APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR CONTROLLING IMAGE SENSORS

Abstract

A camera controller includes a communication medium and a computer-readable medium. The communication medium is operable for enabling communications between a camera and a computer unit. The computer-readable medium is operable for storing a configuration data set indicative of settings of an image sensor of the camera and for storing a configuration module executed by the computer unit. The configuration module includes multiple computer-executable instructions for setting operation parameters of the image sensor according to the configuration data set via the communication medium.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/198,921, filed on Nov. 12, 2008, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

A conventional computer-connected camera may include a camera controller having hardware blocks (e.g., integrated circuits) in order to operate properly. FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a conventional camera system 100. The camera system 100 includes a camera controller 110, a computer 120, and an image sensor 130. The camera controller 110 coupled between the computer 120 and the image sensor 130 can include hardware blocks integrated in one or more integrated circuit (IC) chips. The camera controller 110 can be assembled with the image sensor 130 on a printed circuit board (PCB) to constitute a camera. Moreover, the camera controller 110 is coupled to the computer 120 via a universal serial bus (USB) interface including a USB cable and a USB physical layer (PHY) 111 controlled by the USB device controller 112. The camera controller 110 is coupled to the image sensor 130 via an inter-integrated circuit (I²C) bus 113. In this way, the camera including the camera controller 110 and the image sensor 130 can be connected with the computer 120.

The camera controller 110 is configured to control the image sensor 130. For example, the camera controller 110 includes an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (E²PROM) 140 for storing configuration data indicative of default settings of the image sensor 130. The camera controller 110 further includes a microcontroller for reading the configuration data from the E²PROM 140, and for setting operation parameters of the image sensor 130 via the I²C bus 113 accordingly. The configuration data is limited to configure a particular type of the image sensor 130. Thus, if a different type of image sensor is coupled to the computer unit 210, hardware configurations of the camera controller 110, e.g., configuration of the E²PROM 140, may need to be changed to accommodate the new image sensor. Thus, complexity and cost of the camera system 100 may be increased.

The image sensor 130 can capture optical image signals and can convert the captured optical image signals to analog electrical image signals. Moreover, the image sensor 130 can receive a reference clock generated by an oscillator 131 and can convert the analog electrical image signals to digital raw image signals according to the reference clock. The camera controller 110 can also include an image processor 114 for processing the raw image signals into color-corrected images in a standard image file format.

The camera controller 110 further includes a USB video class (UVC) component (hardware) 115 used to indicate that the image sensor 130 belongs to a video class when the image sensor 130 is coupled to the computer 120. The UVC component 115 can be used to enable communications between the image sensor 130 and a computer program of the computer 120. For example, an operating system, e.g., Microsoft® Windows, of the computer 120 can include multiple USB device drivers for supporting various types of USB devices such as audio class devices, video class devices, and printer class devices, respectively. Upon detection of the UVC component 115 by the operating system, a UVC device driver of the operating system can be employed to interact with the computer program and the image sensor 130. In other words, the image sensor 130 can interact with the computer program via the UVC device driver. Therefore, communications between the image sensor 130 and a computer program of the computer 120 can be enabled.

However, the E²PROM 140, image processor 114, and UVC component 115 may increase the cost of the camera controller 110.

SUMMARY

In one embodiment, a camera controller includes a communication medium and a computer-readable medium. The communication medium is operable for enabling communications between a camera and a computer unit. The computer-readable medium is operable for storing a configuration data set indicative of settings of an image sensor of the camera and for storing a configuration module executed by the computer unit. The configuration module includes multiple computer-executable instructions for setting operation parameters of the image sensor according to the configuration data set via the communication medium.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Features and advantages of embodiments of the claimed subject matter will become apparent as the following detailed description proceeds, and upon reference to the drawings, wherein like numerals depict like parts, and in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of a conventional camera system.

FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of a camera system, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates a driver application in the camera system of FIG. 2, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates a block diagram of a camera system employing a USB standard, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates a flowchart of operations performed by a camera controller, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the present invention. While the invention will be described in conjunction with these embodiments, it will be understood that they are not intended to limit the invention to these embodiments. On the contrary, the invention is intended to cover alternatives, modifications and equivalents, which may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Embodiments described herein may be discussed in the general context of computer-executable instructions residing on some form of computer-usable medium, such as program modules, executed by one or more computers or other devices. Generally, program modules include routines, programs, objects, components, data structures, etc., that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. The functionality of the program modules may be combined or distributed as desired in various embodiments. Some portions of the detailed descriptions which follow are presented in terms of procedures, logic blocks, processing and other symbolic representations of operations on data bits within a computer memory. These descriptions and representations are the means used by those skilled in the data processing arts to most effectively convey the substance of their work to others skilled in the art. In the present application, a procedure, logic block, process, or the like, is conceived to be a self-consistent sequence of steps or instructions leading to a desired result. The steps are those requiring physical manipulations of physical quantities. Usually, although not necessarily, these quantities take the form of electrical or magnetic signals capable of being stored, transferred, combined, compared, and otherwise manipulated in a computer system.

It should be borne in mind, however, that all of these and similar terms are to be associated with the appropriate physical quantities and are merely convenient labels applied to these quantities. Unless specifically stated otherwise as apparent from the following discussions, it is appreciated that throughout the present application, discussions utilizing the terms such as “executing,” “selecting,” “accessing,” “calling,” or the like, refer to the actions and processes of a computer system, or similar electronic computing device, that manipulates and transforms data represented as physical (electronic) quantities within the computer system's registers and memories into other data similarly represented as physical quantities within the computer system memories or registers or other such information storage, transmission or display devices.

By way of example, and not limitation, computer-usable media may comprise computer storage media and communication media. Computer storage media includes volatile and nonvolatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storage of information such as computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data. Computer storage media includes, but is not limited to, random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), electrically erasable programmable ROM (EEPROM), flash memory or other memory technology, compact disk ROM (CD-ROM), digital versatile disks (DVDs) or other optical storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium that can be used to store the desired information.

Communication media can embody computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data in a modulated data signal such as a carrier wave or other transport mechanism and includes any information delivery media. The term “modulated data signal” means a signal that has one or more of its characteristics set or changed in such a manner as to encode information in the signal. By way of example, and not limitation, communication media includes wired media such as a wired network or direct-wired connection, and wireless media such as acoustic, radio frequency (RF), infrared and other wireless media. Combinations of any of the above should also be included within the scope of computer-readable media.

Furthermore, in the following detailed description of the present invention, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be recognized by one of ordinary skill in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well known methods, procedures, components, and circuits have not been described in detail as not to unnecessarily obscure aspects of the present invention.

Embodiments in accordance with the present disclosure provide a camera controller in a computer-connected camera system for controlling an image sensor. Advantageously, one or more hardware blocks in the conventional camera system can be substituted with computer-executable program modules, such that the size and cost of the camera system can be reduced and the efficiency can be improved. Moreover, memory of a computer unit can store multiple configuration data sets indicative of settings of different types of image sensors respectively, which can be used to configure multiple image sensors without changing hardware configurations of the camera controller.

FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of a camera system 200, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The camera system 200 includes a computer unit 210, a camera controller 220, and an image sensor 230. The computer unit 210 can be a personal computer, a palmtop computer, a cell phone, or other computer-functional devices. The image sensor 230 can include, but is not limited to, a charge-coupled device (CCD) image sensor or a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) active-pixel sensor. The camera controller 220 can control the image sensor 230. For example, the camera controller 220 controls an image acquisition function of the image sensor 230, e.g., the camera controller 220 can set or adjust operation parameters of the image sensor 230. The operation parameters can include, but are not limited to, resolution, brightness, contrast, exposure method, and exposure time of the image sensor 230.

In one embodiment, the computer unit 210 includes a bus 262 and a processor 264 (e.g., a central processing unit) coupled to the bus 262. The bus 262 can include, but is not limited to, a data bus, an address bus, or a control bus, and is capable of transferring information, e.g., data, instructions, address information, or control commands, in the computer unit 210. The processor 264 can process various tasks and execute various instructions. The computer unit 210 further includes computer-readable media such as a main memory 266 coupled to the bus 262, a read only memory (ROM) 268 coupled to the bus 262, and a storage device 270 coupled to the bus 262. The main memory 266, e.g., a random access memory (RAM) or other types of dynamic storage media, can store information and instructions to be executed by the processor 264. The read only memory (ROM) 268 or other types of static storage media can store computer-readable information and instructions. The storage device 270, e.g., a magnetic disk or optical disk, can also store computer-readable information and instructions.

