CMOS Sensor
CMOS Sensor Inc is a privately held US-Taiwan semiconductor company designing custom and semi-custom CMOS image sensors, modules, and cameras for OEM customers in document scanning, industrial AOI, space, biometrics, robotics, and surveillance applications.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1997
- HeadquartersTaoyüan, Taiwan
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What CMOS Sensor does
CMOS Sensor Inc is a privately held semiconductor company founded in 1997 by Dr. Bill Wang, PhD, headquartered in San Jose, California with a wholly-owned Taiwan subsidiary (微像科技股份有限公司) established in 2003. The company designs and manufactures custom and semi-custom CMOS image sensors, integrated sensor modules, and camera systems, spanning silicon-level mixed-signal chips through complete imaging subsystems. Core technology centers on a proprietary CTIA (Capacitive Transimpedance Amplifier) active pixel sensor architecture with buffer MOS readout, multi-chip wafer butting, and in-house Chip-on-Board (COB) packaging capabilities that support small-batch and custom production.
The product portfolio covers contact image sensors (CIS) and modules for document scanning and currency validation; the IPL industrial camera with patented overlapped silicon staggering for wide-format line-scan AOI; the CLDR and CLDM LiDAR modules for robotics and industrial measurement; space-qualified sensors (C468/C640/C650) used in orbital missions; and the C610 under-display optical fingerprint sensor for OLED/AMOLED wearables. The company serves OEM and integrator customers across nine identified end-markets including document scanning, currency validation, industrial AOI, aerospace, biometrics, robotics, surveillance, and industrial sorting.
CMOS Sensor generates revenue through hardware sales of standard sensor modules and cameras, project-based custom design and OEM/ODM services, and one-stop COB foundry services. Pricing is quote-based with no public disclosure. The go-to-market combines direct sales from US and Taiwan offices with a network of regional distributors (UK, Germany) and sales representatives (Japan, India, US Northeast), supplemented by recurring presence at SPIE Photonics West and Touch Taiwan exhibitions. Reference customers include ISRO (Chandrayaan-1 lunar mapping mission), Taiwan Space Agency (Formosat-5 Earth observation), and AUO/Gingytech for the world's first smartwatch OLED display with on-display fingerprint recognition.
CMOS Sensor firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- CMOS Sensor
- Legal name
- CMOS Sensor Inc.
- Website
- https://csensor.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1997
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- CMOS Sensor Inc is a privately held US-Taiwan semiconductor company designing custom and semi-custom CMOS image sensors, modules, and cameras for OEM customers in document scanning, industrial AOI, space, biometrics, robotics, and surveillance applications.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
CMOS Sensor industry classification
Industry- Product category
- CMOS Image Sensors
- NAICS
- Other Measuring and Controlling Device Manufacturing (334519), Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (33451), Relay and Industrial Control Manufacturing (335314)
- SIC
- Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823), Instruments For Meas & Testing Of Electricity & Elec Signals (3825), Optical Instruments & Lenses (3827)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Imaging Sensors (CMOS/CCD/ToF/Depth) (HDAHALAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Sensors, MEMS & Imaging ICs (HDAHAAAG), Industrial-Grade Sensors & Transducer Components (Discrete sensing elements, transducers, MEMS sensors) (IMAGAJAO), Sensor Fusion, Interface ICs & Modules (AFE/Readout/Packaging/Calibration) (HDAHALAO)
Keywords
Where CMOS Sensor is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Taoyüan
- HQ country
- Taiwan
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices2 records
Markets served
CMOS Sensor business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Hardware sales of standard sensor modules and sensors: Sale of off-the-shelf Contact Image Sensor (CIS) modules (M106, M116, M118, M168 series), CIS sensors, and linear/area image sensors with selectable DPI, illumination, and housing options.
- Custom / semi-custom image sensor design and manufacturing: Project-based design, engineering, and manufacturing of customized CIS, IPL, space, optical fingerprint, LiDAR, and wide aperture sensor solutions per customer specifications.
- Chip-on-Board (COB) foundry services: One-stop COB module services for imaging, power supply, and RF module manufacturing including development, design, manufacturing, assembly, and testing. Accepts small batch orders.
- OEM/ODM laser distance (CLDR) and displacement (CLDM) modules: Sells CLDR (rotating LiDAR) and CLDM (laser displacement) modules and offers OEM/ODM customization with SDK for service robots, AMRs, drones, and industrial measurement.
