Daisy-Chain Multi-Image Sensor Bus Architecture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing multi-image sensor systems for virtual and augmented reality face challenges in synchronizing multiple image sensors with high-speed interfaces, which are prone to noise, difficult to route, and require significant power and area, making them inefficient for communication with application processors.
Innovation Solution
A multi-image sensor system that includes a data bus, clock bus, control bus, and synchronization bus, where image sensors are connected in a daisy chain configuration, with a master sensor controlling data and clock signals, and using synchronization signals to ensure all sensors operate in sync, reducing the need for multiple high-speed lines and minimizing power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If multiple high-speed lines are used to connect each image sensor to the application processor, then data transfer speed is improved, but area consumption and power usage increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple image sensors share common data and clock buses instead of having dedicated high-speed lines to the application processor. The sensors are connected in a daisy-chain configuration where each sensor can sequentially access the shared buses, reducing the total number of high-speed lines required while maintaining data transfer capability.
Solution Approach 2:
A control bus acts as an intermediary between image sensors and the application processor. The control bus carries control signals that manage access to the shared data and clock buses, enabling multiple sensors to communicate efficiently without requiring direct high-speed connections to the processor for each sensor.
2Speed
If multiple high-speed lines are used to connect each image sensor to the application processor, then data transfer speed is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple image sensors share common data and clock buses instead of having dedicated high-speed lines to the application processor. The sensors are connected in a daisy-chain configuration where each sensor can sequentially access the shared buses, reducing the total number of high-speed lines required while maintaining data transfer capability.
Solution Approach 2:
Image sensors access the shared data and clock buses in periodic time slots rather than continuously. The control bus manages this periodic access by providing control signals that grant bus access rights to specific sensors at specific times, reducing power consumption compared to continuous dedicated connections.
3Speed
If multiple high-speed lines are used to connect each image sensor to the application processor, then data transfer capability is improved, but routing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple image sensors share common data and clock buses instead of having dedicated high-speed lines to the application processor. The sensors are connected in a daisy-chain configuration where each sensor can sequentially access the shared buses, reducing the total number of high-speed lines required while maintaining data transfer capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The control bus serves multiple functions: it carries control signals for bus access management, synchronization information, and sensor identification. This multi-functional control bus simplifies routing by consolidating multiple control functions into a single communication path rather than requiring separate lines for each function.
4Speed
If present high-speed interfaces are used to transfer images from electronic image sensors, then data transfer speed is improved, but noise sensitivity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A control bus acts as an intermediary between image sensors and the application processor. The control bus carries control signals that manage access to the shared data and clock buses, enabling multiple sensors to communicate efficiently without requiring direct high-speed connections to the processor for each sensor.
Data Source
AI summary
A multi-image sensor system includes data, clock, and control buses, an application processor connected to the data bus and the clock bus, and image sensors connected in a daisy chain using the control bus. A first one of the image sensors configured as a master outputs image data to the data bus, outputs a first clock signal to the clock bus, and sends a control signal to a second one of the image sensors in the daisy chain through the control bus. The control signal has a first logic state when output of the first image data starts and a second other logic state when output of the first image data ends. The second image sensor connects itself to the data bus and the master disconnects itself from the data bus according to a state of the first control signal.