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This section provides an overview for image sensors as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 25 image sensor manufacturers and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked image sensor companies as of December, 2024: 1.Cognex Corporation, 2.OMNIVISION, 3.Banner Engineering Corporation.
Table of Contents
An image sensor is a component that converts light information into electrical signals.
Image sensors are the CCD (Charge Coupled Device) and CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) sensors used in digital cameras and other photographic equipment.
Image sensors are the "eyes" of a machine. The number of pixels in an image sensor used in a camera refers to the total number of image sensors. Each sensor detects the intensity of light, which is quantified and processed as an electrical signal.
Image sensors are mainly used in production lines for mass-produced products. For example, they are useful in production lines for automotive parts, food and medical products, electronic devices, liquid crystals, semiconductors, and plastic products.
The role of image sensors is to provide an alternative to visual inspection by the human eye. They are applied in various tasks such as quantity counting, presence/absence inspections to detect missing products, and visual inspections to identify scratches and defects.
In combination with advanced image analysis technology, they are also used for character identification (OCR: Optical Character Recognition) and 3D measurement. Image sensors are also used in automated driving systems and will continue to be essential devices in the future.
The core of an image sensor is a light-sensitive semiconductor (photodiode). This semiconductor senses the intensity of light and stores it as an electrical charge. When light strikes the photosensor, electrons are produced in proportion to the intensity of the light.
The basic principle of image sensors is to use the properties of semiconductors to store electrons and quantify the amount of electrons. In image sensors, there are devices based on different principles, depending on how the electrons stored in the light-receiving element are converted into a signal. The main devices are CCD and CMOS.
In CCDs, the charge is converted to an electrical signal by means of a CCD transfer path. In CMOS, each photodetector has its own amplification circuit (amplifier). Therefore, the charge can be transferred without having to go through multiple photodetectors.
Since CMOS is driven by a single device, it has the advantages of low power consumption and high processing speed. It is also attracting attention for its lower manufacturing cost than CCD.
Image sensors come in several sizes. Usually, image quality improves as sensor size increases. The reason is that the larger the sensor size, the more light it can collect.
The greater the range of light that can be captured, or dynamic range, the better the image can be captured with fewer blown-out whites and blacks. In addition, the larger the size of an image sensor with the same number of pixels, the better the image quality, because the light-receiving area per pixel (1 pixel) is larger, which also reduces noise.
Illumination is a device that interpolates the image sensor for FA. Illumination is necessary for the image sensor to stably detect a workpiece without being affected by ambient light. The following three lighting methods are common:
Orthoreflective Method
This method illuminates the workpiece from above at an angle and captures the image reflected on the surface of the workpiece. This method makes it easy to obtain contrast between flat and uneven areas of a workpiece, such as a metal plate with uneven surfaces.
Transmission Method
This method illuminates the workpiece from the back and captures the image from the surface. The contours of workpieces with complex shapes can be imaged more accurately.
Coaxial Epi-Illumination Method
This is a method in which the optical axis of the camera is coaxial with the illumination optical axis irradiating the workpiece. The entire workpiece is illuminated evenly and shadows can be minimized.
The price of an image sensor is determined by its "field of view" and "accuracy".
Field of View
Normally, the larger the number of pixels in an image sensor, the finer objects can be detected. The larger the number of pixels, the larger the size of the sensor and the higher the price.
In addition, processing time tends to increase because of the time required for data transfer. It is important to select a sensor that matches the tact of the system to be operated.
Accuracy
Image sensors with higher pixel counts are more accurate. Depending on the object to be detected, a monochrome sensor or a color sensor may be required, but a color camera is more expensive.
*Including some distributors, etc.
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Banner Engineering Corporation, established in 1966 and headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, is a manufacturer and supplier of industrial automation products. They offer an extensive range of sensors, including proximity sensors, photoelectric sensors, and limit switches, for detecting object presence, position, and speed. Additionally, Banner provides a different types of switches, such as pushbuttons, toggle switches, and rotary switches, to control electricity flow and offer system feedback. Their wide array of controls includes PLCs, HMIs, and motion controllers, enabling automation of industrial processes.
Toshiba International Corp., founded in 1967 and headquartered in Houston, Texas, is a manufacturer of electric motors and drives, power electronics, and industrial solutions. It is a subsidiary of the company Toshiba Corporation. The company specializes in providing various products and services for industries including industrial, commercial, and utility. Its product range encompasses motors, drives, uninterruptible power systems, and power electronics. These technologies find applications in various sectors, including manufacturing, utilities, and transportation. The company holds ISO 9001:2015, meeting the standards of quality management systems.
