Programmable gain amplifier with hybrid digital/analog architecture
US7515310B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 3, 2004 |
| Grant date | Apr 7, 2009 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 11, 2027 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04N1/00087
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Circuits, devices, and methods for enabling the digitization of scanned images with an Analog Front End (AFE) circuit. The AFE circuit includes a sampler for sampling a signal produced by an image sensor and in response generating analog image samples. The AFE circuit also includes a Programmable Gain Amplifier for generating amplified samples by amplifying the analog image samples. The AFE circuit further includes an Analog to Digital Converter for generating digitized samples from the amplified samples; and a Digital Programmable Gain Amplifier for amplifying the digitized samples which are subsequently presented to a processor for further processing of the scanned image. Accordingly, the scanned image is digitized with amplification taking place both in the analog and in the digital domain, deriving benefits from each. The AFE circuit may be calibrated in two steps, once for each of the domains.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.