Live online masterclass

NOISE in CMOS Image Sensors — You Love It or You Hate It!

A deep dive into where noise in CMOS image sensors comes from and how to keep it under control, led by renowned expert Albert Theuwissen.

Book your place What you’ll learn

Albert TheuwissenFounder, Harvest Imaging

DateWednesday 2 December 2026
Time15:00–18:30 GMT
16:00–19:30 CET
10:00–13:30 EST
FormatLive on Zoom, 3.5 hours
IncludesLive Q&A with Albert
Early bird£429 + VAT until 13 November

Masterclass overview

Noise is one of the key performance characteristics of any solid-state image sensor. It sets the signal-to-noise ratio and the dynamic range, and the minimum amount of light needed to capture an acceptable image. But noise shows up in many forms: fixed-pattern noise in the spatial domain or temporal noise in the time domain, at pixel, column or even row level. That makes noise analysis one of the most complex parts of working with image sensors.

In this 3.5-hour masterclass, Albert explains where each type of noise comes from and what can be done to keep it as low as possible, from the design and manufacturing of the sensor itself to cooling and camera electronics. As Albert puts it, hardly anyone has ever complained that the noise in an image sensor is too low.

The session also looks at the positive side of noise. Photon shot noise gives engineers a simple but powerful tool for analysing and debugging sensor performance, and can even help increase the speed of analogue-to-digital converters. Finally, it explores how the perception of noise depends on who is looking at the image, a human or a computer.

What you’ll learn

The main noise sources in CMOS image sensors and where they originate
How to tell fixed-pattern noise from temporal noise, and recognise pixel, column and row effects
Practical ways to reduce noise, from sensor design to cooling and camera electronics
How to turn photon shot noise into a useful analysis and debugging tool
How human visual perception affects the way noise is judged in real images
Answers to your own questions, put directly to Albert in a live Q&A

Topics covered

Origins of noise in CMOS image sensors
Fixed-pattern vs temporal noise
Pixel, column and row effects
Noise reduction through sensor design
Cooling and camera electronics
Photon shot noise for analysis and debugging
Faster ADCs
Human vs machine perception of noise

Why attend

Learn from a leading expert

Albert Theuwissen is one of the most respected names in image sensor technology, and was one of the highest-rated speakers at Image Sensors Europe 2026.

Gain practical insights

Find out where each type of noise comes from and how to reduce it, and how to use photon shot noise as a tool for analysis and debugging.

Get your questions answered

Bring your own noise challenges to the live Q&A and get answers directly from Albert, without leaving your desk.

Who should attend

Image sensor and pixel designers
Camera and imaging system engineers
Test and characterisation engineers
Anyone who wants a deeper understanding of image sensor noise and how to manage it

Join us in London too

Image Sensors Europe returns to the Hilton London Tower Bridge on 16–17 March 2027 for its 21st edition, bringing together 250+ engineers, researchers and business leaders from across the image sensor value chain.

Super Early Bird tickets: £1,329 + VAT until Friday 27 November

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Secure your place

Book by midnight GMT on Friday 13 November to save £50 with the early bird rate.

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