Abstract: A charge coupled device (CCD) image sensor for producing a video output for a given TV line standard wherein the image section (9) has a number of CCD elements appropriate to the given line standard and the store section (11) has a number of CCD elements appropriate to a second, higher line standard. The electronic package required to drive the sensor is then not very different from an electronic package required to drive a sensor for the higher line standard, thus making it practicable to use in the sensor an electronic package capable of use in sensors for either standard.

Abstract: In a frame transfer CCD image sensor the number of charge storage locations per channel (25) in the store section (35A, B) is greater than in the image section (33). Frame transfer is effected so that after each frame transfer the image charge pattern in the image section is transferred to the store section so as to leave at least one line of charge storage locations (35B) in the store section between the image section and the charge pattern transferred to the store section which contains charge resulting only from frame shift smear and is otherwise empty of charge. Electrical circuitry (41 to 57) is provided to subtract electrical signals representing charges in the line or lines containing frame shift smear charge only from electrical signals representing the image charge pattern, thereby to cancel frame shift smear in the signals representing the image charge pattern.

Abstract: A CCD frame transfer image sensor wherein the effective integration period can be shortened by electrical means. The sensor comprises an image section having a first photo-sensitive portion of an array of CCD channels and a store section having a second light shielded portion of the array. Means are provided for controlling the potentials applied to the control electrodes of the array so as to transfer along the channels charge generated in the image section into a charge sink structure during one of the active line periods at a frequency outside the bandwidth of the output signal of the sensor.