Image control device with information-based image correcting capability, image control method and digital camera

Abstract

A digital camera includes an image control processing section in which a memory controller controls a video memory, a bus arbitrator, a display sequencer, and a timing adjusting section. Image data are read out of the video memory and fed to a data corrector. The display sequencer adjusts a sampling order in accordance with the combination of luminance data and color data constituting the image data, while varying a packet size. The bus arbitrator arbitrates access requests in accordance with priority to thereby reduce the occupation ratio of a bus. The data corrector restores and processes the image data and then delivers them to a buffer memory included in the timing adjusting section.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an image control device feasible for a display, a digital camera, a printer or similar apparatus having at least one of an image data displaying function, an image data reproducing function and an image data printing function as well as to an image control method and a digital camera. [0003] 2. Description of the Background Art [0004] It is a common practice in the imaging art to read out image data stored in a frame memory and display them on a TV (television) set or similar display. However, it has been difficult to rewrite the image data of the frame memory during image display period due to disturbance to the image ascribable to noise and limited available time. In light of this, an arrangement is generally made such that a CPU (Central Processing Unit) accesses the frame memory during blanking period particular to broadcast standards in order to rewrite the image data. This arra...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention provides an image control device that can enhance the performance of the entire system while reducing power consumption. The device includes a memory for storing input image data, a standard adjusting circuit that outputs stored image data at a timing matching with a preselected standard, a memory control circuit that controls the input and output of image data from the memory, a communicating circuit that sends or receives image data, an image correcting circuit that analyzes image data and executes restoration or processing with each unit image data, an instruction information feeding circuit that encodes particular information and feeds it to the image correcting circuit, and a standard adjusting circuit that adjusts image data based on instruction information from the image correcting circuit. The image control method described in this patent text can be implemented as a digital camera. The technical effects of this invention include improved image quality, reduced power consumption, and improved performance of the entire system.

Problems solved by technology

However, it has been difficult to rewrite the image data of the frame memory during image display period due to disturbance to the image ascribable to noise and limited available time.

This arrangement, however, brings about a problem that the mean access rate of the CPU to the frame memory is extremely low when an image is displayed.

However, even the buffer memory scheme prevents the CPU from accessing the frame memory during the transfer of one line of image data from the frame memory to the buffer memory.

The waiting time of the CPU is wasteful because the clock rate for the data transfer from the frame memory to the buffer memory is several times as high as the clock rate of the TV signal.

In this case, a conventional, electronic zoom circuit lowers image quality because the sampled CR and CB pairs are disturbed because of addresses, depending on magnification.

Advanced functions, however, aggravate power consumption and must therefore be accompanied by power saving arrangements.

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