What Pyxalis does

Pyxalis is a France-based designer and supplier of CMOS image sensors, headquartered in Moirans in the Grenoble "Imaging Valley," founded in 2010 by industry veterans from e2v/Atmel with 25+ years of image-sensor experience. The company develops custom, semi-custom, and standard CMOS image sensors for medical imaging, space and aerospace, defense and surveillance, machine vision, cinematography, and scientific applications, with technology spans including low-noise pixel architectures with on-chip correlated multiple sampling, high dynamic range up to 120 dB with dual-gain reconstruction, global and rolling shutter designs, deep trench isolation, CCD-on-CMOS time-delay integration, radiation-hardened layouts, and 3D-stacking roadmaps on a CMOS40 node. Core products include the GIGAPYX high-resolution family, the HDPYX low-light and HDR series, and the CREAPYX pixel prototyping platform; the firm operates across three foundries (ST Microelectronics, Tower Semiconductor, LFoundry) spanning 8 CMOS process nodes and holds ISO 9001:2015 certification with 30+ filed patents and 300+ person-years of cumulative expertise.

The business model combines hardware sales of off-the-shelf sensors (HDPYX/GIGAPYX), semi-custom COTS variants that reduce customer development time and risk, and full custom sensor development from feasibility study through qualification and industrialization. Revenue streams include direct hardware sales, design-services revenue, and shorter-cycle evaluation-kit rentals; pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. Go-to-market is enterprise field sales with personalized integration support, augmented by distribution partners Restar Framos (Europe/North America) and Chronix (Japan). Named anchor customers include Top 5 global medical equipment manufacturers (for mammography, dental, endoscopy) and the French Ministry of Defense; other active verticals include Earth observation satellite constellations (via the France 2030 Pyxis program), space surveillance (Pyxcam), UV and X-ray spectral imaging (ImSPOC-UV, ImaSpiiR-X), automated optical inspection, and gaming.

Capital structure is a privately held SAS (PYXALIS SAS) with €341,199 share capital and approximately 50 employees, of whom 88% are stakeholders or involved in governance. The firm reinvests via non-dilutive public funding (France 2030, FranceRelance/SPHINX, ERDF, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region) and consortium partnerships with Thales, CEA, Trixell, Université Grenoble Alpes, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, and the European Space Agency.

Name

Pyxalis

Legal name

PYXALIS

Website

https://pyxalis.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Pyxalis is a French designer and manufacturer of custom, semi-custom, and off-the-shelf CMOS image sensors serving medical imaging, space, defense, machine vision, cinematography, and scientific applications from its headquarters in Moirans, France.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

CMOS Image Sensors

NAICS

Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (33451), Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511), Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing (334516)

SIC

Photographic Equipment & Supplies (3861), Optical Instruments & Lenses (3827), Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812)

akta.pro primary industry

Imaging Sensors (CMOS/CCD/ToF/Depth) (HDAHALAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Audio, Imaging & Multimedia SoCs (ISP/Codec/Display) (HDAHABAH)

Keywords

• CMOS image sensors
• Custom image sensor design
• Pixel prototyping platform
• Medical imaging sensors
• Space and defense sensors

Headquarters

HQ city

Moirans

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Custom Image Sensor Development: Full-service custom sensor development from feasibility study through specification, design, prototyping, validation, characterization, qualification, and industrialization. Includes imaging system development and support.
2. Semi-Custom COTS Products: Customization of commercial-off-the-shelf products (GIGAPYX4600, HDPYX series) into semi-custom variants to better fit customer needs while reducing development time, cost, and risk.
3. Standard Off-the-Shelf Products: Sale of standard image sensor products including GIGAPYX 4600, HDPYX 330-G, HDPYX 1600-G, HDPYX 230-G, HDPYX 300-C for various applications
4. CREAPYX Evaluation Kit Rental: Pixel prototyping platform evaluation kits available for rent (40-day rental period) to test and validate pixel designs
5. Design Services: Design services including specification, prototype validation (functional, electrical validation and electro-optical characterization), and complete development including qualification, industrialization and product management

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

PyXalis designs, develops and manufactures advanced CMOS image sensors and integrated imaging solutions (including proximity electronics and photonic add-ons) for medical, space, defense, machine vision, scientific and cinematography markets. The offering spans full custom sensor development from feasibility to industrialization, semi-custom COTS variants (GIGAPYX and HDPYX families), and the CREAPYX pixel prototyping platform enabling ultra-fast validation of pixel designs.

