Patent ID: 8767105

Claim:
A method for amplifying a pixel image signal, comprising: first amplifying the pixel image signal using a first amplification stage, to produce an amplified first pixel image signal, wherein said first amplifying further comprises, selecting one of a plurality of first stage amplifiers, wherein each first stage amplifier has a different gain and approximately equal settling time, to amplify the pixel image Signal applied to at least one input terminal of said first amplification stage; and providing said amplified first pixel image signal as an input signal to a second amplification stage; second amplifying said input signal using a second amplification stage to produce an amplified second pixel signal, wherein said second amplifying further comprises, selecting one of a plurality of second stage amplifiers, wherein each second stage amplifier has a different gain and approximately equal settling time, to amplify the input signal applied to at least one input terminal of said second amplification stage; and providing said amplified second pixel image signal to at least one output terminal of said second amplification stage.