Multi-core processor for hand-held, image capture device

• US 8,866,926 B2
• Filed: 09/15/2012
• Issued: 10/21/2014
• 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): GILES, NICHOLAS G
• Application Number:
  US13/620,909
• Publication Number:
  US 20130010127A1
• Time in Patent Office: 766 Days
• Field of Search: 348/207.99, 348/207.2, 348/222.1, 348/294, 348/302
• US Class Current: 348/222.1
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• CPC Class Codes: B41J 11/70 cutting perpendicular to the direction of paper feed
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 15/04 Supporting, feeding, or guiding devices; Mountings for web rolls or spindles
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/14314 Structure of ink jet print heads with electrostatically actuated membrane
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/14427 Structure of ink jet 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 2/17513 Inner structure
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17596 Ink pumps, ink valves
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2002/041 Electromagnetic transducer
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2202/21 Line printing
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/445 Printers integrated in other types of apparatus, e.g. printers integrated in cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 30/00 Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/00 Digital computers in general details G06F1/00 – G06F13/00; Data processing equipment in general
• 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 2221/2129 Authenticate client device independently of the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 7/57 Arithmetic logic units [ALU], i.e. arrangements or devices for performing two or more of the operations covered by groups G06F7/483 – G06F7/556 or for performing logical operations G06F7/49, G06F7/491 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/226 Microinstruction function, e.g. input/output microinstruction; diagnostic microinstruction; microinstruction format
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/265 by address selection on input of storage
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/30094 : Condition code generation, e.g. Carry, Zero flag
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/30101 : Special purpose registers
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• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/00 : Arrangements for producing a permanent visual presentation of the output data , e.g. computer output printersprinting or plotting combined with another operation, e.g. with conveying, G06K17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06037 : multi-dimensional coding
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• 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: 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 1/0044 : 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
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• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2112 : using still video cameras
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• 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
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• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/00 : Cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors; Control thereof
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• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/80 : Camera processing pipelines; Components thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/75 : Circuitry for providing, modifying or processing image signals from the pixel array
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/2628 : Alteration of picture size, shape, position or orientation, e.g. zooming, rotation, rolling, perspective, translation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/76 : Television signal recording

Abstract

A multi-core processor for installation in a hand-held device that has first and second image sensors. The multi-core processor has a first sensor interface for receiving data from the first image sensor, and a second sensor interface for receiving data from the second image sensor. Multiple processing units in the multi-core processor are configured to operate in parallel for processing data from the first and second sensor interfaces. The multiple processing units and the first and second sensor interfaces are all integrated onto a single chip.

Claims

1. A multi-core processor for a hand-held device with first and second image sensors, the multi-core processor comprising:

a first sensor interface for receiving data from the first image sensor;

a second sensor interface for receiving data from the second image sensor;

multiple processing units configured to operate in parallel for processing data from the first and second sensor interfaces to generate processed data, wherein the multiple processing units and the first and second sensor interfaces are integrated onto a single chip;

an input FIFO (first in, first out) configured for receiving data from the first and second image sensor interfaces and for inputting the data received from the first and second image sensor interfaces to the multiple processing units;

an output FIFO configured for receiving the processed data; and

an instruction input interface connected to the input FIFO, wherein the multiple processing units operate in accordance with image processing instructions received as encoded data by the instruction input interface.

2. The multi-core processor according to claim 1, wherein the first image sensor is a CMOS image sensor for capturing images viewed by the hand-held device and the second image sensor is a scanner for scanning encoded data printed on a substrate in a machine readable form, and the first sensor interface is an image sensor interface and the second sensor interface is a scanner interface.

3. The multi-core processor according to claim 2, wherein the multiple processing units comprise four processing units and the multi-core processor further comprises a crossbar switch for interconnecting each of the four processing units.

4. The multi-core processor according to claim 1, further comprising a central processing unit and a data bus connecting the central processing unit to the input FIFO and the output FIFO, the central processing unit providing a processing core to operatively control the four processing units.

5. The multi-core processor according to claim 4 further comprising a data cache to store the processed data until required by the central processing unit.

6. The multi-core processor according to claim 1, wherein the multiple processing units processing data comprises performing one or more processing tasks selected from:

rotating the input image data;

color converting the input image data; and

dithering the input image data.

7. The multi-core processor according to claim 1, further comprising a display interface for reading the processed data and transmitting the processed data to a color LCD display in the hand-held device.

8. The multi-core processor according to claim 1, wherein each of the processing units included in the multiple processing units includes at least one address generator.

9. The multi-core processor according to claim 1, wherein each of the processing units included in the multiple processing units includes RAM (random access memory) for microcode to operatively control the processing unit in which the RAM is included.

10. The multi-core processor according to claim 9, further comprising a keyboard interface for input of instructions for rewriting the microcode in the RAM included in each of the processing units.

11. The multi-core processor according to claim 1, further comprising a USB (universal serial bus) interface, wherein the hand-held device has a USB port for communication with an external device.

12. The multi-core processor according to claim 1, wherein the image processing instructions correspond to a signal that received by the instruction input interface associated with a bit pattern based on pixels.

13. The multi-core processor according to claim 12, wherein the bit pattern based on pixels is decoded to generate the image processing instructions.

14. The multi-core processor according to claim 1, further comprising a memory, wherein the image processing instructions are stored in the memory as a script.

15. A hand-held device, comprising:

an image sensor for capturing images viewed by the hand-held device; and

a processor comprising;

a image sensor interface for receiving data from the image sensor;

multiple processing units configured to operate in parallel for processing data from the image sensor interface to generate processed data, wherein the multiple processing units and the image sensor interface are integrated onto a single chip;

an input FIFO (first in, first out) configured for receiving data from the image sensor interface and for inputting the data received from the image sensor interface to the multiple processing units;

an output FIFO configured for receiving the processed data; and

an instruction input interface connected to the input FIFO, wherein the multiple processing units operate in accordance with image processing instructions received as encoded data by the instruction input interface.

16. The hand-held device according to claim 15, wherein the image processing instructions correspond to a signal that received by the instruction input interface associated with a bit pattern based on pixels.

17. The hand-held device according to claim 16, wherein the bit pattern based on pixels is decoded to generate the image processing instructions.

18. The hand-held device according to claim 15, wherein the processor further comprises a memory, wherein the image processing instructions are stored in the memory as a script.