Scientists share Nobel prize for invention of CCD

[Peter Hebert]

The Nobel prize in physics was awarded today, with Willard S. Boyle and George E. Smith, inventors of the Charge Coupled Device (CCD), sharing one half of the prize. While RED does not use a CCD, but a CMOS sensor, this achievement is definitely to be celebrated by anyone involved in capturing images, still or motion. They helped lay the foundation of today's digital cinema revolution. Congrats!

Nobel Prize in Physics announcement (http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/physics/laureates/2009/)

[David M]

The CCD was invented in 1969.
Why did it take 40 years for the achievement to be recognized?

[Johnny Friday]

The CCD was invented in 1969.
Why did it take 40 years for the achievement to be recognized?

I would venture to guess that in 1969 through somewhere around 1980something nobody (or very few people) knew what the heck a CCD was. It wasn't till the late 90's that millions were being sold to mass consumers and the acronym CCD known---my $12 theory...or at least my experience.

[D Fuller]

If you look at the history of the Nobel Prizes, you'll see that they always come years after the discovery -- in every field. It simply takes that long to know if a discovery is really important.