Market Dynamics
Market Drivers
Better Performance in Low Light and Temperature Variations
Outdoor applications use CMOS sensors for machine vision and have several difficulties, such as dim lighting, fluctuating temperatures, and unpredictable weather. The organic CMOS image sensor can overcome these difficulties since it can simultaneously flip between imaging frames without sacrificing resolution to collect both visible and near-infrared (NIR) light. The novel sensor has two organic layers: the bottom layer is sensitive to near-infrared light, and the top layer is sensitive to visible light. As a result, it will be helpful in low light or for objects moving very quickly in machine vision applications. The organic CMOS image sensor can capture visible light during the day, and after dark, it can switch to visible+NIR mode. High dynamic range organic CMOS image sensors guard against overexposure in bright light and underexposure in shaded regions. A thin inorganic layer protects the organic film from temperature changes and humidity.
Market Restraint
Excessive Heat Generation in the Organic Sensor Technology
It is anticipated that one of the main problems with this technology will be excessive heat generation. Due to their high power requirements, organic CMOS image sensors are predicted to deplete batteries more quickly than traditional image sensors. Image processors with 4K resolution and traditional shutter technology are unsuitable for handling the data from organic CMOS image sensors. Existing technologies have sync speed restrictions, which results in a lag. These elements are anticipated to restrict the use of organic CMOS image sensors.
Market Opportunities
Increasing Penetration of Image Sensors in Automobiles
Advanced automotive technologies, including ADAS, adaptive cruise control, and in-vehicle accident mitigation, are becoming more widely employed. Semi-autonomous and fully autonomous vehicles are anticipated to hit the market by 2021 because of the rapid growth of electronic content. For autonomous driving, camera-enabled systems for automated emergency braking, video mirrors, driver monitoring, and 360-degree surround vision, fully autonomous or self-driving vehicles are predicted to raise demand for advanced image sensors. Vehicles typically had 10 CMOS image sensors, which was projected to increase to 20 by 2020. However, it is projected that the organic CMOS image sensor will present development prospects during the forecast period due to its advantages, including high resolution and low-light environment picture capture.
Regional Analysis
The global organic CMOS image sensor market is bifurcated into four regions, namely North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and LAMEA.
North America Dominates the Global Market
North America is the most significant shareholder in the global organic CMOS image sensor market and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 10.8% during the forecast period. The global market is examined in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The regional increase influences the organic CMOS image sensor market in consumer electronics and automotive product sales among North American consumers. Leading American technology company GoPro, Inc. identified a few critical areas that the image sensor market needs to expand and adapt to in the upcoming years. Various image sensor developers and end-users, including software, camera system vendors, camera technology innovators, and sensor design firms, come together as Image Sensor Americas. In addition, Genie Nano cameras were introduced in January 2018 by Teledyne DALSA, a leader in machine vision technologies. This new device offers characteristics including a global shutter, 1280*1024 resolution, and 83 frames per second of image capturing speed.
Asia-Pacific is expected to grow at a CAGR of 16.1%, generating USD 714.6 million during the forecast period. Asia-Pacific dominates the market share for organic CMOS image sensors in the world. This is due to the surge in technology development and automotive standards in developing nations like South Korea, China, Japan, and India. The Chinese government plans to invest heavily in large-scale projects that promote manufacturing innovation, such as the Internet of Things, smart appliances, and high-end consumer electronics. These initiatives are part of the "Made in China 2025" strategy, a roadmap for improving China's manufacturing industry.
In addition, India is currently rated third in the world for television production and is embracing new technology quickly. Expanding the consumer electronics sector in this area can be linked to rising disposable income and the number of young people interested in technology. Due to significant consumer electronics behemoths like Samsung and LG Electronics in South Korea, this region dominates the semiconductor, mobile communication, and advanced consumer electronics industries. These factors are expected to drive the organic CMOS image sensor market over the forecast period.
Europe is expected to grow significantly over the forecast period. Organic CMOS image sensors are widely used in European consumer electronics, robotics, and automotive industries. The widespread adoption of smart CMOS image sensors in these applications across Europe is the main factor propelling the market forward. Additionally, organic CMOS image sensors used in biomedicine offer a variety of business potential in Europe. The UK's most significant industry is the manufacture of automobiles, and the market for organic CMOS image sensors is anticipated to expand significantly due to a diverse customer base. The introduction of several autonomous vehicles is likely to occur by 2022, which will help to increase demand for organic CMOS image sensors. In addition, home automation is a popular trend that is spreading quickly in this region. Security is a crucial component of home automation, where cameras with high-tech imaging sensors are installed and can operate in both day and night modes. It is anticipated that the organic CMOS image sensor's NIR technology will accelerate adoption in the region.
It is anticipated that technological advancements in South America and the Middle East will support market expansion in LAMEA. The Middle East's rapid infrastructure, technological, and medical facility development also contribute to the LAMEA market's expansion. However, the continent's development of the organic CMOS image sensor market may be hampered by the continent's terrible economic situation. The Middle East is seeing increased growth in the security and surveillance sector. For instance, at Dubai International Airport, facial recognition cameras have been used to create a virtual aquarium. Travelers move through the tunnel equipped with screens that show commercials while facial recognition is handled behind the scenes. The Dubai Police Department also started a project to secure villas by installing cameras and motion detectors.
Segmental Analysis
The global organic CMOS image sensor market is segmented by image processing, array type, application, and industry vehicle.
On the Basis of Image Processing
Based on image processing, the global market is bifurcated into 2D sensors and 3D sensors.
