A new California start-up claims to have developed technology that will revolutionize the quality of photos taken with a cell phone. InVisage Technologies, Inc., based in Menlo Park, CA, has unveiled the world’s first commercial quantum-dot-based image sensor.

Using custom-designed semiconductor materials, the company’s QuantumFilm sensors deliver 4x higher performance, 2x higher dynamic range and other professional camera features not previously available in mobile image sensors, according to InVisage.

Today’s digital cameras use silicon-based sensors, but developing higher quality sensors from silicon is not an easy task.

“It is becoming increasingly difficult and expensive to develop next-generation image sensors using silicon; essentially, silicon has hit a wall,” said Jess Lee, InVisage president and CEO in a statement. “The fundamental problem is that silicon cannot capture light efficiently, but until now it has been the only option. The disruptive nature of QuantumFilm builds on silicon’s success in electronics, and elevates its function using new materials that are engineered from the ground up for light capture.”

Silicon-based capture an average of 25 percent of light, while InVisage Technology’s QuantumFilm is capable of capturing 90 percent to 95 percent of light. More light captured results in clearer pictures - even in difficult lighting conditions.

The first QuantumFilm image sensors will target high-end mobile handsets and be available for sample in the fourth quarter of 2010, according to InVisage.