- Camera solution ODM/OEM (e.g., C800, S0202): Provides camera-level ODM/OEM solutions built on proprietary sensors including high-speed 4-array 2K-pixel color cameras and area surveillance cameras.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Other | Quote-based pricing for sensors, modules, cameras, and custom designs |
Go-to-market motion4 records
Distribution channels7 records
Marketing channels6 records
CMOS Sensor product offering
Product offeringCore offering
CMOS Sensor Inc. designs and manufactures proprietary CMOS image sensor chips, integrated sensor modules, and camera systems for B2B OEM customers. Its product portfolio spans Contact Image Sensor (CIS) chips and modules, linear and area image sensors, an IPL industrial line-scan camera, CLDR/CLDM LiDAR distance and displacement modules, an under-display optical fingerprint sensor, and space-qualified imaging sensors. The company also offers custom and semi-custom design services plus a one-stop Chip-on-Board (COB) module foundry for imaging, power, and RF applications.
Product overview
CMOS Sensor Inc offers a portfolio of custom and semi-custom CMOS image sensor products organized around a silicon-chip-to-module platform: at the chip level are linear image sensors (C106, C116, C118, C168 CIS chips; C358/C378 wide-aperture; C640 4K-pixel; C800 4-array 2K-pixel) and the C610 optical fingerprint sensor plus space-qualified C468/C640/C650 sensors; these integrate into CIS Modules, the IPL Industrial Camera, the CLDR LiDAR rotator, the CLDM Laser Displacement Module, the LISM Linear Image Sensor Module platform, and the S0202 High-Resolution Area Camera. Manufacturing is supported by the company's one-stop Chip-on-Board (COB) foundry services.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- C610: Smartwatch in-display optical fingerprint scanner sensor/module for OLED/AMOLED displays.
- CLDM
- CLDR
- IPL (Industrial Proximity Linear)
Products and services
- Contact Image Sensors (CIS) Silicon contact image sensor chips available in multiple series (C106 200 dpi, C116 300/600 dpi, C118 200/400 dpi, C168 100/200 dpi) for counterfeit detectors, check readers, color scanners, digital copiers, mark readers, barcode readers, OCR, edge detectors, and positioning/optical encoding. Chips can be butted to form longer CIS modules.
- Contact Image Sensor Modules (CIS Modules) Integrated modules (M106, M116, M118, M168 series) combining the sensor board, SELFOC Lens Array (SLA), light source, and housing sealed by cover glass. Resolution 100–600 DPI; image lengths from 24 mm up to A0; pixel clock rate up to 20 MHz; plastic or aluminum housing; single or dual illumination; UV, B, G, R, IR, or white light sources.
- IPL Industrial Camera (Industrial Proximity Linear) Low-profile machine vision camera delivering 1:1 crystal-clear color images for Automated Optical Inspection. Uses 18 C206 line-scan sensors with silicon stagger placement to eliminate optical gaps. Image resolution 600 DPI, line rate up to 20 KHz, scan width 259 mm (or 518 mm) customizable up to 3 m, Camera Link output, built-in 30° RGB+NIR bright-field illumination.
- CLDR Laser Distance Reader LiDAR-based 360° rotating laser scanner for SLAM (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping) in robot vacuums, AMRs, service robots, and drones. Built on a proprietary sensor array plus a DC brushless motor, lens module, and laser module. Measuring range 0.2 to 12 meters; 780 nm NIR laser; UART serial interface; ambient light cancellation.
- CLDM Laser Displacement Module Triangulation-based LiDAR module for high-speed non-contact displacement, thickness, vibration, distance, and diameter measurement. Standard detection range 100–200 mm (customizable); ranging up to 1,500 Hz; USB plug-and-play with PC; supports RS485, IO-LINK, and Ethernet. Class 2 laser safety compliant. OEM/ODM support with SDK.
- C610 Smartwatch Optical Fingerprint Sensor In-display optical fingerprint sensor for OLED/AMOLED smartwatch and mobile displays. Supports scanning through >2.5D glass; sensing area 4 × 6 mm; selectable 1016 or 508 dpi; 256 grey-scale (8-bit); SPI interface; sleep mode ~1 µA; scan and read-out time ~18 ms; integrates active pixel sensor array, PGA, ADC, LVDS, and SPI IOs.
- Area Image Sensor & Camera (S0202 High Resolution Area Camera) High-resolution area image sensors and cameras for aviation, car and highway surveillance, homeland security, and super-train surveillance. Camera model S0202.
- Space Satellite Sensor (C468, C640, C650) Space-qualified CMOS image sensors used on the Chandrayaan-1 mission and Formosat-5. C468 CMOS MSOC has five bands (PAN + MS1/MS2/MS3/MS4) with 12,000 PAN pixels and 6,000 MS pixels per band; C640 is a 4,000-element linear sensor for 3D Terrain Mapping Camera; C650 is a 256 × 512 area array for Hyper-Spectral imaging. Includes proprietary CTIA structure and buffer MOS readout to eliminate fixed-pattern noise.
