Eric R. Fossum (born October 17, 1957) is an American physicist and engineer, which with the help of other JPL scientists, co-developed some features of the
CMOS image sensor
An active-pixel sensor (APS) is an image sensor where each pixel sensor unit cell has a photodetector (typically a pinned photodiode) and one or more active transistors. In a metal–oxide–semiconductor (MOS) active-pixel sensor, MOS field-effec ...
. He is currently a professor at
Thayer School of Engineering
Thayer School of Engineering at Dartmouth (Dartmouth Engineering) offers graduate and undergraduate education in engineering sciences at Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, United States. The school was established in 1867 with funds from C ...
in
Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College (; ) is a private research university in Hanover, New Hampshire. Established in 1769 by Eleazar Wheelock, it is one of the nine colonial colleges chartered before the American Revolution. Although founded to educate Native A ...
.
Early years and education
Fossum was born and raised in Simsbury,
Connecticut
Connecticut () is the southernmost state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, New York to the west, and Long Island Sound to the south. Its cap ...
and attended public school there. He also spent Saturdays at the
Talcott Mountain Science Center Talcott Mountain Science Center for Student Involvement ("TMSC") is a not-for-profit 501c(3) corporation in Avon, Connecticut. It is dedicated to the improvement of science education and does so by working directly with students, teachers, and the ...
in Avon CT which he credits for his lifelong interest in science, engineering and mentoring students. He received his B.S. in engineering from
Trinity College Trinity College may refer to:
Australia
* Trinity Anglican College, an Anglican coeducational primary and secondary school in , New South Wales
* Trinity Catholic College, Auburn, a coeducational school in the inner-western suburbs of Sydney, New ...
in 1979 and his Ph.D. in
electrical engineering
Electrical engineering is an engineering discipline concerned with the study, design, and application of equipment, devices, and systems which use electricity, electronics, and electromagnetism. It emerged as an identifiable occupation in the l ...
from
Yale University
Yale University is a private research university in New Haven, Connecticut. Established in 1701 as the Collegiate School, it is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States and among the most prestigious in the wo ...
in 1984.
Academic career
Eric R. Fossum was a member of the Electrical Engineering faculty at
Columbia University
Columbia University (also known as Columbia, and officially as Columbia University in the City of New York) is a private research university in New York City. Established in 1754 as King's College on the grounds of Trinity Church in Manhatt ...
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
The California Institute of Technology (branded as Caltech or CIT)The university itself only spells its short form as "Caltech"; the institution considers other spellings such a"Cal Tech" and "CalTech" incorrect. The institute is also occasional ...
and managed JPL’s image sensor and focal-plane technology research and advanced development.
In 2007 he sponsored, in part, the Trinity College Fire-Fighting Robot Contest, aimed at increasing innovation and invention in the world of robotics.
He joined the
Thayer School of Engineering
Thayer School of Engineering at Dartmouth (Dartmouth Engineering) offers graduate and undergraduate education in engineering sciences at Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, United States. The school was established in 1867 with funds from C ...
at Dartmouth in 2010 where he teaches, performs research on the Quanta Image Sensor with his graduate students, and coordinates the Ph.D. Innovation Program. He also serves as Vice Provost for Entrepreneurship and Technology Transfer.
Invention
While Fossum was at
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA ) is an independent agency of the US federal government responsible for the civil space program, aeronautics research, and space research.
NASA was established in 1958, succeeding t ...
's
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
The Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) is a federally funded research and development center and NASA field center in the City of La Cañada Flintridge, California, United States.
Founded in the 1930s by Caltech researchers, JPL is owned by NASA an ...
(JPL), then-NASA Administrator
Daniel Goldin
Daniel Saul Goldin (born July 23, 1940) 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 Presidents Bill Clinton and Geo ...
invoked a plan of "Faster, Better, Cheaper" for NASA Space Science missions. One of the instrument goals was to miniaturize
charge-coupled device
A charge-coupled device (CCD) is an integrated circuit containing an array of linked, or coupled, capacitors. Under the control of an external circuit, each capacitor can transfer its electric charge to a neighboring capacitor. CCD sensors are a ...
(CCD)
camera
A camera is an Optics, optical instrument that can capture an image. Most cameras can capture 2D images, with some more advanced models being able to capture 3D images. At a basic level, most cameras consist of sealed boxes (the camera body), ...
systems onboard interplanetary
spacecraft
A spacecraft is a vehicle or machine designed to fly in outer space. A type of artificial satellite, spacecraft are used for a variety of purposes, including communications, Earth observation, meteorology, navigation, space colonization, p ...
. In response, throughout the early 1990s, JPL team made some changes to the already invented
CMOS
Complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor (CMOS, pronounced "sea-moss", ) is a type of metal–oxide–semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET) fabrication process that uses complementary and symmetrical pairs of p-type and n-type MOSFE ...
active-pixel sensor
An active-pixel sensor (APS) is an image sensor where each pixel sensor unit cell has a photodetector (typically a pinned photodiode) and one or more active transistors. In a metal–oxide–semiconductor (MOS) active-pixel sensor, MOS field-effec ...
