A Heartfelt THANKS from Sony to All Our CCD Customers
Total CCD Production Tops 100 Million Pieces
The CCD: the electronic eye of the digital age. The market for CCDs, which grew quickly due to applications such as consumer camcorders and broadcast and commercial cameras, is now exhibiting even faster growth due to the recent popularity of the digital still camera. Now that more and more products are becoming digital and the use of networking is expanding, the market for visual communication products, such as PC cameras, PDAs, and portable video phones, is expected to make great strides. CCD image sensors are now part of our daily lives in a variety of forms, and they determine the picture quality provided by these cameras. Sony has overcome the difficulties of the early period of CCD development, and is now creating an expanding line of CCD products while striving for improved picture and device quality. Since starting CCD development in 1970, total Sony CCD production, including both area and linear sensors, has now exceeded 100 million pieces. In commemoration of that achievement, this issue presents the history of Sony CCDs over the almost 30 years from the start of CCD development to the achievement of the 100 million pieces.
s Photograph 4 Manufacturing Line
Sony CCD Manufacturing Plant

1) Sony Kokubu Corp.

Sony Kokubu Corp. is Sonys largest semiconductor factory, and manufactures not only CCDs, but bipolar ICs, MOS LSIs, and LCDs as well. It was established in August 1973 at Kokubu city in Kagoshima Prefecture as Sony Kokubu Semiconductor Company. Sony Kokubu Corp. boasts the industrys largest capacity CCD production line as well as a CCD development center where new CCDs are designed.

Sony Nagasaki Corp.

Sony Nagasaki Corp. was established in December 1987 at Isahaya city in Nagasaki Prefecture to design and manufacture MOS LSIs. It also produced CCDs from December 1988 until September 1993.
s Photograph 5 Sony Nagasaki Corp.
Reporting the achievement of the production of over 100 million CCD devices at the grave of the late Sony President, Mr. Kazuo Iwama, who had energetically promoted the development of CCD products and technology.
s Photograph 3 Sony Kokubu Corp.
s Photograph 1 Reporting Results at the Grave of the Late President, Mr. Kazuo Iwama
s Photograph 2 Area Sensors/Linear Sensors
Looking Back on the Road to Exceeding 100 Million Pieces
Figure 1 shows the trends in total CCD production from the point Sony started producing CCDs to the present. In this section we look back on the journey from the 1970s, a period characterized by repeating trial and error cycles, to the present, where it is possible to radically increase the number of production. In particular, we look at the major issues of each period and how those issues changed over time.
The 1970s (Pioneering Period)
The 1970s can surely be called a pioneering period. In December of 1970, the year that Bell Labs announced the first CCD, Sony started its CCD development efforts. The CCDs displayed at the Sony Corporation Research Center annual exhibition in 1972 included a 96-pixel linear sensor and an 8H 8V (64 pixels) 3-phase FT CCD area sensor. These devices had a much harder time producing images than contemporary devices. Due to the enthusiasm of Sonys late president, Kazuo Iwama, for creating practical CCDs, all
of Sonys CCD work, including the researchers and process development efforts, was concentrated at the Sony Corporation Research Center, thus starting Sonys CCD development project. This was the beginning of fullscale CCD development, and the start of the long road to practical CCDs. The first single-chip color camera prototype (with 142 pixels in the horizontal direction) was created in July 1976. While the picture quality of CCDs at that time suffered from vertical stripes, it goes without saying that this prototype was the first step towards achieving a practical single-chip color camera. Sony succeeded in developing a color camera using 3-chip of 110Kpixel IT-CCD in March 1978.

s Photograph 6 FT CCD Image with 8H 8V (64 pixels) (1972)
s Photograph 7 Sony Corporation Research Center in 1973
Total devices (area + linear sensors)
Total CCD image sensor production exceeds 100 million pieces

EXview HAD CCD

Area sensors Linear sensors
Total production (million pieces)
First mass production at Sony Kokubu Corp.
On-chip microlens fabrication achieved Production capacity of 500K pieces/M achieved

