Sony develops new Back-illuminated CM0S image sensor

Sony Corp. has developed a new 1.24MP back-illuminated type CMOS image sensor equipped with a global shutter function, which can reduce image blur of the focal plane by arranging newly-developed tiny A/D (Analog-Digital image) conversion unit on each pixel. The A/D converter is placed under each pixel and all the analog signals are converted into digital signals and recorded on digital memory simultaneously. Sony also developed the industry’s smallest 14 bit A/D converter unit which works using very little energy. This A/D converter and digital memory are arranged under each pixel in a stacked method to make the CMOS sensor compact.

It is said the adoption of the global-shutter function to highsensitivity back-illuminated CMOS sensor is the world’s first achievement.