Handheld imaging device with image processor provided with multiple parallel processing units

A portable imaging device, comprising:

• an image sensor configured for sensing an image and generating image data related to the image;
• a micro-controller integrating therein a dedicated image processor for processing the image data, a bus interface, and an image sensor interface;
• a plurality of processing units connected in parallel, the plurality of processing units provided within the micro-controller to form a multi-core processing unit for the micro-controller;
• a memory configured for storing data addressed by the plurality of processing units;
• a data cache provided within the micro-controller and connected to the plurality of processing units via a plurality of buses, wherein
• the image sensor interface provides communication between the micro-controller and the image sensor,
• the bus interface provides communication between the micro-controller and devices external to the micro-controller other than the image sensor, and
• the data cache is disposed between the plurality of processing units and the memory.