Fujifilm and Panasonic develop Organic CMOS Sensor Technology with very high sensitivity and dynamic range

Offers Industry’s highest* dynamic range and sensitivity for vivid
and texture-rich images

June 11, 2013

FUJIFILM Corporation (President: Shigehiro Nakajima) and Panasonic
Corporation (President: Kazuhiro Tsuga) have developed organic CMOS
image sensor technology that uses an organic photoelectric conversion
layer with a photoelectric conversion property at the light receiving
section of an image sensor to achieve performance beyond that of
conventional image sensors**. Applying this technology to the image
sensors of digital cameras and other imaging devices expands its
dynamic range*** and enhances sensitivity*4 further to prevent
highlight clipping in bright scenes and capture a dark subject with
vivid colors and rich textures.

The industry has put into continuous efforts to explore image
sensor technologies for increasing their number of pixels. This has
dramatically improved sensor resolutions, but, in order to further
boost image quality, it is necessary to expand the dynamic range,
enhance sensitivity and prevent cross-talk or color mixing between
pixels. Panasonic took advantage of its semiconductor device
technology to boost image quality for its high-performance image
sensors. Fujifilm, on the other hand, has developed highly-reliable
organic photoelectric conversion layer with high absorption
coefficient to be used on a sensor’s light receiving section instead
of silicon photodiode*5 in its effort to build a new image sensor
technology.

In the latest collaboration, Fujifilm and Panasonic have
combined Fujifilm’s organic photoelectric conversion layer technology
with Panasonic’s semiconductor device technology to jointly develop
an organic CMOS image sensor that outperforms conventional image
sensors. The new organic CMOS image sensor offers the industry’s
highest dynamic range of 88dB, advanced sensitivity 1.2 times more
sensitive than conventional sensors** and broader range of incident
angle*6 to enable the production of more sensitive and compact
cameras with better image quality.

The two companies will promote the application of this organic
CMOS image sensor technology to a wide range of products including
security cameras, in-vehicle cameras, mobile device and digital
cameras.

Fujifilm and Panasonic will present the research results at the
2013 Symposium on VLSI Technology (VLSI2013) to be held in Kyoto on
June 11, and the 2013 International Image Sensor Workshop to be held
in Utah, U.S.A. on June 15.

Fujifilm and Panasonic will present the research results at the
2013 Symposium on VLSI Technology (VLSI2013) to be held in Kyoto on
June 11, and the 2013 International Image Sensor Workshop to be held
in Utah, U.S.A. on June 15.

• * Performance of the light
  receiving section of image sensors, as of June 11, 2013 according to
  Panasonic data.

• ** Estimation from Panasonic image
  sensors

• *** Range of light that can be
  recorded (ratio between the brightest and darkest areas recorded)

• *4 The sensitivity of image
  sensors refers to the conversion ratio of light into electric
  signals. The greater the sensitivity is, the clearer you can capture
  low-light scenes.

• *5 A type of photo detector that
  senses incident light, installed for each image sensor pixel to
  convert light into electric signals

• *6 Range of incident light angles for efficient conversion
  into electric signals

A conventional image sensor consists of a silicon photodiode for
capturing light, metal interconnect, color filter and on-chip
micro-lens. The newly-developed organic CMOS image sensor technology
uses organic photoelectric conversion layer with high absorption
coefficient instead of the silicon photodiode, reducing the thickness
of the light receiving section down to 0.5 microns, i.e. one
severalth of the thickness of a silicon photodiode. This structure
provides the following benefits:

(1)Industry’s highest dynamic range of 88dB to prevent
highlight clipping and produce a vivid and texture-rich image even in
low light

Panasonic’s semiconductor device technology has improved the
signal saturation value*7 by four folds compared to that of
conventional image sensors. Coupled with the newly-developed
noise-cancelling circuit, the sensor technology provides the
industry’s highest dynamic range of 88dB, preventing highlight
clipping in bright scenes and capturing a vivid and texture-rich
image in low light.

• *7 The maximum amount of electric signals that can be handled.
  Receiving a signal greater than this value leads to highlight
  clipping.

2)1.2 times higher sensitivity than conventional sensors to
capture clear images even in low light

The transistors and metal
interconnects in each pixel, fabricated using Panasonic’s
semiconductor device technology, are coated with photoelectric
conversion layer, developed using Fujifilm’s organic material
technology. The area of the light receiving section becomes limited
in conventional image sensors because of the existence of metal
interconnects and the need to form light shield film to prevent
light incidence into areas other than the photodiode in each pixel.
However, the organic CMOS image sensor technology coats the sensor
with organic film, which can harvest all the light received on the
sensor. This boosts sensor sensitivity by 1.2 times compared to
conventional sensors to deliver clear images even in low light.

(3)Range of incident angle expanded to 60 degrees for faithful
color reproduction (See the image sensor illustrations above)

The thickness of the organic film
with high absorption coefficient, developed by Fujifilm, has been
reduced to just 0.5 microns, or one severalth of the thickness of
silicon photodiode in the light receiving section. Since the
conventional silicon photodiode measures at least 3 microns in
depth, the range of incident angles was limited to around 30 – 40
degrees. The thin film, achieved with the organic CMOS image sensor
technology, has enabled the expansion of this range to 60 degrees,
efficiently utilizing light entering at an angle for faithful color
reproduction with no color mixing. It also gives greater flexibility
in lens designs, facilitating the reduction of overall camera size.

1. (4)Offering high reliability for broader applications

Fujifilm has developed a process
technology to produce inorganic films for protecting the organic
film. It prevents the entry of moisture and oxygen into the organic
film to safeguard it against performance degradation. The sensor
technology has cleared reliability tests involving the application
of stress such as temperature, humidity, electrical voltage and
light, paving the way for the use of the organic CMOS image sensor
in a wide range of applications.

About FUJIFILM Corporation
FUJIFILM Corporation is one of the
major operating companies of FUJIFILM Holdings. Since its founding in
1934, the company has built up a wealth of advanced technologies in
the field of photo imaging, and Fujifilm is now applying these
technologies to other new business fields. Fujifilm brings continuous
innovation and leading-edge products to a broad spectrum of
industries including medical systems / life sciences, graphic arts,
document solutions, highly functional materials, optical devices and
digital imaging. Fujifilm aims to help enhance the quality of life of
people worldwide by providing top-quality products and services with
its leading-edge, proprietary technologies. Through its corporate
philosophy, Fujifilm demonstrates its commitment to making a
significant contribution to society. For more information, please
visit
http://www.fujifilm.com

About Panasonic
Panasonic Corporation is a worldwide leader in
the development and engineering of electronic technologies and
solutions for customers in residential, non-residential, mobility and
personal applications. Since its founding in 1918, the company has
expanded globally and now operates over 500 consolidated companies
worldwide, recording consolidated net sales of 7.30 trillion yen for
the year ended March 31, 2013. Committed to pursuing new value
through innovation across divisional lines, the company strives to
create a better life and a better world for its customers. For more
information about Panasonic, please visit the company’s website
at
http://panasonic.net/