CMOS

On Thu, 31 Jan 2008 17:37:27 GMT, "Jay" <smtp.TakeThisOut@msn.com> wrote:

>What does CMOS stand for?
>
>I found this at The Free Dictionary:
> CMOS Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor (transistor type)
> CMOS Canadian Meteorological and Oceanographic Society
> CMOS Capper Military Occupational Specialty
> CMOS Cargo Movement Operations System
> CMOS Cellular Management Operation System (telecommunications)
> CMOS Chicago Manual of Style
> CMOS Comparison Mean Opinion Score
> CMOS Complimentary Metal Oxide Silicon
> CMOS Configuration Memory Operating System
>
>
>I'm assuming in the case of a DSLR it's the first definition.
>Someone told me they are made by Sony, is that true?
>If so why wouldn't Canon and Nikon make their own sensors in stead of
>ultimately supporting one of their competitor?
>
>J
>
Cheese Makers of Sudan?
 >> Stay informed about: CMOS 

"Jürgen Exner" <jurgenex.TakeThisOut@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:ut44q3h1i4vgoomqs88smc9f6aocbhprcn@4ax.com...
> "Jay" <smtp.TakeThisOut@msn.com> wrote:
>>What does CMOS stand for?
>>
>>I found this at The Free Dictionary:
>> CMOS Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor (transistor type)
> [...]
>>I'm assuming in the case of a DSLR it's the first definition.
>
> Correct.
>
>>Someone told me they are made by Sony, is that true?
>
> Some are.
>
>>If so why wouldn't Canon and Nikon make their own sensors in stead of
>>ultimately supporting one of their competitor?
>
> Canon does. It has always been a widely diverse conglomerate and they have
> the facilities and electronic expertise from their other enterprises.
>
> Nikon has always been a photographic company and their expertise is with
> optics and cameras, not necessarily semiconductors and electronics. So for
> them it makes more sense to outsource design and production of the sensors
> to someone with the proper expertise and facilities rather then creating
> their own from scratch.

Nikon doesn't have expertise with electronics?
Go look at the Nikon site *beyond* than camera section: you'll be amazed
what Nikon makes.
Next time check first before you make such statements.

--
Sosumi
 >> Stay informed about: CMOS 

"Sosumi" <sosumi RemoveThis @home.nl> wrote:
>"Jürgen Exner" <jurgenex RemoveThis @hotmail.com> wrote in message
>> Nikon has always been a photographic company and their expertise is with
>> optics and cameras, not necessarily semiconductors and electronics. So for
>> them it makes more sense to outsource design and production of the sensors
>> to someone with the proper expertise and facilities rather then creating
>> their own from scratch.
>
>Nikon doesn't have expertise with electronics?
>Go look at the Nikon site *beyond* than camera section: you'll be amazed
>what Nikon makes.
>Next time check first before you make such statements.

Let's see: binoculars, spotting and hunting scopes, astronomical telescopes,
microscopes, rifle scopes, range finders, night vision scopes, optical
measuring system, quality assurance systems for semiconductor production,
....
Well, no, I see a lot about great optical systems of all kinds but nothing
about expertise in semiconductor design or production.
Nothing like Canon inkjet printers, Canon laser printers, Canon scanners,
Canon monitors, Canon copiers, ...

Maybe you could point explicitely to some examples of what Nikon products
you are referring to?

jue
 >> Stay informed about: CMOS 

Sosumi <sosumi RemoveThis @home.nl> wrote:
> "J?rgen Exner" <jurgenex RemoveThis @hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:ut44q3h1i4vgoomqs88smc9f6aocbhprcn@4ax.com...
>> "Jay" <smtp RemoveThis @msn.com> wrote:

>>>Someone told me they are made by Sony, is that true?
>>
>> Some are.
>>
>>>If so why wouldn't Canon and Nikon make their own sensors in stead of
>>>ultimately supporting one of their competitor?
>>
>> Canon does. It has always been a widely diverse conglomerate and they have
>> the facilities and electronic expertise from their other enterprises.
>>
>> Nikon has always been a photographic company and their expertise is with
>> optics and cameras, not necessarily semiconductors and electronics. So for
>> them it makes more sense to outsource design and production of the sensors
>> to someone with the proper expertise and facilities rather then creating
>> their own from scratch.

> Nikon doesn't have expertise with electronics?
> Go look at the Nikon site *beyond* than camera section: you'll be amazed
> what Nikon makes.
> Next time check first before you make such statements.

It's not just electronic expertise. The fabrication of large high
density CMOS chips such as digital camera sensors requires *extremely*
expensive plant.

--
Chris Malcolm cam RemoveThis @infirmatics.ed.ac.uk DoD #205
IPAB, Informatics, JCMB, King's Buildings, Edinburgh, EH9 3JZ, UK
[http://www.dai.ed.ac.uk/homes/cam/]
 >> Stay informed about: CMOS 

Hi there,

On 2008-01-31, Jay <smtp.RemoveThis@msn.com> wrote:
> What does CMOS stand for?
>
> I found this at The Free Dictionary:
> CMOS Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor (transistor type)
[...]

>
> I'm assuming in the case of a DSLR it's the first definition.

Right.

> Someone told me they are made by Sony, is that true?

CMOS is a semiconductor technology, not a single product or product line.
So there are many companies making CMOS semiconductor components.

CMOS photosensors are a specialized kind of semiconductor component.
And Sony is one manufacturer who makes them. There are, naturally, many
others.

> If so why wouldn't Canon and Nikon make their own sensors in stead of
> ultimately supporting one of their competitor?
>

AFAIK, Canon makes their own (see http://web.canon.jp/imaging/cmos/index-e.html)

Nikon apparently buys from Sony, but this could go way back to the time
when Sony didn't have their own DSLRs (before they bought the camera
assets from Konica Minolta when the latter withdrew from the digital
camera business.

Olympus also buys sensors for its FT system - first from Kodak, now from
Panasonic (aka Matsushita). Both of these suppliers also have camera
divisions.

I guess these companies feel that they can make camaras better than their
competition, so why squander resources on sensor development. So far, it
seems to pay off.

Have fun,
Martin
--
Martin Boening, mboen.RemoveThis@t-online.de, Linux Registered User #258205
 >> Stay informed about: CMOS