CCD vs CMOS

Sensors CCD (charge coupled device) and CMOS (complementary metal oxide semiconductor) represent two different technologies for the capture of digital pictures. Each has its strengths and weaknesses, depending on applications. Neither of the two is not clearly superior to the other, despite the claims of supporters of both camps.

In the last five years, both technologies have changed a lot, but forecasts of a rise or fall on the other is not justified. Positive in this struggle for supremacy is to improve the quality of cameras that use such sensors and reduced prices.

Both types of sensors perform the same function - transform light into electrical charge. One simple way of presentation of the sensor used in digital camera is a two-dimensional array of millions of tiny solar cells, which convert the light from a small section of electrons in the picture. CCD and CMOS devices use different technologies to accomplish this task.

The next step is to read the value (accumulated charge) of each cell image. In CCD sensor charge is transported throughout the chip and read at the end of the massif. Analog-digital converter converts the value of each pixel in a digital signal. Here is a special production process used to transfer charge through the chip without distortion. This leads to high quality in terms of precision and sensitivity to light.
For the production of CMOS chips using the traditional process, which make most microprocessors. In these sensors for each pixel has several transistors, which enhanced the signal. Many photons fall on the transistors, rather than fotodioda, which reduces sensitivity to light. The standard process for creating a CMOS chip, however, makes them significantly cheaper than CCD sensors.
Summary, the comparison between the two technologies is as follows:
• CCD sensors create high quality images with low noise. CMOS sensors are generally more sensitive to noise.

• CMOS sensors consume 100 times less power compared to CCD sensors, which use a process requiring a lot of energy.

• CCD sensors are in mass production from a long time, so that their technology is more mature. They provide better quality and more pixels. CMOS technology is younger, but has achieved in its development. Designers of CMOS devices make enormous efforts to improve the quality of the image.

In this situation difficult to be a clear line to divide the applications for which one or the other technology is the most podhodyashti.CCD sensors commonly used in cameras and cameras, which require high quality image with many pixels and exclusive sensitivity to light.

CMOS sensors traditionally have lower quality, lower resolution and lower sensitivity. They are cheaper and have longer battery life. But technology is constantly improving and go to approach to the opportunities of CCD devices for specific applications.