The 2D sensor segment is the highest contributor to the market and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 12.0% during the forecast period. In numerous applications, including robotics, logistics, medical and life sciences, and machine vision and automation, 2D organic CMOS image sensors are employed to achieve high performance. The market for 2D organic CMOS image sensors is growing due to several features, including high operation speed, high resolution, shutter type feature, and higher dynamic range (DB). Due to this sensor's low power consumption, its use is currently fashionable.
For instance, ON Semiconductor unveiled the AR0430 CMOS digital image sensor in February 2018. The world's leading provider of imaging, FRAMOS, offers this product, which combines conventional 2D video imaging. The AR0430 CMOS sensor produces high-quality photos with cutting-edge 2.0 m pixel stacked BSI technology and a 4 Megapixel resolution at 120 frames per second (fps) thanks to its compact 1/3.1-inch optical footprint.
3D organic CMOS image sensors enable the next generation of 3D vision systems. For customers desiring the most significant levels of 3D performance, including high depth resolution, high speed, and flexible operation circumstances, a 3D sensor like Hydra3D features a 10 m three-tap cutting-edge pixel, which enables very rapid transfer time. Mobile phones, wearable technology, tablet computers, cameras, and remote controls are just a few consumer electronics products that can use 3D organic CMOS image sensors. These consumer electronics products use a variety of 3D sensors, including 3D image sensors. The drivers for integrating 3D sensing technologies in consumer electronics include intelligence, reliability, low power consumption, cheap cost, and high integration.
On the Basis of Array Type
Based on array type, the global market is bifurcated into linear image sensors and area image sensors.
The linear image sensors segment owns the highest market share and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 11.9% during the forecast period. A solid-state device called a linear image sensor transforms an optical image into an analog signal line by line. The CMOS image sensor and the CCD image sensor are two different linear image sensor types with unique circuit designs. Applications for linear image sensors include grain color sorters, banknote recognition systems in banking terminals, copier scanning components, image scanners, barcode readers, and line scan cameras used for visual examination (a film, printed materials, or fabric). The market is expanding due to these numerous uses. For instance, Toshiba unveiled the "TCD2726DG" in March 2021, a lens reduction type CCD linear image sensor that enables fast scanning for A3 multifunction printers.
Area image sensors pair a CsI scintillator plate with an image sensor. Area image sensors are currently most frequently implemented using charge-coupled devices (CCD). Due to the shifting and detection of analog charge packets and the fact that data is transmitted off-chip in analog form, they have low yields, too much power, and SNR restrictions. Area image sensors are frequently employed for digital X-ray imaging applications like medical radiography and non-destructive testing. As an illustration, Hamamatsu unveiled the S14501, an APS-type back-illuminated CMOS area image sensor with exceptional sensitivity in the visible to near-infrared range. The pixel size is 1280 by 1024 in SXGA format. Imaging is also possible at a maximum frame rate of 146 frames per second.
On the Basis of Application
Based on application, the global market is bifurcated into 3D imaging, video, machine vision, biometrics, and others.
The 3D imaging segment is the highest contributor to the market and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 12.3% during the forecast period. Due to its widespread use, 3D imaging is a crucial component of many human and automated vision applications in security, consumer electronics, automotive, and many other industries. Most CMOS image sensors can be made capable of 3D sensing with little loss in 2D image quality by adding two thin layers of transmissive material, collectively known as the TDM. The organic CMOS image sensor is frequently used due to its distinctive features, including its small size, low cost, and minimal processing power requirement for 3D image capture. For instance, the AR0430 CMOS, a new digital image sensor from image-sensor manufacturer ON Semiconductor, combines 2D video imaging and 3D image recognition.
Image sensors play a crucial part in vision systems by recognizing flaws in the scanned product, which is why machine vision systems demand high levels of resilience and dependability. Image sensors are used in machine vision systems for industrial applications like inspection, guidance, and others. The demand for wide-angle lenses that offer a broad field of view and high resolution has increased due to the growth in a variety of machine vision applications, including mobile mapping, UAV-based inspections of power lines or facilities, and sophisticated ADAS systems for automobiles. For example, ON Semiconductor unveiled the AR0234CS 2.3 Mp CMOS image sensor with global shutter technology in October 2020.
On the Basis of Industry Verticals
Based on industry verticals, the global market is bifurcated into consumer electronics, automotive, medical and life sciences, security and surveillance, robotics, and others.
The consumer electronics segment owns the highest market share and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 12.6% during the forecast period. One of the most significant areas of the organic CMOS image sensor industry is consumer electronics. These sensors can be coupled with cellphones, digital cameras, camcorders, PCs/laptops, and televisions to get a high-resolution image. Smartphones are the organic CMOS image sensor's main application area in the consumer electronics sector. The need for organic CMOS image sensors in smartphones is driven by increased demand for sophisticated features like high pixel density and low light photography. For instance, Samsung Electronics recently disclosed plans to incorporate dual camera technology into smartphones, creating high-quality Bokeh effects and low-light photography. Bokeh is a photography technique in which the background is softly blurred or out-of-focus while the subject is sharp and clear.
The organic CMOS image sensor with revolutionary NIR technology is in high demand from the automobile sector. Due to its high-performance safety feature deployment in automotive systems, organic CMOS image sensor systems are increasingly used in futuristic driverless autonomous vehicles worldwide. This industry is changing quickly as a result of the use of cutting-edge technologies to ensure the safety of drivers, passengers, and pedestrians. In addition to ADAS being a requirement for all passenger cars, novel applications, including autonomous driving, automated emergency braking, video mirrors, rearview cameras, driver monitoring systems, and 360-degree surround views, are becoming more popular. These applications require sophisticated image sensors. It is anticipated that this will open up prospects for market expansion.
