| |
The ICX652CQZ is a diagonal 9.321 mm
(Type 1/1.7) 13.69M-effective pixel CCD that
was designed for high-resolution consumer
digital still cameras. It can capture high-resolution
images by using a mechanical
shutter. The ICX652CQZ is an increased pixel
count version of Sony's existing ICX612CQZ
(diagonal 9.299 mm (Type 1/1.7) 12.19M
effective pixels) and allows customers to
implement 13.5M-pixel digital still cameras
with no changes to the optical system from
existing cameras using the ICX612CQZ. Table
1 lists the device structure and table 2 lists the
image sensor characteristics. |
 The Industry’s Highest Pixel
Count |
|
The desires for higher pixel counts are
becoming stronger in the consumer digital still
camera market. Sony has now released a Type
1/1.7 13.69M-effective pixel CCD that provides the industry's highest pixel count in a
consumer digital still camera. |
| Horizontal Divided into Fourths
Output |
|
The usual way to maintain the frame rate as the
pixel count increases is to increase the drive
frequency. That does, however, have the
problem that power consumption increases as
well.
In the ICX652CQZ, Sony developed a new
horizontal divided into fourths output method
(see figure 1) that uses addition to reduce the
number of horizontal outputs to 1/4 the full
number and achieves 30 frame/s VGA
operation at the same 38 MHz drive frequency
as the existing Sony ICX612CQZ. |
High Sensitivity,
High-Speed Still Imaging
|
|
The ICX652CQZ provides a high-sensitivity,
high-speed output frame readout mode
(horizontal and vertical 2 × 2 addition) to
respond to the demands for higher ISOs in
still imaging and improved continuous
shooting functionality. (See table 2.)
In this mode, the ICX652CQZ implements
both a horizontal 2-pixel addition function for
the horizontal divided into fourths method and
a vertical register vertical 2-pixel addition
function and outputs high-sensitivity (due to 4-pixel addition) 3.42M-pixel equivalent still
images at 6.1 frame/s. |
| Low Smear Characteristics |
|
Improvement in image smear, which is a
characteristic phenomenon in CCDs that occurs
during moving picture imaging, are now
strongly desired. To respond to this need, Sony
has introduced a unique fine fabrication
technology that makes the oxide film under the
photo-shielding film thinner and succeeded in
reducing smear component admixture to the
vertical registers. The use of this technology
allowed Sony to improve the smear
characteristics by approximately 4 dB from
the existing Sony ICX636 (a 1.75 μm unit cell
device), thus achieving a -89 dB level in frame
readout mode. (See table 2.) |
High-Resolution Color CCD for Consumer Digital Still Cameras Supports VGA Resolution Moving Picture Imaging
Vol.52