Image Sensor Market by Technology (CMOS [FSI, BSI], CCD), by Processing Type (2D, 3D), by Operating Spectrum (Visible, Invisible), by Array Type (Area, Linear), by Application (Consumer Electronics [Smartphones & Tablets, Photography & Videography Products, Desktops & Laptops, Commercial Drones], Security & Surveillance, Automotive, Industrial, Healthcare & Life Sciences [X-Ray Imaging, Endoscopy]) by Geography (U.S., Canada, China, Japan, South Korea, India, Germany, U.K., France, Italy, Spain, Brazil) – Global Market Size, Share, Development, Growth, and Demand Forecast, 2013–2023

Market Outlook

The image sensors market revenue stood at $15,934.8 million in 2017, and it is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 6.2% during 2018–2023. The mushrooming demand for enhanced medical imaging solutions and surging penetration of image sensing devices in the automotive industry are the major growth drivers for the market.

At present, the complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor (CMOS) category accounts for the larger market share within the technology segment. This is because of the smaller size and lower power consumption of CMOS-based image sensing devices. As a result, Sony Corporation intends to discontinue the shipment of its charge-coupled device (CCD) image sensors by March 2020. Although this step will harm the global sales of CCD-based image sensing devices, it will shift the focus of the prominent market players toward the CMOS technology.

In 2017, the two-dimensional (2D) category, under the processing type segment, held the larger revenue share, of over 70.0%. This was due to the wide availability of 2D image sensors and their compatibility with several devices.

In the coming years, the invisible category would demonstrate the faster growth under the operating spectrum segment. The rising demand for invisible-spectrum-based devices in the image sensors market can be owed to their wide application areas. Cameras operating in the invisible spectrum are used for firefighting, surveillance and security, industrial diagnostics, and medical imaging.

Global Image Sensor Market, By technology, $M (2013-2023)

As a result, market players are increasingly investing in the development of devices that operate in the invisible spectrum. For instance, in 2017, Panasonic Corporation introduced an electrically controllable near-infrared (INR)-spectrum-based image sensor to expand its product portfolio of invisible-spectrum image sensors.

The Asia-Pacific (APAC) market for image sensors will observe the fastest growth, at an 8.3% CAGR, in the coming years due to the soaring investments by key market players. Further, the growth of the North American region can be owed to the prospering industrial, defense, and medical sectors in the U.S.

Market Dynamics

The increasing number of innovations and enhancements in the CMOS imaging technology, fabrication, and design has become a major trend. Although a general method of maximizing the trade-offs between limiters is the integration of the circuit design, designers of the CMOS imaging technology are offering products with high performance for machine vision applications. Recent developments in the CMOS technology, within the larger image sensors market, have substantially enhanced the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) in high-speed machine vision applications, which has outdone the CCD technology in terms of cost, performance, and functionality.

The image sensors industry growth thrives on the increasing production of low-power and compact image sensing devices. For instance, in July 2017, Sony Corporation introduced the α9 digital camera with a 24.2-megapixel (MP) resolution and 35-mm, full-frame stacked CMOS sensor. This digital camera offers blackout-free shooting at up to 20 frames per second and a shutter speed of up to 1/32,000 second. It is also used for tracking 60 AF/AE calculations per second. Likewise, in June 2017, Canon Inc. expanded its EOS DSLR range by introducing EOS 200D. The new camera is equipped with a compact, high-resolution 24.2-MP advanced photo system type-C (APS-C)-size CMOS sensor.

The progress of the market for image sensors is restrained by the limitations of CCD-based devices. The integration of analog components in these devices needs more electronic circuitry outside the sensor and leads to up to 100 times higher energy consumption than CMOS-enabled devices. The temperature inside the camera should be low because high temperature amplifies the interference inside the camera system. The high power consumption results in the heating of the cameras, which has an adverse impact on the image quality and cost of the product.

A key opportunity for the image sensors market are the Advancements in optical molecular imaging that are resulting in new capabilities in imaging, including increased accuracy and sensitivity. Technological developments in optical molecular imaging have expanded the scope of image sensing devices in medical practices, clinical translation, and cancer research. CMOS image sensing devices are being increasingly used in optical molecular imaging tools.

Apart from this, researchers are proactively working toward the development of novel disease models that can be studied using optical-molecular-imaging-technology-based solutions. In the coming years, optical molecular imaging would gain momentum in clinical and preclinical trials involving humans, thereby creating ample growth opportunities for the market players.

Competitive Landscape

Key players in the image sensor industry are launching new products to gain a larger market share. For instance, in January 2018, OmniVision Technologies Inc. unveiled an RGB-Ir image sensor, OV9738, to be used in IR and color imaging applications. The product provides several advantages over its predecessors, such as IR-based biometric capabilities (for gesture interface and facial recognition) and lower system cost.

Similarly, in December 2017, Sony Corporation launched a back-side-illuminated, 1/2-type VGA resolution, time-of-flight (ToF) image sensor. The sensor offers improved depth sensing performance and accurate detection of the reflected light, as compared to conventional ToF sensors. The depth map technology of the sensor reduces the distortion of moving subjects by capturing the image at a higher frame rate.

Some of the key players in the global image sensors industry are Sony Corporation, Panasonic Corporation, Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., OmniVision Technologies Inc., Canon Inc., STMicroelectronics N.V., Toshiba Corporation, SK hynix Inc., ON Semiconductor Corporation, and Hamamatsu Photonics K.K.