Charge-coupled devices - A new approach to MIS device structures

Recent advances in materials and processing have resulted in a new class of information-handling structure¿the charge-coupled device. This three-layer structure creates and stores minority carriers, or their absence, in potential wells near the surface of the semiconductor. The minority carriers move from under one electrode to a closely adjacent electrode on the same substrate when a more negative voltage is applied to the adjacent electrode. Because of their high transfer efficiency, these devices have already found application as image sensors. In addition, there is every expectation that memories made by use of the stored-charge concept will be less expensive and faster, and will require less power than a magnetic counterpart now in use.