Handheld imaging device with VLIW image processor

A portable imaging device, comprising:

• an image sensor configured to generate signals carrying data relating to an image sensed by the image sensor;
• a Very Long Instruction Word (VLIW) processor for processing the data relating to the image sensed by the image sensor;
• a plurality of processing units provided in the VLIW processor, the plurality of processing units connected in parallel by an interface to form a multi-core processing unit for the VLIW processor;
• an image sensor interface for receiving the signals from the image sensor and converting the signals to a format readable by the VLIW processor, the image sensor interface sharing a wafer substrate with the VLIW processor;
• an input buffer provided on the shared wafer substrate and in communication with the multi-core processing unit wherein the input buffer is configured to receive input from the image sensor interface;
• and
• a connection coupling the input buffer to the multi-core processing unit, wherein:
• a transfer of data from the image sensor interface to the VLIW processor is conducted entirely on the shared wafer substrate, and
• the connection is separate from the interface connecting the plurality of processing units in parallel.