
Thu Aug 21 03:00:00 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summary of the text, followed by a rewritten news article based on that information:
**Summary:**
The article discusses the invention and impact of the Charge-Coupled Device (CCD). Invented in 1969 by Willard Boyle and George Smith at Bell Labs, the CCD converts light into electrical signals using an array of pixels. This invention has revolutionized various fields, including photography, astronomy, medicine, and security. It works by capturing photons, converting them into electrical charges within each pixel, and then transferring those charges to be processed into a digital image. The CCD made digital cameras possible, improved medical imaging and diagnostics, and enhanced astronomical observation. Smith passed away earlier this year, but his and Boyle’s invention earned them the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2009.
**News Article:**
**CCD: The Technology That Revolutionized Imaging, 56 Years On**
**New Delhi, August 21, 2025:** From digital cameras to medical diagnostics and deep-space telescopes, the Charge-Coupled Device (CCD) has fundamentally reshaped how we see and understand the world. This remarkable invention, conceived in 1969 by Willard Boyle and George Smith at Bell Telephone Laboratories, continues to be a cornerstone of modern technology.
A CCD is essentially an electronic sensor that converts light into electrical signals, allowing for the creation of digital images. It works by using a grid of tiny light-sensitive elements called pixels. Each pixel captures photons (light particles) and transforms them into an electrical charge. These charges are then transferred and processed to form a digital picture.
Boyle and Smith, originally working on memory devices, realized that electric charges could be stored and moved on capacitors. This realization led to the development of “charge coupling,” a process where electrical charges are shifted along the device in a controlled manner, which paves the way for capturing images.
The impact of the CCD has been profound. In consumer electronics, it replaced film in cameras, enabling instant image viewing and digital storage. In medicine, CCDs are vital for X-rays, CT scans, and endoscopies, providing high-resolution images for accurate diagnoses. Astronomers use CCDs in telescopes to capture faint light from distant galaxies, leading to groundbreaking discoveries. The technology is also heavily used in CCTV cameras.
“The CCD has transformed fields that have required capturing light as data,” explains Dr. Anya Sharma, a leading researcher in sensor technology. “Its sensitivity and precision have opened up possibilities that were unimaginable before.”
Smith passed away on May 28, 2025, but his and Boyle’s invention was recognized with the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2009, a testament to its enduring scientific and technological significance. As technology continues to evolve, the CCD remains a vital component in the quest to capture, analyze, and understand the world around us.