Multi-Camera Buffer Circuit Time-Division Multiplexing
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Solution Overview
Problem
The scale of the circuit required for image processing in systems with multiple cameras increases significantly, posing a challenge in managing and processing data efficiently.
Innovation Solution
An image processing device is configured with a buffer unit, calculation unit, and control unit, which includes multiple buffer circuits and processors to store and process pixel data from each camera, allowing for efficient generation of frame image data by selectively routing pixel data through buffer circuits and performing image processing in a time division manner.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the number of cameras is increased to enhance monitoring coverage, then the system's monitoring capability is improved, but the circuit scale for image processing increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the image processing system into multiple independent buffer circuits, each handling data from a specific camera. This segmentation allows the system to process multiple camera inputs without requiring a monolithic large-scale circuit, thereby maintaining manageable circuit complexity while supporting enhanced monitoring coverage through multiple cameras.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a time-division dimension by alternately reading pixel data from different buffer circuits corresponding to different cameras. This temporal dimension allows the system to handle multiple camera streams sequentially through a single processing pipeline, avoiding the need for parallel processing circuits for each camera and thus preventing circuit scale from increasing linearly with the number of cameras.
2Speed
If pixel data from multiple cameras is processed simultaneously to maintain real-time performance, then the processing speed is improved, but the buffer size and circuit complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic action by alternately reading pixel data from different buffer circuits in a time-division manner. Instead of processing all camera data simultaneously, the system periodically switches between buffers, maintaining real-time processing capability while using a single processing unit. This periodic switching prevents the need for multiple parallel processing circuits and reduces overall buffer size requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-storing pixel data from multiple cameras in separate buffer circuits before processing. This allows the processing unit to read and process data from different cameras sequentially without waiting for new data to arrive, maintaining real-time processing speed while avoiding the need for large simultaneous buffers for all cameras.
3Quantity of substance
If a large buffer size is used to store pixel data from all cameras, then the data storage capacity is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the total buffer requirement into multiple smaller buffer circuits, each dedicated to storing data from a specific camera. This segmentation provides the same total data storage capacity as a single large buffer but with reduced complexity, as each small buffer can be independently managed and processed in time-division multiplexing fashion.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent resolves the buffer size complexity issue by introducing time as another dimension. Instead of storing all camera data simultaneously in one large buffer, the system uses multiple smaller buffers that are accessed alternately in time, achieving the same effective storage capacity with much smaller individual buffer sizes and reduced overall device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
According to one embodiment, an image processing device includes buffer circuitry, calculation circuitry, and control circuitry. The buffer circuitry includes n buffer circuits corresponding to each of n cameras, and stores pixel data sequentially output from each of the n cameras. The calculation circuitry reads, as line image data, a pixel data group for one line which is stored in one buffer circuit, and generates frame image data using data obtained by performing image processing on the line image data. The control circuitry stores the pixel data from a certain camera in a certain buffer circuit, and selectively sets a read destination of the pixel data as a base of the line image data to any one of the buffer circuits in which the pixel data not subjected to the image processing is stored.