US 12,267,597 B2
Image signal amplifying circuit and image signal amplifying method
Chi-Cheng Ju, Hsinchu (TW); Hsun-Chia Hsu, Hsinchu (TW); and I-Hsien Lee, Hsinchu (TW)
Assigned to MEDIATEK INC., Hsinchu (TW)
Filed by MEDIATEK INC., Hsin-Chu (TW)
Filed on Mar. 7, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/118,142.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/321,326, filed on Mar. 18, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2023/0300471 A1, Sep. 21, 2023
Int. Cl. H04N 23/741 (2023.01); G06T 5/50 (2006.01); H04N 25/59 (2023.01)
CPC H04N 23/741 (2023.01) [G06T 5/50 (2013.01); H04N 25/59 (2023.01); G06T 2207/20208 (2013.01); G06T 2207/20221 (2013.01)] 21 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An image signal amplifying circuit, comprising:
an amplifier, configured to amplify a first image signal by a first analog gain and to amplify a second image signal by a second analog gain, wherein the first image signal and the second image signal are generated by a pixel array of an image sensor, wherein each one of pixel circuits of the pixel array comprises a first capacitor for generating the first image signal and a second capacitor for generating the second image signal, wherein a charge storage capacity of the first capacitor is smaller than a charge storage capacity of the second capacitor; and
a gain control circuit, coupled to the amplifier, configured to selectively set the first analog gain to one of a first gain value and a second gain value, or to selectively set the second analog gain to one of a third gain value and a fourth gain value, wherein the first gain value is larger than the second gain value, and the third gain value is larger than the fourth gain value;
wherein each one of the pixel circuits has a first conversion gain corresponding to the first capacitor and a second conversion gain corresponding to the second capacitor.