Multi-Interface USB Device for 3D Image Sensor Integration
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing Universal Serial Bus devices require multiple units to receive images from multiple image sensors, making them inconvenient and impractical for users.
Innovation Solution
A Universal Serial Bus device with at least two input interfaces and an input interface control unit that receives and controls images from multiple image sensors, including identification bits, to either receive images in turn or sequentially, depending on whether they are for synthesizing three-dimensional images.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If one Universal Serial Bus is used for receiving images from one image sensor, then image processing can be performed on each image separately, but multiple USB devices are required to receive images from multiple image sensors, increasing device quantity and system complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple USB input interfaces into a single USB device. The USB device includes a USB controller and multiple input interfaces that can receive images from multiple image sensors through a single USB connection to the host, eliminating the need for multiple separate USB devices while maintaining the ability to process images from each sensor independently
Solution Approach 2:
The USB device is designed with multi-functionality to handle different image processing modes. It can operate in single-image-mode for receiving images from one sensor, and in image-synthesis-mode for receiving and synthesizing images from multiple sensors into three-dimensional images, making a single device versatile enough to replace multiple specialized devices
2Reliability
If multiple USB devices are used to receive images from multiple image sensors, then each device can independently process its image, but the host requires multiple USB devices which is not practical and convenient
Solution Approach 1:
The USB device internally segments different input interfaces and their corresponding image processing paths. Each input interface can independently receive and process images from its connected image sensor, maintaining independent processing capability while being physically integrated into a single USB device that users find practical
3Device complexity
If a single USB device receives images from multiple image sensors, then device quantity is reduced, but the device must handle both single-image-mode and image-synthesis-mode operations
Solution Approach 1:
The USB device employs dynamic operational modes that can switch between single-image-mode and image-synthesis-mode based on the number of image sensors connected and the processing requirements. The USB controller dynamically adjusts its operation to handle different configurations, making the device adaptable rather than requiring separate dedicated devices for each mode
Data Source
AI summary
A universal serial bus device includes at least two input interfaces, an input interface control unit, and an image input interface. Each input interface of the at least two input interfaces is coupled to an image sensor for receiving images generated by the image sensor and an identification bit corresponding to the image sensor. The input interface control unit is coupled to the at least two input interfaces for controlling the at least two input interfaces to receive images generated by the at least two image sensors and identification bits corresponding to the at least two image sensors in turn when the images generated by the at least two image sensors are used for synthesizing three-dimensional images. The image input interface is used for receiving and transmitting the images generated by the at least two image sensors and the identification bits corresponding to the at least two image sensors.