Common causes of imaging sensor failures or malfunctions.

Last Revision Date: 7/2/2015

This article describes a few of the more common reasons for failure of a CCD or CMOS imaging sensor. 

Here are some of the common causes of general imaging sensor malfunction:

• • Electrostatic discharge (ESD) hits the camera and destroys the sensor. With extended head units (e.g. DR2-xx-EX), this often happens when the ribbon cable gets disconnected, either from the head or the board side, while the camera is powered.
  • Sensor manufacturer defects. While our quality control tests catch defective sensors before they are shipped, defects may not become apparent until after use or long periods of time.
  • Exposure to excessive heat, humidity, or strong sunlight for long periods of time.

Here are some best practices to minimize imagine sensor failure:

• • Follow the CCD handling precautions that Sony recommends.  You can use the Camera Selector or the Product Pages to find details on the sensor used in each camera model.
  • Follow general ESD precautions, such as those described "Common causes for physical layer (PHY)IC failure."
  • Ensure that the ribbon cable doesn't get disconnected while the camera is powered.