Abstract: A fast-timing bi-directional charge coupled device ("CCD") is disclosed. The CCD operates at a much faster overall rate than conventional CCD's, while paradoxically slowing down the readout rate of the pixels. Lower power consumption is required, less heat is generated, thermal noise is lower, and digital noise is lower. The novel CCD is capable of 10-25 .mu.sec timing resolution (or even faster). The configuration entirely eliminates the (formerly) rate-determining step of transferring data "horizontally" from the "top" of the CCD columns. Instead, the charges on columns are transferred either "up" or "down" in an alternating manner. For example, the charges in odd-numbered columns might be transferred one row "up" with each clock cycle, and charges in even-numbered columns might be transferred "down." This alternating charge transfer architecture is termed "bi-directional.