A few months ago I've wrote an article which talks about the day that Canon will come up with a 3-layer sensor. As a Photographer and tech geek I just couldn't deny the possibility that this day will eventually come. Today I went to CanonRumors.com to see if there are some news regarding Canon's DSLR cameras. I found a very interesting article about a Canon 3 Layer sensor patent.
According to the article and the pending patent, Canon is working on a 3 layer sensor design. Canon already filled this patent (No. 2011-129785) in 12.18.2009 and the patent was released to public view at 6.30.2011. We are talking about a back-illuminated (BSI) sensor that can capture all colors, the same Foveon does. The article and the image doesn't say much about the technology.
If this patent will manage to become a final product, Sigma will certainly have tough times competing against Canon. So right now we are left with a patent publication and an image that looks like a Foveon type sensor.
BTW, Canon patent is not the only 3 layer sensor patent who surfaced to the media, you can find a Sigma Foveon- like sensor patent by Panasonic on 43rumors.com, FufiFilm and even Toshiba.
It's worth mentioning that Canon, Toshiba and FujiFilm can't use the same implementation/technology because their patent will be rejected.
What do you think about the new patent? - Do you have any information other than the one on CanonRumros.com about this patent?
source: CanonRumors.com
One immediate reaction is that the Foveon patent must have been very poorly drafted. Normally a patent is designed to claim a large enough space around the core idea that such obviously similar structures would be covered.
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