Image sensor coprocessor

An image sensor coprocessor comprising:

• at least one standard mobile imaging architecture (SMIA) image sensor interface for receiving sensor data from an SMIA image sensor;
• a device interface for transmitting and receiving instructions and data with respect to a device;
• and
• a protocol translation module for enabling instructions received at said device interface to be translated to instructions for said at least one SMIA image sensor interface, and for enabling sensor data received at said at least one SMIA image sensor interface to be translated to device data for said device interface.

An apparatus comprising

• a standard mobile imaging architecture (SMIA) image sensor;
• and
• a coprocessor coupled to said SMIA image sensor and comprising:
• a standard mobile imaging architecture (SMIA) image sensor interface for receiving sensor data from said SMIA image sensor,
• a device interface for transmitting and receiving instructions and data with respect to a device, and
• a protocol translation module for enabling instructions received at said device interface to be translated to instructions for said SMIA image sensor interface, and for enabling sensor data received at said SMIA image sensor interface to be translated to device data for said device interface.

A method for operating an image sensor coprocessor comprising:

• receiving sensor data from a standard mobile imaging architecture (SMIA) image sensor via an SMIA image sensor interface;
• transmitting and receiving instructions and data with respect to a device via a device interface;
• and
• operating a protocol translation module for enabling instructions received at the device interface to be translated to instructions for the SMIA image sensor interface, and for enabling sensor data received at the SMIA image sensor interface to be translated to device data for the device interface.