Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
Prophesee, based in Paris, caused a stir with its cutting-edge Metavision sensor technology for smartphone cameras. By addressing blurry images, the technology showed impressive results during development. At MWC 2024, in collaboration with Qualcomm, Prophesee made significant progress, moving its Metavision sensor tech into the production stage.
Utilizing custom software tuning and the power of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, Prophesee has developed a sensor in partnership with Sony. The Metavision sensor complements image sensors by rapidly filling visual data gaps at a microsecond pace, enabling the capture of clear images in low-light and bright environments.
According to the company, Prophesee’s patented Metavision sensors and AI emulate the functionality of the human eye and brain. Through an event-based approach, the MetaVision sensor technology cancels motion blur to ensure sharp final results.
How Prophesee is trying to eliminate blurry photos
Prophesee addresses the challenge of fast-moving objects and motion blur in smartphone cameras, even in flagship models. The Metavision sensor technology promises to deliver unparalleled picture quality in fast-moving and low-light scenarios.
Unlike conventional camera sensors, the Metavision sensor offers a continuous exposure time to capture motion without interruption, claiming to provide a camera that captures 10,000 images per second. In addition to the custom sensor developed with Sony, Prophesee is focusing on integrating software solutions such as the Metavision Deblur Software.
Prophesee envisions an exciting future for smartphone cameras with its technology, currently functional on the Sony IMX636 sensor. Future iterations may support multiple sensors and video capabilities. Phones powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 are poised to benefit from Prophesee’s innovation, promising a new era of smartphone photography.
An exciting future for smartphone cameras
Prophesee’s event-based sensor currently focuses on capturing blur-free still images, with plans for video support in the future. While the timeline for commercial availability is not specified, the integration of its technology with Snapdragon-powered devices suggests a promising future for smartphone photography.
If Prophesee’s Metavision sensor lives up to its promises, it could revolutionize smartphone photography by simplifying the process for users, eliminating the need for manual adjustments to achieve clear images.
