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1.3M-Pixel
Portable Terminal Miniature CCD Camera Module
MCB304
Sony led the industry in quickly
recognizing the importance of mobile use and
starting to work on developing megapixel class
camera modules. Today, the shift to the megapixel
class camera in camera cellular phones has become
the mainstream. The newly-developed MCB304 described
here integrates, in a single package, all CCD
camera functions, from the high-sensitivity
image sensor, high-performance lens, and multifunction
camera DSP that are hallmarks of Sony camera
modules, to the power supply IC, AFE, and other
functions. At the same time, the MCB304 is provided
in a miniature low-profile package. The MCB304
is truly the definitive 1.3M-pixel CCD camera
module. |
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MCB304 |
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* High-sensitivity,
low-power 1.3M-pixel CCD image sensor developed
for mobile applications
* Compact all-in-one package includes all required
circuits, including a power supply IC, AFE,
and a camera DSP
* High-resolution, high-performance 3-group
3-element lens
* AE and AWB functions based on Sony extensive
digital still camera experience provide natural
image rendition. |
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The MCB304 is a camera
module based around a 1.3M-pixel CCD area sensor
that was specifically developed for mobile applications.
At the same time as refining the performance
of the high picture quality high-performance
blocks that have been well-received in the market,
the MCB304 provides the further miniaturization
demanded in mobile applications, the MCB304
was developed under the concept of creating
the definitive 1.3M-pixel CCD camera module,
and that could thus be used by our customers
with complete confidence. |
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High-Resolution,
Low-Power CCD Image Sensor |
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The MCB304 adopts
a diagonal 5 mm (Type 1/3.6) interline type
CCD image sensor that was developed specifically
for use in mobile camera modules. It features
a total pixel count of 1.34 million pixels,
1.28 million effective pixels, and the ability
to create images with up to 1280H x 960V recording
pixels. This high resolution has already been
well received by customers who have adopted
Sony camera modules. Also, Sony made special
efforts to achieve even lower power consumption
levels when specializing this sensor for mobile
use. Thus the sensor contributes to the reduced
power consumption in the camera module as a
whole. |
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High-Performance
Lens |
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The
MCB304 adopts a 3-group 3-element lens (GPP)
that includes a macro function. It achieves
low TV distortion (less than 1%) and is designed
to take maximum advantage of the high resolution
of the 1.3M-pixel sensor. |
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Miniature
All-in-One Package |
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Sony provides the
MCB304 in a compact all-in-one package that
includes all functions, not only the sensor,
lens unit, and camera DSP, but the power supply
IC and the AFE system as well. The MCB304 is
a device that collects its components in a shield
case mainly used to minimize spurious radiation
with package dimensions of 12.8 mm x 15.9 mm
x 8.7 mm (H x W x D)*. Thus the MCB304 achieves
the smallest size of any module in the Sony
product line of 1.3M-pixel CCD camera modules
that provide a macro function.
*: Excluding the largest protrusion. |
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Camera DSP
that Supports Rich and Natural Image Expression |
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Now that the cellular
phone with a megapixel class image sensor has
become the mainstream in this market, serious
"image creation" has become increasingly
important. Sony's camera module camera signal
processing systems incorporate essential concepts
based on the image creation concept from the
Sony camcorders and digital still cameras that
have continued to lead the industry. The Sony
DSP ICs support natural image rendering with
basic AE, AWB, and other settings. |
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•••• Mr.MIYATA ••••
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Since we started working
on this design and development last spring,
we were constantly aware of the extremely large
scale vol-ume production required for the camera
cellular phone market and the severity of the
size and quality requirements. Although we had
to work particularly hard during the period
leading up to final mass production, I am proud
that the result of the efforts of the design
and the production groups working together as
a single entity was that we were able to create
an excellent module. I strongly urge you to
consider using this product. |
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See
all articles with figures and tables.  |
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Vol.37 |
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