ISP Fault Detection Through Overlapping Image Tile Comparison
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Solution Overview
Problem
Verifying hardware components in image processing systems, particularly image signal processors, is challenging due to complexity and computational demands, which can lead to dangerous output errors in safety-critical applications like autonomous driving.
Innovation Solution
A method involving dividing an image into overlapping tiles, processing each tile with an ISP, calculating and comparing characteristics of overlapping portions to detect discrepancies, which indicate faults, using existing ISP capabilities and minimal additional components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If robust verification of all hardware components is performed in real-time, then fault detection capability is improved, but device complexity and computational demands increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The image is divided into multiple tiles, with overlapping portions processed through different computational paths. This segmentation allows verification of hardware components by comparing results from different processing routes without requiring verification of the entire image processing system at once, thus reducing overall system complexity while maintaining fault detection capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The overlapping portion of the image is copied and processed through alternative computational paths (e.g., different memory locations, different processing pipelines). By comparing the results of these copied processing paths, hardware faults can be detected without adding complex verification infrastructure, as the comparison reveals discrepancies caused by hardware errors.
2Reliability
If comprehensive hardware verification is performed, then safety and reliability are improved, but processing speed and productivity decrease
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of verifying the entire image processing pipeline, the method applies verification only to overlapping portions of the image that are processed through multiple paths. This partial verification approach provides sufficient safety assurance for critical regions while minimizing the impact on overall processing speed and productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The verification process is merged with the normal image processing workflow by using the same ISP hardware to process both the primary and verification paths. This combining of verification with production processing eliminates the need for separate verification hardware and minimizes productivity loss, as the verification occurs concurrently with normal operation.
3Measurement precision
If additional verification components and computational resources are added, then fault detection accuracy is improved, but energy consumption and computational demands increase
Solution Approach 1:
The image signal processor uses its own existing computational resources and processing pipelines to perform verification of its own operation. By leveraging the ISP's inherent capabilities to process the overlapping image portions through different paths, the system achieves fault detection without requiring additional dedicated verification hardware or excessive computational energy input.
Solution Approach 2:
The same image signal processor hardware is used for both normal image processing and verification functions. This multi-functionality allows the system to achieve fault detection accuracy without adding dedicated verification components, as the existing processor handles both production and verification tasks, thereby reducing overall energy consumption compared to having separate verification hardware.
Data Source
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AI summary
The disclosure relates to methods and systems for detecting faults in an image processing system (100), the image processing system (100) comprising an image signal processor (110). An example method comprises: dividing an image (10) into a first image tile (14a) and a second image tile (14b), wherein the first image tile (14a) and the second image tile (14b) each comprise an overlapping portion (13a, 13b) of the image (10); processing the first image tile (14a) using the ISP (110) to produce a first processed image tile (18a) comprising a first processed overlapping portion (17a); processing the second image tile (14a) using the ISP (110) to produce a second processed image tile (18a) comprising a second processed overlapping portion; calculating a characteristic (22) of the first processed overlapping portion and calculating the same characteristic (22) of the second processed overlapping portion; and comparing the characteristic (22) of the first processed overlapping portion and the characteristic (22) of the second processed overlapping portion.