Camera control device
AssigneeMegaChips Corporation
InventorGen Sasaki
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A camera control circuit stores an image picked up by a CCD into an internal memory. A CPU of a main processor circuit gives an instruction of reading out image data stored in the internal memory of the camera control circuit through buses and a slave access controller. The main processor circuit displays the image data which is read out on an LCD and performs other processings. With the above construction, in the electronic equipment having an image pickup function of a camera, it is possible to reduce time for image transfer from the camera control circuit to the main processor circuit.
Claims13
A camera control device integrated into an electronic equipment, comprising:
- an input circuit connected to an internal bus inside said camera control device and configured to input an image signal output from an image pickup sensor;
- a memory device connected directly only to the internal bus inside said camera control device and configured to store said image signal output from said image pickup sensor;
- a slave access controller provided entirely inside said camera control device and connected to said internal bus and directly to an external bus provided outside said camera control device;
- a serial interface connected to the internal bus inside said camera control device and to a second serial interface that is inside a processing unit including a CPU and that is connected to a second internal bus, physically distinct from the external bus, inside the processing unit, the serial interface configured to transfer a startup program for the camera control device from the processing unit,
- wherein the CPU is provided outside said camera control device, performs a general control of said electronic equipment and reads out said image signal stored as a compressed image in said memory device by sending a read instruction to the slave access controller which uses a predetermined circuit unit to transfer the compressed image from the memory device to the slave access controller which transfers the compressed image to the CPU through said external bus, and
- wherein said memory device is not directly controlled by the CPU.
A camera control device integrated into an electronic equipment, comprising:
- an input circuit connected to an internal bus inside said camera control device and configured to input an image signal output from an image pickup sensor;
- a memory device connected directly only to the internal bus inside said camera control device and configured to store said image signal output from said image pickup sensor;
- a slave access controller provided entirely inside said camera control device and connected to said internal bus and directly to an external bus provided outside said camera control device;
- a display control circuit connected to a display device and said internal bus inside said camera control device;
- and
- a control unit configured to send a display instruction for displaying an image acquired by said image pickup sensor to said display control circuit not under control of a CPU,
- wherein the CPU is provided outside said camera control device, performs a general control of said electronic equipment and reads out said image signal stored as a compressed image in the memory device by sending a read instruction to the slave access controller which uses a predetermined circuit unit to transfer the compressed image from the memory device to the slave access controller which transfers the compressed image to the CPU through the external bus;
- and
- a serial interface connected to the internal bus inside said camera control device and to a second serial interface that is inside a processing unit including the CPU and that is connected to a second internal bus, physically distinct from the external bus, inside the processing unit, the serial interface configured to transfer a startup program for the camera control device from the processing unit, and
- wherein said memory device is not directly controlled by the CPU.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.