Image Signal Processor Internal Buffering for High-Speed Successive Capture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image input apparatuses face limitations in successive capture speed due to slow external memory write speeds, leading to bottlenecks and reduced lifespan, especially when capturing high-quality still images at high frame rates, as they require frequent read/write operations and large storage capacity.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus employs an image signal processor that primarily stores encoded and decoded digital image data in internal memory, using a moving picture codec to compress images, which reduces data size and frequency of external memory access, allowing for high-speed successive capture and extending external memory lifespan by storing only selected high-quality images in external memory.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If external memory is used to store compressed JPEG files during successive capture, then storage capacity is increased, but access speed decreases causing bottleneck phenomenon
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the memory system into two segments: internal memory for high-speed temporary storage of compressed image data during successive capture, and external memory for long-term storage of selected final images. This segmentation allows each memory type to operate in its optimal performance range, with internal memory handling speed-critical operations and external memory providing large capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The internal memory acts as an intermediary buffer between the image sensor/processor and external memory. It temporarily holds compressed image data during successive capture operations, allowing the system to maintain high capture speeds without being constrained by external memory's slower write speeds. Only selected final images are transferred to external memory.
2Productivity
If external memory performs frequent read/write operations for high-speed successive capture, then capture speed is improved, but memory lifespan is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by having external memory store only the final selected images rather than all captured frames. Internal memory handles the frequent read/write operations for all successive capture frames, while external memory performs write operations only for selected final images, significantly reducing its operational wear and extending lifespan.
3Reliability
If all successive captured images are stored in external memory, then no data is lost, but storage capacity is wasted and access time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential final images from the sequence of captured frames for storage in external memory. After successive capture, the system processes and selects the best frames, transferring only these selected images to external memory for permanent storage. This extraction approach maintains reliability for important images while minimizing external memory usage and access time.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus and a method of successively capturing high quality image data at high speed are provided. The image input apparatus includes an image sensor for capturing image data from a subject; an image signal processor encoding the image data transmitted from the image sensor to produce digital image data; and a memory for storing the digital image data. The image signal processor decodes the digital image data according to an operating signal from a user and provides the user with the decoded digital image data. Therefore, the high quality image data can be obtained at high speed, and the lifespan of an external memory can be increased.