Letter: Mind the gaps

From Kenneth Watkins

I am intrigued by Barry Fox’s description of Fuji’s new CCD (charge-coupled
device) to improve image resolution in digital cameras by using octagonal
photodiodes
(3 June, p 14).

The benefit of boosted horizontal and vertical resolutions is well explained,
but the octagonal diodes also have linear gaps, albeit diagonal ones, in which
image data will presumably be lost.

I am surely not alone in wondering why hexagonal diodes were not chosen, so
as to eliminate all linear gaps completely and capture all angular orientations
of the elements of an image.

Furthermore, as CCDs are also used in scanners, will they too be fitted with
this resolution-increasing concept, whether hexagonal or octagonal?

Campeaux, France