Super HAD CCD

Emmy awards received
Sony CCD development starts

HAD sensor

developed
Linear sensor for scanners extended

to Year (FY) 99

s Figure 1 CCD Production Total Trends
The 1980s (Growth Period)
As the 1980s began, Sony announced to commercialize the worlds first twochip color camera. This product, the XC-1, was mounted in super jumbo Boeing 747s as All Nippon Airways Sky Vision and created much interest. In 1983, Sony succeeded in mass producing a Type 2/3 IT CCD with 190K pixels, the ICX016, and in the next year, 1984, Sony released a Type 2/3 CCD with 250K pixels, the ICX018. At that time, Sony also began development of the HAD sensor, which can be said to define the basic structure of the contemporary CCD. Type 2/3 380K-pixel CCD, ICX022 released in 1987 implemented the worlds first variable speed electronic shutter based
on a vertical overflow drain structure. In 1988, Sony Kokubu Corp. and Sony Nagasaki Corp. achieved a combined monthly production capacity of 500K pieces, thus starting full-scale business deployment in the 19th year after the development of the CCD. Furthermore, Sony also developed the on-chip microlens, which, just like the HAD sensor, became the definitive basic structure in the contemporary CCD. The CCD-TR55 passport-size Handycam, which used this CCD, became a hit product for Sony.
The 1990s (Development Period)
As the 1990s began, Sonys CCD business continued to expand and in May 1990, total Sony CCD production
surpassed the 10 million pieces. Furthermore, not only Sonys business success, but Sonys CCD technology began to be recognized worldwide, and Sony CCD technology was awarded Emmy Awards in both 1991 and 1994. Sonys linear sensor business also made steady advances starting in 1993, and in 1995 Sony added 300, 400, and 600 DPI color linear sensors that adopted the single-sided readout method to the product line. Applications for area sensors began to become increasingly diverse in 1995, and Sony developed progressive scan CCD that were optimal not only for video cameras but for digital still cameras as well. Sony continued to improve the basic characteristics, such as sensitivity and smear, of CCD sensors by developing the Super HAD CCD in 1997 and the EXview HAD CCD in 1998.

1991 Sonys contributions to the broadcast industry by technological development since the start of CCD development recognized. 1994 Prize awarded for the technological development of the CCD on-chip microlens.
s Photograph 8 XC-1 (245H 492V pixels) Adopted for Use in All Nippon Airways Super-Jumbo Jets (1980)
s Photograph 10 Sony Receives Emmy Awards from the US National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (1991 and 1994)
s Photograph 9 Type 1/2 250K-pixel CCD Used in the CCD-TR55 Handycam, which Became an Explosive Best Seller
s Photograph 11 ISO 9001 Certificate
In 1999, Sony achieved the 100 million pieces in total CCD production for about 30 years after the development of the CCD.
Trends in Technologies for Improving Basic CCD Characteristics
Recently, the unit pixel size in CCDs has fallen to less than one tenth of that in early CCDs. The size of the unit pixel will continue to decrease in the future due to miniaturization and increasing pixel counts. As shown in figure 2, despite the continuing reduction of the unit cell area, due to the development of many new technologies, the sensitivity per unit area has continued to increase.
Sony has contributed to both miniaturization and improved picture quality in CCD cameras by maintaining or improving basic characteristics despite miniaturization. Here, we would like to present our technologies used to improve the basic characteristics of Sony CCD products.
increase the aperture ratio and achieve high sensitivity, and include a variable speed electronic shutter in an interline method for the first time in the world. This allows cameras that use this device to capture sharp images of objects that are moving quickly.

HAD Sensor (1984)

The HAD (Hole-Accumulation Diode) sensor adds a hole-accumulation layer to the surface of the n-type substrate, P well, and n+ diode sensor. This sensor structure is unique to Sony CCDs. By providing this hole-accumulation layer, these devices significantly reduce the dark current generated from the sensor surface. Also, by adopting the vertical overflow drain, which drains electrons to the n-type substrate, these devices

On-Chip Microlens (1989)

As the size of the CCD unit pixel becomes smaller, reduced sensitivity due to the smaller light sensitive area becomes a problem. Since smear increases if the aperture is made larger to increase the sensitivity, it is not possible to increase the aperture significantly. To solve this problem, Sony developed technology for creating on-chip microlenses for the photodiode associated with each pixel. This means
Approx. 12 m square Approx. 9 m square
EXview HAD CCD New structure CCD
Approx. 6.9 m square Approx. 5.1 m square Type 1/6

Unit cell area [m2]

On-chip microlens
Type 1/4 Approx. 3.45 m square
Type 1/3 Type 1/2 Type 2/3

Type 1/4

93 Year (CY)
s Figure 2 Miniaturization and Sensitivity Improvement Trends in CCD Area Sensors
Sensitivity per unit area (relative value) [mV/m2]
that the area that light enters is determined not by the aperture area of the sensor region but by the area of the on-chip microlenses. This results in an increase of the virtual aperture ratio, and a significant increase in sensitivity. Furthermore, these on-chip microlenses also increase the optical collection efficiency, and thus significantly reduce smear from previous levels.

