Abstract: Embodiments relate to a front-end scaler circuit configured to receive and process demosaiced image data in different modes depending on if the demosaiced image data was demosaiced from Bayer or Quad Bayer raw image data. The front-end scaler circuit shares memory with a demosaicing circuit, and is configured to perform different operations that use different amounts of the shared memory based on the original image format of the demosaiced image data being processed, to compensate for additional memory utilized by the demosaicing circuit when demosaicing certain types of image data. For example, when processing image data demosaiced from Quad Bayer image data, the front-end scaler circuit discards a portion of the chrominance component data for the received image data before performing chromatic suppression, compared to when processing image data demosaiced from Bayer image data.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to processing of pixels captured by a quadra image sensor. A quadra image sensor includes a plurality of pixel tiles, each having a plurality of pixels corresponding to the same color. A lens shading correction (LSC) circuit receives, for each of a plurality of colors, a set of gain tables. Each gain table corresponds to a different channel associated with the color. Each gain table includes a set of gain values, each associated with a location. The LSC circuit determines a pixel gain value for each pixel in a pixel tile and scales the pixels in the pixel tile based on the determined pixel gain values.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to generating an image pyramid for feature extraction. A pyramid image generator circuit includes a first image buffer that stores image data at a first octave, a first blur filter circuit, a first spatial filter circuit, and a first decimator circuit. The first blur filter circuit generates a first pyramid image for a first scale of the first octave by applying a first amount of smoothing to the first image data stored in the first image buffer. The first spatial filter circuit and the first decimator generate second image data of a second octave that is higher than the first octave by applying a smoothing and a decimation to the first image data stored in the first image buffer. The first spatial filter circuit begins processing the first image data before the first blur filter circuit begins to process the first image data.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system includes a first device rendering image data, a second device storing the image data, and a display panel that displays the image data stored in the memory. The first device renders multiple frames of the image data, compresses the multiple frames into a single superframe, and transports the single superframe. The second device receives the single superframe, decompresses the single superframe into the multiple frames of image data, and stores the image data on a memory of the second device.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to image signal processors (ISP) that include binner circuits that down-sample an input image. An input image may include a plurality of pixels. The output image of the binner circuit may include a reduced number of pixels. The binner circuit may include a plurality of different operation modes. In a bin mode, the binner circuit may blend a subset of input pixel values to generate an output pixel quad. In a skip mode, the binner circuit may select one of the input pixel values as the output pixel. The selection may be performed randomly to avoid aliasing. In a luminance mode, the binner circuit may take a weighted average of a subset of pixel values having different colors. In a color value mode, the binner circuit may select one of the colors in a subset of pixel values as an output pixel value.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to generating an image pyramid for feature extraction. A pyramid image generator circuit includes a first image buffer that stores image data at a first octave, a first blur filter circuit, a first spatial filter circuit, and a first decimator circuit. The first blur filter circuit generates a first pyramid image for a first scale of the first octave by applying a first amount of smoothing to the first image data stored in the first image buffer. The first spatial filter circuit and the first decimator generate second image data of a second octave that is higher than the first octave by applying a smoothing and a decimation to the first image data stored in the first image buffer. The first spatial filter circuit begins processing the first image data before the first blur filter circuit begins to process the first image data.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to extracting features from images, such as by identifying keypoints and generating keypoint descriptors of the keypoints. An apparatus includes a pyramid image generator circuit, a keypoint descriptor generator circuit, and a pyramid image buffer. The pyramid image generator circuit generates an image pyramid from an input image. The keypoint descriptor generator circuit processes the pyramid images for keypoint descriptor generation. The pyramid image buffer stores different portions of the pyramid images generated by the pyramid image generator circuit at different times and provides the stored portions of the pyramid images to the keypoint descriptor generator circuit for keypoint descriptor generation. When first portions of the pyramid images are no longer needed for the keypoint descriptor generation, the first portions are removed from the pyramid image buffer to provide space for second portions of the pyramid images that are needed for the keypoint descriptor generation.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to an image processing circuit able to perform image fusion on received images in at least a first mode for fusing demosaiced and downscaled image data, and a second mode for fusing raw image data. Raw image data is received from an image sensor in Bayer RGB format. In the first mode, the raw image data is demosaiced and resampled prior to undergoing image fusion. On the other hand, in the second raw image mode, the image processing circuit performs image fusion on the raw Bayer image data, and demosaics and resamples the generated fused raw Bayer image. This may ensure a cleaner image signal for image fusion, but consumes more memory. The image processing circuit is configured to support both modes of operation, allowing for fused images to be generated to satisfy the requirements of different applications.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to lateral chromatic aberration (LCA) recovery of raw image data generated by image sensors. A chromatic aberration recovery circuit performs chromatic aberration recovery on the raw image data to correct the resulting LCA in the full color images using pre-calculated offset values of a subset of colors of pixels.

