New CMOS image sensor offers CCD quality
A new CMOS image sensor developed by the Interuniversity Microelectronics Center (IMEC; Leuven, Belgium) produces images with quality similar to that of an average CCD imaging device and will enable IMEC to compete in a broad array of markets, including multimedia, consumer video cameras, digital photography, and surveillance. The new CMOS sensor is based on two developments for which patent applications have been filed. One is an additional p-doped layer beneath the pixel electronics that enables greater sensitivity. The other is on-chi¥integration of double-sampling circuitry that eliminates nonuniformities, which are usually unavoidable in CMOS. Further improvements, such as on-chi¥color filters and improvements in sensitivity, are under development.