PMDTechnologies
Encyclopedia
PMDTechnologies is a developer of CMOS semiconductor 3D time-of-flight
(ToF) components and a provider of engineering support in the field of digital 3D imaging. The company is named after the Photonic Mixer Device (PMD) technology used in its products to detect 3D data in real time. The corporate headquarters of the company is located in Siegen
, Germany.
As a fabless IC supplier, PMDTec designs high-integrated 3D CMOS imagers according to customer and application specific requirements. PMDTec has state-of-the-art optical wafer testing capabilities in order to test and certify their PMD PhotonICs sensors to comply with relevant industry-specific standards and specifications.
To customers and partners they provide support for mixed signal chip design (CMOS), digital system design (VHDL), system-on-chip (SoC) integration, development of sensor modules and camera solutions, as well as 3D visualization and image processing.
Another ZESS spin-off, S-TEC Sensor GmbH, founded in 1996, began developing PMD products in 1997. This company was acquired by PMDTec in 2002.
and ifm electronics GmbH, exceed 30 million euro (up to 2010).
With these new semiconductor components, it is possible to "perceive" distance in addition to the common grayscale information directly.
A modulated optical signal sent out by a transmitter illuminates the scene to be measured. The reflected light is detected by the PMD sensor, which is able to determine the time-of-flight per every single pixel. Thus the complete 3D information is captured in parallel - without needing excessive calculation power.
The PMD method is a time-of-flight (ToF) approach in terms of performance, resistance to background light, robustness, cost and size. Since 2007, the company’s own series of conferences, the PMD[vision] Day, has been keeping customers, partners and 3D enthusiasts up-to-date with latest news and developments.
1997
Proof of the PMD concept and Launch of extensive development projects with major automotive OEMs
1998
Government-funded automotive initiative "3D-SIAM" is launched (total value six million euro) and First Solid State Time-of-Flight Demonstrator (1D) worldwide based on PMD.
2000
First Solid State Time-of-Flight 3D Camera based on PMD.
2002
PMDTechnologies GmbH is founded, Audi Electronics GmbH becomes a shareholder,
Acquisition of S-TEC GmbH and PMD is nominated for the German Future Award which is issued by the President of Germany
2003
Launch of PhotonICs 1k-S (64x16 pixels), the first all-solid-state 3D ToF sensor with suppression of background light feature – a milestone for outdoor applications in tough environments, e.g. for use in automobile safety
Launch of PMD[vision] 1k-S, 3D outdoor camera based on PhotonICs 1k-S
2004
Launch of PhotonICs 19k (160x120 pixels), the first high-resolution 3D ToF sensor,
Launch of PhotonICs 3k-S (64x48 pixels) for manufacturing industries,
License agreement with ifm electronics and
Start of development of products for deployment in manufacturing and automation
2005
ifm electronics gmbh becomes a shareholder,
Launch of efector pmd, and
Hanover Fair's Hermes Award for efector pmd
2006
Launch of the third generation sensor for the automotive applications: PhotonICs 1k-S3 (64x16 pixels),
Launch of the second generation sensor for manufacturing industries: PhotonICs 3k-S2 (64x48 pixels),
and Merger of PMDTec GmbH and S-TEC GmbH
Government-funded robotics Lynkeus project launched (total value 12 million euro)
2007
Launch of PMD[vision] O3 (64x48 pixels)
2008
Launch of the PhotonICs 41k-S (204x204 pixels), the highest resolution all-solid-state 3D ToF sensor in the world, more than 100,000 PMD sensors sold to date,
Launch of efector pmd 3d and
PMDTec is winner of the Innovation Award for efector pmd 3d
2009
Launch of PMD[vision] CamCube (with 204x204 pixels – a world record for all-solid-state 3D ToF technology),
Launch of PMD[vision]S3 (64x48 pixels) and
Start of Hightech.NRW project "LaotSe" – 2D/3D sensor fusion project funded by North-Rhine Westphalia (total value four million euro)
Frost & Sullivan Bestows European Enabling Technology Award in Real-Time 3D Imaging on PMDTechnologies GmbH
2010
Launch of PMD[vision] CamBoard (with 200x200 pixels – first USB powered single board 3D ToF camera worldwide)
2011
Omek Interactive and PMDTechnologies announce strategic partnership to deliver integrated high-end gesture recognition and body-tracking solutions
Automatic full braking in city traffic (pre sense city) is based on a PMD Sensor
.
