Traditional image sensors rely on red, green, and blue color filters on pixels to create everyday color pictures or videos. These filters block a significant portion of incoming light, limiting camera sensitivity and preventing pixel scaling below ~0.5 micron. This longstanding issue has stalled advancements in camera technology, constraining both image quality and sensor efficiency. In smartphones, manufacturers have compensated by increasing sensor size, leading to larger, bulkier cameras. Compact, high-sensitivity image sensors are essential for slimmer smartphones and emerging applications such as robotics and AR/VR devices, where size, power efficiency, and image quality are crucial.

Eyeo introduces a novel image sensor architecture that eliminates the need for traditional color filters, maximizing sensitivity without increasing sensor size. Leveraging breakthrough vertical waveguide-based technology that splits light into colors, eyeo develops sensors that efficiently capture and utilize all incoming light, tripling sensitivity compared to existing technologies. This is particularly valuable in low-light environments, where current sensors struggle to gather enough light for clear, reliable imaging. Eyeo’s waveguide technology allows pixels to receive complete color data, instantly doubling resolution and delivering sharper, more detailed images for applications demanding precision, such as computational photography, machine vision, and spatial computing. Eyeo’s single photon guiding technology breaks resolution limits, enabling truly effective sub-0.5-micron pixels for ultra-compact, high-resolution imaging in XR, industrial, security, and mobile applications.

The advanced color-splitting technology used by eyeo originates from imec, a world-leading research and innovation hub in nanoelectronics and digital technologies. Founded in Eindhoven (Netherlands) with an R&D office in Leuven (Belgium), eyeo’s journey began with the vision to redefine image sensing by eliminating decades-old limitations. The founding team combines extensive industry knowledge with imec's cutting-edge expertise, paving the way for entirely new applications in imaging.

Looking ahead, eyeo aims to bring its advanced camera sensors to a wide range of applications, from smartphones and VR glasses to any compact device that uses color cameras. The €15 million seed funding will drive evaluation kit development, prepare for scale manufacturing of a first sensor product, and expand commercial partnerships to bring this breakthrough imaging technology to market. Eyeo has already established partnerships with leading image sensor manufacturers and foundries to ensure successful commercialization. The first evaluation kits are expected to be available for selected customers within the next two years.

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