Home > Technology > Image Sensor > Executive Summary   Nano technology has enabled a new type of image sensor. It is a new conceptual image sensor that overcomes CCD's and CMOS's limitations toward obtaining high pixel density and a larger photo detection area. Especially, through architectural optimization for the pre-existing CMOS process which commonly prevailed in areas where there was demand for low-price image sensors, and enhancing sensitivities and reducing noise, a new kind of CMOS image sensor has been created with the following features: subminiature, very low power consumption, and high sensitivity.   By adopting nano technology, recently developed image sensors have adopted a new photo detection method and realize higher sensitivity, resolution and high performance with low power consumption. The CMOS image sensor that accomplished its commercialization version recently is a sort of artificial eye functioning as if a human's. This product uses a similar production process with a common memory semiconductor and applies a silicon semiconductor with nano technology. In general, it is hard to get a vivid picture using common digital cameras and mobile phone cameras in dark places or at night because the sensors' s sensitivity is not high enough to handle this problem. But using this technology, we've made it possible to take pictures anywhere at anytime. The competition over developing technology for higher pixels is very severe. However, by utilizing specific physical properties of semiconductors using nano technology allows for the development of a smaller image sensor never before invented. Moreover, regarding the limitation of recent image sensor technology only up to 130 pixels, we have overcome such restraints and made it possible to apply 200-pixel resolution to mobile phones. We are about to introduce VGA (30 pixel) pixel resolution mobile phone image sensors for more rapid mass production, and considering image sensors minus their driving parts, we are anticipating a steep reduction in power consumption, equal to 1/many times, compared to pre-existing products which are also vying to solve the requirement problem of high power consumption due to high sensitivity operation.