Offset/Gain Control Details (Sony Sensors); Sony Sensors Gain Stage Diagram - Teledyne G3-GM10-M0641 User Manual

Offset/Gain Control Details (Sony sensors)

The Gain and Black level functions are applied at the sensor and/or on the digital image values
output by the sensor, as described below.
Gain Selector = Sensor: The gain function is a linear multiplier control in 0.01 steps within
•
the sensor hardware (range is "1-251", which is a +48dB maximum gain).
Gain: Sensor gain is applied first by an analog amplifier (multiplier range of "1-15.85",
•
i.e. +24dB) and then continues automatically via a digital amplifier as shown in the graphic
below.
Important: Digital noise increases linearly and quickly with higher gain values. Users should
•
evaluate image quality with added gain.
Gain (Raw): Provides an alternative method to control sensor gain, where values entered are
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in 0.1dB increments. Therefore the range is 0 to 480 which controls a 0 to 48dB gain range.
Gain Selector = Digital: The gain function controls the post sensor digital amplifier (available
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only on some models of Nano cameras). This gain factor is independent of any sensor gain set.
This setting is a linear multiplying number of 1 to 4, in 0.1 steps).
Black Level: This offset variable exists within the sensor. The Sony sensors allow an offset
•
range between 0 and 511 DN. The factory settings default value for each sensor used by
various Nano models, is recommended as per the sensor manufacturer design specifications.
Note: With the factory default offset, testing a camera's black output in 8-bit mode may show
a 2 DN value difference across the image. Changing the Black Level value up or down will push
sensor noise (present at the sensors native bits per pixel) to fall within one 8-bit value, thus the
noise becomes hidden.

Sony Sensors Gain Stage Diagram

Analog
Sensor Gain Control
•
96 Operational Reference
Sony Sensor Gain Stages
Digital
Control
Black Level
Post Digital Gain Control
Nano Series GigE Vision Camera
Digital