More specifically, in one embodiment, instructions of a program module can be read into the main memory 266 from other storage media, e.g., the ROM 268 or the storage device 270. The processor 264 can execute the instructions in the main memory 266 to perform various tasks. For example, the processor 264 can read/write data from/to a computer-readable medium (e.g., the main memory 266, the ROM 268, or the storage device 270). The processor 264 can also send commands to control a device, e.g., a computer-connected camera including the image sensor 230 and a communication medium 240, according to the instructions.

The computer unit 210 can further include a communication interface 272 coupled to the bus 262 for connecting the computer unit 210 to an external device, e.g., a computer-connected camera. The communication interface 272 can include a serial interface, a parallel interface, and/or other types of interfaces, and is capable of sending and receiving electrical, electromagnetic or optical signals that carry digital data streams. The computer unit 210 can have other components and is not limited to the structure in the example of FIG. 2.

The image sensor 230 is operable for capturing optical image signals comprising static image signals and dynamic video frame signals, and for converting the optical image signals to electrical image signals, e.g., analog image signal arrays, in one embodiment. Additionally, the image sensor 230 can convert the electrical analog image signals to digital raw image signals (e.g., digital images in a RAW format). The RAW file is an uncompressed and unprocessed data file captured by the image sensor 230.

The camera controller 220 coupled to the image sensor 230 can control the image acquisition function of the image sensor 230. The camera controller 220 can include a driver application 250 and a communication medium 240. In the example of FIG. 2, the driver application 250 can be stored in the storage device 270 of the computer unit 210. In another embodiment, the driver application 250 may be stored in another computer-readable medium such as the ROM 268 or the main memory 266. The driver application 250 can include program modules having instructions and data for controlling the image sensor 230.

In one embodiment, the communication medium 240 coupled between the image sensor 230 and the communication interface 272 of the computer unit 210 is operable for connecting the image sensor 230 to the computer unit 210. The communication medium 240 can interface with the computer unit 210 according to a communication protocol such as a universal serial bus (USB) protocol or a 1394 protocol, etc. Furthermore, the communication medium 240 can interface with the image sensor 230 according to another communication protocol, such as an inter-integrated circuit (I²C) bus protocol or a serial camera control bus (SCCB) protocol. In other words, the image sensor 230 can support I²C/SCCB protocol. As such, the communication medium 240 also provides protocol conversion, e.g., between USB and I²C/SCCB.

The communication medium 240 can establish communications between the image sensor 230 and the computer unit 210. For example, the driver application 250 can be read into the main memory 266 during operation. The processor 264 can call the driver application 250 and can execute the program modules of the driver application 250 to generate control commands. The control commands can be sent to the communication medium 240 via the communication interface 272. The communication medium 240 can transfer the control commands to control the image sensor 230, e.g., to configure operation parameters of the image sensor 230. In addition, the communication medium 240 can transfer the digital image signals (e.g., digital raw image signals) from the image sensor 230 to the computer unit 210 via the communication interface 272.

The communication medium 240 can include, but is not limited to, a wired medium such as a wired network or direct-wired connection, or a wireless medium such as acoustic, radio frequency (RF), infrared wireless media. In one embodiment, the communication medium 240 includes a universal serial bus (USB) chip which can be assembled with the image sensor 230 on a PCB board to enable USB communications between the image sensor 230 and the computer unit 210. In one embodiment, the communication medium 240 and the image sensor 230 can be manufactured as a camera module. The camera module can be controlled by the control commands generated by the computer unit 210 running the driver application 250. In another embodiment, the communication medium 240 can be included in the computer unit 210.

FIG. 3 illustrates a driver application 250 in the camera system 200, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is described in combination with FIG. 2.

The driver application 250 includes a configuration module, in one embodiment. However, the invention is not so limited; the driver application 250 can include other software modules according to system needs. In the example of FIG. 3, the driver application 250 can include a data file 320, a configuration module 322, a device driver module 324, an image processing module 326, and a power saving module 328. The driver application 250 can be stored in a computer-readable medium, e.g., the storage device 270, of the computer unit 210. The driver application 250 includes computer-readable data and/or computer-executable instructions.

In one embodiment, the data file 320 can include a configuration data set indicative of settings (e.g., default settings) of the image sensor 230 such as resolution, brightness, contrast, exposure method, exposure time, etc. The configuration module 322 can include computer-executable instructions for setting the operation parameters of the image sensor 230 according to the configuration data set.

