A study has been made of a very sensitive camera tube especially suitable for HDTV. It was found that an experimental camera tube with a photoconductive target of amorphous selenium exhibits high sensitivity with a quantum efficiency greatly in excess of unity at an applied target electric field of the order of i08 V/rn. This phenomenon results from avalanche multiplication in the target. The camera tube which has a selenium target 2 m thick has a sensitivity about 10 times as great as a conventional camera tube. The sensitivity can be increased still further by using a thicker target. Deterioration of the lag and resolution characteristics caused by avalanche multiplication has not been observed. The avalanche-mode target was also exploited in a camera tube for HDTV and the serious problem of a lack of sensitivity in HDTV cameras has been solved dramatically. 1.

Ikegami has been involved in broadcast equipment ever since it was established as a company. In conjunction with NHK it has brought forth countless television cameras, from black-and-white cameras to color cameras, HDTV cameras, and special-purpose cameras. In the early days of HDTV (high-definition television, also known as "High Vision") cameras the specifications were different from those for the cameras of the present-day system, and cameras using all kinds of components, having different arrangements of components, and having different appearances were developed into products, with time spent on experimentation, design, fabrication, adjustment, and inspection. But recently the knowhow built up thus far in components, , printed circuit boards, and wiring methods has been incorporated in camera fabrication, making it possible to make HDTV cameras by metbods similar to the present system. In addition, more-efficient production, lower costs, and better after-sales service are being achieved by using the same circuits, components, mechanism parts, and software for both HDTV cameras and cameras that operate by the present system.

In this paper we compare the accuracy of the color information obtained from television cameras using three and five wavelength bands. This comparison is based on real digital camera data. The cameras are treated as colorimeters whose characteristics are not linked to that of the display. The color matrices for both cameras were obtained by identical optimization procedures that minimized the color error The color error for the five band camera is 2. 5 times smaller than that obtained from the three band camera. Visual comparison of color matches on a characterized color monitor indicate that the five band camera is capable of color measurements that produce no significant visual error on the display. Because the outputs from the five band camera are reduced to the normal three channels conventionally used for display there need be no increase in signal handling complexity outside the camera. Likewise it is possible to construct a five band camera using only three sensors as in conventional cameras. The principal drawback of the five band camera is the reduction in effective camera sensitivity by about 3/4 of an I stop. 1.

2 million pixels FIT-CCD(Erame Lnterline Iransfer-CCD) which has the latest Hyper HAD(h[ole accumulation iode) Sensor has been developed for HDTV. This new CCD has higher performancesover the conventional HD-tube sensor by use of the new technologies such as the Hyper HAD Sensor and the aluminum wire interconnection. This new CCD has realized the compact and light HD-CCD camera which has improved one and half F stop sensitivity and 8dB SN ratio in comparison with the current HD-tube camera. The main characteristics of the HD-CCD camera prototype are as follows 1. Sensitivity F8/2000lx 2. SN Ratio 52dB/3OMHz 3. Dynamic range 600 4. Smear reduction -100dB 5. Horizontal resolution 1000 TV Lines 6. Camera head weight 6. 5Kg(including camera adaptor) This new HD-CCD camera has realized not only the studio system but also the stand alone system for portable use. 1 .

The authers have developed the HSC-100 solid-state High-Definition TV(Camera. The canra promises a 6dB S/N and +6dB sensilivity far superior to conventional IIDTV cameras due to an imaging device construction. It also improves picture quality throughusing a digital contour unit. To satisfy IiDTV (SMPTE 240M) requirements a photo-conductive layered semiconductor imaging device (PSID) with 2 pixels has been developed. An amorphous silicon (a-Si) layeris added to the CCD scanner in this device. The a-Si layer carries out photoelectric conversion then interline transfer CCD reads out the photo induced electric charges. This configuraon provides a pixel aperture ratio of 100 thereby improving sensitivity comparedwith existing models. The layer structure also permits a wide dynamic range. A digital contour unit was developed to improve contour corrector characteristics. S/N and frequency response are improved by introducing digital signal processing. The 56dB S/N value is achieved with an 8 bit A/D converter. This S/N is about 10 dB better than that for conventional ultra-sonic delay lines. In addilion digital processing improves frequency response and delay time stability. A more natural contour correction characteristic has been attained with a contour correction signal derived from the luminance signal. 1.

We have developed a real-time registration compensator for 1" Harpicon the Hi-Vision camera. Harpicon has the advantages of higher sensitivity and higher resolution than Saticon or Hi-Vision CCD imagers. However a camera with image pick-up tubes such as Harpicon produces registration errors which causes lower resolution and false color on objective edges. To solve this problem we developed a new method of detecting registration errors which is suitable for digital Hi-Vision cameras. The detector finds registration errors in the picture during the camera operation. This frees the operator from initial registration tuning and enables real-time compensation. Recently we developed a detection large scale integrated (LSI) circuit with a 1. 3tm complemental metal-oxide semi-conductor (CMOS) gate array and implemented the system in hardware. The detection hardware consists of two gate arrays twenty-four 256k x 4-bit FIFO memories and a small amount of control logic. The experimental hardware detects registration errors at 30 points (5 points vertically and 6 horizontally) in both R-G and B-G channels within 700 msec. The camera has a high resolution (40

The lID video tape recorder (VTR) is an indispensable component in HDTV systems and its role has become more and more important. We have developed and produced small cassette HDTV VCRs called UNTil which are already used throughout a wide area. The first generation machine was composed of two pieces recorder unit and a signal processor unit. In the second generation machine which is described in this paper two pieces are united to form one unit thus performance and usability are much improved. The total cabinet size is reduced by approximately 39 compared to the previous model. 1.

Regarding HDTV postproduction demand for a digital video cassette recorder (DVCR) which is capable of handling a data rate of approx. 1 . 2Gbit/s is substantial. According to the EUREKA EU95 1250/50 interlaced standard an experimental cassette recorder with a 19mm D-2-type cassette has been developed. First results of its implementation show the feasibility of this approach. 1.

