Charge Transfer Efficiency This is a CCD sensor level specification which describes the efficiency of charge transfer. The image from a CCD is read out by transfer of rows into a horizontal register, followed by transfer of pixel charge along the horizontal register towards the output node. As each pixel's charge reaches the output note, it is digitized and transferred to the computer for display. As each charge is transferred, not every electron will be carried along with perfect efficiency. Some get "left behind" or trapped. Charge Transfer Efficiency (CTE) is the CCD level specification that quantifies this. A CTE of 0.99997 can be thought of as 2.5 electrons out of 85,000 electrons not transferred or "lost in the shuffle".. Since the CTE is sensor dependent, all manufacturers of imaging systems using the same sensor will start with the same efficiency specification. Improper camera system design can cause less than optimum charge transfer efficiency.