FT17N / FT17P

2/3 inch dual aspect ratio image sensor

Sensor image

Description

The FT17N is a NTSC/EIA-compatible image sensor which is provided with a 12-phase

vertical transport clock structure in the image section.

The FT17P image sensor is a PAL/CCIR vesion of Philips Semiconductors’ dual aspect ratio

image sensor, which is provided with a 12-phase vertical transport clock structure in the

image section.

By selecting the appropriate phase type of the vertical image clock pulses it is possible to put

the image sensor in the required aspect ratio mode. In the 4:3 aspect ratio mode a virtual 4-

phase mode is applied and in the 16:9 mode a virtual 3-phase mode is applied.

Offering the advantage of optimizing the performance of a switchable camera in both 4:3 and

16:9 aspect ratio modes, the frame transfer technology supports the same number of active

lines and active pixels in both modes. The image diagonals of these formats are within the

tolerances of the required optical devices, making it is possible to use the same camera lenses

for both aspect ratio modes. Now the camera manufacturer can construct a switchable camera

in which the selected aspect ratio mode is purely determined by the electronic circuitry's.