Image Sensor Solutions: The eyes have it.

Researchers, insurance companies, government agencies, and radiologists are among the many customers for digital image sensors. These sensors bring advanced data capture to applications such as satellite imaging, medical diagnostics, automated inspection, space exploration, professional and consumer digital cameras, and microscopy. The worldwide image sensors market is expected to reach $1.7 billion in 2003 [source: Cahner's In-Stat Group].

Image sensors are manufactured much like mainstream semiconductor chips. They feature a matrix of tiny photodetectors (pixels) that convert light into an electrical signal that can be converted to digital information. The digital image can then be stored, printed, displayed or transmitted.

With an extensive portfolio of leading CCD (charged-coupled device) and CMOS (complementary metal oxide semiconductor) image sensors, Kodak's Image Sensor Solutions (ISS) division provides the "vision" in products for cutting-edge imaging applications. ISS sensors are driving a marriage of images with data interpretation. It's a growing business, too -- ISS has recorded 20 percent or greater annual growth since 1999.

• Researchers use microscopy cameras, equipped with 2-megapixel ISS sensors, from Diagnostic Instruments and others, to analyze biological and industrial samples. Worldwide, diagnostic investigation using sensors represents a $100 million business.

• Government agencies rely on the latest intelligent transportation systems from Pulnix and others for electronic toll collection, traffic violation enforcement, and traffic flow management systems. These systems employ interline progressive-scan sensors from ISS.

• Insurance companies, financial institutions, government agencies and others use high-performance scanners from Kodak Document Imaging and others -- equipped with Kodak ISS TriColor Plus CCD sensors -- to scan census and other records.

• Radiologists use direct digital radiography systems from Swissray International Inc. and others, which integrate ISS sensors. Revenues from digital diagnostics may top $225 million by 2005.

• Analysts at NASA scrutinize data downloaded from the Mars 2001 Odyssey orbiter. Its images come from cameras based on Kodak ISS sensors.

• Astronomers employ camera systems from Santa Barbara Instrument Group and others to capture digital images of stars, planets, nebulae, and comets. These cameras use a 3.2-megapixel Kodak ISS sensor. The Ikonos satellite of Space Imaging Inc. uses custom linear sensors from Kodak that enable one-meter resolution images of the earth.

• Camera backs for commercial photographers from Imacon, Jenoptik, Kodak Professional, Megavision, Phase One and Sinar use 16-megapixel Kodak ISS sensors. Kodak's 16-million-pixel image sensor, the KAF-16801, earned Photonic Spectra's prestigious Circle of Excellence award in recognition of its outstanding performance.

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