Variable delay charge coupled device

Claim 1

A CCD delay element, comprising: a delay stage of a plurality of charge-coupled-device unit cells arranged in a transfer direction; an adjusting stage of at least one charge-coupled-device unit cell of a same configuration as those of said delay stage and arranged in series with said unit cells of said delay stage; clocking means for applying clocking signals to said unit cells of said delay stage to transfer data signals along said transfer direction; and selective means for selectively applying at least one of said clocking signals and a predetermined locking potential to said unit cell of said adjusting stage, said locking potential applied to said unit cell of said adjusting stage causing said unit cell of said adjusting stage to be a conduction channel to transfer said data signals thereacross without delay, said one of said clocking signals applied to said unit cell of said adjusting stage to transfer said data signals thereacross with a delay determined by a period of said clocking signals, whereby said data signals are transferred across said delay stage and said adjusting stage with a selective delay.