Time-of-flight camera
A time-of-flight camera is a range imaging camera system that resolves distance based on the known speed of light, measuring the time-of-flight of a light signal between the camera and the subject...
(ToF) components and a provider of engineering support in the field of digital 3D imaging. The company is named after the Photonic Mixer Device (PMD) technology used in its products to detect 3D data in real time. The corporate headquarters of the company is located in Siegen
Siegen
Siegen is a city in Germany, in the south Westphalian part of North Rhine-Westphalia.It is located in the district of Siegen-Wittgenstein in the Arnsberg region...
, Germany.
Company profile
After initially focusing on industrial applications, PMDTec began to spread their application areas into other fields, including the automotive sector, consumer electronics, gaming, security & surveillance, medical technology and live sciences.As a fabless IC supplier, PMDTec designs high-integrated 3D CMOS imagers according to customer and application specific requirements. PMDTec has state-of-the-art optical wafer testing capabilities in order to test and certify their PMD PhotonICs sensors to comply with relevant industry-specific standards and specifications.
To customers and partners they provide support for mixed signal chip design (CMOS), digital system design (VHDL), system-on-chip (SoC) integration, development of sensor modules and camera solutions, as well as 3D visualization and image processing.
History
PMDTec was founded in 2002 as a spin-off of the Center for Sensor Systems (ZESS) at the University of Siegen, Germany. It was the result of over 10 years of scientific research on 3D ToF imaging.Another ZESS spin-off, S-TEC Sensor GmbH, founded in 1996, began developing PMD products in 1997. This company was acquired by PMDTec in 2002.
Investors
Investments, among others by Audi Electronics Venture GmbH, Audi AGAudi
Audi AG is a German automobile manufacturer, from supermini to crossover SUVs in various body styles and price ranges that are marketed under the Audi brand , positioned as the premium brand within the Volkswagen Group....
and ifm electronics GmbH, exceed 30 million euro (up to 2010).
Technology
The new generation of "Smart-Pixel" PMD sensors is able to capture a complete 3D scene in real time without any moving parts, e.g. as used in scanners. The first patent for these PMD standard CMOS time-of-flight sensors was filed in 1996.With these new semiconductor components, it is possible to "perceive" distance in addition to the common grayscale information directly.
A modulated optical signal sent out by a transmitter illuminates the scene to be measured. The reflected light is detected by the PMD sensor, which is able to determine the time-of-flight per every single pixel. Thus the complete 3D information is captured in parallel - without needing excessive calculation power.
The PMD method is a time-of-flight (ToF) approach in terms of performance, resistance to background light, robustness, cost and size. Since 2007, the company’s own series of conferences, the PMD[vision] Day, has been keeping customers, partners and 3D enthusiasts up-to-date with latest news and developments.
Milestones
1996 Basic PMD patents are filed and S-TEC Sensor GmbH founded to develop PMD-based solutions and services1997
Proof of the PMD concept and Launch of extensive development projects with major automotive OEMs
1998
Government-funded automotive initiative "3D-SIAM" is launched (total value six million euro) and First Solid State Time-of-Flight Demonstrator (1D) worldwide based on PMD.
2000
First Solid State Time-of-Flight 3D Camera based on PMD.
2002
PMDTechnologies GmbH is founded, Audi Electronics GmbH becomes a shareholder,
Acquisition of S-TEC GmbH and PMD is nominated for the German Future Award which is issued by the President of Germany
President of Germany
The President of the Federal Republic of Germany is the country's head of state. His official title in German is Bundespräsident . Germany has a parliamentary system of government and so the position of President is largely ceremonial...
2003
Launch of PhotonICs 1k-S (64x16 pixels), the first all-solid-state 3D ToF sensor with suppression of background light feature – a milestone for outdoor applications in tough environments, e.g. for use in automobile safety
Automobile safety
Automobile safety is the study and practice of vehicle design, construction, and equipment to minimize the occurrence and consequences of automobile accidents. Automobile safety is the study and practice of vehicle design, construction, and equipment to minimize the occurrence and consequences of...
