A CMOS image sensor (complementary metal-oxide semiconductor) is an optical technology that is used in machine vision for robots and in OCR (optical character recognition) that can improve satellite pictures and radar images. It's also found in digital cameras, surveillance cameras, and barcode readers. Additionally, CMOS image sensors are found in a variety of products, such as laptops, cellphones, and digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) cameras. There are various new technological advancements by market players to increase the usability of CMOS in such devices. For instance, in January 2023, Isorg, a manufacturer of image sensors, stated that, along with Precise Biometrics, the company is aiming to enhance the performance of smartphone finger biometrics using polarizer-less displays. According to the company, polarizer-less displays with lower transmittance make CMOS less effective. For this reason, the companies are working to create displays with less than 300µm (0.03 cm or 0.012 inches) thickness. Owing to such uses and new innovations, the CMOS image sensor market is expected to reach $19.8 billion in 2025, compared to $11.3 billion in 2018.
Key Drivers of the CMOS Image Sensor Market
Increasing Use of Smartphones
The rising demand for smartphones is a significant contributing factor to the expansion of the global CMOS image sensor market. For instance, according to Statistics Canada, in 2020, 96.6% of Canadians aged 15–24 owned a smartphone. The percent of Canadians owning smartphones increased by 4.1% in 2020 since 2018. Additionally, the growing popularity of mobile phone photography has become a crucial factor for smartphone manufacturers when adopting natural image sensors. Since CMOS are useful in capturing high-definition images, the demand for CMOS is growing as well.
Growing Demand for Security and Surveillance
Security and surveillance device usability has grown in recent years owing to continuous security threats in various environments, including data breaches as well as military and public security. CMOS is used in biometrics, drones, and remote IoT cameras, and companies are launching new and innovative solutions in the market. Recently, in March 2023, DJI announced the launch of its new Mini 2 SE drones. The drone has a 1/2.3-inch CMOS sensor and is able to shoot 12 MP photos and video at 2.8K quality.
CMOS in Medical Devices
There is an increasing demand for effective, cost-friendly, and reliable medical devices, owing to an increasing population and high treatment costs. CMOS-based devices use less power and are portable, which increases the devices’ usability as well. CMOS is used in multiple medical devices, such as wearables, endoscopes, health monitoring devices, and others. Due to this, market players are also utilizing this demand to grow their businesses in the market. For instance, in November 2022, Omnivision, a leading global developer of semiconductor solutions such as advanced digital imaging, analog, and touch and display technology, announced the OH02B image sensor. OH02B is the first square 2-megapixel (1500x1500) resolution CMOS image sensor for ENT, orthopedic, gastrointestinal, surgical, dental, and veterinary reusable and disposable endoscopes, catheters, and guide wires.
Expansions and Innovations by Major Market Players
The CMOS image sensor market has significant contributors such as Canon Inc., STMicroelectronics International N.V., OmniVision Technologies Inc., Panasonic Corp., Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., Nikon Corp., SK Hynix Inc., and Sony Corp., among others. These players assist in the market’s growth with the launch of new and innovative products and through collaborations and investments. Some of the recent developments in the market include-
• In May 2022, STMicroelectronics announced the availability of global-shutter CMOS image sensors for driver monitoring systems (DMSs). The VB56G4A global-shutter sensor emphasizes the company's in-house investment in innovative 3D-stacked back-side illuminated (BSI-3D) image sensors. These sensors are smaller, more sensitive, and more dependable than the standard front-side illuminated (FSI) sensors found in first-generation DMSs.
• In March 2022, OmniVision introduced the OS03B10 CMOS image sensor, which is designed to deliver high-quality digital pictures and HD (high-definition) video to security surveillance, HD, and IP analog cameras in a 3-megapixel (MP) 1/2.7-inch optical size. This high-performance, low-cost system utilizes high-sensitivity front-side illumination (FSI) for accurate color reproduction in both bright and dark environments.