Interline Charge-coupled Device Research Articles

43- and 50-Mp High-Performance Interline CCD Image Sensors

This paper describes the design and performance of two new high-resolution interline charge-coupled device image sensors for use in industrial, machine vision, and aerial photography applications. These sensors feature 4.5- $\mu \text{m}$ pixels, 4 outputs, fast dump gate, horizontal lateral overflow drain, and vertical electronic shutter. The 43-Mp sensor has a 35-mm optical format and the 50-Mp sensor has a larger format with a 2.175:1 aspect ratio that matches many modern mobile phone displays. This paper discusses the challenges and solutions to manufacture such large sensors with superior image quality such as uniformity, read noise, dark current, smear, transfer gate blooming, lag, and so on.

CCD image sensor induced error in PIV applications

The readout procedure of charge-coupled device (CCD) cameras is known to generate some image degradation in different scientific imaging fields, especially in astrophysics. In the particular field of particle image velocimetry (PIV), widely extended in the scientific community, the readout procedure of the interline CCD sensor induces a bias in the registered position of particle images. This work proposes simple procedures to predict the magnitude of the associated measurement error. Generally, there are differences in the position bias for the different images of a certain particle at each PIV frame. This leads to a substantial bias error in the PIV velocity measurement (∼0.1 pixels). This is the order of magnitude that other typical PIV errors such as peak-locking may reach. Based on modern CCD technology and architecture, this work offers a description of the readout phenomenon and proposes a modeling for the CCD readout bias error magnitude. This bias, in turn, generates a velocity measurement bias error when there is an illumination difference between two successive PIV exposures. The model predictions match the experiments performed with two 12-bit-depth interline CCD cameras (MegaPlus ES 4.0/E incorporating the Kodak KAI-4000M CCD sensor with 4 megapixels). For different cameras, only two constant values are needed to fit the proposed calibration model and predict the error from the readout procedure. Tests by different researchers using different cameras would allow verification of the model, that can be used to optimize acquisition setups. Simple procedures to obtain these two calibration values are also described.

Hyper-spectral imager of the visible band for lunar observations

A prototype hyper-spectral imager in the visible spectral band was developed for the planned Korean lunar missions in the 2020s. The instrument is based on simple refractive optics that adopted a linear variable filter and an interline charge-coupled device. This prototype imager is capable of mapping the lunar surface at wavelengths ranging from 450 to 900 nm with a spectral resolution of ∼8 nm and selectable channels ranging from 5 to 252. The anticipated spatial resolution is 17.2 m from an altitude of 100 km with a swath width of 21 km

Novel fast-arrayed CCD X-ray detector using interline transfer-type CCD for time-resolved X-ray diffraction measurements

A novel fast-arrayed fiber-optic taper (FOT) coupled with a charge-coupled device (CCD) X-ray detector was developed. The interline transfer-type CCDs are used as image sensor. The detector was developed for the simultaneous time-resolved small- and wide-angle X-ray diffraction measurement at SPring-8 BL45XU. The detector consists of an array of two identical units, each comprising a phosphor, a demagnifying FOT, and a large format interline transfer-type CCD as an image sensor. The image stored in the CCD can be read out through the dual readout channels with 12 bits ADC within 220 ms (4.5 fps) without binning and within 65 ms (15 fps) with 8×8 binning. Moreover, this detector does not need to stop the incoming X-rays during the CCD readout and can simultaneously execute both exposure and readout on the CCD with a small dead time of ∼1 μs so that a duty-cycle ratio of almost 100% is achieved. Therefore, it allows the continuous rotation method. The basic performance characteristics of the detector are described.

Electronic pancreatoscopy for the diagnosis of pancreatic diseases.

Diagnostic pancreatoscopy was performed in 56 patients using the newly developed peroral electronic pancreatoscope (PEPS). The diagnostic value of the PEPS for pancreatic diseases was evaluated. The PEPS (external diameter = 2.1 mm, bidirectional tip deflection) was developed with a minute 50,000-pixel interline charge-coupled device. Pancreatoscopy was performed by means of an endoscopic retrograde approach without sphincterotomy. The cases examined were normal (three), chronic pancreatitis (32), pancreatic cancer (eight), and intraductal papillary mucinous tumors (13). Of the 56 cases, 42 (75%) were adequately seen. In normal cases, fine capillary vessels were clearly visualized on the smooth whitish-pink mucosa. Findings in chronic pancreatitis included protein plugs, calcified stones, rough whitish mucosa, scar formation, edema, erythema, and indistinct capillary appearance. All the stenoses of chronic pancreatitis could be differentiated from those of pancreatic cancer with the PEPS. In the pancreatic cancer cases, all patients had stenoses or duct cutoffs; most cases had friable mucosa with erythema and erosive changes, and a single patient had a compressed pancreatic duct wall covered with normal epithelium. In the cases of intraductal papillary mucinous tumors, papillary tumors were visualized with extreme clarity. In the case of adenocarcinoma, the PEPS revealed oval-shaped tumors with spotty redness or villous tumors with dilation of capillary vessels. Moderate acute pancreatitis was recognized after pancreatoscopy in one of the 56 cases (1.8%). Electronic pancreatoscopy with the PEPS is feasible in most patients and technically safe, and improves diagnostic yield over conventional pancreatoscopy.

