Eric Fossum
Encyclopedia
Eric R. Fossum is an American physicist and engineer, inventor of the CMOS image sensor. He is currently a professor at Thayer School of Engineering
in Dartmouth College
.
and attended public school there. He also spent Saturdays at the Talcott Mountain Science Center
in Avon CT which he credits for his lifelong interest in science, engineering and mentoring students. He received his B.S. in physics and engineering from Trinity College
in 1979 and his Ph.D. in electrical engineering
from Yale University
in 1984.
from 1984 to 1990. At Columbia University, he and his students performed research on CCD
focal-plane image processing and high speed III-V CCDs. In 1990, Dr. Fossum joined the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology
and managed JPL’s image sensor and focal-plane technology research and advanced development.
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
, then-NASA Administrator Daniel Goldin
invoked a plan of "Faster, Better, Cheaper" for NASA Space Science missions. One of the instrument goals was to miniaturize charge-coupled device (CCD) camera systems onboard interplanetary spacecraft. In response, Fossum invented the CMOS Active pixel sensor
(APS) camera-on-a-chip technology. As part of Goldin's directive to transfer space technology to the public sector whenever possible, Fossum led the CMOS APS development and subsequent transfer of the technology to US industry, including Eastman Kodak
, AT&T Bell Labs
, National Semiconductor
and others. Despite initial skepticism by entrenched CCD manufacturers, the CMOS image sensor technology is now used in almost all cell-phone cameras
, many medical applications such as capsule endoscopy
and dental x-ray systems, scientific imaging, automotive safety systems, DSLR digital camera
s and many other applications.
Inc. acquired Photobit and Dr. Fossum was named a Senior Micron Fellow. He left Micron in 2003. In 2005, he joined SiWave Inc., a developer of MEMS technology for mobile phone
handsets, as CEO. SiWave was renamed Siimpel and grew substantially before his departure in 2007. Siimpel was later acquired by Tessera.
From 2008 to the present he has been a consultant with Samsung Electronics, Semiconductor R&D Center. He joined Dartmouth in 2010.
In 2007 he sponsored, in part, the Trinity College Fire-Fighting Robot Contest, aimed at increasing innovation and invention in the world of robotics.
In 1986 he founded the IEEE Workshop on CCDS, now known as the International Image Sensor Workshop. He is President of ImageSensors, Inc. A California Non-Profit Public Benefit Corporation that manages the workshop and an on-line library of technical papers.
He has received several prizes and honors. Some of those awards and honors are:
Thayer School of Engineering
Thayer School of Engineering is a graduate school at Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, United States, whose faculty also double as the undergraduate Department of Engineering Sciences. The school was established in 1867 with funds from Brig. Gen...
in Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College is a private, Ivy League university in Hanover, New Hampshire, United States. The institution comprises a liberal arts college, Dartmouth Medical School, Thayer School of Engineering, and the Tuck School of Business, as well as 19 graduate programs in the arts and sciences...
.
Early years and education
Fossum was born and raised in Simsbury, ConnecticutConnecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
and attended public school there. He also spent Saturdays at the Talcott Mountain Science Center
Talcott Mountain Science Center
Talcott Mountain Science Center for Student Involvement is a not-for-profit 501c corporation in Avon, Connecticut. It is dedicated to the improvement of science education and does so by working directly with students, teachers, and the general public.- History :TMSC was established in 1967 under...
in Avon CT which he credits for his lifelong interest in science, engineering and mentoring students. He received his B.S. in physics and engineering from Trinity College
Trinity College (Connecticut)
Trinity College is a private, liberal arts college in Hartford, Connecticut. Founded in 1823, it is the second-oldest college in the state of Connecticut after Yale University. The college enrolls 2,300 students and has been coeducational since 1969. Trinity offers 38 majors and 26 minors, and has...
in 1979 and his Ph.D. in electrical engineering
Electrical engineering
Electrical engineering is a field of engineering that generally deals with the study and application of electricity, electronics and electromagnetism. The field first became an identifiable occupation in the late nineteenth century after commercialization of the electric telegraph and electrical...
from Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
in 1984.
Academic career
Eric R. Fossum was a member of the Electrical Engineering faculty at Columbia UniversityColumbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
from 1984 to 1990. At Columbia University, he and his students performed research on CCD
Charge-coupled device
A charge-coupled device is a device for the movement of electrical charge, usually from within the device to an area where the charge can be manipulated, for example conversion into a digital value. This is achieved by "shifting" the signals between stages within the device one at a time...
focal-plane image processing and high speed III-V CCDs. In 1990, Dr. Fossum joined the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology
California Institute of Technology
The California Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Pasadena, California, United States. Caltech has six academic divisions with strong emphases on science and engineering...
and managed JPL’s image sensor and focal-plane technology research and advanced development.
Invention
While Fossum was at NASANASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Jet Propulsion Laboratory is a federally funded research and development center and NASA field center located in the San Gabriel Valley area of Los Angeles County, California, United States. The facility is headquartered in the city of Pasadena on the border of La Cañada Flintridge and Pasadena...
, then-NASA Administrator Daniel Goldin
Daniel Goldin
Daniel Saul Goldin served as the 9th and longest-tenured Administrator of NASA from April 1, 1992, to November 17, 2001. He was appointed by President George H. W. Bush and also served under President William Jefferson Clinton and George W...
invoked a plan of "Faster, Better, Cheaper" for NASA Space Science missions. One of the instrument goals was to miniaturize charge-coupled device (CCD) camera systems onboard interplanetary spacecraft. In response, Fossum invented the CMOS Active pixel sensor
Active pixel sensor
An active-pixel sensor is an image sensor consisting of an integrated circuit containing an array of pixel sensors, each pixel containing a photodetector and an active amplifier. There are many types of active pixel sensors including the CMOS APS used most commonly in cell phone cameras, web...
