Handheld imaging device with VLIW image processor

• US 9,560,221 B2
• Filed: 09/15/2012
• Issued: 01/31/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Silverbrook, Kia
• Primary Examiner(s): Velez, Roberto
• Assistant Examiner(s): Segura, Cynthia
• Application Number:
  US13/620,977
• Publication Number:
  US 20130016266A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,599 Days
• Field of Search: 348/311
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 15/044 Cassettes or cartridges containing continuous copy material, tape, for setting into printing devices
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/14 Structure thereof only for on-demand ink jet heads
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/14427 Structure of ink jet print heads with thermal bend detached actuators
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/16 Production of nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1601 Production of bubble jet print heads B41J2/1606, B41J2/162 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1623 bonding and adhesion
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• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1643 thin film formation by plating
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• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1646 thin film formation by sputtering
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1648 Production of print heads with thermal bend detached actuators
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/16585 for paper-width or non-reciprocating print heads
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/175 : Ink supply systems ; Circuit parts therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17503 : Ink cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17513 : Inner structure
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17546 : electronically
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17596 : Ink pumps, ink valves
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2002/041 : Electromagnetic transducer
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2002/14491 : Electrical connection
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2202/21 : Line printing
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 29/02 : Framework
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 15/02 : Postcards; Greeting, menu, business or like cards; Letter cards or letter-sheets B42D25/00 takes precedence; envelopes B65D27/00
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 2035/08 : Alphanumerical data
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 2035/34 : Markings visible under particular conditions or containing coded information
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 2035/50 : Corresponding markings appearing in different shapes or at different places
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/00 : Information-bearing cards or sheet-like structures characterised by identification or security features; Manufacture thereof printing processes to produce identification or security features B41M3/14
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/20 : characterised by a particular use or purpose
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/23 : Identity cards
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 30/00 : Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/02 : Bodies
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 27/00 : Photographic printing apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 27/02 : Exposure apparatus for contact printing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 : with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 12/0866 : for peripheral storage systems, e.g. disk cache
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/79 : in semiconductor storage media, e.g. directly-addressable memories
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/86 : Secure or tamper-resistant housings
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2212/2022 : Flash memory
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2129 : Authenticate client device independently of the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/12 : Digital output to print unit , e.g. line printer, chain printer
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 1/121 : by printing code marks applying code marks to labels B65C9/46; marking or coding completed packages B65B61/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06037 : multi-dimensional coding
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/073 : Special arrangements for circuits, e.g. for protecting identification code in memory protection against unauthorised use of computer memory G06F12/14
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10722 : Photodetector array or CCD scanning
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/14 : using light without selection of wavelength, e.g. sensing reflected white light G06K7/10831 - G06K7/1097 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1417 : 2D bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/20 : Processor architectures; Processor configuration, e.g. pipelining
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 3/02 : Affine transformations for image registration G06T3/147; for image mosaicing G06T3/4038
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/08 : by coded identity card or credit card or other personal identification means without personal verification means G07F7/02
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/086 : by passive credit-cards adapted therefor, e.g. constructive particularities to avoid counterfeiting, e.g. by inclusion of a physical or chemical security-layer for security documents G07D7/00; for the reading of record-carriers in general G06K7/00; for the design of coded credit-cards G06K19/10
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/12 : Card verification
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2300/026 : Video wall, i.e. juxtaposition of a plurality of screens to create a display screen of bigger dimensions
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2310/0281 : Arrangement of scan or data electrode driver circuits at the periphery of a panel not inherent to a split matrix structure
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 11/56 : using storage elements with more than two stable states represented by steps, e.g. of voltage, current, phase, frequency
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 16/22 : Safety or protection circuits preventing unauthorised or accidental access to memory cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 23/576 : using active circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00 : Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/0002 : Not covered by any one of groups H01L24/00, H01L24/00 and H01L2224/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00127 : Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00278 : with a printing apparatus, e.g. a laser beam printer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00326 : with a data reading, recognizing or recording apparatus, e.g. with a bar-code apparatus arrangements for the associated working of recording or reproducing apparatus with related apparatus G11B31/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00355 : Mark-sheet input sensing record carriers G06K7/00; character recognition G06V30/10; document-oriented image-based pattern recognition G06V30/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0044 : for image preview or review, e.g. to help the user position a sheet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00965 : using a plug-in memory module, e.g. memory card, memory stick
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00968 : by scanning marks on a sheet mark-sheet input means H04N1/00355; sensing record carriers G06K7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/04 : Scanning arrangements , i.e. arrangements for the displacement of active reading or reproducing elements relative to the original or reproducing medium, or vice versaH04N1/387 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2112 : using still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2154 : the still video camera incorporating a hardcopy reproducing device, e.g. a printer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2307 : Circuits or arrangements for the control thereof, e.g. using a programmed control device, according to a measured quantity H04N1/27, H04N1/29 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32122 : in a separate device, e.g. in a memory or on a display separate from image data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32133 : on the same paper sheet, e.g. a facsimile page header
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 : Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0008 : Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0084 : Digital still camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3222 : of processing required or performed, e.g. forwarding, urgent or confidential handling
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3242 : of processing required or performed, e.g. for reproduction or before recording H04N2201/3256 and subgroups take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3261 : of multimedia information, e.g. a sound signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3264 : of sound signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3269 : of machine readable codes or marks, e.g. bar codes or glyphs
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3276 : of a customised additional information profile, e.g. a profile specific to a user ID
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/328 : Processing of the additional information
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/00 : Cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors; Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/843 : Demosaicing, e.g. interpolating colour pixel values
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/00 : Circuitry of solid-state image sensors [SSIS]; Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/76 : Addressed sensors, e.g. MOS or CMOS sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/2628 : Alteration of picture size, shape, position or orientation, e.g. zooming, rotation, rolling, perspective, translation
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/14 : Structural association of two or more printed circuits providing electric connection to or between printed circuits H05K1/11, H01R12/00
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/189 : characterised by the use of a flexible or folded printed circuit H05K3/326 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 358/9091 : Electronic still camera or scene reproducer