(1997)

During the latter half of the 1990s, miniaturization of the unit pixel progressed even further, and it became difficult to achieve higher sensitivity using the earlier on-chip microlens technology. Increasing the gain at the output stage of the CCD device only lowers the signal-to-noise ratio and makes image
defects more apparent. To solve this problem, Sony developed technology that optimizes the shape of the lens so that the light that is wasted by falling between the on-chip microlenses is minimized. This is the Super HAD CCD technology. Sony aimed at achieving high sensitivity by using this technology to increase the light utilization efficiency, and achieved cameras with high picture quality without reducing the signal-to-noise ratio. This has become a basic technology in the development of contemporary CCD devices.

New Structure CCD (1998)

When a wider f-stop is used, the component of the incident light that strikes the sensor at an angle increases. Since the on-chip microlenses cannot collect
and bring this light to the sensor effectively, the sensitivity to parallel light rays is reduced. To solve this problem, Sony introduced a technology for forming internal lenses between the color filters and the photo shielding film. This technology increases the condensing efficiency by changing the optical path with internal lenses so that the slanted component of the incident light that passes through the on-chip microlenses can be collected in the sensor. Furthermore, Sony was able to suppress the smear component that enters the vertical CCD by introducing a technology for making the insulating film between the silicon substrate and the electrodes even thinner. This resulted in a major improvement in the smear characteristics.

Color filter

Internal lens

Photo shielding film

Photo shielding film Reduction of the insulating film thickness
Poly Si Sensor Vertical CCD Sensor
Poly Si Vertical CCD Sensor

Poly Si Vertical CCD

[On-chip microlens product]

[Super HAD CCD]

[New structure CCD]
s Figure 3 CCD Area Sensor Structure Models Conventional CCD

New structure CCD

Conventional CCD
Super HAD CCD s Photograph 13 Smear Comparison
s Photograph 12 On-Chip Microlens Form Comparison
significant reduction of smear level in this device.

(1998)

With the conventional CCD structure, it was not possible to collect efficiently in the sensor the charge due to photoconversion for light in the near infrared range, i.e. light with a wavelength longer than visible light, since that light is photo-converted deep in the semiconductors silicon. The newlydeveloped EXview HAD CCD can handle charge due to near infrared light that was not acquired by conventional CCDs as video information and therefore achieves significantly improved sensitivity from the visible to the near infrared ranges. This EXview HAD CCD is capable of high-sensitivity imaging even in dark environments. Furthermore, the fact that the component that was photo-converted deep in the silicon substrate and leaked as a smear component in vertical CCDs is now collected in the sensor results in a
Moving into the 21st Century
While Sonys total CCD production exceeded 100 million pieces last year, this number of 100 million is merely one of many milestones. The applications that include CCD sensors will surely become increasingly diverse from the year 2000 and beyond. While it goes without saying that Sony will continue to work for increased miniaturization and higher pixel counts while at the same time maintaining the basic device characteristics, Sony is also committed to creating attractive high added value products that respond to our customers needs. Furthermore, Sony will continue to strive to design products that are environmentally aware; that feature lower power consumption, reduced drive circuit part
counts, and fewer pins. Finally, we would like to point out that Sonys CCD System Division and Sony Kokubu Corp. have acquired ISO 9001 certification last year. The business division and the plant are now working together to assure stable product supply and to maintain and improve quality. Keep your eyes on Sony CCDs, now and in the future.
Surveillance, industry, and factory automation cameras

(Type 2/3)

Image input and digital still cameras
ICX085 ICX252 ICX205 ICX224 ICX202 ICX080/081 ICX204 ICX232
Image size (diagonal) [mm]

(Type 1/2)

Even further improvements in device characteristics Increased added value

ICX074

ICX082/083

ICX062/063

ICX038D/039D ICX075 ICX248/249 ICX058C/059C ICX258/259

(Type 1/3)

ICX054B/055B ICX254/255 ICX084 ICX086/087 ICX206/207

(Type 1/4)

Visual communication
ICX068/069 ICX098 ICX088/089 ICX208/209

(Type 1/5)

ICX076/077
Miniaturization Lower power consumption

ICX238/239

Miniaturization Increased pixel counts Support for both moving and still images

(Type 1/6)

ICX096/097

Camcorders

130 145
Effective pixels [10K] s Figure 4 Sony CCD Area Sensor Product Line and Future Developments

