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High-Resolution Diagonal 7.208 mm (Type 1/2.5) 7.24M-Effective Pixel Digital Still Camera CCDs
for Consumer Products Support VGA Resolution Moving Picture Imaging
ICX629 Series
[ICX629AQN/CQV/CQZ]
The compact digital still camera market is now seeing stronger demands
for higher ISO sensitivities in addition to the earlier desires for higher resolution.
In particular, the market continues to demand evolution in image
sensors in terms of both smaller pixels sizes and improved performance,
i.e. higher sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and lower noise.
To respond to these needs, Sony has further improved their unique fine
fabrication technologies to develop and now release the ICX629AQN/CQV/
CQZ diagonal 7.208 mm (Type 1/2.5) 7.24M-effective pixel interline CCDs.
These CCDs feature the industry’s smallest unit pixel (1.86 μm) yet still
achieve superb imaging qualities. These new products also include a horizontal
and vertical pixel addition function that makes it possible for them
to achieve 30 frame/s VGA resolution moving picture imaging.
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ICX629 Series[ICX629AQN/CQV/CQZ] |
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* Diagonal 7.208 mm (Type 1/2.5),
7.24M effective pixels
(3112H × 2328V)
* Pixel size: 1.86 μm unit pixel
* 5-field readout
* Supports 30 frame/s VGA moving
picture imaging |
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Cameras with Type 1/2.5 optical size,
good high-ISO sensitivity characteristics,
and a resolution of 6M pixels or higher
are expected to become the mainstream in
the consumer digital still camera market.
Sony has led the industry in grasping this
trend, and in addition to Type 1/2.5 6M-pixel
CCDs (the ICX624 Series) is now
releasing the high-performance 7M-pixel
ICX629AQN/CQV/CQZ CCDs (the
ICX629 Series), which are based on an
even further evolution of Sony’s unique
fine fabrication technologies. (See table 1.) |
Pixel Miniaturization |
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By miniaturizing the earlier 2.03 μm unit
pixel to a 1.86 μm unit pixel size, which
is the industry’s smallest unit pixel, Sony
has achieved a significant increase in the
pixel count in the Type 1/2.5 CCD. At the
same time, Sony maximized the sizes of
the photodiode and the pixel aperture area
(see figure 1), which determine the basic
characteristics of the image sensor, to
achieve high performance in the sensitivity,
saturation signal level (dynamic
range), and smear characteristics. As a
result, even though the pixel area was reduced
by 16% compared to the 2.03 μm
unit pixel, Sony was able to maintain the
pixel aperture area and photodiode size at
essentially the same level as the earlier
products by, for example, reducing the size
of the vertical transfer register by 16%.
Sony also increased the incident light
transmittance to the pixel by approximately
15% and improved the condensing
efficiency by approximately 10%. |
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Pixel Characteristics |
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The basic characteristics were improved
by about 20% on a per unit area basis from
the 2.03 μm unit pixel CCDs by these pixel
size reducing and basic characteristics
improvement technologies. This allowed
Sony to achieve equivalent or better sensitivity
and saturation signal level characteristics
than the earlier products. (See
table 2.) |
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Open Source Output Circuit |
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In the ICX629 Series, Sony has moved
some of the output circuit MOSFETs,
which are the largest heat sources in the
CCD, outside the chip to suppress noise
during dark subject imaging. Thus the
output pin circuits have an open source
structure. (See figure 2.) This reduces the
CCD internal heat generation and reduces
the dark current generated from the pixels
by about 10% compared to the earlier
products. |
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Buffer IC |
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Sony provides the high-speed/low-power
CXA3691EN as a buffer IC to handle the
open source output circuits. It is thought
that in the future, the open source output
circuit will become standard as a noise
reduction technology. We strongly recommend
that you take advantage of the
CXA3691EN along with the ICX629
Series CCDs in your next digital still camera
product. |
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•••• Mr. KANI ••••
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Although we needed many trial
and error steps in the development
stage, all of the team members
worked together to advance
Sony’s unique fine fabrication
technology and we succeeded in
breaking the 2.0 μm unit pixel size
barrier while retaining high performance.
I strongly recommend that
you take advantage of the trend-leading
ICX629 Series devices. |
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See
all articles with figures and tables.  |
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Vol.45 |
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