New Light Funnel feature can quadruple CCD sensitivity

Camera Sensitivity

Sony’s range of megapixel cameras all benefit from a new feature designed to enhance image quality, particularly in low light conditions. In fact, at normal shutter speeds, there’s almost a fourfold increase in sensitivity using this new Light Funnel feature.

Sensitivity is important because space is limited on CCD or CMOS imaging surfaces. For example, the imaging surface area of a 1/3” device is only 4.8 x 3.6 mm. As more pixels are populated into this limited space, the sensing area of each pixel becomes smaller, thus the imager becomes less sensitive. All Sony megapixel cameras use ExwavePRO technology (progressive scan and complementary colour) to help compensate for this issue.

However, a perennial problem with all monitoring cameras is lowlight and night-time operation. One conventional technique to increase sensitivity would be to switch to a slow shutter speed, providing more time to illuminate each video frame. However, this can cause image blur on moving objects, for example a car’s number plate or someone’s face may become harder to make out.


The below comparison shows images captured using Light Funnel (left) and Slow Shutter (right).