Harvest Imaging and Image Engineering signed a cooperation contract to develop a new software tool which simulates CMOS and CCD Image Sensors. "This tool will be a milestone for manufacturers and system integrators to specify the best sensors for different applications", so Dietmar Wueller, CEO and CTO of Image Engineering.

The characteristic sensor data like imager geometry, quantum efficiency, dark current, temperature etc. is entered into the simulation. A virtual sensor with these characteristics is created and exposed to virtual photons generating an image captured with that sensor. This kind of simulation generates real images that provide visual information about the impact of specific parameters on the final image quality. Until now selecting a sensor for an application was based on the experience of the system integrator to interpret the technical specs of a sensor. "With the new tool this experience can be converted into images without even having the sensor," explains Albert Theuwissen, CEO of Harvest Imaging.

Both cooperating companies are confident that an application like this leads to a standardized set of technical specs for all sensors on the market and will both strengthen their efforts to get in this direction.

The new sensor simulation software tool will be available within the next 12 month and sold through Image Engineering and its worldwide reseller network.