Prototype single-chip color HDTV broadcasting camera with 8.9-M-pixel CMOS image sensor

Abstract

We have developed a prototype single-chip color HDTV camera for broadcasting. This camera uses a 1.25-inch 8.9-M-pixel CMOS image sensor for obtaining enough resolution characteristics and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) in a single-chip color system. The camera has an HD-SDI output and a body weight of only 1.4 kg (3.1 lb). The measured resolution was more than 35% on a modulation transfer function (MTF) (45% on a square wave response) at 800 TV-lines. The sensitivity was an f-stop of 11 at 2000 lux with a dynamic range of 400%, and the SNR was 60 dB. These characteristics were as high as those with conventional 2.2-M-pixel 3-CCD HDTV cameras. The measured color difference (delta-E) between this camera and a 3CCD camera on a CIELAB color space was about 9.3. Our simulation showed that the delta-E was about 1.8 with a linear matrix color correction.