Abstract: A back thinned CCD has at least first and second parallel n− signal channel segments and a p++ channel stop region between the signal channels.

Abstract: An optical detector includes a charge-coupled device (CCD). The CCD comprises an active cell for receiving a narrow beam of incident illumination and generating photoelectrons in response thereto, and a first stage readout register comprising a row of N transfer cells, where N>1. A first stage gate structure transfers charge packets consecutively from the active cell into the first stage readout register, whereby N successive charge packets are read into the N cells respectively of the first stage readout register. N second stage readout registers each comprise M transfer cells, where M>1, and a second stage gate structure transfers N charge packets from the N cells of the first stage readout register into respective first cells of the second stage readout registers and subsequently shifts the N charge packets from the respective first cells of the second stage readout registers to respective Mth cells thereof.