From the camera in your smartphone to high-tech surveillance systems and autonomous vehicles, image sensors are the key components that enable machines to “see” the world. Though often overlooked, image sensors have become a foundational technology in the age of digital imaging and smart devices.

What Is an Image Sensor?
An image sensor is a device that converts light (photons) into electrical signals (electrons), allowing a machine to capture an image or video. These sensors are typically found inside digital cameras, smartphones, medical imaging devices, and a growing range of smart systems.

Main Types of Image Sensors:
CCD (Charge-Coupled Device): Known for high-quality images and low noise; used in scientific, broadcast, and medical applications.

CMOS (Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor): More power-efficient and faster; now the dominant technology in consumer electronics like smartphones and webcams.

How Do Image Sensors Work?
Light enters the camera through the lens.

The sensor captures the light and converts it into an electrical signal.

The signal is processed into a digital image by the device’s processor.

Additional components like color filters and microlenses help refine the quality and color accuracy of the image.