- --- By way of introduction, can you tell me what led to the HD CMOS sensor development project?
- Hirose Standard definition (SD) consumer camcorders have been around for a while, but the HDV specification for video camcorders was just introduced in September 2003.
That's when we started considering CMOS sensors, because regular CCD sensors would have a hard time with the high volume of data required for HD recording. After all, we're talking about capturing 60 frames of 2-megapixel images per second. - --- How long did development take?
- Ishizaki Well, the HV10 was launched in September 2006, and we had had the framework in place for development about one year earlier.
- --- What was your first reaction, when you heard you'd be developing a CMOS sensor for video applications?
- Noda Frankly, I was uneasy. We had a proven record of incorporating CMOS sensors with a larger pixel count in digital SLRs, but this product would require a smaller pixel count.
- Ishizaki Here's a little behind-the-scenes anecdote for you. We had originally planned to use a sensor of the same pixel size (2.75 µm) in another, earlier product. Noda was in charge of pixel development, and it was his first product at Canon. But when development was discontinued. He was out of a job.(laughs) It turned out to be great timing. Just then, we started planning development for HD video that called for a sensor of the same pixel size-a perfect match.
That's when Noda took on HV10 product development. - --- Mishima, can you share your initial thoughts?
I was worried that the specs would be out of reach. A sensor of this pixel size requires less than half the pixel pitch of earlier designs. (Mishima)
- Mishima I had experience in CMOS sensor processes involving larger-pixel sensors, as used in digital SLRs. By "process," I mean I used photomasks designed and created by engineers to build CMOS sensors on silicon wafers. I was worried that the specs would be out of reach. A sensor of this pixel size requires less than half the pixel pitch of earlier designs.
Video calls for 60 fps, which makes the issue how quickly we can capture images at HD resolution. (Noda)
- --- Let me jump in and ask if this was really your first development work for a video CMOS sensor.
- Noda Yes. Back when I joined Canon, only larger-pixel sensors had been developed, as used in SLRs.
When we started developing smaller-pixel sensors, my background in still image applications for SLRs was no help when it came to video. I felt a little lost, to be honest. - --- What's the main difference between CMOS sensor development for still images and for video?
- Noda This is a high-definition model in particular, so it must record images faster than previous camcorders by capturing higher-resolution images in a limited time.
With still images, the continuous shooting speed is determined by our objective of shooting at a specific resolution rapidly. Video calls for 60 fps, which makes the issue how quickly we can capture images at HD resolution.
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