Handheld imaging device with multi-core image processor integrating image sensor interface

A portable imaging device, comprising:

• an image sensor configured to generate signals carrying data relating to an image sensed by the image sensor;
• a processor configured for processing the data relating to the image sensed by the image sensor;
• a multi-core processing unit provided in the processor, the multi-core processing unit having a plurality of processing units connected in parallel by a crossbar switch;
• an image sensor interface for converting the signals to a format readable by the multi-core processing unit and providing control information to the image sensor, the image sensor interface sharing a wafer substrate with the processors;
• a data cache connected to the plurality of processing units via a plurality of buses separate from the crossbar switch;
• and
• an external memory configured to store the data relating to the image sensed by the image sensor, wherein:
• a transfer of data from the image sensor interface to the plurality of processing units is conducted entirely on the shared wafer substrate,
• each of the plurality of processing units includes two I/O address generators, and each I/O address generator of the two I/O address generators is connected to a respective one of the plurality of buses, and
• the two I/O address generators of each of the plurality of processing units are configured to control a transfer of the data from the image sensor interface to and from the external memory.