Abstract

A handheld imaging device includes an image sensor for sensing an image: a Very Long Instruction Word (VLIW) processor for processing the sensed image; a plurality of processing units provided in the VLIW processor, the plurality of processing units connected in parallel by a crossbar switch to form a multi-core processing unit for the VLIW processor; and an image sensor interface for receiving 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. A transfer of data from the image sensor interface to the VLIW processor is conducted entirely on the shared wafer substrate.

Claims

1. 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.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the input buffer is configured for receiving data bound for the plurality of processing units and configured for sharing by each of the plurality of processing units.

3. The device according to claim 1, further comprising an output buffer provided on the shared wafer substrate and in communication with the multi-core processing unit, the output buffer for receiving data processed by the plurality of processing units and configured for sharing by each of the plurality of processing units.

4. The device according to claim 3, further comprising a print head interface, the print head interface for reading dither-formatted data from the output buffer and passing the dither-formatted data to a print head.

5. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a scanner for scanning for a presence of a pattern.

6. The device according to claim 5, further comprising a scanner interface for receiving from the scanner data indicative of the presence of the pattern, and decoding the pattern into an image processing script.

7. The device according to claim 6, further comprising a CPU for executing an image processing language interpreter on the image processing script, and providing instructions to the VLIW processor to process the data relating to the image sensed by the image sensor in accordance with the image processing script.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the image sensor is a charge-coupled device (CCD), and the image sensor interface includes an analogue/digital converter for converting signals passing between the processor and the CCD.

9. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a data cache connected to the plurality of processing units via a plurality of buses.

10. The device according to claim 9, wherein each of the plurality of processing units includes two I/O address generators, and each I/O address generator is connected to a respective one of the plurality of buses.

11. The device according to claim 10, further comprising an external memory configured to store the data relating to the image sensed by the image sensor, wherein 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.

12. The device according to claim 11, wherein the data cache is disposed between the external memory and the plurality of processing units, and the data cache shares the wafer substrate with the VLIW processor.

13. The device according to claim 12, wherein the two I/O address generators of each of the plurality of processing units controls the transfer of data from the image sensor interface to and from the data cache.

14. The device according to claim 13, further comprising a memory interface separate from the image sensor interface and configured to provide an interface between the data cache and the external memory, wherein the memory interface shares the wafer substrate with the VLIW processor.

15. The device according to claim 1, wherein the interface connecting the plurality of processing units in parallel is a crossbar switch.

16. The device according to claim 1, wherein the input buffer is separate from the image sensor interface.

17. The device according to claim 16, wherein the input buffer is configured for receiving data from the image sensor interface and bound for the plurality of processing units.