(APS). They implemented Dr. Nobukazu Teranishi‘s pinned photo diode invention in one chip as camera-on-a-chip technology. They also included other invented technologies by other people, such as a sample and hold in the sensor chip.
Based on these changes and additions, JPL team made their first image sensor in 1993. The invention of APS technology was done by the Japanese companies
Olympus and
Toshiba
, commonly known as Toshiba and stylized as TOSHIBA, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan. Its diversified products and services include power, industrial and social infrastructure system ...
during the mid-to-late 1980s; the former developed the vertical APS structure with
NMOS transistors
upright=1.4, gate (G), body (B), source (S) and drain (D) terminals. The gate is separated from the body by an insulating layer (pink).
A transistor is a semiconductor device used to Electronic amplifier, amplify or electronic switch, switch e ...
and the latter developed the lateral APS structure with
PMOS transistors. JPL team was the first to
fabricate a practical APS outside of Japan, while making several improvements to APS technology. The JPL sensor used a lateral APS structure similar to the Toshiba sensor, but was fabricated with CMOS (complementary
metal-oxide-semiconductor) transistors rather than PMOS transistors.
This made JPL's APS device the first CMOS sensor with intra-pixel charge transfer.
In 1994, Fossum proposed an improvement to the CMOS sensor: the integration of the
pinned photodiode
A photodiode is a light-sensitive semiconductor diode. It produces current when it absorbs photons.
The package of a photodiode allows light (or infrared or ultraviolet radiation, or X-rays) to reach the sensitive part of the device. The packag ...
(PPD). A CMOS sensor with PPD technology was first fabricated in 1995 by
Kodak
The Eastman Kodak Company (referred to simply as Kodak ) is an American public company that produces various products related to its historic basis in analogue photography. The company is headquartered in Rochester, New York, and is incorpor ...
team that led by R.M. Guidash. Further refinements to the CMOS sensor with PPD technology between 1997 and 2003 led to CMOS sensors achieve imaging performance on par with CCD sensors, and later exceeding CCD sensors.
As part of Goldin's directive to transfer space technology to the public sector whenever possible, Photobit Corporation and Omnivision Technology, Inc. led the CMOS APS development and subsequent transfer of the technology to US industry, including
Eastman Kodak
The Eastman Kodak Company (referred to simply as Kodak ) is an American public company that produces various products related to its historic basis in analogue photography. The company is headquartered in Rochester, New York, and is incorpor ...
, AT&T
Bell Labs
Nokia Bell Labs, originally named Bell Telephone Laboratories (1925–1984),
then AT&T Bell Laboratories (1984–1996)
and Bell Labs Innovations (1996–2007),
is an American industrial research and scientific development company owned by mult ...
,
National Semiconductor
National Semiconductor was an American semiconductor manufacturer which specialized in analog devices and subsystems, formerly with headquarters in Santa Clara, California. The company produced power management integrated circuits, display drive ...
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
Capsule endoscopy is a medical procedure used to record internal images of the gastrointestinal tract for use in disease diagnosis. Newer developments are also able to take biopsies and release medication at specific locations of the entire ...
and dental x-ray systems, scientific imaging, automotive safety systems, DSLR
digital camera
A digital camera is a camera that captures photographs in digital memory. Most cameras produced today are digital, largely replacing those that capture images on photographic film. Digital cameras are now widely incorporated into mobile device ...
s and many other applications. Over 6 billion cameras are manufactured each year using CMOS technology.
Entrepreneur
In 1995, frustrated by the slow pace of the technology's adoption, Dr. Sabrina Kemeny left her JPL job to co-found Photobit Corporation with other 4 co-founders to commercialize the technology. At first, Fossum was pessimistic about success of Photobit, therefore he didn’t join Photobit and stayed at JPL. After Photobit proved to be a successful company, led by Dr. Sabrina Kemeny, in 2000, Fossum decided to leave JPL and join Photobit to lead the custom design division of Photobit, called Photobit Technology Corporation. Note that Photobit Technology Corp was a small part of (subsidiary) of Photobit Corp. In late 2001,
Micron Technology
Micron Technology, Inc. is an American producer of computer memory and computer data storage including dynamic random-access memory, flash memory, and USB flash drives. It is headquartered in Boise, Idaho. Its consumer products, including ...
Inc. acquired Photobit and Dr. Fossum was named a Senior Micron Fellow. He could not adjust himself as a contributor at Micron and let go by his manager at Micron in 2003. In 2005, he joined SiWave Inc., a developer of MEMS technology for
mobile phone
A mobile phone, cellular phone, cell phone, cellphone, handphone, hand phone or pocket phone, sometimes shortened to simply mobile, cell, or just phone, is a portable telephone that can make and receive calls over a radio frequency link whil ...
handsets, as CEO. SiWave was renamed Siimpel and grew substantially before his departure in 2007. Fossum’s weak performance and losing the opportunity to sell Siimpel to Motorola made the board of Siimpel to remove Fossum as CEO. The severely damaged Siimpel was later acquired by Tessera.
