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CCD size refers to the sensor’s physical imaging area—not its megapixel count. To compare CCDs accurately, look at active width and height, diagonal, pixel pitch, and active pixel count as separate specifications. A format label such as APS-H or “1/2.3-inch type” is useful shorthand, but it is not an exact measurement of the light-sensitive area.
What does CCD size mean?
A charge-coupled device (CCD) converts incoming light into an electronic image. When a manufacturer specifies a CCD’s size, it may mean the dimensions of its light-sensitive area, its diagonal, or a nominal format category. Those descriptions are related, but they are not interchangeable.
- Active image area: the light-sensitive width and height, usually stated in millimetres.
- Active diagonal: the diagonal across that area, also usually in millimetres. It does not reveal the sensor’s aspect ratio by itself.
- Pixel pitch: the physical width and height of an individual pixel, usually stated in micrometres (µm).
- Active pixel count: the number of pixels across and down. Their product gives the total active pixel count, often used to describe resolution.
- Optical format: a format convention or category—not necessarily the sensor’s actual width, height, or diagonal.
Kodak discusses optical-format conventions and sensor-area trade-offs in its CCD technology paper. The practical rule is to use the manufacturer’s active dimensions when you need physical measurements, and treat a format name as a label rather than a precise dimension.
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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsIs CCD size the same as megapixels?
No. Sensor size describes physical area; pixel count describes how many active picture elements sample the image. Pixel pitch describes the dimensions of each pixel. These specifications answer different questions, and a datasheet should be read across all of them rather than reduced to a single number. Panasonic also distinguishes CCD pixel count from pixel size in its CCD pixel information.
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Two sensors can have different physical areas and pixel pitches while having similar pixel counts. Conversely, a sensor with more pixels can have a smaller active area. The manufacturer specifications below illustrate that distinction:
| CCD example | Active pixels | Pixel pitch | Active image area | Diagonal or format |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| onsemi KAF-16801 | 4096 × 4096 | 9.0 × 9.0 µm | 36.88 × 36.88 mm | 52.1 mm diagonal; “645 1.3x Optical Format” |
| onsemi KAI-16050 | 4896 × 3264 | 5.5 × 5.5 µm | 26.93 × 17.95 mm | APS-H format; diagonal not stated in the cited datasheet |
These are manufacturer specifications, not representative figures for all CCDs. The KAI-16050 has more active pixels than the KAF-16801 example, but a smaller active area. The KAF-16801’s datasheet lists its active dimensions, diagonal, and optical-format label as distinct values (KAF-16801 datasheet, 2017); the KAI-16050 datasheet lists its active pixels, pitch, and area (KAI-16050 datasheet, 2015).
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What does a 1/2.3-inch CCD sensor mean?
A fractional-inch label such as “1/2.3-inch type” is a nominal optical-format designation, not a promise that the active sensor measures 1/2.3 inch across or diagonally. The same caution applies to other type labels: do not convert the fraction directly into an active width or diagonal. For a camera or component comparison, find the datasheet’s active width and height in millimetres; if those are not given, the label alone does not establish the exact imaging dimensions.
Format names such as APS-H also identify categories rather than replacing the actual active dimensions. For example, onsemi’s KAI-16050 is called APS-H, while its datasheet separately gives an active image area of 26.93 × 17.95 mm.
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How does CCD size affect what the camera sees?
With the same focal-length lens and camera position, a larger active sensor area captures a wider portion of the image projected by the lens than a smaller area. The resulting framing also depends on sensor aspect ratio, the lens’s usable image circle, and the camera’s optical design. A format label by itself does not tell you exactly what framing a particular camera-and-lens combination will produce.
Sensor area does not determine image quality on its own. Pixel pitch, pixel count, sensor architecture, lens and optical design, and the imaging task all matter. More pixels packed into a limited area affect design trade-offs, but there is no universal rule that the physically larger sensor always produces the better result. Kodak’s discussion of optical format and pixel size provides context for these interacting constraints.
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How to compare CCD sizes in a datasheet
- Record active width and height in millimetres. This is the clearest measure of imaging area and shows the sensor’s aspect ratio.
- Note the active diagonal, if listed. Use it for format comparisons, but not as a substitute for width and height.
- Copy the manufacturer’s optical-format label exactly. Treat it as shorthand, not an exact physical measurement.
- Check pixel pitch in both dimensions. This gives the physical size of each pixel; do not confuse it with total sensor area.
- Check active pixel count across and down. This describes sampling resolution, not the physical size of the CCD.
- Read the architecture and intended application. Different sensor designs and camera tasks can prioritize different properties, so compare relevant specifications rather than relying on size alone.
The KAF-16801 and KAI-16050 specifications show why these fields belong together: dimensions, pitch, pixel count, and format each describe a different part of the sensor.
Are CCD sensors still used?
CCD remains relevant in specialized imaging, including scientific and astronomy systems. Teledyne describes CCD sensor products and ground-based astronomy cameras using CCD and EMCCD sensors. That establishes continuing specialized applications, not how common CCDs are across the entire current camera market.
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Consumer imaging technology has also shifted substantially. Sony Semiconductor Solutions says its business made a major shift from CCD to CMOS image sensors in 2004, while describing its own company history—not the whole industry’s market share today—on its Common Technology of Image Sensors page. Sensor format remains a specification used in camera systems, but a format listing alone does not identify whether a sensor is CCD or CMOS.
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