In one embodiment, the data file 320 can include multiple configuration data sets indicative of settings of different image sensors, respectively. Thus, the configuration module 322 can be executed by the processor 264 to configure the image sensor 230 according to a corresponding configuration data set. Moreover, in a multi-sensor camera system where multiple image sensors of the same type or different types may be coupled to the computer unit 210 successively or simultaneously, the configuration module 322 can be executed by the processor 264 to configure each of the image sensors according to a corresponding configuration data set contained in the data file 320. Advantageously, as the computer unit 210 can configure the image sensor with the corresponding configuration data set, the camera system 200 can support various types of image sensors without changing hardware configurations of the camera controller 220, in one embodiment.

More specifically, the configuration module 322 can be executed by the processor 264 of the computer unit 210 to select a corresponding configuration data set from the data file 320 according to an identification or type of the image sensor 230, and to set the operation parameters of the image sensor 230 according to the selected configuration data set. Advantageously, the E²PROM (e.g., the E²PROM 114 in FIG. 1) and the microcontroller in the conventional camera controller can be substituted by the data file 320 and the configuration module 322, which can reduce the size and cost of the camera system. The configuration data contained in the data file 320 can be predetermined or programmed by users.

In one embodiment, the device driver module 324 in the driver application 250 can be executed by the processor 264 to enable communications between the computer unit 210 and the image sensor 230. For example, the device driver module 324 can enable communications between a computer program of the computer unit 210 and the image sensor 230. In one embodiment, the computer program can be an upper level computer program that interacts with users, such as Microsoft® Windows or can be user-mode applications such as Microsoft Network (MSN) application. By way of example, if a user starts a video call function application of an upper level computer program, the computer program can call the device driver module 324. The device driver module 324 can enable the computer program to interact with the image sensor 230 by establishing communications between the communication interface 272 and the communication medium 240. For example, the device driver module 324 can be executed by the processor 264 to detect/recognize signals, e.g., digital raw image signals, from the image sensor 230, and to translate such signals from the image sensor 230 to corresponding computer-readable data. In addition, the device driver module 324 can translate the computer-readable data, e.g., computer commands from the computer unit 210, into sensor-readable signals. Advantageously, the UVC component (e.g., the UVC component 115 in FIG. 1) in the conventional camera controller and the UVC device driver of the operating system can be substituted by the device driver module 324, which can further reduce the size and cost of the camera system.

In one embodiment, the image processing module 326 can be executed by the processor 264 to perform digital graphic processing on the digital image signals (e.g., the digital raw image signals) from the image sensor 230. More specifically, the image processing module 326 can be executed to adjust the image attributes, e.g., the brightness, color, saturation, noise-signal ratio, etc., of the digital image signals (e.g., the digital raw image signals) by various digital processing technologies such as geometric transformation, color processing, image composite, image denoising, image enhancement, etc. As a result, the digital raw image signals can be converted to color-corrected images with a standard image file format, e.g., a join photographic experts group (JPEG) standard, which can be used or further processed by a user-mode program such as an MSN application. Advantageously, the hardware image processor (e.g., the image processor 114 in FIG. 1) in the conventional camera controller can be substituted by the image processing module 326, which can further reduce the size and cost of the camera system.

The power saving module 328 can be executed by the processor 264 to save power for the camera system 200. In one embodiment, the power saving module 328 can be executed by the processor 264 to monitor status of the computer unit 210 and to control power and system clocks (e.g., chip clocks) of the communication medium 240 and the image sensor 230 accordingly. For example, if the driver application 250 in the camera system 200 is not called by computer programs of the computer unit 210 for a predetermined time period, e.g., 5 seconds, the power saving module 328 can be executed to automatically turn off the power and the system clocks of the communication medium 240 and the image sensor 230. If a computer program of the computer unit 210 calls the driver application 250, the power saving module 328 can be executed to automatically enable the power and the system clocks of the communication medium 240 and the image sensor 230.

The driver application 250 can have other configurations and is not limited to the example of FIG. 3. In other embodiments, the driver application 250 may include one or more modules selected from the configuration module 322, the device driver module 324, the image processing module 326 and the power saving module 328, and may include other software modules according to system needs.

FIG. 4 illustrates a block diagram of a camera system 400 employing a USB protocol standard, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. Elements that are labeled the same as in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 have similar functions.