Sick AG, founded in 1946 and headquartered in Waldkirch, Germany, is a manufacturer of sensor and sensor solutions that aid in in production, logistics, and processes automation. The company’s expansive product portfolio includes industrial sensors, encoders, and analyzers. It has over 50 subsidiaries and equity investments as well as several agencies worldwide, and in the 2022 fiscal year, it generated around €2.2 billion. The company established the first subsidiary in France in 1972 and opened another subsidiary in USA in 1975. It changed to a joint stock company in 1996 and the first employee shares were issued in 1999.
Pepperl+Fuchs, Inc. was founded in Mannheim, Germany in 1945 developing the forerunner of the proximity switch. Pepperl+Fuchs continues to develop proximity sensors as well as other industrial sensors including ultrasonic sensors, rotary encoders, positioning systems, display and signal processing, vibration monitoring, industrial communication, and signal processing as well as related accessories and software. Explosive protection products include safety barriers, surge protection, wireless solutions, HMI systems, power supplies, electrical explosion protection equipment, level measurement, and related software.
ifm efector (ifm) is a subsidiary of ifm electronic, founded in Germany in 1969. ifm has developed, manufactured and marketed sensors and controls technology to industries that include assembly and robotics, automotive, material handling, metal forming, mobile equipment, plastics, and food and beverage. Ifm produces sensors, condition monitoring equipment, image processing, safety technology, industrial communication, IO-link, systems for mobile machines, displays, software, connection technology, voltage supplies, as well as other accessories.
Cognex Corporation, an American company founded in 1981 and headquartered in Natick, Massachusetts, is a manufacturer and supplier of machine vision and industrial barcode reading products. The company's product portfolio includes vision sensors, 3D vision systems, fixed-mount barcode readers, handheld barcode readers, and vision software. These products find applications in various industries, including automation equipment, automotive, consumer products, electronics, and life science solutions. The company also offers customer services, including technical support, product training, hardware programs, product lifecycle, and warranty programs. The company has facilities in the Americas, Asia, Australia, and Europe to facilitate the global supply of its products.
Rochester Electronics, LLC is a manufacturer stocking distributor of end-of-life semiconductors and the broadest range of active semiconductors that is headquartered in Newburyport, Massachusetts, and was founded in 1981. The company caters to manufacturing services ranging from design, wafer processing, testing, reliability, and IP Archiving. These specifically include OCM, build-to-order products, process flows, and standard packaging creation. The company pivots on manufacturing and distributing semiconductors that are no longer produced by its original manufacturer.
OMNIVISION, established in 1995 and headquartered in Santa Clara, California, USA, is a manufacturer and supplier of advanced image sensors and semiconductor products. The company's products include a diverse spectrum of image sensors, ranging from CMOS image sensors to complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor image sensors and charge-coupled device image sensors. In addition, it pioneers the creation and distribution of other semiconductor products, notably image signal processors, image processors, and camera modules. These pioneering image sensors and semiconductor solutions cater to a wide array of applications, spanning the realms of automotive, consumer electronics, industrial, medical, and security.
iC-Haus GmbH, established in 1984, is a German-based manufacturer of standard and customized integrated circuits (ICs), microsystems and system-on-chip solutions used in automotive, medical and industrial applications. The company’s integrated circuit product segment consists of I/O iCs, power management iCs, sensor iCs, safety light curtain iCs, and encoder iCs. They also offer laser diode and LED drivers used in industrial sensors, laser leveling, laser printers, laser pointers, and barcode scanners. iC-Haus has a Linear Functions iCs product line which is composed of ultra-fast comparators, four-quadrant multipliers, and OPAMPs used in demodulators, signal conditioners, measurement amplifiers, and voltage-controlled amplifiers.
MultiDimension Technology (MDT) is a manufacturer of magnetic sensors founded in 2010 and headquartered in Zhangjiagang Free Trade Zone, Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, China. The company produces a series of Sensor ICs and Sensor modules such as Anisotropic MagnetoResistance (AMR), Giant MagnetoResistance (GMR), and Tunneling MagnetoResistance (TMR) that are used in the technical field of magnetoresistive transducers for measuring magnetic field and other parameters. They also offer magnetic device wafer fabrication along with designing and testing features enabling MDT to provide solutions for a wide range of applications in the magnetic sensor market.
