Charge-coupled device with bi-directional readout through dual, merged readout registers

A charge-coupled device, for use in an imaging system, comprising an image section including a plurality of photosensitive elements arranged in columns, in which elements pockets of charge are produced by the incidence of light upon the device, the pockets of charge being displaceable along an axis parallel to the columns of elements, and two readout registers, situated at opposite ends of the columns of photosensitive elements, wherein the device is arranged so that the pockets of charge can be read out from the image section along either of the two readout registers, and the registers are merged, so that the device has one output common to both registers.