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Incoming links: George E. Smith
George E. Smith Created 2026-10-24 Updated 2026-11-05
George E. Smith and Willard Boyle introduced the charge-coupled device, which stores information as electric charge packets in movable potential wells at a semiconductor surface. Changing electrode potentials transfers a packet to a neighboring storage region. Their 1970 paper describes electric charge creation, transfer and detection, and proposes both information-processing and imaging applications. The same electrical mechanism can therefore shift a stored signal through a device or carry light-generated electric charge toward a detector.[ref]
Charge Coupled Semiconductor Devices by Willard Sterling Boyle and George Elwood Smith. Bell System Technical Journal 49, 587–593 (1970), opening description
A physicist researching semiconductor devices.[ref]
Professional profile of George Elwood Smith. Independent professional identity
Portrait of George E. Smith
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Nobel Prize in Physics in 2009 2026-10-18
One half went to Charles Kuen Kao for breakthroughs in transmitting light through optical fibers for communication. One quarter each went to Willard S. Boyle and George E. Smith for inventing the charge-coupled device imaging sensor.[ref]
The Nobel Prize in Physics 2009 by Nobel Prize Outreach. Individual official 2009 summary: Kao one half for optical-fiber communication; Boyle and Smith one quarter each for the CCD imaging sensor.
Willard Boyle Created 2026-10-24 Updated 2026-11-05
Willard Boyle and George E. Smith devised the charge-coupled device around controlled storage and movement of electric charge. Adjacent electrodes create potential wells in a semiconductor; timed changes of their voltages move stored electric charge between the wells. The 1970 proposal treats electric charge packets as information and discusses a shift register as well as an imaging device. This links electrostatic control of a surface to the transport and detection of an optical signal.[ref]
Charge Coupled Semiconductor Devices by Willard Sterling Boyle and George Elwood Smith. Bell System Technical Journal 49, 587–593 (1970), device concept and applications
A physicist researching lasers and semiconductor devices.[ref]
Professional profile of Willard Sterling Boyle. Independent professional identity
Portrait of Willard Boyle
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