Patent ID: 7646042

Claim:
A CCD (charge coupled device) comprising: a charge transfer channel region formed on a surface of a semiconductor substrate; a first transfer electrode and a second transfer electrode, respectively, which intersect the charge transfer channel region, comprise a portion that overlaps mutually, and are arranged adjacent to each other to control an electric potential in the charge transfer channel region, and a charge detection region that receives electric charges output from the charge transfer channel region and converts the electric charges into an output voltage signal of the CCD, wherein the first transfer electrode is a last-stage electrode out of those transfer electrodes, to which a transfer clock is applied; the second transfer electrode is an output gate electrode arranged adjacent to the last stage electrode and on a boundary portion of an output end of the charge transfer channel region and the charge detection region to maintain the boundary portion at a predetermined reference electric potential; a first electrode that is one of the last-stage electrode and the output gate electrode, the first electrode having a first salient portion that is selectively formed in a position corresponding to the charge transfer channel region with respect to a direction of channel width, and projecting toward a second electrode that is the other one of the last-stage electrode and the output gate electrode: a leading end portion of the first salient portion having a straight edge that intersects the charge transfer channel region and overlaps the second electrode; and a clearance is formed in planar direction between the output gate electrode and the last stage electrode except a place where the leading end portion overlaps.