Patent ID: 6621109
Filing Date: 2003-09-16
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
A charge coupled device comprising:a plurality of photoelectric conversion regions; a plurality of vertical charge coupled devices (VCCDs) provided between the photoelectric conversion regions for transmission of charges generated at the photoelectric conversion regions in a first direction; and a horizontal charge coupled device (HCCD) coupled to the VCCDs and having a channel region including a plurality of channels for transmission of the charges previously transmitted through the VCCDs in a second direction, wherein the plurality of channels of the channel region are arranged so that the channels having the smallest widths are situated at the center of the channel region, and so that the widths of the channels gradually get larger moving further away from the center of the channel region, wherein the channel region is formed such that one of the plurality of channels has a higher potential than the remaining channels, and wherein the remaining channels have potentials that gradually become lower than the highest potential moving further away from the channel having the highest potential, the channel region thereby transmitting the charges within the HCCD so that the charges are gathered together centered around the channel having the highest potential during transmission of the charges.