What Is a Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) Camera?
A Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) camera is equipped with a CMOS image sensor. This technology has become increasingly popular, surpassing CCD (Charged-Coupled Device) image sensors in sensitivity and image quality. Sony, a leading manufacturer of CCD sensors, plans to cease their production by 2025 in favor of CMOS sensors.
Uses of Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) Cameras
CMOS cameras are used in a variety of applications, ranging from consumer electronics to industrial purposes. They are commonly found in webcams, smartphones, and digital SLR cameras, and are favored for their high frame rates, pixel counts, energy efficiency, and superior noise performance and color reproduction.
Principle of Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) Cameras
CMOS cameras function similarly to CCD cameras, with a photodiode receiving light and generating an electric charge. However, CMOS sensors have each pixel element amplified in advance, reducing susceptibility to noise. Their integration into a single semiconductor allows for mass production at lower costs.
Other Information on Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) Cameras
1. Differences between Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) Cameras and CCD Cameras
CMOS and CCD cameras differ significantly in their signal readout methods and structures. Sony’s 2009 innovation, the back-illuminated CMOS, flips the thick circuit layer, cuts away the silicon substrate, and forms a microlens array, enhancing light collection efficiency.
2. Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) Cameras for Smartphones
With the increasing pixel count in smartphones, the CMOS sensor industry has seen substantial growth, bringing smartphone image quality closer to that of single-lens reflex cameras. DXOMARK offers comparative evaluations of smartphones and SLR cameras in terms of image quality.