Mission Statement
Applied Color Science (ACSi) develops novel and market-disruptive imaging products that incorporate both revolutionary and evolutionary improvements in imaging components, processing and systems.
Background
The company was founded in 2001 by Matt Whalen, a recognized innovator in digital imaging system design. His vision for ACSi is a company that bridges the technology gap in imaging product development between the producers of image capture components – CCDs and CMOS sensors – and the end users of these components – camera developers. ACSi is a California corporation with its corporate offices and development laboratory located in Orange County.
Corporate Strategy
To achieve our corporate vision and to bring added value to our clients, Applied Color Science provides core competency in three areas:
I.) Image Sensor Characterization and Evaluation
The single most critical component in an image capture system is the device that converts the optical image to electronic signals – the image sensor. With the rise of smartphones and social media, image sensor technology is now embedded in a wide spectrum of products. A challenge facing any imaging product developer is to select an image sensor with the best performance at the lowest cost.
ACSi provides a vital role in product development by acting as the link between the image sensor designers/manufacturers and the camera system end users of these devices. We have the knowledge and the capabilities to evaluate image sensors with respect to : dynamic range, SNR, color gamut and spatial resolution.
As a result of close working relationships with several of the world’s top CMOS sensor design companies including CMOSIS, Omnivision , ON Semi and others , ACSi has access to sensor design and operational data that enable end user customers to make informed decisions in camera and imaging systems design.
II.) Camera platform development
The emergence of Internet-based streaming video services offering Ultra High Definition TV formats (UHD, 4K, 4KDCI) has created enormous opportunities for new high resolution camera systems. Applied Color Science has been at the forefront of image capture platforms that deliver high resolution, high frame rate and high dynamic range. In the digital cinema space, ACSi worked closely with the founders of RED to develop the Mysterium image sensor and early camera prototypes that eventually became RED One. Recently, we have worked on a DARPA-funded high resolution panoramic camera for immersive video applications.
Applied Color Science has an experienced team of digital imaging product developers that incorporate hardware design, embedded FPGA firmware design, software design, and production/manufacturing process design. The company is actively involved in digital still camera and digital video camera designs for applications ranging from consumer electronics to medical imaging to security/defense to digital cinema.
III.) Image Processing Algorithm (ISP) Development
It has been said that we have entered a new era in photographic science – the age of Computational Photography. Now more than ever, a significant product differentiator in digital imaging systems is how raw pixel data from an image sensor is transformed into high dynamic range, color-corrected video or still images – commonly referred to as Imaging Signal Processing, or ISP. And with the demand for Augmented Reality (AR) devices (Oculus, Google Cardboard) soaring, the amount and complexity of on-board image processing in cameras has increased.
Utilizing its understanding of CMOS sensor characteristics and a modular IP design approach, ACSi has developed a set of image processing algorithms that take full advantage of new sensor capabilities and more powerful image processing engines to produce optimal image quality output. The company has developed IP blocks for: De-Bayering, De-Noising, Color Correction Matrix, 1D- and 3D-LUT processing, Edge Detection, and Auto-White Balance / Auto Exposure that have been integrated into world-class digital image capture devices. These are currently available for licensing to third parties as either host-based software modules or embedded code.
Contact
Corporate Office:
Applied Color Science, inc.
2824 Calle Guadalajara
San Clemente, CA 92673
Phone: (949)309-6831
e-mail: mwhalen@appliedcolorscience.com
