The TC236 is a frame-transfer, charge-coupled device (CCD) image sensor designed for use in single-chip color NTSC TV, computer, and special-purpose applications requiring low cost and small size. The image-sensing area of the TC236 is configured into 500 lines with 680 elements in each line. Twenty-two elements are provided in each line for dark reference. The blooming-protection feature of the sensor is based on an advanced lateral-overflow-drain concept. The sensor can be operated in a true-interlace mode as a 658(H) x 496(V) sensor with a very low dark current. One important feature of the TC236 very high-resolution sensor is the ability to capture a full 340,000 pixels per field. The image sensor also provides high-speed imagetransfer capability. This capability allows for a continuous electronic exposure control without the loss of sensitivity and resolution inherent in other technologies. The charge is converted to signal voltage at 20 V per electron by a high-performance structure with a reset and a voltage-reference generator. The signal is further buffered by a low-noise, two-stage, source-follower amplifier to provide high output-drive capability. The TC236 is built using TI-proprietary advanced virtual-phase (AVP) technology, which provides devices with high blue response, low dark signal, good uniformity, and single-phase clocking. The TC236 is characterized for operation from 10C to 45C.