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Peter Centen
holds a B.Sc. degree from HTS Den Bosch, a cum laude MSc from Eindhoven University of Technology, and a PhD. In 1984, he became a member of the Philips Broadcast Camera division. From 1985 to 1991, he served as a guest researcher at the Philips Research Laboratories, concentrating on low-noise, high-bandwidth output stages for CCD imagers -specifically in the "unsuited" CCD process- and the optimal signal processing of CCD signals. His ideas where applied to SDTV, HDTV and HFR imagers. He established the theoretical lower-limit for the noise achievable through optimal CCD signal processing and intoduced a new figure of merrit. Additionally, he worked part-time as an instructor at the Royal Philips Electronics training center, CTT.
In the past 40+ years, the camera division has been divested to Bosch (BTS), Philips, Thomson-Technicolor, Francisco Partners, Belden, Black Dragon and is known in the industry as Grass Valley. Widely known for the LDK cameras, with recent successor the LDX and in the field of cinematography the VIPER and LDX180. It is noteworthy that the camera division has consistently been located in Breda, the Netherlands, emphasizing a strong commitment to innovative imaging technology.
In his R&D role, Centen has been involved in all the leading R&D projects such as the development of HDTV cameras, SDTV cameras and Super Slo-Motion cameras and recently 2/3" 4k and HDR WCG. Always moving the limits of technology in an everlasting battle with competition and time. He was the inventor of DPM and HD-DPM technology (one imager for all the television standards) for which he was an EMMY recipient in 2003. In 2015 an Emmy was awarded for the application of HD-DPM in the LDK6000 HDTV camera and in 2010 an Emmy for the LDK8300 HDTV high speed camera. He was the chief architect for the Xensium CMOS imager.
Peter, with his handson mentality, moved Grass Valley's broadcast cameras from CCD-imagers to inhouse-designed CMOS-imagers in times when nobody dared to abandon CCD's. A broadcast first. With a performance that outperformed competition. It was the first time that sales had no complaints during shootouts:). From 2010-2019 he was Vice President R&D Broadcast Cameras Grass Valley, a Belden brand.
In 2016 he received the SMPTE David Sarnoff Award for his work on imagers and imaging. (download Video). During his farewell party in 2019, Centen was Knighted in the order of the Netherlands Lion for his significant contribution to the Netherlands society and the worldwide broadcast industry. He is now active as consultant in imagers and its aplications in cameras. In 2025 he received the SMPTE Camera Origination and Imaging Medal. youtube and
Volkskrant
Dr. Centen holds 16+ patents, has authored or co-authored and presented over 70 technical papers and has contributing chapters in 2 books. Was ad-hoc reviewer for IEEE, MDPI and SMPTE. Ad-hoc reviewer of NWO/STW funded projects. Participated in paper selection - and conference advisory committees. Many times he was an external examiner in PhD committees.
Peter is a member of the IEEE, SMPTE and HPA and has published journal and conference articles in related fields and presented the work of R&D at numerous international conferences. (IBC, IISW, ISSCC, ISE, HPA, NAB, SMPTE)
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