Patent ID: 7919992

Claim:
An imager comprising: an array of pixels outputting pixel signals; and a charge recycling amplifier for processing said output pixel signals comprising: a differential amplifier; a pair of input capacitors connected to the inputs of said differential amplifier for receiving a charge from said pixel signals; a plurality of pairs of feedback capacitors, each connected between the input and output of said differential amplifier; and a switching circuit coupled to said amplifier and capacitors for causing said differential amplifier to amplify initial signals based on said charge from said input capacitors with a first gain during a first amplification phase, recycle charge to said pair of input capacitors as recycled charge after said first amplification phase and all but a last of at least one additional amplification phase, and after said recycle, amplify subsequent signals associated with said recycled charge with at least one additional gain during the at least one additional amplification phase.