Hole Accumulation Diode

Hole Accumulation Diode (HAD) is a patented technique of the SONY Corporation to reduce electronic noise in a CCD or CMOS imaging sensor by reducing the so-called "dark" current that occur in the absence of light falling on the imager for noise reduction and enhanced image quality.

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The "hole" refers to places in a semiconductor where an electron has been dislodged, thus creating a positive charge. These "holes" or positive charges can be created by heat or imperfections in the creation of the imaging chip. The "holes" are accumulated, or trapped, in a separate semiconductor layer that acts as a diode that prevents them from returning or creating noise. "HAD" technology suppresses the fixed pattern noise that results from "dark" current that occurs regardless of the amount of absorbed light. By fabricating a hole-accumulation layer below the surface of the CCD, "dark" current can be suppressed at the source.

HAD CCDs are used in consumer and professional single, as well as, three-chip video cameras.