Eyeo is developing consumer, industrial, XR and security imaging applications that will drastically increase the light sensitivity of image sensors - unlocking picture quality, colour accuracy, resolution, and cost efficiency.
The €15 million raised will be used to drive evaluation kit development, prepare for scale manufacturing of a first sensor product, and expand commercial partnerships to bring this imaging technology to market.
For many years image sensors have relied on the application of red, green, and blue colour filters on pixels to make pictures or video. Colour filters, however, block a large portion of the incoming light, and can limit the sensitivity of the camera. Furthermore, they limit the scaling of the pixel size below ~0.5 micron.
These longstanding issues have stalled advancements in camera technology, constraining both image quality and sensor efficiency.
In smartphone cameras, for example manufacturers have compensated for this limitation by increasing the sensor -and camera- size, to capture more light. While this improves low-light performance, it also leads 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 has developed an image sensor architecture that eliminates the need for traditional colour filters, making it possible to maximise sensitivity without increasing sensor size.
It had done this by leveraging breakthrough vertical waveguide-based technology that splits light into colours and has developed sensors that efficiently capture and utilise 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.
Additionally, unlike traditional filters that block certain colours (information that is then interpolated through software processing), eyeo’s waveguide technology allows pixels to receive complete colour data.
This approach instantly doubles resolution, delivering sharper, more detailed images for applications that demand precision, such as computational photography, machine vision, and spatial computing.
Commenting Jeroen Hoet, CEO of eyeo, said, “Eyeo is fundamentally redefining image sensing by eliminating decades-old limitations. Capturing all incoming light and drastically improving resolution is just the start - this technology paves the way for entirely new applications in imaging, from ultra-compact sensors to enhanced low-light performance, ultra-high resolution, and maximum image quality. We’re not just improving existing systems; we’re creating a new standard for the future of imaging.”
Eyeo has already established partnerships with leading image sensor manufacturers and foundries to ensure the successful commercialisation of its technology.
The company said that the seed funding will be used to improve its current camera sensor designs further, optimising the waveguide technology for production scalability and accelerating the development of prototypes for evaluation.
By working closely with industry leaders, 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 colour cameras.
The first evaluation kits are expected to be available for selected customers within the next two years.
Eyeo is headquartered in Eindhoven (NL), with an R&D office in Leuven (BE).
