CCD Detection

The CCD (charge-coupled device) is made up of a two-dimensional array of photodiodes which convert light into electrical charge. When the exposure is completed, the charges are transferred, one-by-one, into an amplifier and converted into a voltage. Each photodiode in the CCD gives rise to a pixel in the final image, where the recorded voltage values are converted to black/white pixel intensities. The resolution of the final image is directly proportional to the number of photodiodes in the CCD. This animated video shows how CCDs (charged couple device) are used to generate a charge that can be read by electronics and turned into a digital copy.