CMOS SENSORS: CMOS-based specialty imagers reach new performance levels

摘要

Today's CMOS-based specialty imagers have improved non-visible light sensitivity and high-data-rate acquisition at low power consumption levels, enabling system-on-chip imagers that target former CCD-only applications. Complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) imagers have largely replaced charge-coupled device (CCD) imagers in smartphones and digital cameras due to lower costs and higher integration capability. But for medical applications, microscopy, space applications, and machine vision, CCD imagers are still dominating the market; that is, the market share of CMOS in these fields is estimated at only 10-15% due to performance issues.