Configurable Camera Interface with Image Process Accelerator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cellular wireless communication systems face challenges in processing and transmitting multimedia content efficiently due to the high computational demands of video and data communications, particularly in converting image formats and maintaining real-time streaming, which overburden the processors within wireless terminals.
Innovation Solution
A configurable camera interface within wireless terminals, featuring a Reduced Instruction Set Computer (RISC) machine and an image process accelerator, processes captured digital images from various formats (like RGB, YUV) to optimize image processing and format conversion, distributing processing duties between the ARM and the accelerator to support multiple devices and formats.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the processor within the wireless terminal performs all image processing tasks, then the device complexity is reduced, but the processing speed and real-time capability deteriorate due to high computational demands
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the image processing function into two separate components: a camera interface that captures images in various formats and an image processor that handles format conversion and processing. This segmentation allows each component to specialize in specific tasks, improving overall processing speed while reducing the complexity burden on any single processor.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an image processor as an intermediary component between the camera interface and the display or communication systems. This intermediary handles the computationally intensive format conversion tasks, enabling real-time processing without overburdening the main system processor.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the wireless terminal supports multiple image formats and real-time streaming, then the adaptability improves, but the processing requirements and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The camera interface is designed with multi-functionality to capture images in various formats (RGB, YUV, etc.) and the image processor is configured to handle multiple format conversions. This universal design allows the system to adapt to different communication requirements and display devices without requiring separate dedicated hardware for each format, thereby managing energy consumption while maintaining versatility.
3Productivity
If the camera interface processes images in real-time, then the productivity improves, but the device complexity increases due to additional processing components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the image processing functionality from the main system and places it in a dedicated image processor component. This extraction allows real-time processing to be achieved without integrating complex processing logic into the main system architecture, thereby improving productivity while managing device complexity through modular design.
Data Source
AI summary
A camera operably coupled to a configurable camera interface within a wireless terminal operable to process images in accordance with multiple data formats. This camera interface has an ARM and an image process accelerator operably coupled to the ARM. The combination receives a captured digital image having a first data format from an image sensor operably coupled to the camera interface. The accelerator is configured based on information contained within the captured digital image. The captured digital image will be processed to produce additional digital images having a differing data formats. The captured digital image and/or additional digital images will be supplied to multiple devices or clients. This configuration allows the compute intensive operations to be offloaded from the processing module onto the image process accelerator within the camera interface in order to improve the overall system efficiency.