Image Data Frame Compression for Wireless Camera Bandwidth
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Solution Overview
Problem
The integration of high resolution cameras into wireless devices is hindered by increased bandwidth and clock requirements, leading to higher production costs and electromagnetic interference (EMI), as existing baseband processors struggle to keep up with the demands of high resolution imaging.
Innovation Solution
A method where a portion of the image data is compressed into data frames optimized for the baseband processor's input port, with a maximum pixel clock frequency of 60 MHz, allowing the same interface timing to be maintained, reducing EMI, and eliminating the need for embedded memory in the camera module, enabling support for up to 15 megapixel cameras without upgrading the baseband processor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If high resolution cameras (4-10 megapixels) are integrated into wireless devices, then image quality and resolution are improved, but bandwidth requirements and clock rates increase significantly, causing baseband processors to become obsolete and increasing production costs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the image data processing into two distinct stages: first, the camera module captures and initially processes image data; second, a separate co-processor handles the intensive compression and data reduction. This segmentation allows the baseband processor to operate at lower clock rates while still supporting high resolution cameras, as the co-processor performs the bandwidth-intensive compression tasks independently.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a co-processor as an intermediary component between the camera module and the baseband processor. This co-processor acts as a mediator that performs image compression and data reduction, thereby reducing the bandwidth and clock rate requirements for the baseband processor while enabling support for high resolution cameras.
2Manufacturing precision
If high resolution cameras are integrated, then image quality is improved, but electromagnetic interference (EMI) increases due to high clock rates (131 MHz for 4MP, 300 MHz for 10MP)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the high-frequency clock operations and intensive compression tasks from the baseband processor and relocates them to a dedicated co-processor. This extraction reduces the clock rate requirements for the baseband processor to 60 MHz or lower, thereby significantly reducing electromagnetic interference while maintaining support for high resolution cameras.
3Device complexity
If serial interface is used to reduce pin count and EMI, then device complexity is reduced, but bandwidth requirements cannot be met for 10 megapixel imagers requiring clock rates above 1 gigahertz
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary image compression and data reduction in the co-processor before data is transferred to the baseband processor. This preliminary action reduces the volume of data that needs to be transmitted through the interface, thereby enabling the use of lower bandwidth interfaces (such as serial interfaces at 60 MHz or lower) while still supporting high resolution cameras.
4Reliability
If more memory is provided in the camera to hold compressed images, then data buffering is improved, but production cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a co-processor as an intermediary with compression capabilities that performs real-time image compression. This eliminates the need for large embedded memory in the camera module, as compressed data can be transmitted more efficiently. The co-processor handles the compression tasks that would otherwise require large memory buffers, thereby reducing production costs while maintaining reliable data buffering.
Data Source
AI summary
A technique of processing an image data for output on a digital image device that compresses (164) a portion of a received image data to a data frame (110) according to a predefined size that is optimized for output with a processor of the device. The portion of the image data that is defined by the data frame is outputted (166, 186) to another source, and for any empty bits in the data frame, a zero bit is inserted (174).