Researchers Developing Single-Pixel Camera

Assassin bug writes "According to the BBC, researchers in the US are developing a single-pixel camera to capture high-quality images without the 'expense' of traditional digital photography. The idea behind such a device is that traditional digital photography is wasteful. Most of the information taken in by the camera is thrown away in the compression process. From the article: 'The digital micromirror device, as it is known, consists of a million or more tiny mirrors each the size of a bacterium. "From that mirror array, we then focus the light through a second lens on to one single photo-detector - a single pixel." As the light passes through the device, the millions of tiny mirrors are turned on and off at random in rapid succession. Complex mathematics then interprets the signals assembling a high resolution image from the thousands of sequential single-pixel snapshots. '"

Comments

Yes, it's a dupe.

[Anonymous Coward]

A Single Pixel Camera
Posted by CowboyNeal on 10-20-06 12:44 AM
from the high-tech-pointilism dept.

From the FAQ:

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Not just for cameras

[k4_pacific]

In related news, a major roofing manufacturer has announced the "single shingle" roof. It consists of a small plate that is quickly moved about above a building during a rainstorm to block each individual raindrop. This eliminates the "complexity" of asphalt shingles.

Murphy's Law

[Anonymous Coward]

Bet it'd suck to have a bad pixel with that camera, huh? :-)

Comment removed

[account_deleted]

Comment removed based on user account deletion

RAW format anyone?

[Anonymous Coward]

> Most of the information taken in by the camera is thrown away in the compression process.

Doesn't the RAW format take care of this?

Re:RAW format anyone?

[Pieroxy]

There is always a catch, however. Let's take an example of a 1MP camera, taking a picture at 1/100th of a second. Each CCD can acquire light for a full 1/100th of a second. But each one is small and as such, not very sensitive.

Let's say this new 1 pixel camera is set-up to take a picture of 1MP at 1/100th of a second. Each one of the 1M mirrors will reflect its light on the CCD for ... (1/100)/1000000 th of a second, because only one pixel (of the final image) can be recorded at a time. So yes, the new sensor will be more sensitive. And it better be ! 1 000 000 times to be correct (for 1MP pictures.)

I used it for my holiday snaps

[Timesprout]

This is me skydiving
.

This is me swimming with dolphins
.

This is me at the grand canyon
.

Re:I used it for my holiday snaps

[Anonymous Coward]

This is me having sex with my wife (NSFW)

.

Re:I used it for my holiday snaps

[MindStalker]

Dude, you should link stuff like that and no post directly.. I really didn't want to see your ugly whale of a wife..

Re:complex mathematics?

[Jerf]

It's a little clue for those "in the know" that the described benefits are entirely imaginary.

mod parent down!

[Achoi77]

freakin goatse trolls!