Abstract: A driver circuit for a charge coupled device which includes a CMOS inverter including a P channel MOS transistor and an N channel MOS transistor for inverting the level of an input control pulse, an output terminal of the CMOS inverter being connected to a charge coupled device such that the P channel MOS transistor functions to charge the equivalent load capacitance of the charge coupled device and the N channel MOS transistor functions to discharge the equivalent load capacitance. A continuously variable DC power supply is provided for applying a variable gate voltage to the gate of at least one of the P and N channel MOS transistors to change the mutual conductance of the transistor so that the time constant of the charge or discharge circuit to the load capacitance can be adjusted to optimize the charge transfer efficiency of the charged coupled device.

Abstract: A multi-level signal generating circuit is disclosed which comprises: a first CMOS inverter for inverting an input signal to produce a first output signal having high and low voltage levels; a second CMOS inverter for inverting the input signal to produce a second output signal having high and low voltage levels; at least one of the high and low voltage levels of the second output signals being different from said high and low voltage of said first output signal; and switching circuit operative to drive selectively said first CMOS inverter or said second CMOS inverter in response to a level of a control signal.