US 7,002,408 B2 · Data signal amplifier and processor with multiple signal gains for increased dynamic signal range

Abstract

Data signal amplification and processing circuitry with multiple signal gains for increasing dynamic signal range. An incoming data signal is processed in accordance with multiple signal gains. The resultant signals have multiple signal values which are compared to predetermined lower and higher thresholds. The desired output signal is: the maximum sample signal value when the maximum value fails to traverse a predetermined lower threshold; the minimum sample signal value when an adjacent larger one of the plurality of sample signal values traverses a predetermined higher threshold; a smaller of mutually adjacent ones of a pair of the plurality of sample signal values when a larger one of the pair of sample signal values traverses the predetermined higher threshold and the smaller value fails to traverse the predetermined lower threshold; and a combination of the smaller and larger ones of the pair of sample signal values when the larger value traverses the predetermined lower threshold and fails to traverse the predetermined higher threshold.

Claims54

Dependent claims

An apparatus including data signal amplification and processing circuitry with multiple signal gains, comprising:

a signal node to convey an input signal having an input signal value;
amplification circuitry coupled to said signal node, including a variable signal gain responsive to at least one gain control signal having a plurality of values, and responsive to said input signal by providing an intermediate signal having a plurality of values corresponding to said plurality of gain control signal values;
sampling circuitry coupled to said amplification circuitry and responsive to a sampling control signal by sampling said intermediate signal to provide a sample signal having a plurality of values which include at least a maximum and a minimum, and correspond to said plurality of intermediate signal values;
and
processing circuitry coupled to said sampling circuitry and responsive to one or more processing control signals by processing said sample signal to provide a processed signal having a value corresponding to said input signal value, wherein said processed signal value represents
said maximum sample signal value when said maximum value fails to traverse a predetermined lower threshold,
said minimum sample signal value when an adjacent larger one of said plurality of sample signal values traverses a predetermined higher threshold,
a smaller of mutually adjacent ones of a pair of said plurality of sample signal values when a larger one of said pair of sample signal values traverses said predetermined higher threshold and said smaller value fails to traverse said predetermined lower threshold, and
a combination of said smaller and larger ones of said pair of sample signal values when said larger value traverses said predetermined lower threshold and fails to traverse said predetermined higher threshold.

6 more elements

A method of data signal amplification and processing with multiple signal gains, comprising:

receiving an input signal having an input signal value;
receiving at least one gain control signal having a plurality of values;
generating, in response to said input signal and said at least one gain control signal, an intermediate signal having a plurality of values corresponding to said plurality of gain control signal values;
receiving a sampling control signal and in response thereto sampling said intermediate signal and generating a sample signal having a plurality of values which include at least a maximum and a minimum, and correspond to said plurality of intermediate signal values;
and
receiving one or more processing control signals and in response thereto processing said sample signal and generating a processed signal having a value corresponding to said input signal value, wherein said processed signal value represents
said maximum sample signal value when said maximum value fails to traverse a predetermined lower threshold,
said minimum sample signal value when an adjacent larger one of said plurality of sample signal values traverses a predetermined higher threshold,
a smaller of mutually adjacent ones of a pair of said plurality of sample signal values when a larger one of said pair of sample signal values traverses said predetermined higher threshold and said smaller value fails to traverse said predetermined lower threshold, and
a combination of said smaller and larger ones of said pair of sample signal values when said larger value traverses said predetermined lower threshold and fails to traverse said predetermined higher threshold.

7 more elements

An apparatus including data signal amplification and processing circuitry with multiple signal gains, comprising:

signal acquisition circuitry responsive to an image data signal by providing an acquired data signal;
amplification circuitry coupled to said signal acquisition circuitry and responsive to at least one gain control signal and said acquired data signal by amplifying said acquired data signal with a plurality of signal gains to produce a corresponding plurality of amplified data signals;
sampling circuitry coupled to said amplification circuitry and responsive to at least one sampling control signal and said plurality of amplified data signals by sampling said plurality of amplified data signals to produce a corresponding plurality of sampled data signals having a like plurality of values which include at least a maximum and a minimum, and correspond to said plurality of amplified data signals;
and
processing circuitry coupled to said sampling circuitry and responsive to one or more reference signals and one or more of said plurality of sampled data signals by providing a data output signal corresponding to
said maximum sampled data signal value when said maximum value fails to satisfy a first one of a plurality of criteria related to said one or more reference signals,
said minimum sampled data signal value when an adjacent larger one of said plurality of sampled data signal values satisfies a second one of said plurality of criteria,
a smaller of mutually adjacent ones of a pair of said plurality of sampled data signal values when a larger one of said pair of sampled data signal values satisfies said second one of said plurality of criteria and said smaller value fails to satisfy said first one of said plurality of criteria, and
a combination of said smaller and larger ones of said pair of sampled data signal values when said larger value satisfies said first one of said plurality of criteria and fails to satisfy said second one of said plurality of criteria.