Fig. 2. Photo of the VRT camcorder being operated by a cameraman.

In 1984 the first real-time HDTV video tape recorder was introduced. The HDV-1000 was an analog VTR using one inch metal oxide tape and standard SMPTE open reels. It utilized basic Type-C recording principles although also incorporating a considerably higher FM carrier frequency, twice the deviation, and slightly more preemphasis, - all to achieve a 10 MHz baseband video recording bandwidth capability. Four such component analog recording channels were utilized in parallel to achieve a total recording capability of 40 MHz - made up of 20 MHz for the green video signal (or Luminance Y) and 10 MHz each for the red and blue signals (or R-Y and B-Y components in the case of Y, R-Y, B-Y recording). Almost 150 of these machines supported the early pioneering years of HDTV development - worldwide - over the period 1984 to the late 1980's. The HDTV video signal format to which this VTR was designed was based upon the preliminary 1 125/60/16:9/2: 1 system - having specified system bandwiths of 20 MHz for Luminance Y, and 7.0MHz R-Y, and 5.5 MHz B-Y. The HDV-1000 proved to be a remarkably robust, reliable HD VTR workhorse and it early and firmly established the viability of reliable RD real-time image capture. Nevertheless, it's technical shortcomings were soon exposed by a creative and demanding international program production community. The limitations of two channels of analog audio recording, and about four generations of liD video recording in post-production were inconsistent with the needs of high-end program production. The 45 db signal to noise limitation also imposed a boundary to the quality of the HDTV tape to 35 mm film transfers being made by both Electron Beam and Laser Recording techniques. The HDV-1000 had, however, pushed the state of the art in analog FM recording to the boundary. Head and tape technologies were not expected to advance sufficiently to warrant a new generation in analog recording design. Attention thus turned to digital recording techniques.

This paper describes a high-picture-quality laser film recorder developed for HDTV movie production applications. This equipment can directly record HDTV pictures in realtime onto a low-sensitivity fine grain color film using three laser beams of red green and blue. A practical model has already been developed introduced into production studios and is being used for movie production. 1 .

We have developed a series of Schottky-barrier infrared image sensors with a novel readout architecture called the charge sweep device (CSD). Compared with the conventional interline transfer CCD image sensor, the CSD image sensor has a larger charge handling capacity and is suitable for thermal imaging where we have to detect a small signal in a large background. This paper describes the design and performance of the CSD image sensors. The devices described here include a 512x512 element IRCSD, a small size 256x256 element IRCSD, a 256x256 element IRCSD which has the lowest noise equivalent temperature difference of 0.036K (f/1.2), and a 1040x1040 element IRCSD which is the highest resolution device among infrared image sensors.

Hi-Vision broadcasting, offering far more lifelike pictures than those produced by existing television broadcasting systems, has enormous potential in both industrial and commercial fields. The dissemination of the Hi-Vision system will enable vivid, movie theater quality pictures to be readily enjoyed in homes in the near future. To convert motion film pictures into Hi-Vision signals, a telecine system is needed. The Hi-Vision telecine systems currently under development are the "laser telecine," "flying-spot telecine," and "Saticon telecine" systems. This paper provides an overview of the pickup tube type Hi-Vision telecine system (referred to herein as the Saticon telecine system) developed and marketed by Ikegami Tsushinki Co., Ltd.

A high-resolution imaging system employing a CCD line scan camera has been constructed with a resolution of 6000 x 6000 x 12 bits per pixel per color component with a variable pixel aspect ratio. The raw image data is processed in real time to correct for one dimensional artifacts arising from the sensor dark current signal as well as gain and integration control nonuniformities. The gain nonuniformity correction includes second order effects. Two dimensional artifacts attributable to sensor window defects are also removed. The system''s noise performance is found to be limited primarily by sensor shot noise and uncorrected sensor nonuniformities. For most images the system noise is below the visible threshold. This still imaging system has been used to digitize color transparencies up to 6 X 6cm including 35 and 70mm motion picture film for HDTV motion test sequences. 1. OVERVIEW AND DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS The CCD line scan camera described in this paper was designed as a laboratory system to be used as a source of high quality image data for visual communications research. A block diagram of the system is shown in Figure 1. The intent was to produce digital images of sufficient resolution and quality to meet the needs of HDTV researchers for the foreseeable future in fact the scanner''s resolution far exceeds that of present display technology. Output image quality was the primary design consideration and attention

The camera design and performance evaluation of a high-quality TDI-CCD digital color scanner is described. The camera head design which has been described elsewhere [1 2] is briefly overviewed. Scanner characteristics such as dark current temperature effects white field uniformity color filters and filter wheel mechanical design resolution and MTF and noise at low signal levels are described. A companion paper [3] describes some other characteristics of this scanner. 1.

This paper describes a laser telecine which has been developed for transferring film images into HDTV signals with high picture quality. In this equipment the film image is directly scanned by a laser beam concentrated onto a small spot with high intensity so that both high resolution and a high S/N ratio can be obtained. This equipment has already been delivered to the broadcasting station and are being used to create HDTV programs using 35mm films.

The unique system that applies the effective method to record hi-definition television(HDTV) still image data on removable discs is developed. By recording in compressed form based on JPEG CD-ROM can contain more than 1700 files of HDTV still image data with almost equal to source quality. With this system users such as producers and post-production engineers can make more flexible programs without knowledge of computers. 1

We have presented a high density MUSE videodisc with 60 minutes of playback time per side. It has been developed by doubling the disc recording density. We have continued examining the system mainly the optical pickup and the signal parameters and we determined the newly specifications. To reduce the influence of uneven thickness and tilt of disc we changed an N. A. of the objective lens to 0. 55 and to make the optical pickup smaller we employed a small packaged ( $ 5. 6mm) visible laser diode. The visible laser diode has a low aspect ratio ( 0 32 0 11 0 / 0 2. 9 ). And to make the SN ratio of the playback signal higher we widened the FM deviation and lowered the FM carrier frequency. Under new conditions we made PMMA replica discs. As a result a high quality played back image without crosstalk noise was obtaind. 1.

