CMOS Image Sensors: Evolution, Patent Trends, Leading Players & More
Image sensors are semiconductor devices used to capture the world with a touch of our fingers. Thanks to the evolution in semiconductor technology, the size of image sensors has also reduced to the tip of our fingers. It is estimated that over 1.7 trillion images will be taken in 2022. This is a testament to the widespread role image sensors have in our lives. These sensors can now capture details on macroscopic and microscopic levels that not even a human eye can capture. The primary function of the image sensor is to capture light from our environment and convert the captured light into electrical signals. Image sensors can be categorized into Charge-Coupled Devices (CCD) and Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) image sensors based on the architecture for converting light to electrical signals, and device structure. The latter are used in all sorts of digital cameras for image and video shooting. This article will discuss the evolution of image sensors f...