Diagonal 9.04 mm (Type 1/1.8) 5.13M-Pixel CCD Image Sensor

for High-Resolution Digital Still Cameras

ICX452AQ

ICX452AQF

The needs for higher pixel counts and further miniaturization are

increasing in the digital still camera market that has been

experiencing rapid and continuous growth for several years.

Sony has now developed the ICX452AQ/AQF diagonal 9.04 mm (Type

1/1.8) 5.13M-pixel CCD image sensor to respond to these needs.

The ICX452AQ/AQF takes full advantage of the latest semiconduc-

tor fabrication technologies and achieves not only the high resolu-

tion of 5M pixels, but also better sensitivity and saturation signal

level characteristics than the ICX406AQ, which shares the same

optical system size.

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ICX452AQ: Primary color filters, DIP

ICX452AQF: Primary color filters, SOP

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Diagonal 9.04 mm (Type 1/1.8), effective

5.13M pixels (2616H

× 1960V)

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Three-field readout method

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High sensitivity: 235 mV (G signal)

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High saturation signal level: 500 mV

The ICX452AQ/AQF is a diagonal 9.04

mm (Type 1/1.8), 5.13M-pixel CCD im-

age sensor that was developed for high-

resolution digital still cameras. In conjunc-

tion with a mechanical shutter, this sensor

can acquire high-resolution images. Since

this product has the same image diagonal

as the conventional ICX406AQ, a 5M-

pixel digital still camera can be imple-

mented without changes to the lens

optical system. Table 1 lists the device

structure of the ICX452AQ/AQF and table

2 lists its imaging characteristics.

VOICE

We developed this new Type 1/1.8

5M-pixel CCD to respond to mar-

ket demands for further miniatur-

ization and higher pixel counts.

The idea behind this product is to

enable miniature digital still cam-

eras to achieve even better picture

quality. I strongly recommend that

you consider developing a digital

still camera that can take advan-

tage of the characteristics of this

device.

Extensive Lineup

Figure 1 shows Sony's digital still camera

CCD lineup. Sony supports customer

needs with its extensive product line that,

starting with the ICX202 developed in

1997, covers image sizes from Type 2/3

to Type 1/3.6 with pixel counts from

1.25M to 5M pixels. The newly-developed

ICX452AQ/AQF can be seen as both a

reduced size version of the ICX282 Type

2/3 5M-pixel sensor, and as an increased

pixel count version of the ICX406 Type

1/1.8 4M-pixel sensor. As such, Sony is

confident that it will contribute to even

further growth of the consumer digital still

camera market.

High Saturation Signal Level

To increase the dynamic range even

further, the ICX452AQ/AQF adopts the

same three-field readout system used in

the ICX432DQ/DQF. This allows the area

occupied by the photodiode in the unit

pixel to be increased over that of conven-

tional Sony products, and achieves a satu-

ration signal of 500 mV.

High Sensitivity

In addition to the fabrication technology

used for the on-chip microlenses, Sony has

optimized the lens shape and adopted thin-

film primary color filters to improve the

optical condensing characteristics. This

improved technology allows the

ICX452AQ/AQF to achieve a sensitivity

of 235 mV, despite the 2.775

µm diago-

nal unit pixel.

Timing Generator IC

Sony provides the CXD3619R drive tim-

ing generator IC, which includes vertical

and horizontal drivers. This IC supports

both high frame rate readout mode and AF

mode.