Apple inc. (20240104691). DUAL-MODE IMAGE FUSION ARCHITECTURE simplified abstract

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DUAL-MODE IMAGE FUSION ARCHITECTURE

Organization Name

apple inc.

Inventor(s)

Maxim Smirnov of Portland OR (US)

David R. Pope of Campbell CA (US)

DUAL-MODE IMAGE FUSION ARCHITECTURE - A simplified explanation of the abstract

This abstract first appeared for US patent application 20240104691 titled 'DUAL-MODE IMAGE FUSION ARCHITECTURE

Simplified Explanation

The patent application describes an image processing circuit capable of performing image fusion on received images in two modes: one for demosaiced and downscaled image data, and another for raw image data. The circuit can handle both types of data, ensuring flexibility in generating fused images for different applications.

  • The image processing circuit can fuse demosaiced and downscaled image data in one mode, and raw image data in another mode.
  • In the first mode, raw image data is demosaiced and resampled before fusion, while in the second mode, fusion is performed on the raw Bayer image data, followed by demosaicing and resampling of the fused image.
  • This approach may result in a cleaner image signal for fusion but requires more memory.
  • The circuit is designed to support both modes of operation, enabling the generation of fused images to meet the needs of various applications.

Potential Applications

The technology can be applied in:

  • Surveillance systems
  • Medical imaging
  • Automotive cameras

Problems Solved

  • Efficient image fusion for different types of image data
  • Flexibility in generating fused images for various applications

Benefits

  • Improved image quality
  • Versatility in handling different image data formats
  • Enhanced performance in image fusion applications

Potential Commercial Applications

Optimized for:

  • Security and surveillance systems
  • Medical imaging devices
  • Automotive camera systems

Possible Prior Art

One possible prior art could be the use of image processing circuits for image fusion in surveillance cameras or medical imaging devices.

Unanswered Questions

How does the circuit handle noise reduction in the fused images?

The patent application does not provide specific details on the noise reduction techniques employed in the image processing circuit.

What is the power consumption of the image processing circuit?

The patent application does not mention the power consumption characteristics of the image processing circuit.


Original Abstract Submitted

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.