We have realized a V-grooved optical disc that achieves an increase in recording density over conventional optical discs. This report describes the results of our research : namely its fabrication process and optical read-out method. The features of the V-grooved optical disc system are: 1) high density with narrower track pitch 2) double transfer rate using two-channel simultaneous read-out 3) applicability to read out current CD The V-grooved optical disc is suitable for recording of a baseband HDTV signal because the signal requires a large volume and high transfer rate. 1 . HIGH DENSITY OPTICAL DISCS Optical discs such as Compact Discs (CD) or Video Discs are currently used as information media because they feature large volume high density and easy random access. Recording density reaches 1 bit per 1 um2. However downsizing of disc diameter and applicability to HDTV signals require even higher recording density. Since an optical disc system reads out signals by focusing a laser to the diffraction limit the foremost way to realize higher recording density is minimizing the laser spots focused on the discs shortening of semiconductor laser wavelength and designing of better objective lenses have been the important themes of recent research and development. The wavelength of semiconductor lasers used to read out CD is in the near-infrared around 78Oniu but mass production of G7Onm lasers has just been initiated. Research and development of Il-VI

We developed a new type of optical disc system for baseband high definition television (signal. In conventional technology we cannot record HDTV signal for sufficiently long time because it has very wide bandwidth. In this system we can solve this problem based on the following technology HDTV signal is divided into two channels recorded on the both sides of a 30 cm diameter disc and reproduced with two optical pickups at the same time. As a result this system can continuously play HDTV signal for more than 30 minutes with constant-linear-velocity (CLV) disc. 1 .

This paper discusses the fundamental technical challenges and solutions in converting still images from film through the digital domain to video. These include tone scale colorimetry quantization and resolution. The digital signal processing for a particular implementation of a slide-to-video transfer unit which employs a single CCD sensor is described. 2.

A scanner with an integrated 2048-element-per-line color charge-coupled device (CCD) image sensor has been developed for scanning 4" x 6" photographs at up to 500 dots/in resolution. Integration of the three sensors with color filters on a single chip greatly simplifies the scanner system design. The scanner system includes light-source optics mechanical drive CCD drive electronics digital signal processing (DSP) electronics and controlling hardware/firmware. A novel selfcalibration scheme provides brightness and uniformity correction to the scanned image data in real time. Also in real time DSP circuits perform sharpening and color processing allowing for fast high quality scans of photographic images. Prints of up to 4" x 6" are scanned at 500 dots/in resolution and 24-bit color in less than 10 seconds. Application areas include graphic arts technical and scientific imaging insurance and real estate. 1.

We develop methods to characterize the noise positional accuracy and color shift for a camera type scanner. These methods have been applied to several similar scanners based on an experimental Time Delay Integration chip developed at IBM Research. The scanner is further discussed in the paper by Hon-Sum Wong et al in this session. To measure noise we scan a field twice under identical conditions. We then consider the noise to be the difference in these measurements computed pixel by pixel. All data is measured with a 12 bit a/d converter (0-4095). For a typical dark current correction we find a standard deviation of 1. 97. For a white field we find the standard deviation of the measurements to be 3. 65 out of the total range of 4095 (this is . 089). To measure color shift and positional accuracy we scan a transmissive test image which consists of an aluminized glass plate in which 6 rows of 6 diamonds per row all on a square grid were engraved. The position of a diamond may be accurately obtained for each color scan by summing the gray values in the various rows and in the various columns of an area containing one diamond. We find color shifts of up to . 5 pixel. The position accuracy is good to . 2 pixel if the slight rotation of the TDI device relative to

Linear array based CCD technology has been successfully used in the development of an Automatic Currency Reader/Comparator (ACR/C) system. The ACR/C system is designed to provide a method for tracking US currency in the organized crime and drug trafficking environments where large amounts of cash are involved in illegal transactions and money laundering activities. United States currency notes can be uniquely identified by the combination of the denomination serial number and series year. The ACR/C system processes notes at five notes per second using a custom transport a stationary linear array and optical character recognition (OCR) techniques to make such identifications. In this way large sums of money can be " marked" (using the system to read and store their identifiers) and then circulated within various crime networks. The system can later be used to read and compare confiscated notes to the known sets of identifiers from the " marked" set to document a trail of criminal activities. With the ACR/C law enforcement agencies can efficiently identify currency without actually marking it. This provides an undetectable means for making each note individually traceable and facilitates record keeping for providing evidence in a court of law. In addition when multiple systems are used in conjunction with a central data base the system can be used to track currency geographically. 1.

In a perfect world we would be able to use the many possible degrees of freedom in a camera system to do many useful things such as accommodating for changes or differences in the scenes being imaged correcting for camera behaviour that isn''t quite ideal or measuring properties of the scene by noting how the scene''s image changes as the camera''s parameters are varied. Unfortunately the parameters that control the formation of the camera''s images often interact in complex and subtle ways that can cause unforeseen problems for machine vision tasks. To be able to effectively use multi degree of freedom camera systems we need to know how variations in the camera''s control parameters are going to cause changes in the produced images. For this we need to have good mathematical models describing the relationships between the control parameters and the parameters of the resulting images. Ideally we would like to base the form of the models on an understanding of the underlying physical processes involved but in many cases these are either unknown or are just too complex to model. In these situations experimentation and generalized modeling techniques are necessary. To perform the experiments needed to develop and validate models and to obtain calibration data for the models we need precise automated imaging systems. In this paper we describe the camera systems developed for Carnegie Mellon University''s Calibrated Imaging Lab

