These devices use an image sensor, such as a CCD or CMOS chip, to convert light into electrical charges that are then quantized into digital data. The raw data is processed by an internal image processor and saved to flash memory. The term is primarily used in engineering specifications to distinguish dedicated photography hardware from video cameras or mobile phone modules.
The new processor includes a dedicated hardware block for digital still camera pipelines.
Also heard as
- DSC
Related terms
CCD
A charge-coupled device is a semiconductor sensor that converts photons into electrical charges.
CMOS
Complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor is the dominant fabrication technology for integrated circuits.
Flash memory
An electronic non-volatile computer storage medium that can be electrically erased and reprogrammed.