Aroma Bit has launched a new subsidiary, called Aroma Bit Silicon Sensor Technology Inc., to develop the next-generation smell sensor based on a silicon CMOS sensor substrate that combines small size, high resolution, and low cost. The technology is achieved by applying Aroma Bit’s smell sensor receptor membrane technology to ultra-sensitive silicon CMOS based ion imaging sensor technology developed by professor Kazuaki Sawada at Toyohashi University of Technology and associated companies.
nose equivalent ~1,200 sensor pixels. (Image source: Business Wire)
Aroma Bit is currently selling a compact smell sensor that employs QCM or Quartz Crystal Microbalance type sensor substrate, which demonstrates ultra-high sensitivity in the sensor market. However, the company has been trying to achieve further size and cost reductions to meet high volume applications such as smartphones.
According to the company, the newly developed silicon CMOS type smell sensor provides the size, resolution, and low cost required for smartphone or IoT devices. For instance, it is expected that resolution equivalent to dog nose’s resolution (roughly 1,200 receptors) within a 1-mm die size can be achieved using the new sensor substrate.
Aroma Bit Silicon Sensor Technology, Inc., is certified as the first Toyohashi University of Technology certified University-Launch Venture Company.
In this particular Industry-academia collaboration case, the chance to commercialize technology is expected to increase by assigning venture company a role to drive business development of the technology developed jointly with university.
Background:
Aroma Bit succeeded in developing a next generation smell sensor based on silicon CMOS sensor substrate that are ultra-compact and high resolution by applying Aroma Bit developed smell sensor receptor membrane technology to ultra-sensitive silicon CMOS based ion imaging sensor technology developed by professor Kazuaki Sawada at Toyohashi University of Technology.