The AIS2 is a dual speed multi-port slow-scan CCD imaging system intended for use in applications which require both low speed low noise operation and higher speed setup and acquisition modes. Flexibility in CCD operation is emphasized and all CCD control voltage and timing may be reconfigured through software command. Additionally multi-port CCDs and multi-device CCD mosaics may be supported with separate clock voltage references and timing generators for each CCD or output amplifier. The system is extensible and may be tailored to the individual needs of the application. A high speed programmable timing sequencer generates the CCD clock signals with timing resolution to 25 ns. Virtually any CCD clocking signals may be generated. Timing sequences and clock references for each CCD output port in the system may be separately configured. An adaptable camera system controller accepts high level commands for system operation and image acquisition. The operational parameters and command language may be modified by the user if desired and may be retained from session to session. Reconfiguration of the system to operate a different CCD requires only replacement of one circuit card and downloading a set of modified parameters. The initial version of the system is configured to perform four port operation of a Tektronix 111024 CCD at a 100 kilohertz pixel rate and a 1 megahertz rate at 16 and 12 bit resolution respectively. 1.

A low cost dual speed CCD imaging system is described. System design and implementation issues are discussed. Emphasis is placed on system flexibility and interface considerations. Architectural details of the camera controller unit and signal processing circuitry and preliminary performance data are presented.

A low cost high-reliability multispectral video system has been developed for airborne remote sensing. Three low weight CCD cameras are mounted together with a photographic camera in a keviar composite self-contained structure. The CCD cameras are remotely controlled have spectral filters (80 nm at 50 T) placed in front of their optical system and all cameras are aligned to capture the same image field. Filters may be changed so as to adjust spectral bands according to the object s reflectance properties but a set of bands common to most remote sensing aircraft and satellites are usually placed covering visible and near JR. This paper presents results obtained with this system and some comparisons as to the cost resolution and atmospheric correction advantages with respect to other more costly devices. Also a brief description of the Remotely Piloted Vehicle (RPV) project where the camera system will be mounted is given. The images so obtained replace the costlier ones obtained by satellites in severai specific applications. Other applications under development include fire monitoring identification of vegetation in the field and in the laboratory discrimination of objects by color for industrial applications and for geological and engineering surveys. 1.

Imaging sensor technology is experiencing an explosion in development activities and innovation. The past few years has seen a migration of high-technology sensor devices from a few aerospace laboratories to dozens of new military and commercial-based activities and applications. This transition has created the need for new versatile electronic imaging systems that can support the special requirements of these non-standard sensors. This paper describes one approach that has been implemented and is currently utilized in several varied applications. The imaging system incorporates all of the functions necessary to acquire data from a nonstandard sensor and to convert the acquired data into standard real-time video formats. Included in the functions are AID conversion two point non-uniformity correction intensity transform frame integration frame buffering scan conversion and statistic calculation. Non-obvious uses of scan-conversion and intensity transform have extended use of the system in demanding real-world applications. In support of this highly flexible imaging hardware system an extensive software environment has been created to allow simple implementation of advanced imaging functions. All system configuration and setup functions are controlled from a computer keyboard eliminating time consuming hardware reconfiguration. Real-time functions such as the calculation of non-uniformity coefficients and automatic gain and level control are also implemented. In addition the imaging hardware and software system has been fully integrated with a second existing software package that is used for non-real-time data reduction and analysis. With

Almost any frame grabber system has a special controller circuit to transfer data from the video analog to digital converter (ADC) to the system memory. This controller which normally includes a locked phase loop (PLL) and several counters has to fulfill three main functions: the generation of a pixel clock synchronized with the incoming video signal the command of the ADC and memory addressing for the storage of the digitized video. This paper shows how a digital signal processor (DSP) can simplify the design of a video acquisition system by reading the video ADC and writing to its memory at video rates. An example is given with the TM5320C30 processor which supports simultaneous read and write operations on its two external buses. In the case of the CCJR 601 video format the processor runs at 27 MHz. Modern versions of the TMS32OC3O running at as fast as 40 MHz can acquire up to 1066 samples per line. Also the 32-bit wide buses of the processor allows colour acquisition using this technique. In order to build a so simple circuit the DSP needs to be synchronized to the incoming video signal which can be neatly done by using the TMS32OC3O internal timer as part of the PLL. By changing the programming of the internal timer any video format can be grabbed. In addition the DSP can be used as a powerful image

A novel automatic wide dynamic range sensor (AWDRS) which can be incorporated in any sensing device for instance a CCD array is presented. This sensor can achieve a dynamic range of 16bits with negligible change in spatial resolution. Due to the minimal added circuitry the above resolution is thus obtained. This advantage does not require any payment in time resolution. 1.

The automatic focusing of a camera is frequently necessary. Closed loop techniques that relate measurements of image blur to focus distance provide self-contained mechanisms for autofocus. Making the focuser adaptive gives the controller the ability of improving its performance over time. To achieve a focused image search of the space of focus positions is required. Treating the camera as a non-linear and time varying plant the input is the image distance and the output is a blur measurement a control law used to drive the blur measurement to a minimum is adapted over time. A trial and error process is employed by the focuser to expedite the adaption. From the adaption process a model of camera dynamics is identified. To achieve real-time adaption a single nonlinear neuron is employed. Sufficient adaption speed is achieved by the use of Parker''s second order LMS learning algorithm and by the adaption of the learning rates. Stability of the closed loop focuser is insured by maintaining a bracket on the optimum focus distance. Bracketing provides a way of incorporating a lower bound on the error from the optimum focus distance into the adaption error function. The performance of the adaptive closed loop focuser is illustrated by simulations using a synthetic camera. Depending on both the quality of the blur measurements and the size of the object distance step the focuser''s asymptotic performance typically requires only

