This paper proposes a dynamic range model and algorithm that analyzes several key factors that affect the dynamic range of imaging equipment. Through this model and algorithm, we analyze several modules that affect the dynamic range of the system, including sensor noise, AD conversion noise, analog gain, digital gain and mapping, and give the quantitative relationships which are used to guide designers to design high performance dynamic range imaging equipment. According to the model and algorithm, a high performance dynamic range imaging equipment can be designed. A hardware extension method based on multi-slope integration is proposed, and the experimental results show that this method is an effective dynamic range expansion method. © 2021 ACM.