- Wide Aperture Linear Image Sensor (C358 / C378) Mixed-signal linear image sensors with 3.9 µm × 100 µm rectangular pixels, IR sensitivity and background cancellation. C358 supports 1,000 active pixels; C378 supports 2,024 active pixels and 24 dark pixels; selectable 3,200/6,400 DPI; 5 MHz readout; available in PLCC packages (P358-P, P378-P) or COB. Designed for LiDAR, laser displacement, barcode scanning, optical encoding, SLAM, and 2D SLAM mapping.
- C640 4K-pixel Linear Image Sensor 4,000-element mixed-mode SOC linear image sensor with 7 µm × 7 µm pixel size, 12-bit resolution, PGA, 12-bit ADC, LVDS interface, programmable gain control (coarse ×1/×2/×3/×4, fine ±10%), and three operational modes (destructive, non-destructive up to 32 frames, power down). For machine vision and spectroscopy.
- C800 High-Speed 4-Array 2K-Pixel Linear Image Sensor Four independently operable linear arrays with on-chip Blue (450 nm), Green (550 nm), Red (650 nm), and NIR (900 nm) color filters; 2,024 active pixels + 24 dummy pixels per band; 14 µm × 14 µm pixel size; max line rate 25 k/s; data rate >700 Mb/s; USB3 camera solution with F-mount lens; 48-pin DIP package. For color/shape sorting, grain sorting, OCT, plastics sorting.
- Chip-on-Board (COB) Foundry Services One-stop COB services including circuit development, design, manufacturing, assembly, and testing. Supports FR4, FR5, flexible and ceramic substrates; six different dice; high die-bond accuracy <50 µm; COB and SMD coexistence; wire diameter 0.7–1.3 mil; aspect ratios <1/25 accepted. Small batch orders accepted. Used for imaging, power supply, and RF modules.
- Digital CIS Module New digital Contact Image Sensor Module with built-in seamless analog-to-digital (A/D) conversion supporting 300/600 DPI full-color and IR imaging and a digital interface for simplified system integration. Unveiled and live-demoed at SPIE Photonics West 2025.
Quantifiable outcome
- Chandrayaan-1 TMC achieved 5m ground resolution at 100km altitude and covered a 20km swath with fore/nadir/aft stereo imaging
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use CMOS Sensor
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments9 records
Ideal customer profiles8 records
CMOS Sensor technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration3 records
Feature7 records
CMOS Sensor partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and flagship.
- Alrad Instruments LimitedcoreUK-based authorized distributor of CMOS Sensor Inc's full product line. Listed on Alrad's website under a dedicated CMOS Sensor Inc brand page (alrad.co.uk/brand/cmos-sensor-inc/). Provides UK sales, distribution, and customer support for CIS, IPL, CLDR, CLDM, fingerprint, and space sensor products.
- EURECAcoreGermany-based distributor (Köln, Nordrhein-Westfalen). Lists CMOS Sensor Inc's product portfolio on its own website and serves German-speaking OEM customers for CIS, industrial, and laser distance products.
- D&S IncorporatedminorJapan sales representative (Hachioji, Tokyo) acting as the local point of contact for Japanese OEM customers evaluating CMOS Sensor Inc's CIS, IPL, and LiDAR products.
- Unison ElectronicsminorIndia sales representative (Gandhinagar, Gujarat) covering Indian OEM customers for CMOS Sensor Inc's imaging sensors, modules, and cameras.
- Sigma Sales CorpminorUS Northeast sales representative (Smithtown, NY) supporting US-based OEM customers in the Northeast region with sales and customer service.
- AUOflagshipMajor OLED display manufacturer. At Touch Taiwan 2023, AUO and Gingytech unveiled the world's first smartwatch OLED displays with on-display fingerprint recognition featuring CMOS Sensor Inc's C610 optical fingerprint sensor. CMOS Sensor Inc publicly states it is honored to play a role in AUO and Gingytech's innovations.
- GingytechflagshipBiometric and display technology partner. Co-developed with AUO the world's first smartwatch OLED displays with on-display fingerprint recognition, integrating CMOS Sensor Inc's C610 optical fingerprint sensor. Gingytech is credited with the demonstration imagery on the C610 product page.
- Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) / Space Applications CentreflagshipScientific and engineering partnership on India's Chandrayaan-1 lunar mission (launched October 22, 2008). CMOS Sensor Inc designed and supplied the C640 4000-element linear image sensor for the Terrain Mapping Camera (TMC) and the C650 256x512 area array sensor for the Hyper-Spectral Image Camera (HySI), producing 3D terrain maps and mineralogical maps of the lunar surface.
