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High-Resolution
8.13M-Pixel Diagonal 11.07 mm (Type 2/3) Color
CCD for Consumer Digital Still Cameras Supports
30 frames/s VGA Moving Picture Imaging
ICX456AQ/AQF
The demands for higher pixel
counts and increased functionality in CCDs show
no sign of letting up in the rapidly expanding
digital still camera market. To respond to these
demands, Sony has now developed a new 8.13M-pixel
diagonal 11.07 mm (Type 2/3) interlaced CCD,
the ICX456AQ/AQF. In addition to the high resolution
provided by its 8.13M effective pixels, the
ICX456AQ/AQF includes a horizontal and vertical
pixel addition function that allows it to achieve
both high pixel count still picture and high-quality
moving picture. The ICX456AQ/AQF also provides
an extensive set of pixel addition and decimating
readout modes, allowing it to support a wide
range of imaging conditions. |
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ICX456AQ/AQF |
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* ICX456AQ: Primary
color filters, 28-pin DIP ICX456AQF: Primary
color filters, 28-pin SOP
*High resolution: 8.13M effective pixels (3288H
x 2472V)
* High-quality moving picture: VGA equivalent
moving picture and a wide range of other readout
modes as well.
* Excellent basic characteristics: 3-field readout
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The ICX456AQ/AQF is
a diagonal 11.07 mm (Type 2/3) 8.13M-effective
pixel CCD image sensor for use in high-resolution
consumer digital still cameras. It boasts the
industry's highest pixel count in Type 2/3 and
smaller image size. Since it has the same sensor
size as Sony's earlier ICX282AQ/AQF, it allows
an 8M-pixel digital still camera to be implemented
without changing the optical system. |
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High Resolution |
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CCD development passed
through the 1.3M-pixel, 2.0M-pixel, 3.0M-pixel,
and 5.0M-pixel stages, with the pixel count
increasing by a factor of about 1.6x at each
stage. This increase in the pixel count corresponds
to a difference in resolution that can be clearly
recognized by the human eye. Sony therefore
selected 8.0M pixels as the next step in increased
pixel counts since it represents a 1.6x increase
over 5.0M pixels. This new resolution class
achieves resolutions in both the horizontal
and vertical directions of about 1900 TV lines
(see photograph 1) and can create high-quality
prints with about 200 dpi at the A3 size and
about 300 dpi at the A4 size. This pixel count
also allows either the print size to be multiplied
by a factor of two in both the horizontal and
vertical directions, the image to be cropped
by 1/2 both horizontally and vertically, or
a factor of 2x digital zoom to be used, and
still achieve a resolution equivalent to that
of a 2M-pixel camera (see photograph 2). |
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High-Quality
Moving Picture Achieved |
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The ICX456AQ/AQF includes
a horizontal and vertical pixel addition function
and implements an extensive set of readout modes
based on a variety of pixel addition and decimation
functions. In the 4/12-line readout mode (with
horizontal addition), the sensor can achieve
high-speed imaging and high-quality moving
picture equivalent to VGA resolution at 30 frames/s.
In addition, by adding together the signals
from 4 pixels, it can achieve four times the
sensitivity. Other functions include 2/6-line
readout mode, which can acquire images at three
times the frame rate, 4/24- line readout mode
(with horizontal addition) that can output
images for AF/AE control and LCD finder verification
at 60 frames/s, higher speed AF control mode
and an expanded display mode for image verification
in the LCD finder. Thus the ICX456AQ/AQF provides
an extensive set of readout modes and can support
a wide range of imaging conditions. |
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Excellent
Basic Characteristics |
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To increase the dynamic
range, the ICX456AQ/AQF adopts the same 3-field
readout mode used in Sony's earlier ICX432DQ/DQF
and ICX452AQ/AQF image sensors. This readout
mode allows finer design rules to be used in
the vertical transfer block, which in turn
allows the photodiode block to be made larger.
Other additional improvements made it possible
for the ICX456AQ/AQF to achieve a saturation
signal level of 420 mV, a sensitivity of 200
mV, and a smear value of -90 dB despite the
increased pixel count and image size. (See table
2.) |
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Timing Generator
IC |
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Sony also provides
the CXD3622GA driver timing generator IC that
includes built-in horizontal and vertical drivers.
In addition to the 4/12-line readout mode that
makes VGA equivalent high-quality moving picture
possible, this IC also supports other readout
modes as well. |
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•••• Mr.FUJISHIMA ••••
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We developed this
new 8M-pixel CCD that achieves both high pixel
count still picture and high-quality moving
picture to respond to market desires for both
higher pixel counts and increased functionality.
I'm confident that this new device will provide
users with high-quality pictures, both still
and moving pictures. I strongly recommend that
you consider developing digital still camera
products that take advantage of the features
provided by this device. |
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See
all articles with figures and tables.  |
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Vol.36 |
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