Frame transfer CCDs for digital still cameras: concept, design, and evaluation

Digital still cameras are becoming a widely used alternative for conventional silver-halide cameras. This paper presents first the concept of frame-transfer CCD imagers designed for consumer digital cameras. Next, the different modes of operation are explained in detail and compared with alternative approaches. Finally, extensive evaluation results on four different imagers using this new concept are presented. It will be demonstrated that the flexible modes of operation, the high dynamic range, and excellent optical properties of FT-CCDs make them very suited for this type of electronic imaging.