Challenges confront image-sensor market

摘要

These are the best of times for image sensors, with sales continuing to climb in an already sizable market (see figure). Much of this growth is because of advances in VLSI (very large-scale integration) technology developed by the electronics industry. Many CMOS arrays are fabricated at 0.18-(mu)m rules, and some products are going to 0.13-(mu)m rules. These gains have improved the quality in image sensors, reduced the power consumption, and allowed integration with image-processing electronics to form more-compact packages for applications such as mobile phone handsets and a wireless endoscope that is swallowed like a pill.