Optex Fee Co., Ltd., was established in 2002 and based in Kyoto, Japan, is a manufacturer and supplier of factory automation sensors and solutions. The company offers an extensive and diversified product portfolio including photoelectric sensors, fiber-optic sensors, displacement sensors, non-contact thermometers, vision sensors, and other industrial automation products. These sensors and solutions play a pivotal role in enhancing manufacturing processes across a spectrum of industries, including automotive, electronics, and packaging.
Toshiba Electronic Devices & Storage Corporation is a division of Toshiba focusing on providing designs for end-product developers as well as semiconductor and drive equipment for automotive, industrial equipment, green energy, and consumer and personal electronic devices. Toshiba’s storage products include cloud-scale and enterprise-level products, and PC hard drives. Semiconductor products include Si Cower devices, MOSFETs, IGBTs, IEGTs, isolators, solid state relays, power management and intelligent power ICs, diodes, bipolar transistors, microcontrollers, automotive devices, ICs for wireless communication equipment, general purpose logic ICs, radio-frequency devices, sensors, and linear image sensors.
Located in Austria and Germany, Ams-Osram is a sensor design and manufacturing company that specializes in compact form factors, low power, high sensitivity, and multi-sensor applications. They were established in 1981 and were formerly known as austriamicrosystems AG. In 2012 it changed its name to ams AG. They have a technology portfolio for sensing, lighting, and visualization, ranging from light emitters and optical components to micro-modules, integrated circuits, and related software. Their work develops technology for use in the consumer, industrial, medical, and automotive sectors.
Hamamatsu Photonics K.K., established in 1953 and headquartered in Hamamatsu, Japan, is a manufacturer of sensors and emitters for both visible and invisible light. It stocks products like LEDs, lamps, and photodiodes used in several industries, including consumer electronics, dental imaging, and environmental monitoring. The sensor and light source components are also available as modules and units that can be incorporated into systems the company develops, like optical measurement systems or imaging systems. The ISO 9001-certified company stocks over 15,000 devices, units, and systems that ship to over 100 destinations worldwide, and it has ten research and production bases.
Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation, founded in 2015 and headquartered in Atsugi, Japan, is a manufacturer of various semiconductor products and electric/electronic equipment, as well as other related businesses. Its range of products includes image sensors, microdisplays, board computers, and laser diodes used in several industries, such as logistics, manufacturing, security, agriculture, and transportation. The company conforms to the IATF 16949 standard and ISO 9001 and has 33 bases in 13 countries worldwide. It has received several awards, including the National Invention Award, Okochi Award, US Walter Kosonocky Award, and Manufacturing Japan Grand Award.
Omron Corporation, started in 1933 and headquartered in Kyoto, Japan, is a manufacturer of automation components, equipment, and systems, and it developed the first contactless proximity switch in 1960. It has four domains, including industrial automation, electronic components, healthcare, and social systems, and it provides products and services in around 120 countries and regions. Some of its products include microsensing devices, access control systems, industrial robots, surveillance cameras, and blood pressure monitors. In 1971, it developed the first online cash machine, and in 1972, it established Japan’s first welfare factory.
Teledyne Scientific & Imaging, located in Thousand Oaks, California, operates as a manufacturer of mechatronics and robotics solutions. Its offerings include infrared and visible sensors for image detection, Read-Out Integrated Circuits (ROICs) for signal processing, scientific and tactical cameras capturing high-resolution images, camera electronics with advanced algorithms, and laser protection devices. These solutions serve system and machine design across various sectors, including military, space, astronomy, and commercial applications. Its Quality Management System (QMS) holds certifications in compliance with ISO 9001:2015 and AS9100D standards.
Teledyne e2v (UK) Ltd is a manufacturer of electronic components and subsystems for various industries. The company is established in 1940 and headquartered in United Kingdom. The company offers an extensive portfolio of products such as imaging sensors, radio frequency devices, semiconductors, and microwave solutions. The company delivers cutting-edge solutions in areas such as aerospace, defense, medical, industrial, and science. Its global existence ensures the delivery of impactful solutions that cater to evolving market demands.
Toshiba has nearly a century-and-a-half-long history of pioneering the development of electrical equipment in Japan, providing customers with products and services such as energy systems and solutions and infrastructure systems and solutions. With a focus on digital technologies, Toshiba boasts cutting-edge products in semiconductors, barcode printers, and rechargeable Lithium-ion battery cells, modules, and industrial pack series. With arms in business, R & D, AI, sustainability, and digital solutions, Toshiba and its people evolve with the times, ensuring its continuing ability to solve ever-changing social issues through constant change. By utilizing the knowledge that Toshiba has amassed across numerous business domains, along with cutting-edge technologies like IoT, AI, and quantum related technologies, they have created digital solutions that provide our customers with new value and services
Solomon Technology Corporation, founded in 1990 and headquartered in Taipei, Taiwan, is a manufacturer and supplier of 3D vision systems and industrial AI solutions. The company's product range includes META-aivi, SolVision, SolMotion, AccuPick Instant, and AccuPick 3D. These products are essential for various applications such as 3D matching, bin picking, and optical character recognition. The company serves industries requiring automation solutions, vision-guided robotics, visual inspection, and machine tending. Its services include providing R&D, engineering services, feasibility studies, and expert support on large-scale projects.
