High-definition still image processing system using a new structure CCD sensor

A new structure CCD sensor has been developed, which can be improved in the image quality compared with the conventional Inter-line Transfer type CCD sensors. The image sensor used in a high-definition image capturing system like a DS camera has been improved to have more number of pixels. This pixel increase adversely affects the sensitivity, dynamic range, signal-to-noise (S/N) ratios. The new CCD sensor has a new pixel arrangement of a half-pitch offset and a new structure of the transfer electrodes, and it achieves to increase sensitivity, dynamic range, S/N and the image quality. The new signal processing system combined with this new CCD has been also developed. It includes high quality analog and digital signal processing LSIs. The newly developed digital signal processing combined with over-sampling technologies enables to achieve higher resolution than conventional cameras with the same number of pixels. The outlines of the new CCD and the signal processing system, the configuration, operations, and the experimental results are described.