Shrinking Pixels and Growing Sensors: Two Approaches for Increasing Resolution

The drive for continuous innovation in machine vision results in a constantly increasing demand for higher resolution. Sensor manufacturers can take two main approaches to meeting this demand: They can either shrink pixels or increase sensor size. Both options come with tradeoffs not just in terms of sensor performance, but for the imaging optics used with them. Because of fundamental limitations in the pixel size that can be successfully utilized with traditional imaging optics, the sizes of the sensor and mounting interface must increase to accommodate demands for higher resolution. Greg Hollows goes into the meaning of this trend for lenses, the challenges the trend introduces for builders of machine vision systems, and solutions for getting the most out of sensors and lenses.

About the presenter
Greg Hollows is vice president of the Imaging Business Unit in Edmund Optics' Barrington, N.J. He is responsible for everything pertaining to vision and imaging, including business plans, strategy, and product marketing, as well as the overall growth in imaging optics sales. He currently serves as a board member of AIA and was a past AIA chairman. He has bachelor degrees in physics and chemistry from Rutgers University, located in New Brunswick, N.J.