Image sensors for digital photography: a short course for undergraduates. II: Optoelectronics

Abstract

In the previous chapter, we have browsed upon the optics of photographic cameras, focusing on the specific features of digital cameras and their sensors. We have also compared the camera performance with eye, including grayscale, sensitivity, dynamic range, field of view and many others. Eyes are far superior to cameras in several aspects, those favored by evolution, while cameras prevail in other aspects not so relevant for vision. Yet digital cameras are still quite similar to analog film-based cameras in all issues related to optics. In this part we will concentrate on the most distinctive element of modern digital cameras, the optoelectronic sensor. We will study the fundamentals of optoelectronic light to electric signal conversion, the different families of sensors and detection modes, their advantages and flaws. Finally we will show the current trends in sensors and explain the reasons why manufacturers have chosen them.