Image SoC Startup Sequencing for Faster First-Frame Capture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image capture devices experience delays in capturing the first image after waking up from sleep mode due to lengthy initialization processes, which hinder efficient and quick image capture.
Innovation Solution
An image capturing system on chip (SoC) with a memory and controller that reads process data to perform an image sensor initialization process and load an image processing program, allowing the image sensor to start capturing images more swiftly by pre-initializing the image sensor during the data reading stage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by stationary object
If the image sensor enters sleep mode to save power, then power consumption is reduced, but the time to capture the first image after waking increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing the image sensor initialization process before the actual image capture is needed. The controller reads process data from memory and executes initialization routines in advance, so that when the image sensor wakes from sleep mode, it is already prepared and can immediately capture images without delay. This separates the initialization overhead from the critical image capture path.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the startup process into distinct phases: power management, process data reading, initialization execution, and image capture. By dividing the initialization process into separate executable steps stored in memory, the system can efficiently manage the wake-up sequence and reduce the time critical path for image capture while maintaining power savings during idle periods.
2Loss of time
If the image sensor initialization process is performed quickly, then the time delay is reduced, but the initialization process may be incomplete
Solution Approach 1:
The patent stores complete initialization process data in memory before the image sensor enters sleep mode. The controller reads and executes this pre-prepared process data to ensure all necessary initialization steps are completed systematically. This approach maintains reliability by ensuring the full initialization sequence is executed while reducing time delay through efficient memory-based process retrieval and execution.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces process data as an intermediary between the controller and the image sensor initialization. This process data acts as a structured intermediary that contains all necessary initialization instructions, allowing the controller to systematically execute complete initialization routines while maintaining precise control over the timing and sequence of operations.
3Productivity
If the image processing program is loaded into memory before image capture, then processing can start immediately, but the memory access time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent loads the image processing program into memory in advance before actual image capture begins. This preliminary loading of the processing program ensures that when images are captured, the processing software is already resident in memory and can immediately process the captured images without additional loading delays, thereby improving overall productivity while managing memory access timing.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides an image SoC, an image capturing system including the same, and an image capturing method. The SoC includes a memory and a controller. The controller is configured to: read process data stored in the memory; perform an image sensor initialized process to start an image sensor according to the process data and to control the image sensor to capture a first image; after performing the image sensor initialized process, perform a program loader to load an image processing program into a non-read only memory according to the process data; and perform the image processing program to receive the first image.