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| One of NHK’s missions is to provide prompt reporting of disasters and accidents. To be able to report from as many locations and circumstances as possible, we have developed an imaging device called a "field emitter array image sensor with HARP* target" for a compact ultrahigh-sensitivity camera capable of vivid nighttime shots, and an imaging device using organic films for a palm-size camera system. |
-Field emitter array image sensor with HARP target
This compact imaging device has a high-sensitivity HARP target facing a field emitter array. The array consists of emitters that emit electrons when a voltage is applied. The prototype ultrahigh-sensitivity image sensor has a thicker HARP target that makes it approximately 10 times more sensitive than the previous model.
- Vivid images can be obtained under dim lighting conditions such as in moonlight.
- A small lag originating from decreasing the storage capacitance of the HARP target helps to realize vivid moving pictures.
- A higher definition device will be possible if a smaller integrated field emitter array and electron beam focusing are used.
- Low power consumption means a long battery operation time.
*HARP (High-gain Avalanche Rushing amorphous Photoconductor)
This research is being jointly carried out with Futaba Corporation, Pioneer Corporation, and Hamamatsu Photonics K.K.
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-Imaging device using organic films
This imaging device using organic films is a single chip stacking three organic films, each with sensitivity to one of the three primary colors, and embodying a transparent readout circuit that reads out color signals from the respective films. We are trying to reduce the operating voltage of the organic films and the signal readout using a CMOS* circuit.
- Improvements to the organic film deposition process reduced the operating voltage to less than 1/3rd (approx. 10 V) that of the previous year’s model.
- The use of organic films will eliminate the prism in a high-definition color broadcasting camera. Its ability to take in all of incident light information will enable a highly sensitive, high-resolution, compact camera.
This research is being jointly carried out with Saitama University and Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
* CMOS (Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor) |
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| We want to achieve a high-definition device embodying the field emitter array image sensor with a HARP target. We can do this by reducing the pixel size and increasing the total pixel number. The research on organic imaging devices now focuses on taking out signals from the individual film layers. Other work will include the development of a compact ultrahigh-sensitivity camera and an ultra-small camera system that uses these advanced imaging devices. |
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