Large area charge-coupled devices (CCDs) with unprecedentedly low noise and high quantum efficiency are revolutionizing astronomy probing the universe to record faint levels while imaging relatively large areas of the sky. On-line intelligent pattern recognition software transforms these large images into photometrically accurate catalogs of colors sizes and shapes of thousands of stars and galaxies. The scientific driver for this is starvation: much of modern optical and JR astronomy is " photon starved" . Current research involving faint imaging and spectroscopy often requires total exposure times longer than several nights to obtain good signal-to-noise ratio. One must use the highest quantum efficiency detectors on the largest telescopes and develop image acquisition and reduction techniques which cancel systematic errors to high accuracy. We describe here a CCD mosaic camera and data handling system which will make full use of the light collected by the largest existing telescopes. It uses off-the-shelf CCDs in a mosaic configuration together with automated data acquisition and processing. 2. ULTRA-FAINTCCI) IMAGING IN ASTRONOMY In practice an arbitrary precision in photometry cannot be reached even in an arbitrarily long integration time. Accurate surface photometry to 30-3 1 magnitude arcsecond2 requires the correction of systematic errors to iO-4 of the moonless night sky background. New techniques for ultra-deep imaging made possible by the dimensional and temporal stability of CCDs permit photometry at this level. A series of guided exposures each

The measuring errors are produced in the position measurement with CCD camera as a result of the chip construction and electronic noices. This paper gives an error estimation method and the relation of the measuring errors with signal quantized levels. It is pointed out to increase the quantized level unlimitedly is helpness for decreasing the measuring error from the CCD'' intrinic attribute and noices. CCD camera is widely used in position measurement of motion objects. The errors are produced in the position measurement as a result of the intrinsic attribute of the CCD chip and electronic noices. The measurement precision of the CCD measuring system is estimated with the rootmean square ofmeasured position. 1. The relation of the measuring errors from the intrisincal arrtibute of CCD'' construction with the quantized level Generally the position readings from the intrinsic attribution of CCD'' construction have uniform distribition characteristics. Supposing the maximum deviation of the contmous random variate on uniform distribition is A the rootmean square ofthe variate is Foe example supposing the maximum deviation of measured objectposition is half sensing element (1 1 2 pixel) the measurement precision is T pixel. But the calculation method has limitation not to permit the system to discriminate the signal. Once the image signals are discriminated the results above must be corrected. The quantizer one of the discriminators is an important part of image processing system. The

This paper discusses the design of an RC network model of the parallel clock registers on a charge coupled device. A model has been developed that takes into account the individual pixel capacitance and resistance of the device the line resistance of the polysilicon clock lines and the line-to-line capacitance between adjacent phases. This RC network forms a lossy transmission line that degrades the clock pulses applied to the device as they travel to its center. In the case of high-speed large area CCDs the deterioration in pulse shape can lead to a significant drop-off in charge transfer efficiency (CTE) as a function of distance from the edge of the device. Using SPICE the parallel clock registers of three different CCDs have been simulated. The first device is a large area scientific imager designed to run at relatively slow clock rates. The second CCD is an upgraded version of that device. It includes Aluminum-strapped clock lines to reduce the RC time constant of the clocking structure. The third device is an infrared PtSi imager. The results of the SPICE simulations are used to find the limiting RC time constant of each device and to project its performance as a high-speed imager. 1 .

A simulation set-up radiometrically representative of a high resolution Earth observation condition from a geosynchronous spinning spacecraft has been built. This simulation set-up is used to verify the performance of a commercially matrix CCD (THOMSON-CSF type TH7864) when operating in time delay and integration (ThI) mode. MTF measurements results of this TDI operating CCD are presented in this paper and are compared with M''TF values of the same CCD operating in a conventional staring mode. 1.

The development of the 20482 CCD for a second generation Space Telescope instrument has resulted devices with very few defects dark currents of less than 12 electrons/pixel/hour at 80 readout noise levels of less than 4 electrons rms and excellent charge transfer efficiency at signal levels of less than 10 electrons. A second generation of devices that capitalize on these characteristics have been produced and are currently in test. Faster frame transfer devices that preserve these characteristics have been designed that include tn-directional taps in the serial register. 1.

This paper will discuss the design and performance of a serial tap. The tap is intended to permit higher effective data rates from CCDs by extracting data from the device in parallel. The design under consideration is structured such that data may be transferred in both directions in the serial register bypassing the tap or extracted through the tap. Performance of the tap was evaluated using a specially designed test chip. Preliminary performance data are presented. 1.

An analytical model of the lateral overflow-gate shutter operation In a CCD image sensor is reported and the validity of the model is confirmed by experiments. The optimized design was adopted In a 1 /2-inch 512(H)x489(V) CCD Image sensor so as to realize a shutter pulse of only 4Vpp. 1.

This paper discusses the development of two materials as AR coatings for thinned backilluminated charge-coupled devices. The first material is the heavy metal oxide Ta205 deposited as a spin on layer using sol-gel technology. The second material is Si3N4. Both these films have the high index of refraction and low absorption coefficients needed to produce good AR coatings in the near UV down to 300 nm. The goal of the program was to produce a coating which would yield devices with quantum efficiencies of greater than 50 at 300 nm. Both these materials satisfy this goal. Data on test devices will be reported. . 1.

We have developed a thinning and packaging process which allows the conversion of front-illuminated charge-coupled devices (CCDs) into back illuminated sensors. This process does not depend on any special processing by the manufacturer and can therefore be used with any type of CCD. The process consists of several major steps which include: 1) making a silicon substrate with conductive traces and indium bumps which mate to the CCD wire bonding pads 2) placing indium bumps on the CCD wire bonding pads 3) bump bonding the substrate and CCD together 4) thinning 5)packaging 6) oxidizing the backside surface 7) applying antireflection coatings and 8) backside charging. Using this process with Loral 1200x800 and 3072x1024 CCDs we have produced devices with quantum efficiency in excess of 80 in the near-UV and visible wavelength regions. The surface flatness of these devices has been measured interferometrically to deviate from a plane by less than 1 um rms for the 1200x800 pixel sensors. 2.