NTSC/PAL EIA/CCIR

Sony Overview
Corporate Data Headquarters Established Employees Sales and operating revenue
6-7-35, Kita-Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 141-0001, Japan May 7, 1946 151,400 (as of March 31, 2005) 7,159.6 billion (for the fiscal year beginning on April 1, 2004, and ended on March 31, 2005; hereafter referred to in this report as fiscal 2004)
Organization The Sony Group consists of eleven key business units, encompassing six network companies and three business groups, plus Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB and the Sony Financial Holdings Group, operating businesses in electronics, games, entertainment, including
music and pictures, and financial services. The Headquarters, as its name implies, provides global headquarters functions, ensuring solid cooperation among businesses. Sony will continue to strive to realize integrated value creation throughout the Group, aiming at further growth.
Organization Chart (As of July 1, 2005)
Headquarters Sony R&D Laboratories
Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications
Information Technology & Communications Network Company
Personal Audio Visual Network Company
Professional Solutions Network Company
Home Electronics Network Company
Micro Systems Network Company
Semiconductor Solutions Network Company

Game Business Group

Entertainment Business Group
Personal Solutions Business Group
Sony Financial Holdings Group
Information Technology & Communications Network Company IT and network audio products Personal Audio Visual Network Company Digital imaging and personal audio products Professional Solutions Network Company Business-to-business (B2B) solutions centered on professional-use products and services Home Electronics Network Company Home electronics devices Micro Systems Network Company Devices and modules Semiconductor Solutions Network Company Semiconductors and related products
Game Business Group Games Entertainment Business Group Entertainment businesses, centered on movies and music Personal Solutions Business Group Business-to-consumer (B2C) direct business solutions Sony Financial Holdings Group Leasing, credit, life insurance, non-life insurance and banking services Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications Mobile phones, next-generation multimedia mobile devices

4 Sony Corporation

Financial Highlights (Billions of yen)
Sales and Operating Revenues

10,000

Operating Income

Net Income

7,314.8

7,578.3

7,473.6

7,496.4

250 7,159.6 200

225.3 185.4

200 163.8
6,4,2,000 134.6 113.9 98.150 115.5 88.5

50 16.8 15.05

(Years ended March 31)
Depreciation and Amortization*1

Capital Expenditure

R&D Expenses

600 514.5 502.0

465.2 378.3 326.7

500 416.7 433.2 443.1

400 348.3 300
Sales and Operating Revenue by Business Segment*2
Sales and Operating Revenue by Geographic Segment
Electronics: Game: Music: Pictures:
66.5% 9.7% 3.3% 9.7% Japan: 29.3%
United States: 27.6% Europe: Other Areas: 22.6% 20.5%
Financial Services: 7.4% Other: 3.4%
(Total sales and operating revenue: 7,159.6 billion) (Year ended March 31, 2005)
*1 Includes amortization expenses for intangible assets and for deferred insurance acquisitions costs *2 Includes intersegment transactions

Sony Corporation 5

Business at a Glance

Electronics

The Electronics segment consists of the Audio, Video, Televisions, Information and Communications, Semiconductors, Components and Other categories.

Televisions

Major Products Home audio Portable audio Car audio Car navigation systems
Major Products Video cameras Digital still cameras Video decks DVD-Video players/recorders Set-top boxes
Major Products Cathode-ray tube (CRT) televisions Projection televisions Plasma televisions Liquid crystal display (LCD) televisions Computer projectors Computer displays CRTs Digital broadcast receiver systems
Information and Communications

Semiconductors

Components
Major Products Personal computers Printer systems Personal digital assistants Broadcast-use and professional-use audio/video/monitors Other professional-use equipment
Major Products LCDs Charge-couple devices (CCDs) Other semiconductors

Major Products Optical pickups Batteries Audio/video/data recording media Data recording systems
Major Companies Sony Corporation Sony EMCS Corporation Sony Energy Devices Corporation Sony Engineering Corporation Sony Chemicals Corporation Sony Supply Chain Solutions, Inc. Sony Shiroishi Semiconductor Inc. Sony Semiconductor Kyushu Corporation Sony Manufacturing Systems Corporation Sony Marketing (Japan) Inc. Sony Miyagi Corporation Major Products Products and services not included in the other categories Digital Audio Disc Corporation Sony Deutschland G.m.b.H. Sony Device Technology (Thailand) Co., Ltd. Sony Electronics Inc. Sony Electronics (Singapore) Pte. Ltd. Sony EMCS (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd. Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB Sony France S.A. Sony United Kingdom Ltd.

6 Sony Corporation

Business Areas Game console and software businesses Major Companies Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. Sony Computer Entertainment Europe Ltd.
Business Areas Music content and recorded music businesses Major Companies Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc. SONY BMG MANAGEMENT CO., LLC SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT BV

Destinys Child

Pictures
Business Areas Motion picture, television and other businesses Major Companies Sony Pictures Entertainment (Japan) Inc. Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc.
Spider-Man 2Motion Picture 2004 Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. All rights reserved. SpiderMan Character & 2004 Marvel Characters, Inc. All rights reserved.

