A 1/2 inch-CCD imager with low-voltage variable shutter

Introduction VCA(Video-Cassette-Recorder) cameras have been developed to have high sensitivity a n d low smear noise(l),(2), (3). Nowadays, g o o d resolution for motion pictures is eagerly desired. To satisfy the characteristic, an electronic shutter function i s necessary. Moreover, a variable shutter scheme, which controls signal integration time, is suitable for an electronic iris control, too. FIT(Frame-Interline-TransferbCCD imagers or QFIT(Ouasi-FIT)-CCD imagers have already been reported to have a shutter function(4). (5). They, however, should have one or partial frame memory, s o their die sizes are greater than those of conventional IL(lnter-Line)-CCDs. In this paper, a 489(V)*670(H) pixels 1/2 inch lL-CCD imager with low-voltage variable shutter has been realized by a novel overflow gate and a complete depletion photo-diode structure.