Is the end of the CCD image sensor arrived?

Pierre Cambou, an analyst with market research organization Yole Developpement, pointed out in a newly published review article that charge-coupled device (CCD) image sensors have reached the end of the world.

The reason for the review was prompted by rumors from market leader Sony's customers that the company will withdraw from the CCD image sensor and camera manufacturing business. It is expected that Sony will stop the Kagoshima Technology Center from March 2017. The 8-inch wafer CCD sensor production line, by 2020 is completely out of the technology.

Cambou said: "The timetable has not yet been set, because discussions are still in progress; but one thing is certain - this is the starting point for Sony's CCD sensor business to end."

According to Cambou, CCD image sensors can still provide optimal performance in certain applications and cannot be replaced by CMOS image sensors. However, customers relying on Sony to produce CCD image sensors may have to find suppliers, such as Teledyne Dalsa, On Semiconductor, e2v, Fairchild Semiconductor, or switched to CMOS image sensors.

“For industry experts, looking at the creative destruction brought about by technology transfer is always sad;” Cambou said: “But I think this major shift will update the driving force of the industry. Let's get ready for a new one. In the technical cycle, I believe we will not be disappointed; despite the fact that the CCD image sensor is dead, the CMOS image sensor will last forever!"