A new large format (512 X 512) charge injection device (CU)) imager was designed and fabricated for use in spectroscopy and other scientific instrumentation applications. Because of its large pixel size (28 urn X 28 urn) the imager design features wide dynamic range and extended spectral response. Additionally a pre-amplifier per row read-out architecture is employed to reduce read-out noise by an order of magnitude from that of a conventional read-out architecture. Initially the imager was fabricated using a commercial oxide-nitride CD process. Eventually an all-oxide CD process will be employed to fabricate the imager. The removal of the nitride is projected to reduce further the read-out noise as well as optimize the UV response. The imager is being integrated in an existing CPU-based scientific instrumentation camera. Among the features that will be demonstrated are: wide dynamic range low read-out noise improved spectral response virtually no-blooming random-access capability true non-destructive read-out and adaptive integration time. 1.

Implementation ofover-illumination protection on area array image sensors has typically involved significant modifications to device design and/or processing. These modifications have caused degradation of device performance for example lateral antiblooming reduces fill factor and vertical antiblooming reduces near infra-red (NIR) quantum efficiency (QE). Clocked antiblooming is a technique that does not require any processing or design changes and does not degrade fill factor or MR QE. The technique involves clocking the imaging phases into and out of inversion during the integration time and relying on the surface recombination of electrons and holes to eliminate excess signal charge. The technique described in this paper allows clocked antiblooming with surface channel operation thus permitting large full well packets with small pixel geometries. Although surface channel operation is less efficient in terms of charge transfer efficiency there are some applications where maximum full well charge storage capability is important. 1.

- A 256 x 256 pixel full frame CCDimage sensor has been developed that incorporates on-chip d. c. bias generation and clocking. Using a small pixel pitch of 10 im (V) by 10 im (H) these features allow the array to be packaged into very small dimensions with a total pin count of seven pins. By virtue of the three phase architecture the full well storage capacity can be increased with surface channel operation maximizing resolution under conditions of low scene contrast. In addition a modified technique of surface recombination is used to provide blooming suppression. Together these features make it well suited for applications which require a high performance miniature sensor. I.

This paper will discuss recent performance of the back illuminated 2048 x 2048 imaging array device. The TK2048E chargecoupled device (CCD) full frame imnager is a three phase polysilicon gate buried channel device utilizing mini channel and multi-pinned phase technology. Physical structure allows simultaneous readout of each 1024 x 1024 quadrant or read out of the entire array through any one of four identical output NOSFETs. Test results for noise gain dark current charge transfer efficiency full well dark and hot defects quantum efficiency and imaging will be reviewed. 1.

The TK1024 four quadrant readout imager has been in production for several years and has evolved into a device with a high level of performance. Current production volumes are several hundred wafer starts per year (4 devices per wafer). In the last year improvements have been made in dark current with the addition of MPP unpiants and the reduction of MOSFET read noise. The paper presented at last year''s symposium focused on general performance data (SPIE vol. 1447 pgs 298 - 309 ). This paper will discuss specific test data recently observed on devices fabricated with the current process. Data on read noise conversion gain and dark current versus temperature in both non-MPP and MPP modes will be the emphasis of this paper. In addition information wifi be presented on Full Well versus operating voltages and optimal timing for MPP operation in the typical slow scan (50 kilopixels/sec) readout mode. 1.

Large area CCDs are not in general flat. Deviations from flatness are often greater than that allowed for the focal plane of moderately fast optical systems. We will discuss a technique of vacuum packaging that has allowed CCDs to be packaged with a flatness of better than five microns over a scale of greater than three centimeters. In principle this technique could be used to package a CCD so that the surface has a specific radius of curvature rather than a planar figure (infinite radius). 1.

We present the first results from the University of Hawaii Institute for Astronomy project to develop largeformat optical CCD mosaics for the telescopes on Manna Kea. We have constructed two 4096 x 4096 mosaics: both are 2 x 2 arrays of 2-edge abuttable 2048 x 2048 15tm pixel imagers built by Loral Aeronutronics. The first mosaic is constructed using an abuttable package design yielding an array that can be assembled and disassembled using the bestavailable separatelytested quadrants. The second mosaic is formed by packaging a monolithic quad die consisting of four functioning 2048 x 2048 devices from a single wafer. In addition to the mechanical design of the focal plane and dewar we describe the system used to operate the CCDs including the programmable DSP-based CCD controller and our high-speed serial interface into the DSP port of a NeXT computer workstation. We present our initial x-ray and optical test results from the " monolithic mosaic" and our first data from the telescope. 1

As has been shown in [1] pulsed avalanche multiplication in MIS ( Metal-Insulator-Semiconductor ) structures ( Me-Dioxide Si-Si(p)) has a superior advantages over that in p-n junction. High gain coefficients (up to 1O) of the photosignal with high threshold sensitivity (about 10 photons or even better); large sensitive areas (more then 10 mm2 ) and a possibility to construct a matrix-type MIS-Avalanche-Photodetector (MISAP) with a common power supply for all the elements of the MISAP. The goal of this paper is to present some new principles allowing one to extract wavelengths (color) information from photosignals. As a summary of this paper new types of optoelectronic devices: MISAP High Sensitivity Color Video Camera (CVC) and MISAP Matrix Pulsed High Sensitivity SpectroPhotoineter with Spatial Resolution of the incident light flux (MPSP) are proposed.