Financial Services

Business Areas Life insurance, non-life insurance, banking, leasing and credit financing business Major Companies Sony Financial Holdings, Inc. Sony Life Insurance Co., Ltd. Sony Assurance Inc. Sony Bank Inc. Sony Finance International, Inc.
Business Areas Network service business, including Internet-related services, production and marketing of animation products, retail sales of imported household goods, advertising agency, integrated circuit (IC) card business and other businesses Major Companies Sony Corporation Sony Communication Network Corporation Aniplex Inc. Sony Plaza Co., Ltd. Frontage Inc. FeliCa Networks Inc.

Sony Corporation 7

Sony and Innovation
In 2006, Sony will be celebrating the 60th anniversary of its establishment in 1946. In its Founding Prospectus, Sony outlined as one of its goals the following: The first and primary motive for setting up the company was to create a stable work environment where engineers who had a deep and profound appreciation for technology could realize their societal mission and work to their hearts content. Sony will continue promoting technological innovation and product development that contribute to cultural and social progress.
Tape Recorder (G Type) Japans first tape recorderthe starting point from which future recording culture evolved. (1950)
Transistor Television (TV8-301) The worlds first non-projection type all-transistor television, the TV8-301 utilized transistor technology developed for radios. (1960)
Sony Walkman (TPS-L2) The first of its kind, this portable cassette player enabled people to enjoy music anytime, anywhere. (1979)
IC Radio (ICR-100) The ICR-100 was the worlds first IC radio. Use of integrated circuits enabled the creation of key holder-sized radios. (1967)
Transistor Radio (TR-55) This was Japans first transistor radio. Its small size meant it was the perfect personal-use radio, suited for individuals rather than households. (1955)
Trinitron Color Television (KV-1310) Sonys original color television featuring Trinitron technologyit achieved previously unattainable levels of brightness and clarity. (1968)
Betamax (SL-6300) The launch of the Betamax video cassette recorder (VCR) heralded the arrival of the home video era and triggered broad acceptance of VCRs and growth in the VCR market. (1975)
Tokyo Tsushin Kogyo K.K. (Tokyo Telecommunications Engineering Corporation) is established. (1946)
Tokyo Tsushin Kogyo changes its name to Sony Corporation. (1958)
CBS/Sony Records Inc., is established (currently Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc.). (1968)
Sony Prudential Life Insurance Co., Ltd., is established (currently Sony Life Insurance Co., Ltd.). (1991)
Origin of the Sony Name Sony is a combination of two words. One is the Latin word sonus, which is the root of such words as sound and sonic. The other is sonny, a popular expression used to mean small or a young boy. Founding Prospectus

8 Sony Corporation

CD Player (CDP-101) The worlds first CD player, the CDP-101 boasted outstanding audio quality and one-touch track selection in a compact, lightweight body. (1982)
MD Walkman (MZ-1, MZ-2P) The worlds first MD Walkman personal audio players, playing MDs rather than cassette tapes, the MZ-1 and MZ-2P brought digital music closer to the individual. (1992)

Betacam-format camcorder for broadcast use (BVW-1) With the launch of the Betacam, the worlds first compact, lightweight combination camera-and-VTR unit, the mobility of broadcast equipment improved greatly. (1982)
PlayStation (SCPH-1000), PlayStation 2 (SCPH-10000) Boasting advanced semiconductor technology that enables the reproduction of sharp 3-D images, the PlayStation and PlayStation 2 consoles offer exciting gaming and entertainment possibilities. (1994, 2000)
Handycam (CCD-TR55) A compact, lightweight passport-sized 8mm camcorder, the CCD-TR55 made it possible to preserve travel memories and important events on video with ease. (1989)
VAIO Series of Personal Computers The VAIO series made video editing and distribution easy, changing the way people enjoy personal computers. (1997)
AIBO (ERS-110) Entertainment Robot Named after a Japanese word meaning mate or companion, AIBO is a fully autonomous fourlegged robot that was created to provide pleasure for people and acts in response to external stimuli and according to its own judgment. (1999)
Sony acquires CBS Records Inc. (1988)
Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. is established. (1993)
Sony Bank Inc. is established. (2001)
Sony acquires Columbia Pictures Entertainment, Inc. (currently Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc.). (1989)
Sony Insurance Planning Inc. is established (currently Sony Assurance Inc.) (1998)
SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT is established. (2004)

Sony Corporation 9