Electronic pancreatoscopy for the diagnosis of pancreatic diseases

OBJECTIVES: Diagnostic pancreatoscopy was performed in 56 patients using the newly developed peroral electronic pancreatoscope (PEPS). The diagnostic value of the PEPS for pancreatic diseases was evaluated. METHODS: The PEPS (external diameter = 2.1 mm, bidirectional tip deflection) was developed with a minute 50,000-pixel interline charge-coupled device. Pancreatoscopy was performed by means of an endoscopic retrograde approach without sphincterotomy. The cases examined were normal (three), chronic pancreatitis (32), pancreatic cancer (eight), and intraductal papillary mucinous tumors (13). RESULTS: Of the 56 cases, 42 (75%) were adequately seen. In normal cases, fine capillary vessels were clearly visualized on the smooth whitish-pink mucosa. Findings in chronic pancreatitis included protein plugs, calcified stones, rough whitish mucosa, scar formation, edema, erythema, and indistinct capillary appearance. All the stenoses of chronic pancreatitis could be differentiated from those of pancreatic cancer with the PEPS. In the pancreatic cancer cases, all patients had stenoses or duct cutoffs; most cases had friable mucosa with erythema and erosive changes, and a single patient had a compressed pancreatic duct wall covered with normal epithelium. In the cases of intraductal papillary mucinous tumors, papillary tumors were visualized with extreme clarity. In the case of adenocarcinoma, the PEPS revealed oval-shaped tumors with spotty redness or villous tumors with dilation of capillary vessels. Moderate acute pancreatitis was recognized after pancreatoscopy in one of the 56 cases (1.8%). CONCLUSIONS: Electronic pancreatoscopy with the PEPS is feasible in most patients and technically safe, and improves diagnostic yield over conventional pancreatoscopy.

Clinical application of the peroral electronic pancreatoscope for the investigation of intraductal mucin-hypersecreting neoplasm

Intraductal mucin-hypersecreting neoplasm is a premalignant or malignant tumor of the pancreas.1-4 Although many imaging modalities have been used to evaluate this entity, peroral pancreatoscopy, which allows direct observation of the pancreatic duct, has some advantages in the management of this disorder. Our recent development of the smallest known electronic endoscope, the peroral electronic pancreatoscope (PEPS), has allowed us to obtain extremely fine images of the pancreatic duct.5 In the present study, the pancreatic ducts in three cases with intraductal mucin-hypersecreting neoplasms were examined with the PEPS. The usefulness of the PEPS in the management of this neoplasm is discussed. The PEPS was developed with a newly designed 50,000-pixel interline charge-coupled device (CCD), about 1 mm square in size (Matsushita Electronics Corp., Osaka, Japan), in cooperation with Olympus Optical Co. (Tokyo, Japan). The PEPS has a 2.1 mm external diameter, and a forward viewing optical system with a field of view of 80 degrees and a depth of field of 1 to 30 mm. It has bidirectional tip deflection (up 120 degrees, down 120 degrees) but no accessory channel. The PEPS system was constructed to incorporate this endoscope, a processor modified from the CV-140 processor (Olympus Co.), and a color television display. The PEPS images are almost equal in quality to those of standard video endoscope systems. It offers a direct electronic image of the pancreatic duct that is fundamentally different from a fiberoptic pancreatoscope system equipped with a video converter. The procedure involves peroral transpapillary insertion of the pancreatoscope into the pancreatic duct through the accessory channel of a duodenoscope (JF-240, Olympus). The study protocol conformed with the Helsinki Declaration and was approved by the ethics committee of our university. Informed consent was obtained from all patients.

A 1-Megapixel, progressive-scan image sensor with antiblooming control and lag-free operation

A 1024-pixel*1024-pixel interline charge-coupled device (IL CCD) image sensor has been developed. It incorporates antiblooming and electronic exposure control while eliminating lag and obtaining a high responsivity. The novel features of this device include a noninterlaced, or progressive-scan, architecture and dual-horizontal registers that can be used to clock out the image area by one or two lines at a time. These features make it well suited for applications demanding high-resolution-image capture from a single, high-speed scan. The progressive-scan architecture of this device covers the same resolution in an electronic-camera application as that of a 2-million-element, interlaced device.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>

A 2-million-pixel CCD image sensor overlaid with an amorphous silicon photoconversion layer

A highly sensitive 2-million-pixel high-definition charge-coupled device (CCD) image sensor was developed that features an overlaid amorphous silicon photoconversion layer on an interline transfer-type CCD scanner. The device is adapted to the 16:9 aspect ratio. 1125 scanning lines and 2:1 interlace high-definition TV system. A dual-channel horizontal CCD register is used to reduce the operating frequency to one half of the 74.25-MHz readout frequency. A horizontal period signal storage memory (1H line memory) is provided between the vertical CCD register and the horizontal CCD register to provide the signal distribution from the vertical CCD to the horizontal CCD register during the 3.77- mu s short horizontal blanking interval. This device realized a 1000 TV line horizontal limiting resolution 210 nA/1x high sensitivity. Total random noise was found to be 52 electrons RMS and a 72-dB dynamic range was achieved. >