Willard Boyle (1924–2011) was a Canadian physicist known for his significant contributions to the field of physics, particularly in photonics and semiconductor technology. He is best known for his co-invention of the charge-coupled device (CCD) in 1969, along with George E. Smith. The CCD is a technology used to capture images in various devices, including digital cameras and telescopes, and has had a profound impact on photography, astronomy, and other fields.
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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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