In the example of FIG. 4, the camera system 400 includes a computer unit 210 and a camera 402. The computer unit 210 includes a bus 262, a processor 264, a main memory 266, a ROM 268, a communication interface 272, and a storage device 270 storing a driver application 250 as shown in FIG. 2. In one embodiment, the camera 402 can include a communication medium 240 and an image sensor 230. In one embodiment, the communication medium 240 can be integrated on an integrated circuit (IC) chip which can be assembled with the image sensor 230 on a printed circuit board (PCB).

In one embodiment, the communication medium 240 can include a logic circuit 410 coupled to the image sensor 230. The logic circuit 410 is configured to generate a clock 412, e.g., a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal. The image sensor 230 can employ the clock 412 to convert the electrical analog image signals to digital raw images, as described in relation to FIG. 2. Advantageously, an oscillator (e.g., the oscillator 131 in FIG. 1) in the conventional camera system can be avoided, which can further reduce the size and cost of the camera system.

In the example of FIG. 4, the communication medium 240 further includes a USB interface. The USB interface includes a USB physical layer (PHY) 402, a USB device controller 404, and an I²C bus 406, and is operable for transferring data in accordance with a USB protocol standard, in one embodiment. The communication medium 240 can have many other configurations and is not limited to the configuration in the example of FIG. 4.

Advantageously, in one embodiment, the camera system 400 can reduce the cost and improve the efficiency by removing some hardware blocks in the conventional camera system, e.g., the oscillator 131, the E²PROM 140, the image processor 114, and the UVC component 115 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 illustrates a flowchart 500 of operations performed by a camera controller, e.g., the camera controller 220 in FIG. 2, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is described in combination with FIG. 2, FIG. 3 and FIG. 4. Although specific steps are disclosed in FIG. 5, such steps are exemplary. That is, the present invention is well suited to performing various other steps or variations of the steps recited in FIG. 5. In one embodiment, the flowchart 500 is implemented as computer-executable instructions stored in a computer-readable medium.

In block 502, communications between an image sensor, e.g., the image sensor 230, and a computer unit, e.g., the computer unit 210, are established. The image sensor 230 is connected to the computer unit 210 via a communication medium 240. In one embodiment, a device driver module stored in a computer-readable medium can be executed by the computer unit 210 to enable communications between the computer unit 210 and the image sensor 230.

In block 504, a configuration data set stored in a computer-readable medium is accessed by the computer unit 210. The configuration data set indicates settings (e.g., default settings) of the image sensor 230. In one embodiment, multiple configuration data sets indicative of settings (e.g., default settings) of different types of image sensors respectively can be stored in the computer-readable medium.

In block 506, a configuration module, e.g., the configuration module 322, stored in a computer-readable medium, e.g., the storage device 270, can be executed by the computer unit 210 to set operation parameters of the image sensor 230 according to the configuration data set. In one embodiment, the configuration module can be executed by the computer unit 210 to select the configuration data set indicative of settings of the image sensor 230 from the multiple configuration data sets according to an identification or type of the image sensor 230.

In block 508, an image processing module stored in the computer-readable medium can be executed by the computer unit 210 to perform digital graphic processing on digital image signals from the image sensor 230.

In block 510, a power saving module stored in the computer-readable medium can be executed by the computer unit 210 to save power for the communication medium 240 and the image sensor 230.

While the foregoing description and drawings represent embodiments of the present invention, it will be understood that various additions, modifications and substitutions may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the principles of the present invention as defined in the accompanying claims. One skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention may be used with many modifications of form, structure, arrangement, proportions, materials, elements, and components and otherwise, used in the practice of the invention, which are particularly adapted to specific environments and operative requirements without departing from the principles of the present invention. The presently disclosed embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, and not limited to the foregoing description.

Claims

1. A camera controller comprising:

a communication medium operable for enabling communications between a camera and a computer unit; and

a computer-readable medium operable for storing a configuration data set indicative of settings of an image sensor of said camera and for storing a configuration module executed by said computer unit,

wherein said configuration module comprises a first plurality of computer-executable instructions for setting operation parameters of said image sensor according to said configuration data set via said communication medium.

2. The camera controller as claimed in claim 1, wherein said computer-readable medium further stores an image processing module executed by said computer unit, and wherein said image processing module comprises a second plurality of computer-executable instructions for performing digital graphic processing on a plurality of digital image signals transmitted from said image sensor via said communication medium.

3. The camera controller as claimed in claim 1, wherein said computer-readable medium further stores a device driver module executed by said computer unit, and wherein said device driver module comprises a second plurality of computer-executable instructions for enabling communications between said image sensor and said computer unit.

