ICX681SQW |
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■ Diagonal 7.763 mm (Type 1/2.3)
14.2M effective pixels
■ Pixels size: 1.43 μm unit pixel
■ Eight-field readout
■ Horizontal divided into fourths
output
■ Horizontal 2-phase drive
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 The Industry's Smallest Pixel
Size Achieved |
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Through even finer fabrication technologies,
Sony reduced the unit pixel size in the
ICX681SQW to 1.43 µm from the 1.55 µm
unit pixels in the current Sony ICX677 Series
devices (diagonal 7.791 mm (Type 1/2.3)
12.19M effective pixels) and achieved an even
higher pixel count in a Type 1/2.3 CCD image
sensor.
To assure imaging performance in the
industry's smallest pixel size, Sony adopted
a new optical condensing structure that adds
an upwardly convex lens below the existing
microlens as a technology to improve optical
condensing. Furthermore, by introducing
thin-film technologies for the Poly-Si transfer
electrodes and microlenses, Sony reduced
the smear component contamination from the vertical register and furthermore assured
high optical condensing performance. (See
figure 1.)
As a result, despite a 15% reduction in the area
per pixel from current products, this device
achieves the superb imaging characteristics
of a 165 mV (typ.) sensitivity (G signal), a 465
mV (min.) saturation signal, and a -86.0 dB
(typ.) smear. (See table 2.) |
| Power Consumption Reduced
by 12% |
|
In the ICX681SQW, along with the finer
pixels, the area of the vertical register was also
reduce by about 16% from current products.
Sony also optimized the vertical register
structure and the circuits used on the chip so
that it was possible to assure that the amount
of charge handled and the charge transfer
characteristics, which are the representative
characteristics of the vertical register, were
maintained. Furthermore, we also achieved a
reduction in the VL supply voltage (from -7.5
to -6.5 V), which is in a tradeoff relationship
with those characteristics, by structural
optimizations. As a result, the power
consumption was reduced by about 12% to
378 mW from the 431 mW of the current
products. (When a CXD5141GG is used and
the chip is operated in mode 3.) |
Continuous 1/4 Resolution Still
Imaging
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In addition to the higher resolution provided
increased pixel count, the ICX681SQW also
adds a 1/4 resolution still imaging mode
that achieves higher ISO sensitivity and
an improved continuous imaging function.
In this mode, improved high-sensitivity
characteristics can be acquired by adding
two pixels in the vertical direction and two
pixels in the horizontal direction. In addition,
by compressing the number of pixels to 1/4
the actual count, images can be output at
high speed. This allows the ICX681SQW to
achieve high frame rates and produce high-sensitivity
3.55M-pixel still images at the
high speed of 5.389 frame/s. |
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•••• Mr. Makihira ••••
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Through a continuous process of trial
and error, the project members worked
together to evolve Sony's fine pixel
fabrication technologies even further. At
the same time as allowing us to respond
to market needs for miniaturization and
higher pixel counts, these technologies
also assure excellent imaging
characteristics.
I strongly recommend that you look into
using the ICX681SQW, which responds
to the needs of the consumer digital still
camera market. |
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See
all articles with figures and tables.  |
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Vol.60 |
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Sony Corporation Global Headquarters