In 1986 he founded the IEEE Workshop on CCDS, now known as the International Image Sensor Workshop (IISW). He co-founded and was the first President of the International Image Sensor Society
(IISS) which operates the IISW.
Achievements and awards
Eric R. Fossum has published over 300 technical papers, and holds more than 170 U.S. patents. He is a Fellow member of the IEEE. He has been primary thesis adviser to a number of graduated Ph.D.s.
He has received several prizes and honors including:
* Yale’s Becton Prize in 1984.
* IBM Faculty Development Award in 1984.
* National Science Foundation
Presidential Young Investigator Award
The Presidential Young Investigator Award (PYI) was awarded by the National Science Foundation of the United States Federal Government. The program operated from 1984 to 1991, and was replaced by the NSF Young Investigator (NYI) Awards and Presiden ...
in 1986, the JPL
Lew Allen Award for Excellence
Lew Allen Award for Excellence is a medal of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Established in 1986 as the ''Director’s Research Achievement Award;'' it was then renamed in honor of JPL's Director Lew Allen when he retired in 1990. This award recogn ...
in 1992.
*
NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal
The NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal is an award of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration established in 1991. The medal is awarded to both civilian members of NASA and military astronauts.
To be awarded the medal, a NASA employee ...
in 1996.
* Induction into the US Space Foundation
Space Technology Hall of Fame
Space is the boundless three-dimensional extent in which objects and events have relative position and direction. In classical physics, physical space is often conceived in three linear dimensions, although modern physicists usually conside ...
in 1999.
*
Photographic Society of America
The Photographic Society of America (PSA) is one of the largest, non-profit organizations of its kind. Established in 1934, it has expanded to include members of over 60 countries.
The mission of this association is to promote and enhance the ar ...
Progress Medal in 2003.
*
Royal Photographic Society
The Royal Photographic Society of Great Britain, commonly known as the Royal Photographic Society (RPS), is one of the world's oldest photographic societies. It was founded in London, England, in 1853 as the Photographic Society of London with ...
Progress Medal in 2004.
*
IEEE Andrew S. Grove Award
The 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 ...
in 2009.
* Inventor of the Year by the
New York Intellectual Property Law Association
The New York Intellectual Property Law Association, also known as NYIPLA, is a professional association composed primarily of experienced lawyers interested in intellectual property law. NYIPLA has a membership base of more than 1,500 intellectual ...
in 2010.
* Induction into the
National Inventors Hall of Fame
The National Inventors Hall of Fame (NIHF) is an American not-for-profit organization, founded in 1973, which recognizes individual engineers and inventors who hold a U.S. patent of significant technology. Besides the Hall of Fame, it also opera ...
in 2011.
* Elected as a Charter Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors in 2012.
* Elected as a Member of the
National Academy of Engineering
The National Academy of Engineering (NAE) is an American nonprofit, non-governmental organization. The National Academy of Engineering is part of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, along with the National Academy ...
in 2013.
* Received the Doctor of Science ''honoris causa'' from
Trinity College (Connecticut)
Trinity College is a Private university, private Liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts college in Hartford, Connecticut. Founded as Washington College in 1823, it is the second-oldest college in the state of Connecticut.
Coed ...
in 2014.
* Received 2017
Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering
The Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering, also known as the QEPrize, is a global prize for engineering and innovation. The prize was launched in 2012 by a cross-party group consisting of David Cameron, Nick Clegg, and Ed Miliband, then Prime Mi ...
(shared with 3 people)
* OSA/IS&T
Edwin H. Land Medal
The Edwin H. Land Medal is jointly presented by The Optical Society and the Society for Imaging Science and Technology (IS&T). The Land Medal was established in 1992 to honor the noted scientist and entrepreneur Edwin H. Land, who is noted for his ...
in 2020.
*
National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences
The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) is an American professional service organization founded in 1955 for "the advancement of the arts and sciences of television and the promotion of creative leadership for artistic, edu ...
Technology and Engineering Emmy Award
The Technology and Engineering Emmy Awards, or Technology and Engineering Emmys, are one of two sets of Emmy Awards that are presented for outstanding achievement in engineering development in the television industry. The Technology and Engineer ...
in 2020
References
External links
Profile of Eric R. FossumEric R. Fossum at Dartmouthpersonal site
{{DEFAULTSORT:Fossum, Eric
Yale School of Engineering & Applied Science alumni
Columbia University faculty
1957 births
Living people
Dartmouth College faculty
Trinity College (Connecticut) alumni
Date of birth missing (living people)
American electrical engineers
Electrical engineering academics