High resolution CCD color cameras have recently stimulated the interest of a large number of potential end-users for a wide range of practical applications. Real-time High Definition Television (HDTV) systems are now being used or considered for use in applications ranging from entertainment program origination through digital image storage to medical and scientific research. HDTV generation of electronic images offers significant cost and time-saving advantages over the use of film in such applications. Further in still image systems electronic image capture is faster and more efficient than conventional image scanners. The CCD still camera can capture 3-dimensional objects into the computing environment directly without having to shoot a picture on film develop it and then scan the image into a computer. 2. EXTENDING CCD TECHNOLOGY BEYOND BROADCAST Most standard production CCD sensor chips are made for broadcast-compatible systems. One popular CCD and the basis for this discussion offers arrays of roughly 750 x 580 picture elements (pixels) or a total array of approximately 435 pixels (see Fig. 1). FOR. A has developed a technique to increase the number of available pixels for a given image compared to that produced by the standard CCD itself. Using an inter-lined CCD with an overall spatial structure several times larger than the photo-sensitive sensor areas each of the CCD sensors is shifted in two dimensions in order to fill in spatial gaps between adjacent sensors.

The history of color television cameras has been marked by three major breakthroughs: The possibility of remoting camera heads up to I km from the OB van (1971) - Portable cameras (1976); - The emergence of CCDs (1986). Professionals expect high-definition cameras to offer all the features and benefits connected with remoting camera heads and portable operation. Thomson Broadcast HD 1250 Light camera offers the same kind of operational flexibility as a standard television camera. It is a lightweight, portable unit and can be connected to the 08 van by a triax link more than 1 km long. The basic characteristics of this camera are described below; special emphasis is placed on the original features that make the HD 1250 Light a pioneer in its field.

With the collaboration of Thomson Broadcast Ex Machina has developed a full digital tape-to-film transfer process. This system accepts as input any European Analog or Digital formats: 1 inch B. T. S. 4xDl. . . It is based on a fully computerized image processing and is fully automated from the loading of the Dl tapes to the 35mm negative output. This process includes spatial and temporal filtering to get full scan 35 mmimage quality. As the input format is 50 fields per second (non-square pixels) and the output format is 24 frames per second (square pixels) the key point was to obtain a good spatial resolution without dynamic artefacts like excessive blur moving images or patterns at vertical edges. Steps of the process are as follows: - Digital copy on four 4:2:2 tapes as necessary - Transfer on computer network - Adaptive filtering by software - Gamma correction and output on 35mmfilm recorder. The processing speed has been improved by controlling four processes in parallel. High Definition tape to film transfer is available right now. The transfer capacity is 30 minutes per week since the end of last year. 1 - PRESENTATION OF THE PROJECT With the collaboration of THOMSON Broadcast Ex Machina has developed a fully digital High Definition tape-to-film transfer process. This sytem is designed to permit transfer on 35mm film of productions made with the European High Definition Standard. As a computer graphics production company Ex Machina has been producing sequences on various media including digital video high definition video 35 mm film and has finished recently a 3 mn film on 70 mm IMAX format. Two ongoing projects use this same standard with one having been designed for stereoscopic projection. Building on this expertise Ex Machina proposed to realize a tape to film transfer system for the European Economic Interest Grouping (EIIG) Vision 1250 in co-operation with another european organisation Eureka 95. For the development of such a system the company proposed to use commercialy available equipment with no custom hardware and to write the software needed for mastering the whole process. This approach offers numerous advantages: - it is fast in terms of both development and operational build-up - it is flexible as both software and equipment may evolve - itis less costly considering the time and effort needed. 124 I SPIE Vol. 1656 High-Resolution Sensors and Hybrid Systems (1992) 0-8194-081 0-71921$4. 00

The paper reviews the technical specifications, and the technical choices that have been chosen for a 6000 x 8 000 pixel dia scanner using a 6000 cells line array CCD, more specifically in view of the completion of a high quality archive for technical photographs of paintings.

Localized wavefront performance analysis (LWPA) is a system that allows the full utilization of the system optical transfer function (OTF) for the specification and acceptance of hybrid imaging systems. We show that LWPA dictates the correction of wavefront errors with the greatest impact on critical imaging spatial frequencies. This is accomplished by the generation of an imaging performance map-analogous to a map of the optic pupil error-using a local OTF. The resulting performance map a function of transfer function spatial frequency is directly relatable to the primary viewing condition of the end-user. In addition to optimizing quality for the viewer it will be seen that the system has the potential for an improved matching of the optical and electronic bandpass of the imager and for the development of more realistic acceptance specifications. 1. LOCAL WAVEFRONT PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS The LWPA system generates a local optical quality factor (LOQF) in the form of a map analogous to that used for the presentation and evaluation of wavefront errors. In conjunction with the local phase transfer function (LPTF) it can be used for maximally efficient specification and correction of imaging system pupil errors. The LOQF and LPTF are respectively equivalent to the global modulation transfer function (MTF) and phase transfer function (PTF) parts of the OTF. The LPTF is related to difference of the average of the errors in separated regions of the pupil. Figure

The performance of industrial camera systems is continually improving. Advances in the electronics sensors and computer interfaces are providing more resolving power increased dynamic range broader spectral sensitivity higher speed and easier data collection. As a result these cameras are finding their way into more and varied systems and applications. The cameras are becoming a system ''component''. Historically the performance parameters used in characterizing these cameras have been complex and abstzact usually speaking to the basic physics of the sensors. Such metrics are good for the sensor and camera developer but are not optimum for th. application engineer or end user. There is a need for more useful easier to understand and standardized metrics to be used in characterizing th. cameras and for writing their specifications. A lab has been setup at the Xotion Analysis Systems Division of Eastman Kodak to characterize the Kodak line of industrial and high speed camera systems. In addition to the more traditional measurements two new metrics referred to as a composite ''rendering error'' and image object ''measurement error'' are being used to assess and specify the systems. 1 . HARATERIZING CAMERAS The basic task of characterizing cameras or complete imaging systems can be block-diagramed as in FIGURE 1. Images are generated by appropriate optics captur. d by tha camera digitized by a frame grabber and fed onto a computer for data analysis and reduction. The

Ongoing experiments using thin electrically conducting transparent layers of Indium Tin Oxide to control the surface potential of thinned CCDs are described. The results are very encouraging with good uniform ultraviolet sensitivity being obtained from CCDs of different types and thinned by different processes. The enhanced response is stable in air and in vacuum for periods longer than a year. 2.

