Learn the Basics About CMOS Image Sensor Test

CMOS Image Sensor Test

If you are familiar with the technologies in the computer chip industry, then you must have heard about CMOS. CMOS, or Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor, is one of the most popular and widely used technologies that is used in this industry.

These days, you can find this technology has a number of applications. It is also used to form integrated circuits. There are a lot of advantages of CMOS. That is why it is widely used for computer memories, cell phones, and CPUs. But today, we are going to focus on its use in image sensors.

CMOS sensors are widely used by machine vision camera manufacturers. Due to this, many companies require a CMOS image sensor test to check the quality of their products.

CCD and CMOS

Another image sensor that you must have heard about is CCD or Charge-Coupled Device. However, it is much more expensive than CMOS, making the latter technology a preferable choice. 

Both these technologies are used for one major purpose – to capture digital images. It is done by changing the charge from light to electrical. After that, it is processed into electrical signals.

However, they have their own differences. The biggest difference between the two is that the CCD makes use of a global shutter. On the other hand, the CMOS includes the use of a rolling shutter.

Also, when CCD sensors capture the images, there is less noise. On the other hand, the CMOS sensors are known for being more liable to noise. In addition to this, the CMOS sensors require less power. But the CCD sensors can use about 100 times the power used by CMOS sensors. 

You can say that CMOS cameras are less expensive than CCD cameras, and they also come with high battery life. If you want to learn about some of the advantages of CMOS, keep reading along.

Advantages of CMOS image sensors over CCD image sensors

CMOS image sensors are becoming more and more prominent across the globe, thanks to their number of advantages. 

They are cost-effective and energy-efficient

The biggest advantage of CMOS image sensors is that they are less expensive. They cost less to produce, which is not the case with CCD image sensors. CCD sensors cost a lot more to produce than CMOS sensors. 

The reason behind this is that existing semiconductor equipment used for manufacturing can be repurposed. This leads to lower costs of production of CMOS image sensors.

In addition to this, CMOS sensors use less power, as they employ smaller digital circuitry than CCD sensors. 

Some more advantages of CMOS image sensors include – 

  • They are beneficial in lower light applications
  • They are good for a higher fidelity image because of lower dark noise
  • They are higher dynamic range
  • The lens cost is also low, as smaller pixels can reduce the sensor format

A CMOS image sensor test can measure the sensor qualities. CMOS image sensors come with a lot of advantages and have various applications. We hope you got the basic idea about CMOS sensors after reading this post.

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