According to the judges, the development of the charge coupled device (CCD), the pinned photodiode (PPD) and the CMOS image sensor have transformed applications ranging from medical treatment to entertainment.
The CCD was developed by Smith and the late Willard Boyle in the 1970s, with its use in imaging developed by Tompsett, who designed an imaging circuit featuring an A/D converter. Teranishi, meanwhile, developed the PPD, which featured a reduced pixel size and enabled better quality images. Finally, Fossum’s development of CMOS image sensors in 1992 has enabled the cameras found in modern smartphones.
Lord Browne of Madingley, chair of the Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering Foundation, noted: “The 2017 Prize is awarded to four engineers who have revolutionised the way in which we capture and visualise information. The spirit of international cooperation which drives [their work] encapsulates perfectly the ideals of the Prize.”
Between them, the winners will share £1million and will receive iconic trophies later this year.