- Taiwan National Space Organization (now Taiwan Space Agency)coreCo-developed the CMOS focal plane assembly (FPA) for the Formosat-5 Earth observation satellite, leveraging CMOS Sensor Inc's proprietary wafer butting, multi-chip butting, and multiple readout technologies.
- Space Programs Office / Space Plan Center (Taiwan)coreSigned a development and production agreement in 2007 for space image sensors, collaborating on space-qualified sensor projects from the Taiwan subsidiary.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
CMOS Sensor competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- ams OSRAM: Global sensor and optical solutions major with a CMOS image sensor portfolio spanning industrial, medical, automotive, and consumer. Direct overlap with CMOS Sensor Inc in line-scan / area sensors and high-sensitivity CIS for industrial and specialty applications.
- onsemi: Large US-headquartered image sensor supplier serving automotive, industrial, and surveillance. Overlaps with CMOS Sensor Inc in industrial inspection, surveillance area sensors, and high-dynamic-range imaging for automotive.
- STMicroelectronics: Major European semiconductor company with global-shutter and time-of-flight image sensors. Overlaps with CMOS Sensor Inc in industrial/machine vision sensors and ToF/LiDAR-adjacent offerings.
- Sony Semiconductor Solutions: World's largest CMOS image sensor supplier with deep reach into mobile, industrial, and automotive. Adjacent incumbent whose pricing and roadmap set the competitive bar for specialty sensor peers like CMOS Sensor Inc.
Direct peers
- Teledyne e2v: Specialty image sensor house with a strong space and scientific imaging line. Closest direct competitor to CMOS Sensor Inc in space-qualified CMOS sensors for earth observation and lunar/planetary missions.
- Teledyne DALSA: Industrial line-scan and area-scan camera vendor. Direct competitor in the machine vision / AOI line-scan segment where CMOS Sensor Inc's IPL camera competes.
- Hamamatsu Photonics: Japanese specialty sensor manufacturer producing linear and area image sensors, including scientific and space applications. Direct peer in high-sensitivity linear image sensors and hyperspectral imaging.
- Basler AG: Industrial camera and vision systems vendor with strong line-scan and area-scan product lines. Direct peer in machine vision cameras for AOI, factory automation, and inspection.
Emerging players
- e-con Systems: Embedded camera solutions provider offering custom and off-the-shelf camera modules for industrial, medical, and robotics OEMs. Comparable as an OEM/ODM module integrator using third-party CMOS sensors.
Regional players
- SICK AG: German industrial sensor and automation specialist with displacement, distance, and line-scan imaging products. Comparable in laser displacement and AOI applications, with stronger European distribution reach.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
CMOS Sensor compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
CMOS Sensor financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
CMOS Sensor leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
CMOS Sensor subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
CMOS Sensor funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
CMOS Sensor M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about CMOS Sensor
What does CMOS Sensor do?
CMOS Sensor Inc. designs and manufactures proprietary CMOS image sensor chips, integrated sensor modules, and camera systems for B2B OEM customers. Its product portfolio spans Contact Image Sensor (CIS) chips and modules, linear and area image sensors, an IPL industrial line-scan camera, CLDR/CLDM LiDAR distance and displacement modules, an under-display optical fingerprint sensor, and space-qualified imaging sensors. The company also offers custom and semi-custom design services plus a one-stop Chip-on-Board (COB) module foundry for imaging, power, and RF applications.
Is CMOS Sensor a public or private company?
CMOS Sensor is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was CMOS Sensor founded?
CMOS Sensor was founded in 1997. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is CMOS Sensor based?
CMOS Sensor is headquartered in Taoyüan, Taiwan, in the Asia region.
How does CMOS Sensor make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Hardware sales of standard sensor modules and sensors are the primary driver. The others are custom / semi-custom image sensor design and manufacturing, chip-on-Board (COB) foundry services, OEM/ODM laser distance (CLDR) and displacement (CLDM) modules and camera solution ODM/OEM (e.g., C800, S0202).
Who are CMOS Sensor's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are ams OSRAM, onsemi, STMicroelectronics and Sony Semiconductor Solutions. Direct peers are Teledyne e2v, Teledyne DALSA, Hamamatsu Photonics and Basler AG. e-con Systems is listed as an emerging player. SICK AG is listed as a regional player.
Does CMOS Sensor have an API?
No public API is recorded for CMOS Sensor.
What industry is CMOS Sensor in?
CMOS Sensor's product category is CMOS Image Sensors. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDAHALAF, Imaging Sensors (CMOS/CCD/ToF/Depth), with a secondary code of HDAHAAAG, Sensors, MEMS & Imaging ICs. Its NAICS code is 334519 and its SIC code is 3823.