Friday, November 25, 2011

Sony Announces Improved 1/3-inch CCD, Camera Processor for Security Applications

Sony Cx-News vol. 66 has announcements of 0.96MP 1/3-inch CCD and AFE and camera processor for security cameras.

The CXD5148GG AFE, and the CXD4140GG, an "Enhanced Effio-E" for security camera application offer essentially the same feature set with added "IR LED exposure optimization", smaller pin count and lower power. The IR LED optimization function ensures correct exposure and increases visibility by preventing the overexposure that the excessive front lighting of a highly directional infrared LED light source.

The ICX692AQA (primary color filter) and the ICX692AKA (complementary color filter) progressive scan CCDs are capable of rendering 720p HD output at 30fps. A number of technologies used in developing the new 4.08um-pixel based ICX692AQA/AKA have led to significant improvements over the older 3.75um Sony products, the ICX445AQA/AKA. The sensitivity is now 2.1 times (+6.5 dB), saturation signal level (dynamic range) is 1.86 times (+5.4 dB) and smear characteristics have improved by 6 dB compared to the current products.

The vertical register, the readout gate and channel stop regions have been optimized to raise the saturation signal level. These changes have maximized the sensor area that accumulates electric charges produced by photoelectric conversion raising saturation signal level by 1.86 times (+5.4 dB) over the current Sony products. Also, advances in fine fabrication technology have enabled changes in electrode wiring structure that lower the layer of the on-chip microlenses and improve light collecting efficiency. And "photo shielding film" reduces glare from light reflections.
When the lens diaphragm is opened up and a lower f-number is used, it controls the reduction in light collecting efficiency caused by changes in light incident angle.

Also, use of "EXview HAD CCD II" technology has improved high sensitivity in the near infrared light region. In addition, reducing the thickness of the oxide film below the "photo shielding film" has successfully diminished contamination of signals by smearing in the vertical register and raised smear characteristics to -110 dB.

3 comments:

  1. Any one can compare these CCD sensors to CMOS one in terms of SNR and sensitivity?

    Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  2. You need to compare given CCD to a give CMOS as each family has various sensors of various performance and functionality :)

    ICX445AL is very good for solar and lunar imaging, like so: http://www.rkastrofoto.appspot.com/site_media/astro/orig/chameleon-20-11-2011/moon1.jpg

    vs common CMOS sensors there is no fixed patter noise (in general it's low noise).

    ReplyDelete
  3. Why would they need specific HW for exposure under IR light?

    ReplyDelete

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