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CMOS (Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor) is a type of semiconductor technology used to create low-power, reliable integrated circuits for processors and memory, and also refers to the small chip on a computer motherboard that stores BIOS settings like date, time, and hardware configuration, which is powered by a CMOS battery.

CMOS Technology

Manufacturing Process: CMOS uses a combination of metal, oxide, and semiconductor materials to form electronic circuits.

Power Efficiency: CMOS technology is known for its low-power consumption, which is especially beneficial for keeping devices running on battery power.

Applications: It's widely used in various electronic devices, including:

Processors and Memory Chips: The fundamental technology for many computer components.

Image Sensors: Found in digital cameras and smartphones for capturing images and video. Analog and Digital Circuits: Enables the creation of complex integrated circuits with mixed-signal functionalities.

CMOS in a Computer's BIOS

BIOS Settings: In a computer, "CMOS" can also refer to the small memory chip on the motherboard that stores the BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) and hardware settings.

BIOS vs. CMOS: While the BIOS is the firmware that controls hardware and the CMOS is the memory chip that stores the BIOS settings, they work together but are not the same thing.