Progressive Scan Diagonal 6.0 mm (Type 1/3)
1.25M-Effective Pixel Color EXview HAD CCDTM
ICX445AKA
There are now increasing demands for high resolution from the security
camera industry to support better identification of persons captured by
these cameras. There is also a trend towards switching from the conven-
tional TV format to a digital formats in IP cameras and other products.
To respond to these needs, Sony has developed and is now releasing the
ICX445AKA, the first megapixel class CCD for security cameras. In this
device, Sony achieved both high resolution (1.25M effective pixels) and
high sensitivity by achieving even finer feature sizes in a new generation
of the EXview HAD CCD structure and by taking advantage of Sony’s pro-
gressive scan CCD technology developed through extensive experience
in digital camera sensors. This new product also includes a “horizontal
and vertical pixel addition function” that allows it to capture VGA resolu-
tion images at 60 frame/s.
*
:
EXview HAD CCD is a trademark of Sony
Corporation. This is a CCD that drastically
improves light efficiency by including near infrared
light region.
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Complementary color filters, 24-
pin DIP
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Progressive scan CCD
Diagonal 6.0 mm (Type 1/3)
High near-infrared sensitivity
Progressive scan rate: 22.5 frame/s
VGA resolution readout rate: 60 frame/s
The ICX445AKA is a progressive scan
diagonal 6.0 mm (Type 1/3) 1.25M-effec-
High Sensitivity and Low
registers and is capable of outputting 60
field/s in a vertical 720-line cut-out mode.
Furthermore, it can output images with a
pixel count equivalent to VGA resolution
(640 × 480 pixels) with four times the
usual sensitivity by using the included
“horizontal and vertical pixel addition
function”. At the same VGA equivalent
resolution, it can also output two types of
signal that differ in their charge accumu-
lation time with a period corresponding to
30 frame/s.
Smear
tive pixel color CCD designed for
In addition to both optimization of the
security camera applications. The
pixel pattern and on-chip microlenses and
ICX445AKA features high resolution than
adoption of complementary color filters,
conventional security camera CCDs. (See
Sony also adopted a new generation of the
figure 2.) Furthermore, it supports signal
EXview HAD CCD technology, which
output in a wide variety of formats, includ-
achieves a further increase in sensitivity.
ing progressive scan, center cut-out read-
As a result, Sony was able to achieve the
out, and 4-pixel addition mode readout.
high sensitivity of 460 mV (at F5.6)
(See table 1.)
despite the small unit pixel cell size of 3.75
µm. Additionally, this device boasts high
near infrared sensitivity and is appropri-
ate for imaging in day/night cameras and
in conjunction with a near infrared light
source. Furthermore, this device achieves
the smear characteristics of -104 dB (at
F5.6). (See table 3.)
Lineup Deployment
Sony plans further deployment of this
technology both in products that use pri-
mary color filters and in products that sup-
port black-and-white imaging. We are
confident in recommending these products
for security, IP, and similar camera appli-
cations.
Diverse Set of Operating
Modes
The ICX445AKA’s output circuits
support high-speed operation and can be
operated at horizontal drive frequencies
up to 40.5 MHz. This allows this sensor
to achieve a high pixel count and high
frame rates.
In progressive scan mode, the ICX445AKA
can output all pixels independently at
frame rates up to 22.5 frame/s. It also
implements interlaced operation with ten
phases of independent vertical transfer
V
O
I
C
E
In the ICX445AKA, we focused on
achieving both high sensitivity
and the smaller cell size required
for higher resolution by switching
to Sony's EXview HAD CCD tech-
nology. I hope that this device will
prove useful in high-resolution/
high-sensitivity security cameras.