CCDs and Video Cameras Product Bulletin - TI.com

1 Technology for InnovatorsTMProduct BulletinCCDs and Video CamerasTexas instruments has beeninvolved in the development andmanufacture of image sensorssince the invention of the charge-coupled device (CCD) concept in 1970. Early work began in thedesign of CCDs for astronomyand led to the development ofadvanced virtual-phase technolo-gy (AVP). Advanced virtual-phasetechnology offers large improve-ments in quantum efficiency, blueresponse and reduced dark cur-rent compared with conventionalmultiphase CCDs. Furthermore,advanced virtual-phase technolo-gy simplifies the design of sup-port circuitry by reducing thenumber of required clock TI breakthroughs insensor technology include theclocked antiblooming gate, theadvanced plastic package and thelatest technological innovation,its IMPACTRONTM family of elec-tron multiplying charge-coupleddevices (EMCCD), which candetect down to a single photon.

2 TI s patented advanced virtual-phase CCDs are high speed andhave very high sensitivity in thespectral range from deep ultra-violet (DUV) to near infrared(NIR). TI s high-quality CCDs and Cameras are well-suited forscientific, industrial, security/surveillance, military, spec-troscopy, traffic, astronomy andmedical New Family of charged-coupled devices (CCDs) fromTI revolutionizes the image sensor market with IMPACTRON,a breakthrough technology thatenables CCDs to see in extremelylow light scenes. TI s IMPACTRONCCDs can be used to build high-sensitivity Cameras that candetect as little light as a singlephoton.

3 With the IMPACTRONCCD s integrated image intensifier, TI enables manufac-turers to build smaller cameraswith easier system integration at a lower system cost. Thedevices are processed using TI spatented advanced virtual-phasetechnology, which gives themsuperior sensitivity over a widespectral high-speed, high-sensi-tivity CCDs are ideal for biomed-ical and scientific applicationsrequiring high sensitivity and precision. Additional imagingapplications well-suited for thesedevices include security/surveil-lance, automotive, industrialmachine vision, astronomy, traffic and Benefits High speed High sensitivity from deep UV to near IR High resolution High dynamic range High blue response Low dark current Fast clear capability Multi-mode readout capability Progressive scan Interlaced scan Partial scan/skip capability Multi-line readout Image-area line summing Smear subtraction Solid-state reliability with no image burn-in.

4 Residual imaging, image distortion, image lag or microphonicsVisit us get more information remarkable technologyworks by multiplying the pho-ton-generated charge using alow-noise impact ionizationprocess. The electron charge ismultiplied in the serial registerbefore readout. This preventsthe readout noise from beingamplified as s IMPACTRON technologycan be applied to any knownCCD architecture. And becausesolid-state sensors have excel-lent sensitivity over a wide spec-tral range, TI has taken the next logical step in the developmentof this remarkable technology COLOR!

5 Please see theIMPACTRON Devices Table in this brochure for more detailsabout our available IMPACTRON sensor TC246 RGB/TC246 CYM is aframe interline transfer CCDimage sensor designed for use in color, NTSC TV, computer and special-purpose applicationsrequiring low noise. TheTC246 RGB/TC246 CYM is a newdevice of the IMPACTRON familyof very-low noise, high sensitivity,high speed and low smear sensorsthat multiply charge directly incharge domain before conversionto voltage. The image-sensing area of the TC246 RGB/TC246 CYMis configured into 500 lines with 680 pixels in each line.

6 Because of its low smear, it is perfect forlow-light-level IMPACTRONThe TC285 IMPACTRON is thefirst 1 Megapixel, 30 fps EMCCD in the world. It is a 1004x1002,frame-transfer IMPACTRON image sensor designed for use in black and white, biomedical and special-purpose applicationsrequiring high sensitivity, highspeed, high resolution and lownoise. The TC285 IMPACTRON achieves nearly 70 percent peakQE, and has a wide spectralresponse from NIR to in Peltier-cooled andnon-cooled versions, the TC285 IMPACTRON is ideal for real-time, low-light-level applicationssuch as biotech and medical.

7 TC247 IMPACTRONThe TC247 IMPACTRON is aframe interline transfer CCDimage sensor designed for use inblack and white or color, NTSC TV,computer and special-purposeapplications requiring low TC247 IMPACTRON is a newdevice of the IMPACTRON family of very-low noise, high sensitivity, high speed and lowsmear sensors that multiply chargedirectly in charge domain beforeconversion to voltage. As a resultof the frame interline architec-ture, smear is significantlyreduced. The image-sensing areaof the TC247 IMPACTRON is configured into 500 lines with 680pixels in each line.

8 To increasesensitivity even further, microlenses have been attached directly to the image-area CCDsTC253 IMPACTRONThe TC253 IMPACTRON is aframe-transfer CCD image sen-sor designed for use in blackand white NTSC TV, computerand special-purpose applicationsrequiring high sensitivity, ultra-low noise and small size. Theimage-sensing area of the TC253 IMPACTRON is configured into500 lines with 680 pixels in eachline. The TC253 IMPACTRON isthe first device of theIMPACTRON family of ultra-lownoise, high sensitivity imagesensors that multiplies chargedirectly in charge domain beforeconversion to Carrier Multiplication concept in a CCD device.

9 A high field region is createdbetween suitable gate electrodeswithin each pixel of a CCD regis-ter section. Carriers are injected into the highfield region where impact ioniza-tion occurs. Even if the probability of impactionization is small, carriers aretransported through many CCDstages with high field to achievethe desired level of multiplication. The design of the pixel is suchthat the amount of transportedcharge does not affect the multi-plication field strength to preventthe loss of linearity. Current IMPACTRON CCD LineupModelTC246 RGB/TC246 CYM TC253 IMPACTRONTC247 IMPACTRON TC285 IMPACTRONI mager Size 1/2-inch 1/3-inch 1/2-inch2/3-inchPixel Count (HxV) 658 X 496 656X496 658X496 1000X1000 Pixel Size (HxV) m X X X X Bayer or---Color FilterCYMG ComplementaryScan Method Progressive/InterlaceProgressiveData Rate ~25 MHz 35 MHzSensitivity (typ) Well Capacity 28K e 44K e 28K e 60K e(typ)

10 Charge Conversion 14 V/e 9 V/e 14 V/e 14 V/eFactorDynamic Range 75dB 64dB 75dB 62dB(typ) TA=25 PackageCooled 22-pin DIP Cooled 22-pin DIPC ooled 22-pin DIPC ooled 28-pin DIPNon-cooled 12-pin DIPNon-cooled 28-pinDIPIMPACTRON CamerasMC681 IMPACTRON-R0B0 The super-high sensitivity low-light-level MC681 IMPACTRON-R0B0 camera that uses theTC253 IMPACTRON CCDemploys charge multiplication, anew technique in imaging intro-duced by TI. In the CCD, chargeis multiplied in several stageswithin the readout serial regis-ter before it ever reaches theoutput amplifier.