Abstract: An image capture device stores in a datastore information used and generated by different process components (e.g., firmware components, software components) of the image capture device. The datastore modularizes process components of the image capture device. The datastore is used as a centralized information exchange system for process components so that no direct links exist between process components. The modularization of the process component via the datastore enables autonomy in process component development.

Abstract: An image captured using an image sensor is processed to determine control statistics and to produce an altered image which can be output for display or further processing at an image capture device, and the image is then processed according to the control statistics to produce a processed image which can be output for display or further processing at the image capture device or at another device. The altered image may have a lower resolution than the processed image. The image may be stored in a buffer. For example, the image may be retrieved from the buffer to produce the altered image, and again retrieved from the buffer to produce the processed image. The altered image may replace the image within the buffer. For example, the processed image may be produced to represent the altered image at a higher resolution.

Abstract: Automated camera mode selection using local motion vectors is described. An image capture device includes an image metric estimation unit to detect a presence or level of an image metric in a scene of an image to capture based on image metric inputs, a motion estimation unit to determine a level of movement within the scene using ratios of histograms based on local motion vectors, a mode selection unit to select a camera mode for capturing the image based on outputs of the image metric estimation unit and the motion estimation unit, and an image sensor to capture the image according to the selected camera mode. The motion estimation unit computes a norm for each local motion vector, generates a histogram from the computed norms, determines movement metrics based on the ratios of histograms associated with different norm thresholds, and identifies the level of movement based on the movement metrics.

Abstract: An image captured using an image sensor is processed to determine control statistics and to produce an altered image which can be output for display or further processing at an image capture device, and the image is then processed according to the control statistics to produce a processed image which can be output for display or further processing at the image capture device or at another device. The altered image may have a lower resolution than the processed image. The image may be stored in a buffer. For example, the image may be retrieved from the buffer to produce the altered image, and again retrieved from the buffer to produce the processed image. The altered image may replace the image within the buffer. For example, the processed image may be produced to represent the altered image at a higher resolution.

Abstract: Automated camera mode selection using local motion vectors is described. An image capture device includes an image metric estimation unit to detect a presence or level of an image metric in a scene of an image to capture based on image metric inputs, a motion estimation unit to determine a level of movement within the scene using ratios of histograms based on local motion vectors, a mode selection unit to select a camera mode for capturing the image based on outputs of the image metric estimation unit and the motion estimation unit, and an image sensor to capture the image according to the selected camera mode. The motion estimation unit computes a norm for each local motion vector, generates a histogram from the computed norms, determines movement metrics based on the ratios of histograms associated with different norm thresholds, and identifies the level of movement based on the movement metrics.

Abstract: Multiple pipelines are used for image and video processing. In a first image processing pipeline, an image is retrieved from a buffer and processed using one or more image processing units. An altered image produced using the first image processing pipeline replaces the earlier version of the image stored in the buffer. The altered image may also be immediately output for display or encoding. In the second image processing pipeline, the altered image is retrieved from the buffer and processed according to image processing control statistics collected at the first image processing pipeline. The resulting processed image may then be encoded. A processed image output from the second image processing pipeline has a higher resolution than the altered image output from the first image processing pipeline.