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The following information is true and accurate at the time of publication.
July 16, 2003
Realization of natural color reproduction in Digital Still Cameras, closer to the natural sight perception of the human eye
Technology development
to realize 4-color filter CCD and New Image Processor, achieving
halving of color reproduction error
(Tokyo, Japan) - Sony Corporation today
announced the world's first practical consumer (home) use
of CCD with 4-color (Red<R>, Green<G>,
Blue <B>+ Emerald<E>) filters, together
with a new image processor corresponding to the 4-color
filter. By this technology, the color reproduction error
is halved compared to Sony's conventional 3-primary-color
filter CCD and, expression of images closer to the natural
sight perception of the human eye is achieved under various
shooting conditions.
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3-color
filters
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4-color
filters
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Conventional digital still cameras mainly use 3-primary-color
filter CCD, and the colors are recorded by the intensity
of each of the 3 colors, Red(R), Green(G) and Blue(B), corresponding
to the color reproduction characteristics of the color TV
or monitors. However, the characteristics of these CCD filters
are different from those of the human visual system. Color
differences therefore emerge compared to natural human sight,
resulting in different color reproduction.
In the 4-color filter CCD, a filter with the Emerald (E)
color is added to the conventional 3-color RGB filter, in
order to reduce the color reproduction errors and to record
natural images closer to the natural sight perception of
the human eye. As a result, the characteristics of the CCD
color filter become much closer to those of the human visual
system, achieving dramatic reduction in the color reproduction
error.
In addition to the development of the 4 color filter, a
new image processor corresponding to the 4-color filter
has been developed. With this processor, each of the signals
captured by the 4 colors is processed to produce ideal 3
colors close to the natural sight perception the human eye
by a matrix calculation. Also, in addition to functioning
with 30% less power consumption, by the efficient processor
management, functions such as high-speed image shooting
and high-speed playback are realized, as well as enhancing
the of overall basic functions of digital still cameras.
By the combination of the 4 color filter CCD and the new
processor, color reproduction errors have been minimized
by half, and the reproduction of blue-green and red colors
has been particularly enhanced.
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Photo
produced by conventional technology
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Photo
produced by new technology
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Sony plans to integrate the newly developed 4 color filter
CCD and the new image processor into the new digital cameras
which will be introduced in the near future. This unique
Sony original technology will offer the capability to shoot
images with enhanced reality.
Sony will continue to further improve the technology in
order to enhance image quality in the growing digital still
camera market, with the aim of offering customers more fun
and joy in taking pictures.
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