Image sensors and optical devices

What is the maximum number of electrons that one pixel of an image sensor can store called?

  1. AFull-well capacity (saturation charge)
  2. BQuantum efficiency
  3. CDark current
Show answer and explanation

Answer: A. Full-well capacity (saturation charge)

Full-well capacity is the maximum number of electrons the photodiode can store; beyond it, highlights blow out. Full-well capacity divided by the noise level gives the dynamic range, and the larger it is, the wider the range of brightness the sensor can capture. Smaller pixels tend to have lower full-well capacity.

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  3. In image sensors that capture color images, why must color filters be placed over the pixels?
  4. Which image sensor is mainly used in current smartphone cameras?
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