JFET LBCAST sensor
Nikon's new JFET (Junction Field Effect Transistor) LBCAST (Lateral Buried Charge Accumulator and Sensing Transistor array) sensor appears to be similar to CMOS technology but achieves higher speed data transfer allowing the camera's impressive eight frames per second shooting rate. Nikon claim it has:
* Instant Startup
* Higher Speed
* Higher Resolution
* Lower Power Consumption
* Low Noise (Minimal Dark Noise)
A little digging returned the following facts:
* The sensor was designed and developed solely by Nikon
* Research and development into this type of sensor started ten years ago
* The sensor has a 3-T (three transistor) design compared to Canon's 4-T (four transistor) CMOS sensor
* It is an X-Y Address-type Sensor with noise-cancelling functions
* The sensor uses JFET's instead of MOSFET's (CMOS normal) in the cell amps
* The sensor has microlenses and a low pass filter
* The sensor does not have an electronic shutter (requires a mechanical shutter)
While Nikon are currently keeping this exclusive sensor technology close to their chests they assure us that more detail and output from the LBCAST sensor technology will be made available later.