Image Sensor Array Segmentation for High-Resolution Cost Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image sensing systems face challenges in capturing high-resolution images due to the separate integration of analog-to-digital signal converters and image encoders, leading to increased costs and complexity, as well as limitations in satisfying high-resolution demands for applications like surveillance and security.
Innovation Solution
An image sensing device and method that partitions the image sensing array into multiple pixel capturing areas, using multiple signal converters and video encoders compliant with standard-definition television formats to simultaneously perform signal conversion and encoding, integrating these components in a single chip to reduce hardware configuration costs and facilitate lateral expansion for improved image quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the resolution of images captured by an image sensing assembly is increased to satisfy high-resolution demands, then the image quality is improved, but the chip area and the number of pins of the analog-to-digital signal converter are increased, leading to higher cost
Solution Approach 1:
The image sensing array is divided into multiple pixel capturing areas, each processed by separate signal converters. This segmentation allows high-resolution imaging without requiring a single large-scale converter, thus maintaining manageable chip area and pin count while achieving improved image quality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent integrates the image sensing assembly, analog-to-digital signal converter, and image encoding chip into a single unified device. This merging reduces the need for external connections and separate components, thereby reducing the effective chip area and pin requirements while maintaining high-resolution capability
2Measurement precision
If the image sensing assembly uses higher resolution to capture better images, then the monitoring quality is improved, but the analog-to-digital signal converter requires better computing capability, increasing cost
Solution Approach 1:
By dividing the image sensing array into multiple pixel capturing areas with dedicated signal converters, the computing load is distributed across multiple smaller units rather than requiring one highly capable converter, thus achieving high monitoring quality without excessive computing capability requirements in a single component
Solution Approach 2:
Integrating the signal conversion and image encoding functions into a single chip reduces the overall system complexity and eliminates the need for high-performance external converters, thereby improving monitoring quality without proportionally increasing computing capability requirements
3Ease of manufacture
If the image sensing system integrates multiple functions in a single chip, then the hardware configuration cost is reduced, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the image sensing assembly, analog-to-digital signal converter, and image encoding chip into a single integrated device, reducing hardware configuration costs by eliminating the need for separate components and connections
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated chip is organized into distinct functional modules (pixel capturing areas, signal converters, encoding units) that can be manufactured using modular processes, thereby managing manufacturing complexity while achieving cost reductions through integration
Data Source
AI summary
An image sensing device and an image sensing method are provided. The image sensing device includes an image sensing array, multiple first signal converters, and multiple first image processing apparatuses. The image sensing array is partitioned into at least two or more first pixel capturing areas, and each of the first pixel capturing areas is compliant with a resolution of an SDTV format. Each of the first signal converters receives an analog image signal from a corresponding first pixel capturing area, converts the analog image signal from an analog format to a digital format to generate a first digital image signal, and converts the first digital image signal from an parallel format to a serial format. Each of the image processing apparatuses is configured to convert the first digital image signal in the serial format of a corresponding first signal converter to a video signal in a specific video format.