With the touch of our fingers, we can capture the world using image sensors and semiconductor devices. The size of image sensors has likewise shrunk to the size of our fingers due to advancements in semiconductor technology. In 2022, there will likely be more than 1.7 trillion photographs taken. This demonstrates the pervasiveness of image sensors in our daily lives. These sensors can now record tiny and macroscopic information that the human eye is unable to record. The image sensor’s main job is to collect light from the environment and transform it into electrical signals. The image sensor can be divided into CCD (Charge-Coupled Devices) and (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) CMOS image sensor tests based on the architecture for converting light to electrical signals and the device structure. The latter is used for photographing and filming in all digital cameras.
This post will cover the components and market trends of CMOS.
Components of CMOS Image Sensor
- Color Filter (CF)
- Photodiode (PD)
- Microlens
- Transistors And Interconnects
A CIS consists of tiny lenses that focus light onto photodiodes. The color filters divide the directed light’s RGB (red, green, and blue) components. A photodiode (PD) is an apparatus that gathers photons or catches the light and transforms the gathered photoelectrons into electrical signals. The pixel transistors control the signals conveyed inside the image sensor by connecting structures or metal wiring. Based on how the photodiode and connection layers are arranged in relation to one another, the CMOS image sensors can be divided into Backside illuminated (BSI) and Front-Side Illuminated (FSI) types.
Market Trends of CMOS Image Sensor
- Smartphones, tablets, and digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) cameras all use CMOS image sensors in various ways. In the upcoming years, demand for CIS will be anticipated to remain stable as smartphone manufacturers concentrate on enhancing the camera quality.
- All major smartphone suppliers’ preferences for dual-camera devices will support demand. Dual-camera smartphones need two sensors to integrate colors and black-and-white images. Since Samsung’s Galaxy S22 Ultra has five cameras—four rear and one front—consumers are no longer satisfied with only two cameras.
- The popularity of dual and 3D cameras among consumers will greatly impact CMOS volumes. This industry is expected to grow due to new applications such as telescopic lens drones, robots, virtual reality, and augmented reality.
- Globally, there has been an increase in consumer electronics usage. Consumer electronics and home appliances generated CNY 96.31 billion in retail sales in China alone in June 2019, according to the National Bureau of Statistics of China. It is anticipated that the market for CMOS image sensors will be driven by a number of electronic products with cameras.
- It is projected that the Asia-Pacific region will dominate the market in the upcoming years. Due to its growing middle class and consumer electronics demand, China is expected to lead the rise. The National Bureau of Statistics China reports that the nation’s market for electronic, communication, and computer equipment production expanded by 13.1 during the fiscal year 2018.
- India is also seeing a steady rise in the number of smart city projects as a result of government initiatives. The requirement for electronic solutions, such as monitoring, surveillance, and maintenance, will play a major role in the rise of smart city initiatives, which will fuel the demand for CMOS image sensors.
- The CMOS image sensors will also be useful as non-invasive testing tools for scanning in the healthcare sector. By 2023, it is expected that the Indian healthcare market will be worth roughly USD 133 billion.
- By 2030, it is anticipated that sales of smart homes in the Asia-Pacific area will account for more than 25% of all global sales, reaching USD 120 billion. Japan is currently in the lead in this contest. However, the region’s need for a CMOS image sensor test will increase due to the drive toward adopting smart homes.