Multi-channel Image Capture System with FPGA Segmentation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current image capture systems face high economic costs and reduced processing efficiency when attempting to observe multiple cameras simultaneously, either by using multiple terminals or overloading a single terminal with multiple camera channels.
Innovation Solution
A multi-channel image capture system comprising secondary image information transmission channels, a secondary FPGA chip, and a signal conversion chip, which allows multiple cameras to be connected to a single terminal through multiple channels, with decoding and processing completed within the system, reducing the load on both cameras and terminals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If multiple cameras are connected to multiple terminals for display, then each camera can be observed simultaneously, but the economic cost increases due to the number of terminals required
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the image processing task into multiple independent channels, each handling one camera's signal through its own FPGA chip and transmission path. This segmentation allows multiple cameras to be processed and displayed through a single terminal without overwhelming it, resolving the contradiction between observing multiple cameras and avoiding multiple terminals
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces intermediate processing units (FPGA chips and transmission channels) between the cameras and the terminal. These intermediaries pre-process and manage the camera signals, allowing the terminal to receive organized data from multiple cameras without directly handling the full complexity of multiple camera connections, thus reducing terminal requirements
2Device complexity
If multiple cameras are connected to one terminal through multiple channels, then the number of terminals is reduced, but the terminal's processing resources are heavily occupied, reducing processing efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the processing load by distributing it across multiple independent channels, each with its own FPGA chip. Each channel handles one camera's processing independently, preventing any single channel from overloading the terminal's resources, thus maintaining processing efficiency while reducing the number of terminals needed
Solution Approach 2:
The FPGA chips perform preliminary processing and data preparation for each camera signal before it reaches the terminal. This preliminary action includes decoding, error correction, and data formatting, so that when data arrives at the terminal, it is already organized and ready for display, reducing the terminal's processing burden and maintaining efficiency
3Device complexity
If multiple cameras are connected to one terminal through multiple channels, then the number of terminals is reduced, but the terminal's processing load increases, causing heavy processing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the processing function from the terminal and places it in dedicated FPGA chips for each camera channel. By taking out the processing task from the terminal and distributing it across separate processing units, the terminal is relieved of heavy processing load while still being able to receive and display data from multiple cameras through a single device
Data Source
AI summary
The invention discloses a multi-channel image capture system including a secondary image information transmission channel, a secondary FPGA chip and a signal conversion chip. The secondary image information transmission channel has a camera interface unit, a primary FPGA chip and a cache unit. The camera interface unit includes several camera interfaces and is connected to an external camera. The primary FPGA chip receives, decodes, and then writes the image data captured by the camera to the cache unit, and reads the image data from the cache unit according to a read command from the secondary FPGA chip and transmits it to the secondary FPGA chip. The secondary FPGA chip acquires the image data from the cache unit based on the priority and the capturing order and transmits it to the signal conversion chip. The signal conversion chip is connected to the terminal and transmits the image data to the terminal.