Difference Between CMOS And CCD Image Sensors

ccd vs cmos

CMOS And CCD Sensors? Well, these are image sensors which are used in Digital Cameras to convert light signal into electrical signal. Due to introduction of these new sensors imaging have become simpler and inexpensive. Today you can buy Digital Cameras from the starting range of $60 only.

Well, Today we’re talking on difference between CMOS and CCD image sensors. There are many differences between them, from operational functions to image Producing .We’ll talk about them today.

Before starting you need to know that the CCD  stands for Charge Couple Devices and CMOS for Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor. These are the only sensors currently used in the Digital cameras.

Let’s start!

CCD Sensors

These sensors are first discovered and used on Digital cameras and it stands for Charge Couple Devices. These sensors produce high quality images.

ccd sensor

Working

CCD sensor working is simple it consists a range of capacitors that accumulates a charge that is proportional to the quantity of light that is hitting it. After that Quantity of charge in each capacitor is then turned into a numerical or mathematical value by the cameras inner system to produce a picture.

Advantages/ Features of CCD Sensors

  • Conversion takes place in the chip without distortion
  • CCDs have very high uniformity – Technique for HD quality images (not videos)
  • These sensors are more sensitive – Produce Better Images in Low Light
  • CCD sensors produce cleaner and less grainy Images – low-noise images
  • CCD sensors is produced for longer period of time

Disadvantages of CMOS Sensors

  • CCD sensors Consume much more power
  • CCDs are interlaced
  • Inferior HD Video – Less pixel rates
  • CCDs are expensive as they require special manufacturing.[divider]

CMOS Sensors

CMOS Sensors Stand for Complimentary Metal Oxide Semiconductor and these sensors don’t require any special manufacturing cost. Most of the digital cameras these days come on CMOS Sensor as it reduces manufacturing cost.

Working

In CMOS Sensors, first phase of image building is different while second one resembles to CCDs. CMOS picture sensor catches mild intensity via a range of photo detectors which are then coupled with an amplifier in order to attain a high enough to charge to quantify. In Addition, there are several transistors at each pixel that amplify and move the charge using more traditional wires. Then charge is turned into a numerical or mathematical value which correspond to the image.

Advantages/ Features Of CMOS Sensor

  • CMOS consumes less power
  • CMOS sensors are cheaper
  • These Sensors produce better HD videos
  • CMOS cameras are used on Phones, Tablets, etc
  • CMOS imager clearly has better performance

Disadvantages Of CMOS Sensor

  • CMOS sensors are also more susceptible – sometimes images are grainy
  • CMOS sensors need more light for better image
Despite some disadvantages CMOS sensor is widely used in Mobile Phones, Tablets, PDAs and on most of the digital cameras. Also we never need to forget that CCDs are better for performance they are also used on Digital and DSLR Cameras.
While both the cameras most of the time produce similar kind of images. While CCD cameras produce better images but  CMOS sensors are catching up fast with its low power consumption. We hope that Soon CMOS will match CCD like images quality.

Recents

Simranpal Singh
Simranpal Singhhttp://www.goandroid.co.in
Simran Singh lives in Chandigarh, India and has been an avid Android fan since its release. Beside from working as a writer at The Gadget Square, he also runs his own Android blog named GoAndroid.

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