1/12/17 pag. 1
Start of the Research Maarten Kuijk Daniel Van Nieuwenhove Inspirator/Promotor Device Physics 1/12/17 pag. 2
Basic Principle: Pulse delay Dt D = c 2 Problem: Pulse signal is hidden in the receiver NOISE! 3
Continuous Time-of-Flight Phase = æ arctanç è Q I ö ø I Q D = 1 Phase l 2 2p 1/12/17 pag. 4
VUB: redelijk eigenzinnig The first research group that published Time of Flight silicon, Applied Voltages on Photo Gates for detection Many research groups and companies started doing the same They all started taking Patents on the same type of detector Daniel: if everybody uses voltages, shouldn t we consider using currents instead? That was the start of a common thinking process that brought good results! We were following the VUB credo: reasonably self-willed, not following the mainstream! 1/12/17 pag. 5
1 st invention Fundamental Patent Applied and Granted Detector for electromagnetic radiation assisted by majority current 1/12/17 pag. 6
3D-team + 1 PhD researcher Maarten Kuijk Daniel Van Nieuwenhove Ward Van der Tempel Inspirator/Promotor Device Physics Sensor Design Fundamental Reasearch Grant Accepted by FWO-V 1/12/17 pag. 7
Current assisted photonic demodulator Integrates a sensitive detector with an efficient mixer in one device Vguide2 > Vguide1 1/12/17 pag. 8
1st 3D pixel-designs 50 μm 50 μm 1/12/17 pag. 9
3D-team + 2 PhD researcher Maarten Kuijk Daniel Van Nieuwenhove Ward Van der Tempel Riemer Grootjans Tomas Van den Hauwe Inspirator/Promotor Device Physics Sensor Design Camera Design Modeling Starter Seminars TTI PhD grant from IWT PhD grant from IWT 1/12/17 pag. 10
1/12/17 pag. 11 Garage Trials
1/12/17 pag. 12 32x32 Array
First Camera s Cost of Components: ~ 1000 Euro/camera 1/12/17 pag. 13
Visit: www.softkinetic.com 14
What NEXT? Good own patented technology Good team Commercial Markets Present => Let us go for a spin-off! 1/12/17 pag. 15
3D-team + / - Maarten Kuijk Daniel Van Nieuwenhove Ward Van der Tempel Riemer Grootjans Tomas Van den Hauwe? Inspirator/Promotor Device Physics Sensor Design Camera Design Modeling 1/12/17 pag. 16
3D-team + CEO Maarten Kuijk Daniel Van Nieuwenhove Ward Van der Tempel Riemer Grootjans Tomas Van den Hauwe Inspirator/Promotor Device Physics Sensor Design Camera Design Modeling Andre Miodezky Paid for by IOF for 2 months Andre: For becoming CEO For boosting the market developments Entrepreneur 1/12/17 pag. 17
Spin-off creation Optrima N.V. was created in 2009 Funding Included 1/12/17 pag. 18
Merger of two In 2011 merge of two companies Hardware Middleware + Optrima N.V. + Softkinetic N. V. 1/12/17 pag. 19 => Softkinetic Systems N.V.
Merger of two Pleinlaan 11, 1050 Brussels 1/12/17 pag. 20
Early accomplishments A lot happened in 2011 Many specialist hired Human Resource Manager Lawyer IP specialist Quality specialist Production specialist Joint Venture with Namuga Þ Over 100 FTE working for Softkinetic Þ Very large contracts were signed (contract s values over 20 MEuro) Production Flow in Korea, and China 1/12/17 pag. 21
Goal: Miniaturization + Costdown INNOVIRIS Project INNOVIRIS Project INNOVIRIS Project 1/12/17 pag. 22
J VUB inside J LASERS Microphone 3D sensor RGB sensor Microphone 1/12/17 pag. 23
Next evolutions 3D and RGB in one sensor 1/12/17 pag. 24
Next evolutions Required development for becoming mainstream Combine RGB and 3D in one sensor Integrate all the side electronics => miniaturize Addressable application space Smart-Phones Virtual reality Autonomous driving cars Internet of Things Only the best RGB sensor company can achieve that with SoftKinetic: SONY is our ideal match! 1/12/17 pag. 25
Balanced take-over In the negotiations, Luc van Nerom played an important role: VUB Inside 1/12/17 pag. 26
Next evolutions SoftKinetic is in best hands possible Sony also has done a good deal! Together they are moving the technology forward such that it can be used everywhere Now, two years after: There are now several of R&D collaborations SK/Sony with VUB >120 fte employees Pleinlaan 11, now two floors (floor 2 and 3) Daniel just appointed CEO, Ward CTO Name change: -> SONY 3Depth Solutions 1/12/17 pag. 27