CMOS image sensor development at Sony began in 1996 and led to the launch of our first CMOS image sensor (IMX001) in 2000. At the time, CMOS image sensors produced noisy images under low light and were also inferior to CCD image sensors in the number of pixels. However, the lower readout speed of CCD image sensors convinced us that they would be unable to support high-resolution data as the industry moved from SD to HD video. In 2004, we, therefore, changed course greatly by shifting our focus from CCD to CMOS image sensor development. It was a bold decision. Instead of holding the world’s number one share in CCD image sensors, we would be building on a negligible market share in CMOS image sensors.
Later in 2007, we commercialized CMOS image sensors with an original column A/D conversion circuit for fast, low-noise performance, followed in 2009 by back-illuminated CMOS image sensors with twice the sensitivity of conventional image sensors – beyond the human eye.
Further examples of technical innovation that has enabled us to constantly lead the industry include stacked CMOS image sensors in 2012 – with higher image quality and multiple functions in a smaller package, thanks to the layering of the pixel and signal-processing sections – and, in 2015, the world’s first image sensors with a Cu-Cu connection, enabling smaller packages, higher performance, and greater productivity in manufacturing.

Website: sony.com