Always-On Visual Code Processing for Fast Low-Power Recognition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Recognizing visual codes in electronic devices requires manual user interaction, such as unlocking the device and executing applications, which is time-consuming and degrades the user experience.
Innovation Solution
An always-on sensor module captures images at low resolution to detect and decode visual codes, waking up the application processor only when decoding succeeds, allowing parallel execution of application unlocking, decoding, and processing tasks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual user interaction is required to recognize visual codes (unlocking device, executing application, scanning), then the system can ensure secure and controlled access, but the process becomes time-consuming and degrades user experience
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor module operates in an always-on state to continuously capture images and detect visual codes before the application processor is activated. This preliminary action allows the system to prepare decoding results in advance, so that when the user needs to access functionality, the device can quickly wake up with the visual code already recognized and the relevant application ready to execute, eliminating the manual steps of unlocking and searching for applications.
2Speed
If the application processor remains active to quickly process visual codes, then processing speed improves, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The visual code processing system is segmented into two independent parts: a low-power sensor module that continuously operates to capture images and perform initial visual code detection, and a high-performance application processor that remains in sleep mode and is only activated when the sensor module successfully decodes a visual code. This segmentation allows the system to maintain fast processing capability when needed while consuming minimal power during normal operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor module is designed to autonomously perform visual code detection and decoding without requiring the application processor to be active. It independently captures images, detects visual codes, performs decoding, and even determines whether to wake up the application processor based on successful decoding results. This self-service capability eliminates the need for continuous high-power processing while maintaining fast response when visual codes are present.
3Measurement precision
If the system continuously monitors for visual codes using high-resolution capture, then detection accuracy improves, but power consumption and processing load increase
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor module performs partial action by capturing images at lower resolution and performing basic visual code detection continuously, reserving full high-resolution processing and complex decoding for moments when a visual code is actually detected. This approach maintains sufficient detection accuracy for the continuous monitoring phase while significantly reducing power consumption compared to continuous high-resolution capture.
Data Source
AI summary
A processor-implemented method with visual code processing includes generating a first image by capturing a first visual code, using an always on (AO) sensor module of an electronic device, detecting a first code image included in the first image and corresponding to the first visual code, using the AO sensor module, performing a first type decoding on the first code image, using the AO sensor module, waking up an application processor (AP) of the electronic device from a low-power state, based on a first decoding result of the first type decoding, and executing a first application of the electronic device corresponding to the first visual code, using the AP.