Canon Multi Layer sensor

[mjperini]

Bob,.\
A while back you reported on a Canon Patent filing for another multi layer sensor.
You did a good job explaining the gist of an intentionally vague patent filing.
Namely the use of a 'resonant crystal layer' between some or all layers to trap more light of a given color.
At the end you invited quetions to this forum.

Canon is not alone, othere companies have filed patents relating to layered sensors---again weather pure science, or pre cursor of a real product is anyone's guess.

If you look at all the steps and assumptions made in the process of de-mosaicing beyer sensor information, one is tempted to say "Well that will never work"--yet it has worked remarlably well.
More than that, not withstanding all the photons the proces discards , it would be natural to think Beyer sensors would be slow.....Yet again the opposite is the case, we've gotten ISO capability that we could only dream of a few years ago.  So the Beyer sensor technology has served us remarkably well.
Looking at Foveon sensors which when done well can produce really beautiful files, their issues have been lack of iso speed, lower resolution, and color issues. And rather than improving, they seem to be going backwards. So Foveon while intellectually appealing seems to have more issues than continuing to improve Beyer sensors.
My question is this,  given recent history and the difficulties sigma/Foveon have had, and the complexity of solving some of the light loss and color purity issues, AND doing it while getting around existing patents....  Wouldn't this suggest that a near term product from Canon or anyone else in a large sensor camera is pretty remote??
Or is this the kind of thing that relies on 1 or 2 issues that could well be solvable in the near term.
Thanks for your thoughts.