CCD''s have become serious competitors to camera tubes even for HDTV. The challenge set by HDTV requirements implies to soive the sensitivity I resolution antinomy with presently available VLSI technologies. This paper presents the various designs used by CCD''s manufacturers and details the main performances of the two devices realized. These performances are related to the various technological choices and compared to physical limits. 1.

X-ray detector systems for protein crystallographic applications require a large active area and a high detective quantum efficiency (DQE). Using large-format scientific CCDs we are developing a detector based on multiple modules each consisting of a fiberoptic taper with a phosphor x-ray converter deposited on the large end and a CCD coupled to the small end. This approach contrasts with the more typical method of imaging a large area onto a single sensor which requires intensification stages. This system will provide a greater DQE lower spatial and response nonuniformities a smaller package size higher spatial resolution and uniformity and greater reliability. The construction of this system has necessitated development and cha racterization of x-ray-tolight phosphor converters and techniques for coupling fiberoptics to COD imagers. Refinement of phosphor deposition and reflective enhancement methods has led to an increase in phosphor conversion efficiencies over our previous methods of -80. A system to epoxy bond fiberoptic tapers to both front and back illuminated COD imagers with precise control over positioning and clamp force has been developed and tested with fiber faceplates. 1.

An analytical depletion-mode MOSFET (DMFET) and gate-to-channel capacitance (Cgc) models were derived from the potential and charge distribution model created by Van der Tol and Chamberlain [1]. The DMFET model predicts ''ds from the four terminal voltages structural parameters and material properties. Three parameters - Nd /tn and x - were extracted from Ids versus Vds curves by deriving conductivity and transconductance expressions from the DMFET model and knowing Na W/L and x07. The DMFET model was then utilized in a source follower configuration to establish the quiescent operating point. The FET''s quiescent point determines its gain and Cgc. Sensitivity is the product of (OVs/9Vg) . (Vg/OQn) i. e. gain and floating node capacitance. This composite model was then used to predict the effects of Rs VOD and VDD on sensitivity and linearity. Comparisons are made to SAGE CCD measurements. 1.

A program to build 1024 x 1024 21 micron MPP-CCDs for the NASA/ESA Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) spacecraft is in progress. A test and evaluation facility has been constructed to evaluate and select the CCDs for flight. Parametric studies of voltage rails timing pattern and horizontal and parallel clock timing are performed. Various CCD performance parameters are plotted including CTE photon transfer curve dark current output node gain and noise. We have found that the MPP CCD requires a different sequence of parallel phase timing when running in the fully inverted mode from the pattern required for the non-inverted mode or the non-MPP device. Also the backside MPP-CCD is extremely sensitive to the length of time for the parallel transfer. 1.

The goal of the detector development program for the Solar and Heliospheric Spacecraft (SOHO) EUV Imaging Telescope (EIT) is an Extreme UltraViolet (EUV) CCD (Charge Coupled Device) camera. The Naval Research Lab (NRL) SOHO COD Group has developed a design for the EIT camera and is screening CCDs for flight application. Tektronix Inc. have fabricated 1024x1024 CCDs for the EIT program. As a part of the CCD screening effort the quantum efficiency (QE) of a prototype CCD has been measured in the NRL EUV laboratory over the wavelength range of 256 to 735 Angstroms. A simplified model has been applied to these QE measurements to illustrate the relevant physical processes that determine the performance of the detector. 2. INTRODUCTION: THE EIT MISSION SOHO is a joint European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA project within the Solar Terrestrial Science Scientific Program. The overall objective of SOHO is the study of the solar interior and atmosphere. The solar atmosphere is defined in this context to extend from the solar photosphere out through the solar wind. The orbital station of the SOHO spacecraft is the inner Lagrangian point (''0. 99AU). This location allows the acquisition of j situ measurements of the solar wind to compare to the remote measurements of the inner solar atmosphere and solar wind. The combined simultaneous study of all levels of the Sun and 526 ISPIE Vol. 1656 High-Resolution Sensors

The particle environment within a satellite includes primary and secondary protons and secondary neutrons produced in spacecraft materials which we evaluate using the transport code BRYNTRN. The damaging effects of this mixed particle environment is evaluated for the example of solid state imaging arrays by introducing the concept of displacement damage dose. Having the same relationship as electronic stopping power (LET) and radiation absorbed dose (rad) the nonionizing energy loss rate NIEL) of protons and neutrons are combined in terms of nonionizing radiation absorbed dose (nirad). This quantity is evaluated as a function of Ta and Al shield thickness for both trapped and flare proton environments. Al is shown to be a superior shield material per unit mass partially due to the damaging effects of neutrons which are produced in greater abundance in Ta. This method for combining the damaging effects from all particles using displacement damage dose enables informed shielding decisions and improved prediction of device performance in space. 1.

We have used low temperature molecular beam epitaxy to grow p+ silicon on a backside-thinned Reticon 512x5 12 CCD. The techniques for preparing the CCD for the growth and the processing conditions are discussed. A 50 A layer of silicon doped with 3x102 B/cm3 was grown at a substrate temperature of 450C. The ultraviolet quantum efficiency of the modified CCD was significantly higher than that of a CCD with an untreated back surface. Charging the back surface of the modified CCD with a Uv flood did not affect the quantum efficiency indicating that the bands were pinned by the added p+ layer. Gold contamination measured by secondary ion mass spectrometry to have a concentration of 1 x 1 0 18 cm3 near the back surface caused the UV quantum efficiency to be lower than optimum by reducing the minority carrier lifetime. 2.