The TC253SPD-30 is a frame-transfer, CCD image sensor designed for use in black and white, NTSC TV, computer, and special-purpose applications requiring high sensitivity, low noise, and small size. The TC253SPD-30 is a new device of the IMPACTRON family of very-low noise, high sensitivity image sensors that multiply charge directly in the charge domain before conversion to voltage. The charge carrier multiplication (CCM) is achieved by using a low-noise, single-carrier, impact ionization process that occurs during repeated carrier transfers through high-field regions. Applying multiplication pulses to specially designed gates activates the CCM. The amount of multiplication is adjustable according to the amplitude of multiplication pulses. The device function resembles the function of image intensifiers implemented in solid state.