Image Partitioning for Memory-Constrained Camera Devices

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Solution Overview

Problem

Embedded systems like mobile phones with camera capabilities face memory limitations, making it difficult to capture and transmit large images without additional memory allocation, as conventional methods require full-size image storage before transmission.

Innovation Solution

Partitioning the target image into partial images, which are captured and transmitted individually by the camera device to a host for combination into the full image, allowing for efficient memory usage and processing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If full-size image is stored in camera system memory before transmission, then image quality is preserved, but memory capacity requirement increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage qualityVSAvoidmemory capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the full-size image into multiple smaller tile images that can be stored and transmitted separately. Each tile image occupies less memory than the complete image, allowing the system to work around memory limitations while preserving the ability to reconstruct the full image quality later.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Area of stationary object

If large view image is captured, then image coverage is improved, but memory capacity requirement increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage coverageVSAvoidmemory capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments large-view images into multiple smaller tile images, enabling the capture of wide-area views without requiring the camera system to hold the entire large image in memory simultaneously. The tiles are processed and transmitted individually, overcoming the memory constraint.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Productivity

If additional memory is allocated for tuning, then image processing capability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage processing capabilityVSAvoidmemory allocation

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent avoids the need for additional memory allocation by segmenting images into tiles that fit within existing memory constraints. This approach maintains image processing capability without requiring hardware modifications or additional memory resources.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of processing or storing the complete image at once, the patent processes and transmits partial image data (tiles) sequentially. This partial action approach enables image tuning and processing within the limitations of available memory resources.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS7432956B2Methods and systems for providing images and related devices

Publication Date: 2008.10.07 MEDIATEK INC

AI summary

Methods for providing images. First, a target image is partitioned into a plurality of partial images according to the available memory capacity and the size of the target image. Thereafter, one of the partial images is respectively captured and transmitted from a device with a camera capability to a host. The partial images are combined to generate the target image on the host.