Launch of PMD[vision] 1k-S, 3D outdoor camera based on PhotonICs 1k-S
2004
Launch of PhotonICs 19k (160x120 pixels), the first high-resolution 3D ToF sensor,
Launch of PhotonICs 3k-S (64x48 pixels) for manufacturing industries,
License agreement with ifm electronics and
Start of development of products for deployment in manufacturing and automation
2005
ifm electronics gmbh becomes a shareholder,
Launch of efector pmd, and
Hanover Fair's Hermes Award for efector pmd
2006
Launch of the third generation sensor for the automotive applications: PhotonICs 1k-S3 (64x16 pixels),
Launch of the second generation sensor for manufacturing industries: PhotonICs 3k-S2 (64x48 pixels),
and Merger of PMDTec GmbH and S-TEC GmbH
Government-funded robotics Lynkeus project launched (total value 12 million euro)
2007
Launch of PMD[vision] O3 (64x48 pixels)
2008
Launch of the PhotonICs 41k-S (204x204 pixels), the highest resolution all-solid-state 3D ToF sensor in the world, more than 100,000 PMD sensors sold to date,
Launch of efector pmd 3d and
PMDTec is winner of the Innovation Award for efector pmd 3d
2009
Launch of PMD[vision] CamCube (with 204x204 pixels – a world record for all-solid-state 3D ToF technology),
Launch of PMD[vision]S3 (64x48 pixels) and
Start of Hightech.NRW project "LaotSe" – 2D/3D sensor fusion project funded by North-Rhine Westphalia (total value four million euro)
Frost & Sullivan Bestows European Enabling Technology Award in Real-Time 3D Imaging on PMDTechnologies GmbH
2010
Launch of PMD[vision] CamBoard (with 200x200 pixels – first USB powered single board 3D ToF camera worldwide)
2011
Omek Interactive and PMDTechnologies announce strategic partnership to deliver integrated high-end gesture recognition and body-tracking solutions
Automatic full braking in city traffic (pre sense city) is based on a PMD Sensor
Competition
The major competitor in the field of time-of-flight cameras is MESA ImagingMESA Imaging
MESA Imaging is a time-of-flight camera company. A privately financed organization, MESA was founded in July 2006 as a spin out from the Swiss Center for Electronics and Microtechnology to commercialize its time-of-flight camera technologies...
.
Further reading
- Prof. Dr.-Ing. L. Overmeyer, S. Kleinert, "Stapeln leicht gemacht - 3D Kameratechnik unterstützt die Ladungshandhabung und hilft Unfälle zu vermeiden", "Industrial Vision", Vereinigte Fachverlage GmbH, Mainz, 2011
- Profittlich, Martin (2009). "Software Development Tutorial".
External links
- http://auto.at.msn.com/news/neue-seh-und-bremshilfen-f%C3%BCr-den-fahrer-23?page=6
- PMDTechnologies (official website)
- efector pmd3d - 3D image sensor for industrial automation using by ifm electronic
- 3D Image Sensor Evaluates Size, Shape and Level - article on the efector, 10/2009, 3PLNews.com
- "Multidimensional measurement by using 3-D PMD sensors" - PMDTechnologies
- "Calibration of a PMD-camera using a planar calibration pattern together with a multi camera setup" - Computer Science Department, University of KielUniversity of KielThe University of Kiel is a university in the city of Kiel, Germany. It was founded in 1665 as the Academia Holsatorum Chiloniensis by Christian Albert, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp and has approximately 23,000 students today...
- Minority Report - Futuristic Interface Technologies by 3D Vision
- A 3D Time of Flight Camera for object detection - Optical 3-D Measurement Techniques 09-12.07.2007 ETH Zürich
- Software Development Tutorial for PMD Cameras
- Multidimensional measurement by using 3-D PMD sensors - Advances in Radio Science 2007
- Video on YouTube: Robot control by 3D-object tracking
- HACTOR-Hand Based Robot Control using 2D/3D Images at YouTubeYouTubeYouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
(Adobe FlashAdobe FlashAdobe Flash is a multimedia platform used to add animation, video, and interactivity to web pages. Flash is frequently used for advertisements, games and flash animations for broadcast...
video) - MultiCam (2D/3D Camera based on PMD) in action - Video of a test car drive with PMD Sensor at YouTube (Adobe Flash video) - front view car application
- Bin-Picking System using PMD-Sensor at YouTube (Adobe Flash video)