Design and performance of a high-resolution image sensor for color TV applications

This article describes the design and development leading to the fabrication of a high-performance frame-transfer CCD image sensor which can be used in a wide variety of consumer imaging applications, based on file NTSC color TV standard. The sensor is built using the virtual-phase CCD technology and has 488 lines and 780 pixels per line. The antiblooming structure incorporated in the device uses an electron-hole recombination principle, and the sensor is suitable for attachment of a separate striped color filter. Device processing and design considerations derived from the two-dimensional simulations of potential profiles are discussed together with other important parameters such as dynamic range, resolution, charge transfer efficiency, reduction of hot-hole effects, and clocking requirements. Some details of the cell layouts in various regions of the device are also briefly described. The overall sensor performance and application potential are demonstrated by showing the image reproductions of several test charts.