Abstract: A foveated down sampling and correction (FDS-C) circuit for combined down sampling and correction of chromatic aberrations in images. The FDS-C circuit performs down sampling and interpolation of pixel values of a first subset of pixels of a color in a raw image using down sampling scale factors and first interpolation coefficients to generate first corrected pixel values for pixels of the color in a first corrected version of the raw image. The FDS-C circuit further performs interpolation of pixel values of a second subset of the pixels in the first corrected version using second interpolation coefficients to generate second corrected pixel values for pixels of the color in a second corrected version of the raw image. Pixels in the first subset are arranged in a first direction, pixels in the second subset are arranged in a second direction, and the down sampling scale factors vary along the first direction.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to lateral chromatic aberration (LCA) recovery of raw image data generated by image sensors. A chromatic aberration recovery circuit performs chromatic aberration recovery on the raw image data to correct the resulting LCA in the full color images using pre-calculated offset values of a subset of colors of pixels.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to circuitry for warping image pyramids for image fusion. An image fusion circuit receives captured images, and generates image pyramids corresponding to the received images to be used for image fusion. A warping circuit warps the first image pyramid based upon one or more warping parameters to align the first image pyramid to the second image pyramid. The warping circuit is a multi-scale warping circuit configured to warp each level of the first image pyramid, using a first warping engine that warps a base level of the image pyramid, and at least one addition warping engine that warps a plurality of scaled levels of the image pyramid in parallel with the first warping engine.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to pixel conversion of images for display. A circuit converts input pixel values of an image using a color conversion function. The circuit is operable in different modes where each mode uses a different color conversion function. A lookup table memory circuit stores a mapping of color converted values and input pixel values according to the mode of operation where the mapping represents the color conversion function associated with the mode. The circuit produces a color converted value from the lookup table as a color converted version of a first input pixel value responsive to the first input pixel value being within a first range. The circuit may also produce a color converted version of a second input pixel value by interpolating a subset of the color converted values received from the lookup table responsive to the second input pixel being within a second input range.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to circuitry for warping image pyramids for image fusion. An image fusion circuit receives captured images, and generates image pyramids corresponding to the received images to be used for image fusion. A warping circuit warps the first image pyramid based upon one or more warping parameters to align the first image pyramid to the second image pyramid. The warping circuit is a multi-scale warping circuit configured to warp each level of the first image pyramid, using a first warping engine that warps a base level of the image pyramid, and at least one addition warping engine that warps a plurality of scaled levels of the image pyramid in parallel with the first warping engine.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to circuitry for temporal processing and image fusion. An image fusion circuit receives captured images, and generates corresponding image pyramids. The generated image pyramids are raster or tiled processed, and stored in memory. A fusion module receives a first and second image pyramids from the memory, warps the first image pyramid based upon the second image pyramid, and fuses the warped first image pyramid with the second image pyramid to generate a fused image pyramid, which may be used for further processing, and may also be stored back into the memory. Because pyramid generation occurs prior to warping and fusion, and by allowing fused image pyramids to be stored back into memory, the image fusion circuitry is configurable to implement a variety of temporal processing functions involving different image fusion combinations.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to circuitry for temporal processing and image fusion. An image fusion circuit receives captured images, and generates corresponding image pyramids. The generated image pyramids are raster or tiled processed, and stored in memory. A fusion module receives a first and second image pyramids from the memory, and warps and fuses image pyramids to generate a fused image pyramid, which may be used for further processing, and may also be stored back into the memory. The image fusion circuitry is configurable to operate in a plurality of different configuration modes corresponding to different image fusion applications for fusing image pyramids of received images, including two-frame fusion, temporal filtering, infinite impulse response (IIR) temporal processing, and/or finite impulse response (FIR) temporal processing.

Abstract: A feature extractor determines reference feature locations from a portion of a reference image and corresponding feature locations from a portion of a warp image. A transform module determines a homography transform function that transforms versions of the corresponding feature locations to the reference feature locations. The homography transform function has an error below a threshold level, where the error represents a difference between the transformed corresponding feature locations and the reference feature locations. The local transform module generates transform parameters by processing the homography transform function. A warper circuit warps the portion of the warp image by at least applying the transform parameters to generate a portion of a warped image.

Abstract: A feature extractor determines reference feature locations from a portion of a reference image and corresponding feature locations from a portion of a warp image. A transform module determines a homography transform function that transforms versions of the corresponding feature locations to the reference feature locations. The homography transform function has an error below a threshold level, where the error represents a difference between the transformed corresponding feature locations and the reference feature locations. The local transform module generates transform parameters by processing the homography transform function. A warper circuit warps the portion of the warp image by at least applying the transform parameters to generate a portion of a warped image.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to lateral chromatic aberration (LCA) recovery of raw image data generated by image sensors. A chromatic aberration recovery circuit performs chromatic aberration recovery on the raw image data to correct the resulting LCA in the full color images using pre-calculated offset values of a subset of colors of pixels.

Abstract: Methods and systems for detecting keypoints in image data may include an image sensor interface receiving pixel data from an image sensor. A front-end pixel data processing circuit may receive pixel data and convert the pixel data to a different color space format. A back-end pixel data processing circuit may perform one or more operations on the pixel data. An output circuit may receive pixel data and output the pixel data to a system memory. A keypoint detection circuit may receive pixel data from the image sensor interface in the image sensor pixel data format or receive pixel data after processing by the front-end or the back-end pixel data processing circuits. The keypoint detection circuit may perform a keypoint detection operation on the pixel data to detect one or more keypoints in the image frame and output to the system memory a description of the one or more keypoints.