This technology is a self-powered image sensor that both captures light and converts it into usable energy for continuous, untethered imaging.
Most imaging devices require an external power source for operation, either through direct power connection or on-board batteries, which limits their applicability to remote-sensing and low-power scenarios. As such, there is a need for an image sensor that harvests sufficient power from naturally-available, ambient sources to enable continuous, autonomous imaging in low-power settings.
This technology is an image sensor that both senses and generates power from incident light. The image sensor consists of an array of pixels, each with a photodiode that first captures and records incident light and then harvests the light energy to charge the sensor’s power supply. By harvesting light energy to power the image sensor, this technology can produce images and video indefinitely when operating in a well-lit environment. As such, this technology could facilitate continuous low-power imaging in emerging fields such as wearable imaging, sensor networks, and smart environments.
This technology has been successfully tested using off-the-shelf discrete components, as demonstrated in this online demo.
IR CU15174
Licensing Contact: Satish Rao
