CMOS Image Sensors are entering a new age

Pierre Fereyre, Gareth Powell

In the early 90’s, it was suggested that Charge Coupled Devices (CCDs) were in the process of becoming extinct and considered to be ‘technological dinosaurs’ [1]. The prediction is not entirely wrong, if the announcement made by Sony in 2015 is taken as an example. Sony Corporation has officially announced the end of the mass production of CCD and has entered into the last buy order procedure. While this announcement was expected for many years, it has caused a stir within the professional imaging community [2]. It is interesting to note that many industrial or professional applications (where CMOS Image Sensor (CIS) technology was expected to dominate) are still based on CCD sensors. Which characteristics still make CCDs more attractive that are not available with a CIS?

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