Configurable image processing system and methods for operating a configurable image processing system for multiple applications
AssigneeCornell University
InventorsMark Buckler, Adrian Sampson, Suren Jayasuriya
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A configurable image processing system can process image data for multiple applications by including an image sensor capable of operating in a machine vision mode and a photography mode in response to an operating system command. When operating in machine vision mode, the image sensor may send image data to first processor for machine vision processing. When operating in photography mode, the image sensor may send image data to an image coprocessor for photography processing.
Claims29
A configurable image processing system comprising:
- at least one image sensor configured to operate in a machine vision mode and a photography mode in response to an operating system command, wherein the at least one image sensor is configured to send image data to a first processor while operating in machine vision mode, and further configured to send image data to an image coprocessor when operating in photography mode.
A method of operating a configurable image processing system for multiple applications comprising:
- receiving, by an image sensor, instructions to operate in either a photography mode or a machine vision mode;
- in response to receiving instructions to operate in a photography mode, capturing, by the image sensor, image data and sending the image data to an image coprocessor for image processing;
- and
- in response to receiving instructions to operate in a machine vision mode, capturing, by the image sensor, image data and sending the image data to a first processor for image processing.
A method for operating a configurable image processing system for multiple applications comprising:
- determining, by an operating system executing on processor first processor, whether an image capture application executing on the processor comprises a photography application or a machine vision application;
- in response to determining that the image capture application comprises a photography application, sending, by the operating system, a photography mode control signal to an image sensor controller, and receiving by the operating system image data from an image coprocessor after the image coprocessor has processed image data captured by the image sensor in response to receiving the photography mode control signal;
- in response to determining that the image capture application comprises a machine vision application:
- sending, by the operating system, a machine vision mode control signal to the image sensor controller;
- and
- receiving by the operating system image data captured by the image sensor in response to the machine vision control mode control signal without such image data being processed by the image coprocessor.
A computer-readable medium comprising instructions for an image capture application, which when executed by a processor comprising an operating system, causes the operating system to:
- determine whether the image capture application executing on the processor comprises a photography application or a machine vision application;
- in response to determining that the image capture application comprises a photography application, send a photography mode control signal to an image sensor controller, and receive image data from an image coprocessor after the image coprocessor has processed image data captured by the image sensor in response to receiving the photography mode control signal;
- in response to determining that the image capture application comprises a machine vision application:
- send a machine vision mode control signal to the image sensor controller;
- and
- receive image data captured by the image sensor in response to the machine vision control mode control signal without such image data being processed by the image coprocessor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.