Image Capture Accelerator Bypassing ISP Bandwidth Limits
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Solution Overview
Problem
Image Signal Processing (ISP) ASICs in digital camera systems face bandwidth limitations and excessive power usage, hindering the ability to effectively process image sensor frames at high resolutions and frame rates.
Innovation Solution
An image capture accelerator (ICA) is introduced to bypass traditional ISP processing, incorporating a pre-processing engine and compression engine to accelerate image data processing, allowing for higher bandwidth and reduced power consumption by operating in accelerated modes for high-frame-rate and high-resolution image capture.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If traditional ISP processing is used, then image processing capability is provided, but bandwidth limitations and excessive power usage occur
Solution Approach 1:
The image processing system is segmented into two distinct paths: a first path for capturing first images at normal processing throughput, and a second path for capturing second images at accelerated processing throughput. This segmentation allows the system to distribute processing loads and optimize power consumption based on capture requirements
Solution Approach 2:
An image capture accelerator is introduced as an intermediary component between the image sensor and the ISP. This accelerator handles pre-processing tasks for the second image capture path, reducing the processing burden on the ISP and enabling accelerated throughput with lower power consumption
2Productivity
If image sensor captures at higher resolutions and frame rates, then capture capability is improved, but ISP bandwidth limitations prevent effective processing
Solution Approach 1:
The image capture accelerator performs preliminary processing actions on captured image data before it reaches the ISP. By conducting pre-processing operations in advance, the system can handle high-resolution and high-frame-rate captures without overwhelming the ISP's processing capacity
Solution Approach 2:
The processing system is divided into two paths with different throughput capabilities. The second path is specifically designed for high-speed capture scenarios, using the image capture accelerator to maintain high processing speeds that match the image sensor's capture rate
3Ease of operation
If ISP processes all image data, then comprehensive processing is achieved, but power consumption exceeds battery capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches between two processing paths based on capture requirements. For standard captures, the first path is used; for high-speed captures, the second path with the image capture accelerator is activated. This dynamic adaptation ensures processing completeness while optimizing power consumption to remain within battery capacity
Solution Approach 2:
The image capture accelerator serves as an intermediary that handles specific processing tasks for the second capture path, reducing the overall power consumption burden on the ISP while maintaining comprehensive processing capability
Data Source
AI summary
An image capture accelerator performs accelerated processing of image data. In one embodiment, the image capture accelerator includes accelerator circuitry including a pre-processing engine and a compression engine. The pre-processing engine is configured to perform accelerated processing on received image data, and the compression engine is configured to compress processed image data received from the pre-processing engine. In one embodiment, the image capture accelerator further includes a demultiplexer configured to receive image data captured by an image sensor array implemented within, for example, an image sensor chip. The demultiplexer may output the received image data to an image signal processor when the image data is captured by the image sensor array in a standard capture mode, and may output the received image data to the accelerator circuitry when the image data is captured by the image sensor array in an accelerated capture mode.