4. The camera controller as claimed in claim 1, wherein said computer-readable medium stores a plurality of configuration data sets indicative of settings of a plurality of image sensors, respectively, and wherein said configuration module further comprises a second plurality of computer-executable instructions for selecting said configuration data set indicative of settings of said image sensor from said plurality of configuration data sets.

5. The camera controller as claimed in claim 1, wherein said computer-readable medium further stores a power saving module executed by said computer unit, and wherein said power saving module comprises a second plurality of computer-executable instructions for saving power for said communication medium and said image sensor.

6. The camera controller as claimed in claim 1, wherein said communication medium comprises a logic circuit coupled to said image sensor and operable for generating a clock to said image sensor.

7. A method for controlling an image sensor, said method comprising:

establishing communications between said image sensor and a computer unit via a communication medium;

accessing a configuration data set stored in a computer-readable medium by said computer unit, wherein said configuration data set indicates settings of said image sensor; and

executing a configuration module stored in said computer-readable medium by said computer unit to set operation parameters of said image sensor according to said configuration data set.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7, further comprising:

accessing a plurality of configuration data sets indicative of settings of a plurality of image sensors, respectively; and

executing said configuration module to select said configuration data set indicative of settings of said image sensor from said plurality of configuration data sets.

9. The method as claimed in claim 7, further comprising:

executing an image processing module stored in said computer-readable medium by said computer unit to perform digital graphic processing on a plurality of digital image signals from said image sensor.

10. The method as claimed in claim 7, further comprising:

executing a device driver module stored in said computer-readable medium by said computer unit; and

calling said device driver module to enable communications between said image sensor and said computer unit.

11. The method as claimed in claim 7, further comprising:

executing a power saving module stored in said computer-readable medium by said computer unit to save power for said communication medium and said image sensor.

12. A camera comprising:

an image sensor; and

a communication medium coupled to said image sensor and operable for transferring commands generated by a computer unit to configure said image sensor according to a configuration data set indicative of settings of said image sensor,

wherein said computer unit is operable for generating said commands by executing a computer-executable configuration module, and wherein said configuration data set and said configuration module are stored in a computer-readable medium.

13. The camera as claimed in claim 12, wherein said communication medium comprises a universal serial bus interface.

14. The camera as claimed in claim 12, wherein said computer-readable medium stores a plurality of configuration data sets indicative of settings of a plurality of image sensors, respectively, and wherein said configuration module is further executed by said computer unit to select said configuration data set indicative of settings of said image sensor from said plurality of configuration data sets.

15. The camera as claimed in claim 12, wherein said computer unit further executes an image processing module to perform digital graphic processing on a plurality of digital image signals from said image sensor.

16. The camera as claimed in claim 12, wherein said computer unit further executes a device driver module to enable communications between said image sensor and said computer unit.

17. The camera as claimed in claim 12, wherein said computer unit further executes a power saving module to save power for said communication medium and said image sensor.

18. The camera as claimed in claim 12, wherein said communication medium comprises a logic circuit coupled to said image sensor and operable for generating a clock to said image sensor.

19. A computer system comprising:

a processor;

memory coupled to said processor; and

a communication medium coupled to said processor and operable for enabling communications between an image sensor and said processor,

wherein said memory is operable for storing a configuration data set indicative of settings of said image sensor and for storing a configuration module, and wherein said processor is operable for executing said configuration module to set operation parameters of said image sensor via said communication medium according to said configuration data set.

20. The computer system as claimed in claim 19, wherein said communication medium comprises a universal serial bus interface.

21. The computer system as claimed in claim 19, wherein said memory is operable for storing a plurality of configuration data sets indicative of settings of a plurality of image sensors, respectively, and wherein said processor further executes said configuration module to select said configuration data set indicative of settings of said image sensor from said plurality of configuration data sets.

22. The computer system as claimed in claim 19, wherein said memory further stores a device driver module, and wherein said processor executes said device driver module to enable communications between said image sensor and said processor.

23. The computer system as claimed in claim 19, wherein said memory further stores an image processing module, and wherein said processor executes said image processing module to perform digital graphic processing on a plurality of digital image signals from said image sensor.

24. The computer system as claimed in claim 19, wherein said memory further stores a power saving module, and wherein said processor executes said power saving module to save power for said communication medium and said image sensor.