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Some limitations to the operation of a CCD TV camera sensor at low light levels are discussed. Transfer inefficiency with small charge packets is analyzed theoretically, and the prediction made that with good processing this should not be a serious problem. The principal limitation is seen to be the output amplifier, and a new low-noise output detector, the "floating surface detector," is described in detail. At -50°C it yields a noise equivalent signal of 16 electrons and a dynamic range of 85 dB over a 1-MHz video bandwidth.
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R.J. Brewer (1980) studied this question.
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