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.
s
ICX452AQ: Primary color filters, DIP
ICX452AQF: Primary color filters, SOP
s
Diagonal 9.04 mm (Type 1/1.8), effective
5.13M pixels (2616H
1960V)
s
Three-field readout method
s
High sensitivity: 235 mV (G signal)
s
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.
V
O
I
C
E
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
i m p r o v e d t e c h n o l o g y a l l o w s t h e
ICX452AQ/AQF to achieve a sensitivity
of 235 mV, despite the 2.775
m 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.
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Figure 1 Digital Still Camera CCD Lineup
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Table 1 Device Structure
s
Figure 2 ICX452 Block Diagram
5M
4M
Pixel count
3M
2M
1M
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
Year (FY)
ICX252
ICX224
ICX232
ICX202
ICX284
ICX434
ICX432
ICX406
Type 1/3.6
Type 1/3.2
Type 1/2 or 1/1.8
Type 1/2.7
Type 2/3
ICX282
ICX452
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Table 2 Image Sensor Characteristics
ICX452AQ
Item
Image size
Transfer method
Readout method
Vertical register
transfer clock signals
Total number of pixels
Number of effective pixels
Number of active pixels
Number of
recommended recording
pixels (Aspect ratio: 4:3)
Chip size
Unit cell size
Horizontal drive frequency
Package
Diagonal 9.04 mm (Type 1/1.8)
Frame readout
interline transfer method
Three field readout method
8 signal lines
Approx. 5.25M (2668H
1970V)
Approx. 5.13M (2616H
1960V)
Approx. 5.09M (2608H
1952V)
Approx. 5.04M (2592H
1944V)
8.23 mm (H)
6.68 mm (V)
2.775
m (H)
2.775
m (V)
Square pixels
24.3 MHz
20-pin plastic DIP/SOP
Item
ICX452AQ
Remarks
Smear
F
r
ame r
ate
235 mV
500 mV
90 dB
77 dB
3.75 frames/s
30 frames/s
(NTSC mode)
25 frames/s
(PAL mode)
60 frames/s
(NTSC mode)
50 frames/s
(PAL mode)
3200K,
706 cd/m
2
,
F5.6,
1/30 s accumulation
During frame readout
None when
a mechanical
shutter is used
Sensitivity
(G sensitivity)
Saturation signal
Frame
readout
mode
High frame
rate readout
mode
Frame
readout
mode
High frame
rate readout
mode
AF mode
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
(Note)
Note: The small squares ( ) are photosensors.
Horizontal register
V
e
r
t
ical register
V
DD
11
V
OUT
RG
H
2B
H
1B
SUB
C
SUB
V
L
H
1A
H
2A
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
GND
10
GND
V
6
V
5B
V
5A
V
4
V
3B
V
3A
V
2
V
1
B
G
B
G
B
G
R
G
R
G
B
G
B
G
B
G
R
G
R
G
G
R
G
R
B
G
G
R
B
G
G
R
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