Abstract: Frame transfer CCDs play a very important role in hyperspectral remote sensing, while smear has become one of the greatest obstacles for frame transfer CCDs used in hyperspectral imaging and other applications with high frame rate. In order to reduce the smear effect, a clock propagation model consisting of the driver, transmission line and the internal structure of the CCD were established, which better predict the clock waveforms inside and outside of the CCD. The effect on the clock waveforms with typical values of the parameters was simulated, and the simulation and measured results shown great consistency. The driving electronics was optimized based on the simulation, resulting in a line transfer time of as short as 100 ns, which is equal to a smear factor of within 1% under a frame rate of 500 fps, showing the ability of frame transfer CCDs to operate at higher frame rates.