20-Megapixel Compact Camera Sensor Created by Toshiba

The image sensor is the central part of a camera, figuratively speaking, and ultimately determines the performance, size and price of the camera.

Compact digital cameras have become quite widespread, but price and component size issues prevent them from being too powerful.

Toshiba wishes to circumvent this with the latest backlit 20-megapixel sensor.

The sensor can record 1080p video at 60fps, higher-resolution video at 30 fps, and 720p at 100fps.

The only problem that Toshiba had to bypass was the decreasing pixel size that higher resolutions demand.

The solution was an improved full well capacity, with 15% higher pixel charge compared to Toshiba's 16-megapixel sensors.

Camera makers should be able to test the sensor by the end of January 2013. Mass production is set for August though.