Image sensors detect and convey data about an optical image by converting it into an electric signal. Image sensors are ubiquitous by their presence in everyday items such as mobile phones, digital cameras toys, as well as more complex objects such as weapons and spacecraft. There are a myriad of market forces in the United States that augur well for the growth of the image sensor market. Broadly, imaging sensors can be categorized as: Linear image sensors, CCD/area image sensors, and X-ray image sensors. Linear image sensors segment can be further split into CMOS, NMOS and InGaAs image sensors.

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The U.S. image sensors market was worth USD 2.0 billion in 2011 and is forecasted to reach USD 3.7 billion in 2017 at a CAGR of 11.1% from 2011 to 2017. The linear image sensors segment accounted for the largest share i.e. 84.2% of the U.S. image sensors market at USD 1.7 billion in 2011. The X-ray image sensors market segment will have the fastest revenue growth at a CAGR of 18.8% during 2011 - 2017. The U.S. CMOS image sensor shipment reached 464.0 million units in 2011 registering a growth of 27.6% over 2010.

Image Sensors can either be a CCD, which is an analog device, or a CMOS chip, which is a type of active pixel sensor made using the CMOS. These sensors are integrated in various applications to help reduce the costs by knowing its key technology and market trends.

A CMOS (complementary metal-oxide semiconductor) is an integrated circuit design on a printed circuit board (PCB) that utilizes semiconductor technology. All types of circuit boards are made up of CMOS chips, N-type metal oxide semiconductor (NMOS) logic, or transistor-transistor logic (TTL) chips. Now-a-days, many market players are gradually offering higher levels of integration by incorporating ISPs (integrated signal processing) and DSPs (digital signal processing) units. CMOS image sensors enable large scale integration also in the form of a single chip so that all camera functions are accommodated conveniently. This helps to eliminate the need for additional support packaging and assembly, in turn lowering the cost. An additional unique feature like the multiple color filters that allows JPEG images conversion on the sensor is also supporting the growth of this market.

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In the world of image sensors, when it comes to image quality and versatility, bigger imaging devices are even better. In addition, low power and increasing integration operations have opened new application segments for image sensors. Owing to faster adoption and growing technological advancement of modern mobile technology, the market for mobile phones is inching towards 100%. Today, mobile phone manufacturers have spurred the demand for high resolution imaging technology via handheld smartphones. Mobile manufacturers are also introducing a wide array of imaging-enabled products that are available at low power, low cost, high performance, and small size.

Availability of different forms of sensors that are used in tablets, handsets, and motion-based image sensors applications are increasing its popularity and becoming more elegant and sophisticated in the market. Hand-held devices with these facilities have accuracy that is well-matched for novel applications including augmented reality, gaming, and motion-based web browsing. All these are significant factors playing an important role in the growth of the U.S. image sensors market.