Image Data Combining Apparatus Memory Addressing

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional methods for combining image data from line sensors increase the complexity and cost of apparatuses due to the rising number of sensor elements and memory requirements, making it difficult to reduce the size of the apparatus while achieving higher image definition.

Innovation Solution

An image data combining apparatus that accesses and rearranges pixel data from multiple line sensors, using a determination unit to generate addresses for memory access based on the position of the image data, allowing for efficient storage and processing of m lines of image data by dividing pixel data into multiple lines and storing them in a memory.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the number of sensor elements is increased to achieve higher image definition, then image quality is improved, but the required memory capacity and apparatus complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage definitionVSAvoidapparatus structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides one line of sensor data into multiple lines (e.g., 4 lines) by dividing the sensor pixels into even- and odd-numbered rows. This segmentation allows the same physical sensor to produce multiple virtual lines of data, effectively increasing the number of processable lines without adding more physical sensor elements, thus maintaining high image definition while avoiding increased apparatus complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a virtual dimension by rearranging and interleaving sensor data to create multiple virtual lines from a single physical line. This dimensional transformation allows the system to handle higher definition images by creating additional data lines through software-based rearrangement rather than physically expanding the sensor array, thereby improving image quality without proportionally increasing hardware complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Measurement precision

If the number of sensor elements is increased to achieve higher image definition, then image quality is improved, but the required memory capacity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage definitionVSAvoidmemory capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the sensor output into multiple virtual lines by dividing sensor pixels into even- and odd-numbered rows and processing them separately. This segmentation allows the same physical sensor to produce multiple virtual lines of data, effectively increasing the number of processable lines without adding more physical sensor elements, thus maintaining high image definition while avoiding increased apparatus complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent makes the line memory capable of storing multiple virtual lines of data by using the same memory structure for different purposes. The memory can store data from multiple virtual lines generated by the divided readout process, allowing a single memory system to handle the increased data volume from higher definition images without requiring proportional increases in memory capacity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Productivity

If divided readout is used to reduce the number of transferred pixels, then readout speed is improved, but the scale of the sensor increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereadout speedVSAvoidsensor size

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the sensor output into multiple virtual lines by dividing sensor pixels into even- and odd-numbered rows and processing them separately. This segmentation allows the same physical sensor to produce multiple virtual lines of data, effectively increasing the number of processable lines without adding more physical sensor elements, thus maintaining high image definition while avoiding increased apparatus complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a virtual dimension by rearranging and interleaving sensor data to create multiple virtual lines from a single physical line. This dimensional transformation allows the system to handle higher definition images by creating additional data lines through software-based rearrangement rather than physically expanding the sensor array, thereby improving image quality without proportionally increasing hardware complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentUS9118848B2Image data combining apparatus and method

Publication Date: 2015.08.25 CANON KK

AI summary

An image data combining apparatus combines m lines (m is an integer equal to or greater than 2) of pixel data that have been output from a reading unit. An access unit accesses a memory. A determination unit determines an upper address used for accessing the memory, based upon first data that relates a position, along a height direction, of the m lines of stored pixel data, and determines a lower address used for accessing the memory by the access unit, based upon second data that relates a position of the width direction in the m lines of stored pixel data. The lower address includes values in which a portion of a plurality of bits constituting the second data are interchanged. P items (an integer equal to or greater than 1) of pixel data output from each of the m lines of pixel data are successively extracted from the memory.