Imaging Element Memory for High-Rate Capture and Low-Power Region Extraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing imaging technologies consume excessive power when cutting out partial image data from image data without passing through a storage portion and outputting it externally.
Innovation Solution
An imaging element with an integrated memory, image processing circuit, and output circuit that performs cut-out processing on captured image data at a higher frame rate, cutting out partial image data from designated addresses within the memory, and outputs it at a lower frame rate.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If cut-out processing is performed on image data without passing through storage portion, then processing speed is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent stores captured image data in a storage portion (memory) within the imaging element before cut-out processing is performed. This preliminary storage action allows the system to retrieve and process only the necessary partial image data without repeatedly reading from external sources, thereby reducing power consumption while maintaining processing efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The storage portion acts as an intermediary between the imaging element and external processing systems. By introducing this intermediate storage layer, the system can buffer image data locally and perform cut-out processing on-demand without continuous external data transfer, reducing the energy required for data movement and processing
2Adaptability or versatility
If all captured image data is output externally for processing, then processing flexibility is improved, but data transfer time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the necessary partial image data from the captured full-frame image data and stores it in the storage portion. This extraction principle allows the system to maintain processing flexibility by storing the complete image data while enabling fast retrieval of specific regions of interest, thus avoiding the time penalty of transferring entire images externally when only portions are needed
3Device complexity
If cut-out processing is performed externally, then device complexity is reduced, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the imaging system into distinct functional modules: an imaging element that captures data, a storage portion that buffers data, and an external processing system. This segmentation allows the imaging element to perform local cut-out processing on captured data before external transmission, reducing the volume of data transferred and the power consumption of external processing while keeping the overall device architecture relatively simple
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Reduces power consumption by minimizing the need to transfer and process image data externally, while maintaining high image quality and reproducibility.
Implementation Method 1
An imaging unit that receives and photoelectrically converts an incidence ray
Implementation Method 2
An AD conversion unit that converts an analog image signal output from the imaging unit into digital image data
Data Source
AI summary
An imaging element includes: a memory that stores captured image data obtained by imaging a subject at a first frame rate; an image processing circuit that performs processing on the captured image data; and an output circuit that outputs output image data obtained by performing the processing on the captured image data to an exterior of the imaging element at a second frame rate, wherein the image processing circuit performs cut-out processing with respect to one frame of the captured image data, the cut-out processing including cutting out partial image data indicating an image of a part of the subject in the captured image data from a designated address in the memory, the output image data includes image data based on the partial image data that is cut out from the captured image data, and the first frame rate is a frame rate higher than the second frame rate.