel CMOS sensor, probably won't hit a DSLR in your lifetime originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Aug 2010 06:28:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Continue reading GE lands $6.3 million DARPA grant to develop 'bio-inspired' sensors

GE lands $6.3 million DARPA grant to develop 'bio-inspired' sensors originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 12 Aug 2010 21:03:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Micro electromechanical systems, or MEMS, aren't anything new. But Purdue University's Jason Vaughn Clark has ideas that are far grander than those we've seen already. Mr. Clark has purportedly developed a new take on an old spin, with electro micro metrology (EMM) enabling engineers to "account for process variations by determining the precise movement and force that's being applied to, or sensed by, a MEMS device." These self-calibrating machines are the first to do so without any external references, which would allow nanotechnologists, crime forensics researchers and a whole host of others to determine what actually happens at a microscopic level. In theory, the gurus working on this stuff long to improve the accuracy of atomic force microscopes and to eventually create a diminutive AFM-on-a-chip, which -- according to Clark -- could "open the door to the nanoworld to a much larger number of groups or individuals." We're waiting.

Purdue's 'self-calibrating' MEMS could produce the most accurate sensors yet originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 12 Aug 2010 11:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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San Francisco rolls out new smart parking meters with 'demand-responsive pricing' originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 07 Aug 2010 10:10:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Science has been figuring out ways to sidestep those dreaded finger pricks for years now, but it's not often that we hear of such a permanent solution as this. A crew of researchers from The University of Tokyo and BEANS Research Institute are in the process of developing a newfangled blood sugar sensor that "reacts to glucose and lights up inside the body." 'Course, injecting dyes into humans in order to receive interpretable signals ain't exactly new, but hydrogel is what makes this approach unique. As the story goes, this jelly-esque material can be implanted within the body, enabling blood sugar levels to be monitored and measured externally with no pain or irritation whatsoever. In theory, a monitoring system could trigger an alert as soon as the internal levels dipped or rose beyond a predetermined extreme, giving those with diabetes a maximum amount of time to get things back in balance. There's nary a mention of when this goo will be green-lit by the FDA, but there's definitely a video explaining everything just past the break.

Continue reading Implantable blood sugar sensor could eliminate daily finger pricks

Implantable blood sugar sensor could eliminate daily finger pricks originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 07 Aug 2010 06:53:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Well, well -- what have we here? We already knew that Microsoft was planning to ship a 4GB Xbox 360 bundle that included Kinect, and now it seems as if the Big M will also package its forthcoming motion sensor with the 250GB 'box. Based on the packaging of a 4GB bundle over in Australia, it definitely looks as if consumers will have a more capacious option if buying an Xbox 360 for the first time with Kinect, but we're all waiting with bated breath to hear the official confirmation (or denial, but mostly just confirmation) from Ballmer's crew. Anytime now, folks....

250GB Xbox 360 Kinect bundle tipped on 4GB packaging originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 06 Aug 2010 19:49:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Not like it matters much now -- after all, Project Natal has had time to incubate and come out as Kinect -- but those wondering about the inner workings of the motion sensing system now have more one outlet to investigate. A patent application filed on February 23, 2009 was just made public today, describing a "gesture keyboarding" scenario where users can make gestures that are caught by a "depth camera" and then converted into in-game controls. Of course, those paying close attention could've read between the lines when we toyed with a camouflaged PrimeSense demo at GDC, but here's the fully skinny in black and white. And a bit of blue, if you count the buttons. Give that source link a tap once you're settled in.

Microsoft's Kinect patent application goes public, reveals gobs of fine print originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 05 Aug 2010 19:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nearly three years to the day after its original introduction, Razer's Lachesis (also known as a sniper's best friend) is seeing its first major upgrade. The most significant of which is the 3.5G Precision sensor, which bumps the dpi from 4,000 (previously) to 5,600 (now). For the eye-candy lovers, there's also a functionally worthless customizable multi-color LED lighting system, but it's bound to extract a few oohs and aahs at your next LAN party. Other than the new threads and the enhanced eye, the critter is remaining the same as it ever was, but mama always said not to worry over reinventing the (scroll) wheel. Check it later this month for $79.99, and feel free to start scoping out an appropriate burial spot for your original.

Continue reading Razer Lachesis gets new 5600dpi sensor, customizable LEDs, new lease on life

Razer Lachesis gets new 5600dpi sensor, customizable LEDs, new lease on life originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 05 Aug 2010 07:10:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Powers That Be may think that they're pulling the wool over our eyes, but we can see the planned fate unfolding in front of us. Before long, our arms will be effectively useless -- after all, once you can game and navigate with just your face, why bother pumping iron and keeping those biceps toned? Over at Wireless Japan 2010, the Nakajima Laboratory at the University of Electro-Communications showcased a prototype that helps explain the latter. Dubbed a Wearable Personal Navigation System, this GPS-infused pair of glasses has integrated LEDs in the frame that wearers can see in their periphery; there's also a magnetic direction sensor, which detects the orientation of the user's head. Once you point your face in a given direction, the LEDs change color to let you know which way you need to head in order to walk, sprint or gallop to your destination. It's hard to tell how long we'll have to wait before we see these on Pearle Vision's Buy 1 Get 1 rack, but the video after the break ain't making it any easier to wait.

Continue reading Innocent glasses transform into GPS-equipped routing mechanism... on video!

Innocent glasses transform into GPS-equipped routing mechanism... on video! originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 05 Aug 2010 06:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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