(APS) camera-on-a-chip technology. As part of Goldin's directive to transfer space technology to the public sector whenever possible, Fossum led the CMOS APS development and subsequent transfer of the technology to US industry, including Eastman Kodak
Eastman Kodak
Eastman Kodak Company is a multinational imaging and photographic equipment, materials and services company headquarted in Rochester, New York, United States. It was founded by George Eastman in 1892....
, AT&T Bell Labs
Bell Labs
Bell Laboratories is the research and development subsidiary of the French-owned Alcatel-Lucent and previously of the American Telephone & Telegraph Company , half-owned through its Western Electric manufacturing subsidiary.Bell Laboratories operates its...
, National Semiconductor
National Semiconductor
National Semiconductor was an American semiconductor manufacturer, that specialized in analog devices and subsystems,formerly headquartered in Santa Clara, California, USA. The products of National Semiconductor included power management circuits, display drivers, audio and operational amplifiers,...
and others. Despite initial skepticism by entrenched CCD manufacturers, the CMOS image sensor technology is now used in almost all cell-phone cameras
Camera phone
A camera phone is a mobile phone which is able to capture still photographs . Since early in the 21st century the majority of mobile phones in use are camera phones....
, many medical applications such as capsule endoscopy
Capsule endoscopy
Capsule endoscopy is a way to record images of the digestive tract for use in medicine. The capsule is the size and shape of a pill and contains a tiny camera. After a patient swallows the capsule, it takes pictures of the inside of the gastrointestinal tract...
and dental x-ray systems, scientific imaging, automotive safety systems, DSLR digital camera
Digital camera
A digital camera is a camera that takes video or still photographs, or both, digitally by recording images via an electronic image sensor. It is the main device used in the field of digital photography...
s and many other applications.
Entrepreneur
In 1995, frustrated by the slow pace of the technology's adoption, he and then-wife Dr. Sabrina Kemeny co-founded Photobit Corporation to commercialize the technology. He joined as Chairman of the Board and Chief Scientist in 1996 and became CEO of Photobit Technology Corporation in 2000. In late 2001, Micron TechnologyMicron Technology
Micron Technology, Inc. is an American multinational corporation based in Boise, Idaho, USA, best known for producing many forms of semiconductor devices. This includes DRAM, SDRAM, flash memory, SSD and CMOS image sensing chips. Consumers may be more familiar with its consumer brand Crucial...
Inc. acquired Photobit and Dr. Fossum was named a Senior Micron Fellow. He left Micron in 2003. In 2005, he joined SiWave Inc., a developer of MEMS technology for mobile phone
Mobile phone
A mobile phone is a device which can make and receive telephone calls over a radio link whilst moving around a wide geographic area. It does so by connecting to a cellular network provided by a mobile network operator...
handsets, as CEO. SiWave was renamed Siimpel and grew substantially before his departure in 2007. Siimpel was later acquired by Tessera.
From 2008 to the present he has been a consultant with Samsung Electronics, Semiconductor R&D Center. He joined Dartmouth in 2010.
In 2007 he sponsored, in part, the Trinity College Fire-Fighting Robot Contest, aimed at increasing innovation and invention in the world of robotics.
In 1986 he founded the IEEE Workshop on CCDS, now known as the International Image Sensor Workshop. He is President of ImageSensors, Inc. A California Non-Profit Public Benefit Corporation that manages the workshop and an on-line library of technical papers.
Achievements and awards
Eric R. Fossum has published over 240 technical papers, and holds more than 130 U.S. patents. He is a Fellow member of the IEEE. He has been primary thesis adviser to several graduated Ph.D.s.He has received several prizes and honors. Some of those awards and honors are:
- He received Yale’s Becton Prize in 1984.
- He received the IBM Faculty Development Award in 1984.
- He received the National Science Foundation Presidential Young Investigator AwardPresidential Young Investigator AwardThe Presidential Young Investigator Award was awarded by the National Science Foundation. The program operated from 1984 to 1991, and was replaced by the NSF Young Investigator Awards and Presidential Faculty Fellows Program...
in 1986, the JPL Lew Allen Award for Excellence in 1992. - He received the NASA Exceptional Achievement MedalNASA Exceptional Achievement MedalThe NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal is an award of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration that was established in 1991. The medal is awarded to both civilian members of NASA and military astronauts....
in 1996. - He was inducted into the US Space Foundation Space technology hall of fameSpace technology hall of fameThe Space Technology Hall of Fame annually honors organizations and individuals that "transform technology originally developed for space exploration into products that help improve the quality of life here on Earth"....
in 1999. - He received the Photographic Society of America's Progress Medal in 2003 and the Royal Photographic Society's Progress Medal in 2004, both for the invention of the CMOS active pixel image sensor technology.
- He received the IEEE Andrew S. Grove AwardIEEE Andrew S. Grove AwardThe IEEE Andrew S. Grove Award is a Technical Field Award presented by the IEEE for outstanding contributions to solid-state devices and technology. The award may be presented to an individual or a team of up to three people. It was established by the IEEE Board of Directors in 1999. The award is...
in 2009. - He was named Inventor of the Year by the New York Intellectual Property Lawyers Association in 2010.
- He was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of FameNational Inventors Hall of FameThe National Inventors Hall of Fame is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to recognizing, honoring and encouraging invention and creativity through the administration of its programs. The Hall of Fame honors the men and women responsible for the great technological advances that make human,...
in 2011.