Image Sensor Switching Circuit for Single-Receiver Multi-Sensor Capture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional imaging systems with multiple image sensors require multiple receivers in the image processor, increasing complexity and cost, and struggle with selecting the most suitable image data based on varying capture characteristics.
Innovation Solution
An imaging system with a single image sensor array and external image sensor arrays, featuring an image selection circuit that selects and transmits the most suitable image data based on criteria like noise, dynamic range, and facial recognition, using a single receiver and transmitter, such as MIPI, to reduce complexity and enhance image quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple image sensors are used to capture images with different characteristics, then image quality and adaptability are improved, but device complexity and cost increase due to requiring multiple receivers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple image sensor arrays (first image sensor array and second image sensor array with different capture characteristics) into a single image sensor device that shares a common receiver. This allows multiple sensors to be integrated without requiring separate receivers for each, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining the ability to capture images with different characteristics across various lighting conditions and spectra.
Solution Approach 2:
The common receiver is designed to universally receive image data from multiple different image sensor arrays that have different capture characteristics. This multi-functional receiver can handle diverse image data streams, enabling the system to maintain adaptability across different imaging scenarios without increasing receiver quantity, thus resolving the contradiction between versatility and complexity.
2Reliability
If multiple receivers are implemented in the image processor, then all image sensor data can be received, but manufacturing cost and circuit complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple reception functions into a single receiver circuit that can process image data from multiple sensor arrays. This reduces the total number of receivers needed, simplifying manufacturing processes and reducing production costs while ensuring that image data from all sensor arrays is still received and processed through the unified receiver architecture.
3Loss of information
If image data from multiple sensors is transmitted simultaneously, then all image information is available, but data transmission complexity and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic image data selection where the system selectively transmits image data from either the first or second image sensor array based on current imaging conditions and requirements. This dynamic selection approach ensures that only the most appropriate image data is transmitted at any given time, reducing transmission power consumption and data processing complexity while maintaining complete image information availability when needed by choosing the optimal sensor output.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are an image sensor with one or more image receivers for image switching, and an imaging system and method therefor. The image sensor includes an image sensor array to generate first image data for a first image; a receiver to receive, into the image sensor, second image data for a second image; an image selection circuit coupled to the image sensor array and the receiver to receive the first image data and the second image data and select one of the first image data and the second image data according to one or more image selection criteria and at least one of the first image data and the second image data; and a transmitter coupled to the image selection circuit to transmit the selected one of the first image data and the second image data from the image sensor.