Image Sensor Reconfiguration Framework for Seamless Resolution Tradeoffs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current image sensor technologies face significant challenges in continuous computation of visual information on mobile devices due to high energy consumption, leading to battery depletion and limited operational capabilities, particularly in applications like augmented reality and visual personal assistants.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of the 'Banner' media framework, which enables seamless sensor resolution reconfiguration by maintaining video capture streams and utilizing parallel reconfiguration and format-oblivious memory management to reduce energy consumption and eliminate frame-to-frame latency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If continuous computation of visual information is performed on mobile devices, then visual processing capability is improved, but energy consumption increases leading to battery depletion
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts image sensor resolution based on computational needs and energy availability. The parallel reconfiguration framework enables seamless switching between different resolution modes without interrupting the visual processing pipeline, allowing the device to adapt its computational workload and energy consumption in real-time
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the resolution parameter of the image sensor to control energy consumption. By reconfiguring the sensor between different resolutions (e.g., full resolution vs. lower resolution), the system can significantly reduce the amount of data processed while maintaining essential visual functionality, thereby extending battery life
2Use of energy by moving object
If image sensor resolution is reconfigured, then energy consumption is reduced, but frame delivery is interrupted causing latency
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-configuring multiple resolution modes and maintaining parallel processing buffers. When a resolution change is needed, the system has already prepared the necessary configuration states, allowing for rapid switching without interrupting frame delivery. The parallel reconfiguration framework pre-allocates resources for both high and low resolution processing simultaneously
Solution Approach 2:
The parallel reconfiguration framework ensures continuous useful action by maintaining an uninterrupted visual processing pipeline. While one processing stream is reconfiguring the sensor resolution, another stream continues to deliver frames to the application, eliminating gaps in frame delivery and preventing latency
3Device complexity
If resolution reconfiguration is performed sequentially, then system simplicity is maintained, but processing efficiency decreases due to frame drops
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the resolution reconfiguration process into independent parallel streams. Instead of a single sequential reconfiguration path that causes frame drops, the framework creates multiple concurrent processing channels - one for high resolution and one for low resolution - allowing frames to be processed and delivered continuously without interruption
Data Source
AI summary
In accordance with embodiments disclosed herein, there are provided herein systems, methods, and apparatuses for implementing an image sensor reconfiguration framework for seamless resolution-based tradeoffs. For example, there is disclosed a system for performing a resolution reconfiguration of an image sensor without dropping frames; in which such a system includes: means for opening an image device having the image sensor embedded therein; means for setting the image sensor to a first sensor format: means for requesting and mapping buffers for a vision data stream from the image sensor in accordance with the first sensor format; means for receiving a resolution reconfiguration request to change the image sensor from the first sensor format to a second sensor format; and means for performing a parallel reconfiguration of the image sensor, wherein the image device continues to process the vision data stream from the image sensor in accordance with the first sensor format in parallel with the image device resetting the image sensor to the second sensor format. Other related embodiments are disclosed.