A 2D barcode module also referred to as 2D imager, uses a CMOS camera similar to the cameras that are common in modern smartphones.  They consist of a CMOS sensor, which together with a small lens form the actual camera, plus a high-speed processor with a big memory that processes the images delivered by the camera.

This CMOS sensor is similar to the ones common in smartphones but with a few important differences which make an Opticon 2D engine far more suitable to read 2D barcodes than a smartphone.

Advantages of Opticon CMOS sensor versus Smartphone sensor