CMOS sensors can be used for integrated analogue and digital switching. This technology was developed and patented at the beginning of the 1960’s by Frank Wanlass, who was working for the semiconductor manufacturer Fairchild Semiconductor. The CMOS sensor is a semiconductor element used as image sensor in photography. CMOS is the abbreviation of “Complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor”. The CMOS sensor belongs to today’s most widely used logic family and is used especially for integrated circuits that can be included in various devices. It is a complementary metal-oxide semiconductor. A CMOS sensor is provided with p-channel and n-channel field-effect transistors. These are set on a common underlayer. The CMOS sensor is integrated, for example, as active pixel sensor in digital video cameras and cameras.

The CMOS sensor is highly light sensitive. The resolution interval of CMOS sensors is in the meantime over 40 MP. Thank to the CMOS sensor pixel reading is flexible and easy. You can even read subframes. A CMOS sensor offers a high image resolution and depth focus of the pictures. That is why a CMOS sensor is integrated for every basic colour. This way you obtain more colour saturation even if the lighting is weak. The photo-diode arrays are a special form of CMOS sensors. These are used exclusively for embedded applications such as angle sensors or barcode devices.