Yasuhiro Ohtsuka

Real-time image processing by using image compression sensor

We have been investigating an integration of sensing and compression on an image sensor. The compression sensor reduces the number of pixels in the image signal that has to be readout from the sensor. Therefore, the compression sensor can capture the images at the higher pixel rate which the traditional sensor can not handle. In this paper, we present a compression sensor which has 228/spl times/128 pixels. The processing circuits of the sensor can be operated at 5000 frames/second. We also describe the experimental results of two real-time image processing systems by using the compression sensor. They are a reconstruction circuit by using FPGA and a stereo image processing system for tracking of a moving object.

Implementations of on sensor image compression and comparisons between pixel and column parallel architectures

In order to enhance performance of an image sensor, we have been investigating a novel integration of compression and sensing. By this integration, the image signal that has to be readout from the sensor is significantly reduced. Thus, the integration can consequently leads to high pixel rate sensing. The compression scheme we make use of is conditional replenishment that detects and encodes moving areas. We have developed prototypes based on two different architectures, that are pixel parallel and column parallel architectures. We present the two prototypes and their comparisons, and show the results obtained by them.

A novel image sensor with flexible sampling control

We propose a new sampling control system for an image sensor. Contrary to the random access pixels, the proposed sensor is able to read out spatially variant pixels at high speed, without inputting pixel address for each access. The sampling positions can be changed dynamically by rewriting the sampling position memory. Since the proposed sensor has sampling position memory that stores the sampling control order, it is able to easily control sampling position. We can achieve any spatially varying sampling patterns.

128/spl times/128 pixels image sensor for on-sensor-compression

We have been investigating a novel integration of sensing and compression on an image sensor. By integration, the number of pixels in the image signal that has to be readout from the sensor can be significantly reduced, and the integration, can consequently increase the pixel rate of the sensor. We present a new compression sensor which has 128/spl times/128 pixels. We have made the prototype based on a column parallel architecture and improved the processing circuits of the new prototype to achieve lower power dissipation and higher processing speed in comparison with our previous prototypes. It is verified that the processing circuits can be operated at 5000 frames/second.

Programmable spatially variant multiresolution readout capability on a sensor focal plane

This paper presents a new image sensor with programmable multiresolution readout capability. The proposed image sensor can output data at varying resolutions. Differing to our previously reported spatially variant sampling sensor, which sub-samples without filtering, in the multiresolution sensor blocks of the pixels are averaged and read out so the new sensor does not suffer from aliasing effects. The resolution can be controlled by varying the block size. We made a prototype of 64/spl times/64 pixels.

Solid State Imaging Techniques. A Novel Image Sensor with Spatially Variant Flexible Sampling Control Integrated on a Focal Plane.

We propose a new spatially variant sampling control system integrated on an image sensor. This sensor can read out spatially variant pixels at high speed, without inputting pixel address for each access. Since it has a memory array that keeps the pixel position to be sampled, the sampling position can be dynamically changed by rewriting the memory array. It can achieve any spatially varying sampling patterns. We show the principles, circuit designs, a prototype of the sensor, and results obtained by the prototype.

Spatially variant flexible sampling control integrated on an image sensor

We propose a new sampling control system integrated on an image sensor. Contrary to the conventional random access pixels, the proposed sensor is able to read out spatially variant pixels at high speed, without inputting pixel address for each access. The sampling positions can be changed dynamically by rewriting the sampling position memory. Since the proposed sensor has an array memory that keeps the pixel position to be sampled. The sampling position can be dynamically changed by rewriting the memory array. It can achieve any spatially varying sampling patterns. We have made a first prototype and show results obtained by the prototype.

Solid State Imaging Techniques. Evaluation of The Function of Pixel-Parallel Image Sensor.

筆者らはリアルタイム信号処理におけるデータ転送部のボトルネックの解消を目的として, 圧縮機構を搭載した画素並列処理センサを検討, 試作した.本センサには閾値を制御することにより転送部報量を制御する定レート制御機能が搭載されている.本稿では, この定レート制御機能の検証結果について述べる.

Focal plane compression 128x128 image sensor based on column parallel architecture

In order to enhance the performance of image sensing, we have been investigating a novel image sensor which compresses image signal on the sensor focal plane. By the integration of sensing and compression, number of pixels in the image signal that has to be readout from the sensor can be significantly reduced, and the integration can consequently increase the pixel rate of the sensor. In this paper, we describe a new prototype sensor based on a column parallel architecture which has 128 X 128 pixels. We have improved the processing circuits of the new prototype to achieve much lower power dissipation and higher processing speed. We have verified that the processing circuits can be operated at 5000 frames/second.