Product overview

Pyxalis develops and manufactures advanced CMOS image sensors and integrated solutions for a wide range of markets. The product portfolio includes off-the-shelf sensors (GIGAPYX 4600, HDPYX series) for niche to high-volume applications, the CREAPYX pixel prototyping platform for custom design validation, and full custom/semi-custom sensor development services. The GIGAPYX family offers high-resolution sensors up to 220MP for applications demanding the best image quality. The HDPYX series provides solutions for low-light, high-speed, and high-dynamic-range applications across defense, machine vision, scientific imaging, and space markets. The CREAPYX platform enables rapid pixel prototyping and design validation, supporting over 400 pixel variants. Custom and semi-custom services leverage deep expertise in low-noise performance, high dynamic range, global and rolling shutter architectures, large-format sensors, and 3D stacking technology.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• GIGAPYX 4600 Full-Frame (35mm) BSI CMOS image sensor with 46 Megapixels, 4.4µm pixel, up to 150fps in Full Frame and 200fps in 8K and HDR up to 90dB in Dual Gain mode, targeted at high-resolution imaging applications.
• HDPYX 330-G Low-light CMOS image sensor with global shutter, HDR, high speed, low noise and high sensitivity; 3.3MP resolution, 4.4µm pixel, 200fps in High Speed Mode, with Deep Trench Isolation for ultra-low crosstalk. Designed for low-light, high-speed applications across defense, machine vision and scientific imaging.
• HDPYX 1600-G Low-light global-shutter CMOS image sensor with HDR, high speed, low noise and high sensitivity; 16MP resolution class, 4.4µm pixel, 76fps in 12-bit High Speed mode, with dual gain on-chip HDR reconstruction.
• HDPYX 300-C High dynamic range CMOS image sensor with 10µm pixel, 3MP resolution (2800 x 1088), available in both Global and Rolling Shutter modes and in FSI and BSI technology variants, with HDR up to 120dB Dual Gain. Designed for science, space, cinematography and defense imaging.
• HDPYX 230-G Global shutter CMOS image sensor with dual in-pixel memory for HDR capture; 2.3MP resolution (1944 x 1204), 3.2µm pixel, up to 60fps, MIPI CSI-2 output, supports monochrome and RGB+NIR color filter arrays, and embedded HDR reconstruction up to 97dB.
• CREAPYX Pixel development and prototyping platform enabling ultra-fast validation of pixel designs, with VGA format supporting pixel sizes from 1µm to >500µm, FSI and BSI technologies, CCD-on-CMOS capability, and architectures including 3T, 4T, rolling/global shutter and HDR. Available via 40-day evaluation kit rental and used by imaging R&D teams as a stepping stone to full custom sensor programs.
• Custom and Semi-Custom CMOS Image Sensor Development Custom and semi-custom CMOS image sensor development services spanning feasibility study, specification, design, prototyping, validation, characterization, qualification, industrialization and product management. Supports very large format sensors (up to 20x20cm with 190µm pixel), tiny sensors (down to 2.3mm x 3.85mm x 300µm WLCSP), TDI linescan multispectral detectors and CCD-on-CMOS technology, sold directly to enterprise customers in medical, space, defense, machine vision and scientific markets.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 120dB dynamic range achievable with dual gain sensor technology
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability3 records

Feature10 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• Restar FramoscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistribution partner handling sales for Europe and North America regions, providing local support and sales coverage for Pyxalis image sensor products
• ChronixcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistribution partner handling sales for Japan market, providing local sales support and customer engagement for Pyxalis products
• ImaSpiiR-X ConsortiumflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject consortium including Trixell, CEA, Thales, and Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, supported by France 2030. Project aims to push boundaries of X-ray imaging technologies in spectral domain for faster diagnosis and accurate surgical treatment, particularly for cerebrovascular accidents.
• University of Grenoble-AlpescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership for ImSPOC-UV project (Imaging Spectrometer On Chip for Ultraviolet), developing compact spectral imaging instrument for climate and air quality monitoring from space and ground level.
• SPHINX Program PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustrial research initiative selected by FranceRelance as part of the ministerial recovery plan's (re)localization initiative. Focuses on 3D-stacking technology for next generation image sensors.
• European Space AgencyflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on space research programs with leading French and European developers of spaceborne optical payloads for commercial missions and research programs.
• Université Grenoble Alpes (UGA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership through CSUG (Grenoble University Space Center) and IPAG (Institute of Planetology and Astrophysics of Grenoble) for various space-related research projects.
• Strategic Production PartnerscoreTechnology or IntegrationStrong ecosystem of partners across multiple foundries including ST Microelectronics, Tower Semiconductor, and LFoundry for manufacturing across 8 different CMOS technologies.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• STMicroelectronics: European IDM that both manufactures image sensors and acts as one of Pyxalis' foundry partners. Competes with Pyxalis in global shutter and automotive/industrial sensors while simultaneously serving as a manufacturing partner, creating a complex dual relationship.
• Teledyne DALSA: Canadian designer and manufacturer of image sensors and cameras for industrial inspection, medical and scientific imaging. Comparable end-markets to Pyxalis but at significantly larger scale and with broader camera-level product portfolio.
• onsemi: Major US-headquartered semiconductor manufacturer with a significant image sensor business (automotive, industrial, consumer). Competes with Pyxalis in industrial and machine vision via its CMOS image sensor portfolio.
• ams OSRAM: Large European sensor and photonics company with a CMOS image sensor portfolio spanning consumer, industrial and medical applications. Overlaps with Pyxalis in machine vision and specialty sensors but at much greater scale and with own manufacturing.
• Sony Semiconductor Solutions: Dominant global supplier of CMOS image sensors across consumer, automotive and industrial markets. Defines the technology and pricing benchmark against which niche players like Pyxalis must compete.

Direct peers

• Teledyne e2v: Teledyne e2v designs and manufactures CMOS and CCD image sensors for space, defense, medical and industrial markets — the same custom/semi-custom niche Pyxalis targets. Most relevant direct peer: Pyxalis' CEO and COO both previously led imaging activities at e2v, and Pyxalis was founded by former e2v executives.
• New Imaging Technologies (NIT): French designer of CMOS image sensors based in the Paris region, with a strong focus on wide dynamic range and HDR sensors. Direct domestic competitor to Pyxalis with overlapping customer base in defense and industrial imaging.
• CMOS Sensor Inc: Fabless French CMOS image sensor design house specializing in custom and semi-custom designs for industrial, scientific and space applications. Closely comparable fabless model and end-markets.
• Gpixel: Fabless CMOS image sensor company offering both standard and custom high-resolution sensors for industrial, scientific and medical imaging. Comparable business model to Pyxalis, though Gpixel is larger and more productized in industrial vision.
• Caeleste: Belgian fabless designer of custom CMOS image sensors for scientific, space and industrial applications. Closely comparable to Pyxalis in customer base (space agencies, scientific instrument makers) and in fabless, custom-design business model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pyxalis
• Xx.com/pyxalis

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Pyxalis