Systems and methods for encoding hardware-calculated metadata into raw images for transfer and storage and imaging devices
AssigneeZebra Technologies Corporation
InventorJustin F. Barish
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems and methods for encoding metadata in image data captured by an imaging device, such as a barcode device or machine vision device, are provided. An example method includes analyzing raw image data at a front-end applicant specific integrated circuit to determine image metadata for each of a plurality of different pixel groupings collectively forming the raw image data. A least significant bit process is then used to encode the metadata into the image data, in a manner visually hidden from a user. A host processor receives the encoded image data, decodes the image metadata and uses that to process the image data, for example, performing barcode decoding or machine vision processes.
Claims25
A method for encoding image metadata in image data, the method comprising:
- capturing, by an imaging device, image data corresponding to an image of environment captured over a field of view of the imaging device;
- analyzing, on an imaging device processor of the imaging device, the image data and determining, on the imaging device processor, image metadata of a plurality of pixel groupings over the captured image, the image metadata comprising a plurality of image metadata words each representing image metadata for a different pixel grouping;
- encoding, on the imaging device processor, each of the image metadata words into least significant bits of pixel data in the image data to generate an encoded image data;
- and
- transmitting the encoded image data, from the imaging device processor to a host processor, the host processor applying a least significant bit decoding process to decode the image metadata, the host processor further using that image metadata to process the image data;
- wherein generating the encoded image data includes converting raw image data captured by the imaging device to a reduced resolution rendition of the raw image data and encoding the reduced resolution rendition of the raw image data with the image metadata words.
A device for encoding image metadata into image data captured by an imaging device, the device comprising:
- an imaging device processor and a second processor operatively coupled to the imaging device processor through a communication link;
- and
- a non-transitory computer-readable memory coupled to the imaging apparatus and the first or second processors, the memory storing instructions thereon that, when executed by the first and second processors, cause the first and second processors to:
- capture, by an imaging device, image data corresponding to an image of scene captured over a field of view of the imaging device;
- analyze, on the imaging device processor, the image data and determine, on the imaging device processor, image metadata of a plurality of pixel groupings over the captured image, the image metadata comprising a plurality of image metadata words each representing image metadata for a different pixel grouping;
- encode, on the imaging device processor, each of the image metadata words into least significant bits of pixel data in the image data to generate an encoded image data;
- transmit the encoded image data, from the first process to the second processor;
- apply, at the second processor, a least significant bit decoding process to decode the image metadata;
- and
- at the second processor, process the image data, using the decoded image metadata;
- wherein generating the encoded image data includes converting raw image data captured by the imaging device to a reduced resolution rendition of the raw image data and encoding the reduced resolution rendition of the raw image data with the image metadata words.
A system for encoding image metadata into image data, the device comprising, the system comprising:
- an imaging device configured to capture image data over a field of view of an imager;
- and
- an imaging device processor at a front end of the imaging device and communicatively coupled to a host processor through a communication link, wherein the imaging device processor is configured to:
- analyze the image data and determine image metadata of a plurality of pixel groupings over the image data, the image metadata comprising a plurality of image metadata words each representing image metadata for a different pixel grouping;
- encode each of the image metadata words into least significant bits of pixel data in the image data to generate an encoded image data;
- and
- transmit the encoded image data to the host processor over the communication link;
- and
- wherein the host processor is configured to:
- apply a least significant bit decoding process and decode the image metadata;
- and
- process the image data using the decoded image metadata;
- wherein generating the encoded image data includes converting raw image data captured by the imaging device to a reduced resolution rendition of the raw image data and encoding the reduced resolution rendition of the raw image data with the image metadata words.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.