FRAMOS is located inTaufkirchen, Germany and is a manufacturer and distributor of imaging products including image sensors, 3D modules, and depth-sensing technology that have applications in security, drones, and sports & entertainment cameras since 1981. The company offers SWIR, event-based, time-of-flight, and global & rolling shutter image sensors from Sony, Prophesee, Pyxalis, and Andon. FRAMOS's resource portfolio includes various solutions and capabilities such as embedded vision technologies, custom solutions and support as well as OEM services. The company holds ISO 9001:2015 certification and is also a distributor of optic devices such as lenses, filters, optical modules, and components.
The Brillnics Group, established in 2014, is a manufacturer and supplier of CMOS image sensor products based in Tokyo, Japan, with a second location in Zhubei City, Taiwan. The company offers the BRV0207 and BRV0507 CMOS image sensors which are used as IP and surveillance cameras in security, automotive, mobile device, and consumer electronics applications. The company, which is ISO 9001:2015-certified, also offers their proprietary Brillnics H3 DRTM Technology which enables multiple exposure HDR scheme and/or single exposure HDR scheme.
From industrial inspection to scientific research, Teledyne Vision Solutions offers world-leading imaging solutions to help you capture the data you need and make decisions in the toughest applications. Across the spectrum from infrared to X-Ray, and from silicon to software, we offer the most comprehensive portfolio of imaging technology and products in the industry, plus worldwide customer support and the technical expertise to handle truly unique challenges and give you competitive advantage. Teledyne Vision Solutions (TVS) provides the industry's most comprehensive portfolio of imaging technology. Our depth and capability are a result of the combined strengths of Teledyne DALSA, e2v CMOS Sensors, FLIR IIS, Lumenera, Photometrics, Princeton Instruments, Judson Technologies, and Acton Optics. We deliver a unique blend of innovation, reliability, and service you can trust in the design of your own competitive solutions. We look forward to working with you on your next design. Count on our relentless commitment to manufacturing excellence to deliver the highest quality components to drive your vision solution. For standard and custom/OEM solutions, designers and users of systems, anyone with advanced sensing requirements or need of specialized vision technology, we offer a wide range of solutions. This includes image sensors, cameras (1D, 2D, smart, SWIR, thermal LWIR, scientific and x-ray), 3D laser sensors and profilers, frame grabbers, and comprehensive software development tools that include AI.
Shenzhen Shengyu Electronics Technology Ltd., founded in 2008 and headquartered in Shenzhen, China, is an electric component distributor that is ISO 9001 certified. The company stocks several components, including switches, capacitors, and resistors, which it sources from multiple manufacturers like Seiko Instruments, Inc., Renesas Electronics America, and Nuvoton Technology Corporation America. Depending on the size and configuration of the customer’s components, the company provides a full range of packaging services. It accepts single or multiple-part quotations, and its website allows customers to search hundreds of products ranging from ICs to computer accessories.
Ranking as of December 2024
Derivation Method| Rank | Company | Click Share |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cognex Corporation |
22.2%
|
| 2 | OMNIVISION |
10.9%
|
| 3 | Banner Engineering Corporation |
6.4%
|
| 4 | FRAMOS |
5.9%
|
| 5 | SICK AG |
5.3%
|
| 6 | BRILLNICS |
5.1%
|
| 7 | Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation |
4.9%
|
| 8 | Toshiba International Corp. |
4.1%
|
| 9 | Rochester Electronics |
3.6%
|
| 10 | Omron |
3.6%
|
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the image sensor page as of December 2024. Click share is defined as the total number of clicks for all companies during the period divided by the number of clicks for each company.Number of Employees
Newly Established Company
Company with a History
*Including some distributors, etc.
*Including some distributors, etc.
| Country | Number of Companies | Share (%) |
|---|---|---|
|
United States of America
|
8 | 47.1% |
|
Japan
|
6 | 35.3% |
|
Germany
|
1 | 5.9% |
|
China
|
1 | 5.9% |
|
Austria
|
1 | 5.9% |
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