Image Recording Apparatus Memory Management for High-Definition Video

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Solution Overview

Problem

Image recording apparatuses face challenges in providing high-definition enlarged displays due to limited memory reading and writing performance, especially when handling high-pixel video data and high frame rates, leading to potential drop frames and broken recording data.

Innovation Solution

The apparatus prioritizes the Magnify function during recording, restricting face detection and live view functions to avoid overloading the DRAM, allowing for efficient processing and storage of high-definition images by generating and displaying a high-definition enlarged view using cutout and reduced data, thereby optimizing memory usage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If development processing and encoding processing operate simultaneously with high pixel count and high frame rate, then processing speed and productivity are improved, but memory reading and writing performance becomes insufficient, causing drop frames and broken recording data

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocessing speedVSAvoidrecording data integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the image processing pipeline into separate processing passes: a first pass performs development processing to generate preliminary developed images, while a second pass performs encoding processing on the RAW signals. This segmentation allows memory bandwidth to be distributed across different processing stages rather than overwhelmed by simultaneous operations, preventing drop frames and data corruption while maintaining high productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple functions (face detection, live view, enlarged display) operate simultaneously during recording, then functionality and user assistance are improved, but memory load increases, causing performance shortfalls

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovefunctionalityVSAvoidmemory performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the enlarged display function as a separate processing stream that operates independently from the main recording pipeline. By cutting out and processing only the necessary portion of RAW signals for the enlarged view, the system provides enhanced functionality for manual focusing assistance while minimizing the memory load impact, thus maintaining reliable recording performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Manufacturing precision

If high pixel count imaging (4K/8K) is performed, then image quality is improved, but memory reading and writing performance requirements increase, leading to potential system failures

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimage qualityVSAvoidsystem stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic processing where the system adapts its processing strategy based on the imaging conditions. For high pixel count imaging, the system dynamically adjusts by separating development and encoding into different passes, optimizing memory usage patterns to maintain system stability and reliability while preserving the high image quality benefits of 4K and 8K resolution.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3232653B1Image recording apparatus and method for controlling the same
Publication Date: 2022.10.05 CANON KK
  • EP3232653B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP3232653B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP3232653B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

An image recording apparatus generates a reduced image by reducing an image, generates a first cutout image by cutting out a part of the image before the reduction, performs processing for image recording involving writing into a memory on the reduced image and performs recording processing for recording the processed image, presents a first display by outputting an image based on the reduced image to a display unit, presents an enlarged display larger than the first display by outputting an image based on the first cutout image to the display unit during the recording processing, and does not perform specific processing involving reading or the writing of data from or into the memory at least when the enlarged display is ongoing during the recording processing.