Image Sensor Data Transmission for Overlapping Interest Regions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image transmission methods in board production lines cannot efficiently set and transmit image data for interest regions, particularly when regions overlap, leading to increased transmission time and reduced production efficiency due to the inability to output data in units lower than packets and inefficient handling of overlapping regions.
Innovation Solution
An image transmission method that allows setting interest regions in units lower than fixed data blocks, extends these regions to form data blocks, and optimizes overlapping regions into non-overlapping ones for efficient output, using a field programmable gate array to erase extension ranges, thereby reducing transmission time and improving data accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If image data is output in the unit of packets, then the image data can be transmitted, but the transmission time increases due to temporary storage and conversion requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The imaging region is divided into multiple data blocks, each containing a fixed number of pixel data items. This segmentation allows the system to process and transmit image data in manageable units, reducing the overall processing time while maintaining transmission efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary organization of pixel data into data blocks before transmission. By pre-grouping pixel data items into fixed-size data blocks and preparing transmission regions in advance, the system eliminates the need for temporary storage and conversion during transmission, thereby reducing processing time
2Ease of operation
If multiple overlapping interest regions are output separately, then each region can be processed, but pixel data of overlapping parts vanishes after first output and accurate image cannot be obtained
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple overlapping interest regions are merged into a single comprehensive transmission region. The system identifies all pixel data items that belong to any of the overlapping interest regions and includes them in a unified data block, ensuring that each pixel data item is transmitted only once while still covering all required regions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a unified representation of overlapping regions by copying and consolidating pixel data requirements. Instead of separately processing each overlapping region (which would cause data loss), the system creates a single comprehensive data block that satisfies all region requirements simultaneously
3Ease of operation
If multiple overlapping interest regions are output separately, then region processing can be performed, but time required for output increases due to multiple transmissions
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple overlapping interest regions are merged into a single comprehensive transmission region. The system identifies all pixel data items that belong to any of the overlapping interest regions and includes them in a unified data block, ensuring that each pixel data item is transmitted only once while still covering all required regions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary analysis to detect overlapping regions and calculates the unified transmission region before output. By pre-processing the region overlap detection and consolidation, the system eliminates the need for multiple separate transmissions, thereby reducing the total output time
4Productivity
If interest region is set in the unit of packets, then packet-based transmission can be achieved, but operability deteriorates when arbitrary interest region is desired
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic region setting mechanism that allows users to specify interest regions flexibly at the pixel data item level. The system dynamically adjusts the data block composition based on the user-defined region boundaries, while internally organizing the data into fixed-size blocks for efficient transmission. This dynamic adaptation maintains both user flexibility and transmission efficiency
Data Source
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Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
According to the invention, there is provided an image transmission method from an image sensor which collects a fixed number of pixel data items obtained by a plurality of imaging elements into a data block, and outputs the pixel data items, the method including a transmission region setting step of setting an interest region by using a unit lower than the fixed number, a region extension step of extending the interest region so as to obtain an extension interest region in which the data block is represented as a unit and obtaining extension ranges from the interest region to the extension interest region, an imaging step of performing imaging with the image sensor, an output step of outputting the data block included in the extension interest region from the image sensor, and an extension range erasing step of erasing pixel data of the extension ranges from the output data block so as to obtain an image of the interest region. Accordingly, since any interest region which is a transmission target can be set in an imaging region of the image sensor, and the method is also suitable for a case where a plurality of interest regions overlap each other, it is possible to reduce required transmission time.