6 more elements

A method of data signal amplification and processing with multiple signal gains, comprising:

acquiring an image data signal;
amplifying said image data signal with a plurality of signal gains to produce a corresponding plurality of amplified data signals;
sampling said plurality of amplified data signals to produce a corresponding plurality of sampled data signals having a like plurality of values which include at least a maximum and a minimum, and correspond to said plurality of amplified data signals;
comparing one or more of said plurality of sampled data signal values to one or more reference signals;
and
providing a data output signal corresponding to
said maximum sampled data signal value when said maximum value fails to satisfy a first one of a plurality of criteria related to said one or more reference signals,
said minimum sampled data signal value when an adjacent larger one of said plurality of sampled data signal values satisfies a second one of said plurality of criteria,
a smaller of mutually adjacent ones of a pair of said plurality of sampled data signal values when a larger one of said pair of sampled data signal values satisfies said second one of said plurality of criteria and said smaller value fails to satisfy said first one of said plurality of criteria, and
a combination of said smaller and larger ones of said pair of sampled data signal values when said larger value satisfies said first one of said plurality of criteria and fails to satisfy said second one of said plurality of criteria.

7 more elements

An apparatus including data signal amplifier circuitry with multiple signal gains, comprising:

sampling amplifier circuitry responsive to at least one control signal and an input signal having an input signal value by providing at least one sample signal having a plurality of sample signal values, including maximum and minimum sample signal values, and corresponding to said input signal value;
and
processing circuitry coupled to said sampling amplifier circuitry and responsive to said at least one sample signal and one or more processing control signals by processing said at least one sample signal to provide a processed signal having a value corresponding to said input signal value;
wherein said processed signal value represents one of a plurality of values which includes
said maximum sample signal value,
said minimum sample signal value,
a first one of said plurality of sample signal values, and
a combination of said first one and a second one of said plurality of sample signal values;
wherein said processing circuitry comprises
analog-to-digital conversion circuitry responsive to one of said one or more processing control signals by converting said sample signal to provide a digital signal having a plurality of values corresponding to said plurality of sample signal values, and
computational circuitry coupled to said analog-to-digital conversion circuitry and responsive to another one or more of said one or more processing control signals and said digital signal by providing said processed signal;
and
wherein said computational circuitry comprises
comparison circuitry responsive to said digital signal by comparing said plurality of digital signal values to predetermined lower and higher thresholds, and
combining circuitry responsive to said digital signal by selectively combining first and second ones of said plurality of digital signal values to provide a combination signal corresponding to said combination of said first and second ones of said plurality of sample signal values.

12 more elements

An apparatus including data signal amplifier circuitry with multiple signal gains, comprising:

sampling amplifier circuitry with a plurality of signal gains, including at least maximum and minimum signal gains, and responsive to at least one control signal and an input signal having an input signal value by providing at least one sample signal having a plurality of sample signal values related to said plurality of signal gains and corresponding to said input signal value;
and
processing circuitry coupled to said sampling amplifier circuitry and responsive to said at least one sample signal and one or more processing control signals by processing said at least one sample signal to provide a processed signal having a value corresponding to said input signal value;
wherein said processed signal value represents one of a plurality of values which includes
a first value corresponding to said minimum signal gain,
a second value corresponding to said maximum signal gain,
a third value corresponding to a first one of said plurality of signal gains, and
a fourth value corresponding to a combination of said first one and a second one of said plurality of signal gains;
wherein said processing circuitry comprises
analog-to-digital conversion circuitry responsive to one of said one or more processing control signals by converting said sample signal to provide a digital signal having a plurality of values corresponding to said plurality of sample signal values, and
computational circuitry coupled to said analog-to-digital conversion circuitry and responsive to another one or more of said one or more processing control signals and said digital signal by providing said processed signal;
and
wherein said computational circuitry comprises
comparison circuitry responsive to said digital signal by comparing said plurality of digital signal values to predetermined lower and higher thresholds, and
combining circuitry responsive to said digital signal by selectively combining first and second ones of said plurality of digital signal values to provide a combination signal corresponding to said combination of said first and second ones of said plurality of sample signal values.

12 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Data signal amplifier and processor with multiple signal gains for increased dynamic signal range

Life of this patent

Data signal amplifier and processor with multiple signal gains for increased dynamic signal range

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims54