Patent ID: 8508621
Filing Date: 2013-08-13
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. A method comprising: using an image sensor configured to acquire image frames representative of an image scene, wherein each image frame comprises a plurality of pixels; providing a plurality of pixel memory formats; providing the plurality of pixels to an image signal processing system, wherein the plurality of pixels are of one of a plurality of pixel types, each of the plurality of pixel types being configured to be stored in a memory array of a memory device using a respective one of the plurality of pixel memory formats; based upon the pixel type of the plurality of pixels, selecting a pixel memory format corresponding to the pixel type; and using a memory input/output controller associated with the memory device to store the plurality of pixels into the memory array based upon the selected pixel memory format; wherein the pixel memory formats comprise at least one pixel memory format that is aligned with bytes of the memory array and at least one pixel memory format that is not aligned with bytes of the memory array; wherein the plurality of pixel types comprises at least one of raw pixels, color RGB pixels, and luma and chroma pixels; wherein, if the pixel type of the plurality of pixels comprises raw pixels, the raw pixels having a precision of at least 8 bits; wherein if the raw pixels have a precision of 8 bits (RAW8), a first raw pixel memory format is used to store each raw pixel into a corresponding byte of the memory array; wherein if the raw pixels have a precision of 10 bits (RAW 10), a second raw pixel memory format is used store every four of the 10-bit raw pixels into five bytes of the memory array, wherein the upper 8 bits of a first raw pixel of the four 10-bit raw pixels is stored in a first byte of the five bytes, wherein the upper 8 bits of a second raw pixel of the four 10-bit raw pixels is stored in a second byte of the five bytes, wherein the upper 8 bits of a third raw pixel of the four 10-bit raw pixels is stored in a third byte of the five bytes, wherein the upper 8 bits of a fourth raw pixel of the four 10-bit raw pixels is stored in a fourth byte of the five bytes, and wherein the lower 2 bits of each of the first, second, third, and fourth 10-bit raw pixels are stored in a fifth byte of the five bytes; wherein if the raw pixels have a precision of 12 bits (RAW12), a third raw pixel memory format is used store every two of the 12-bit raw pixels into three bytes of the memory array, wherein the upper 8 bits of a first raw pixel of the two 12-bit raw pixels is stored in a first byte of the three bytes, wherein the upper 8 bits of a second raw pixel of the two 12-bit raw pixels is stored in a second byte of the three bytes, and wherein the lower 4 bits of each of the first and second 12-bit raw pixels are stored in a third byte of the three bytes; wherein if the raw pixels have a precision of 14 bits (RAW14), a fourth raw pixel memory format is used store every four of the 14-bit into seven bytes of the memory array, wherein the upper 8 bits of a first raw pixel of the four 14-bit raw pixels is stored in a first byte of the seven bytes, wherein the upper 8 bits of a second raw pixel of the four 14-bit raw pixels is stored in a second byte of the seven bytes, wherein the upper 8 bits of a third raw pixel of the four 14-bit raw pixels is stored in a third byte of the seven bytes, wherein the upper 8 bits of a fourth raw pixel of the four 14-bit raw pixels is stored in a fourth byte of the seven bytes, wherein the lower 6 bits of the first raw pixel of the four 14-bit raw pixels is stored in a first portion of a fifth byte of the seven bytes, wherein the lower 6 bits of the second raw pixel of the four 14-bit raw pixels is stored in a second portion of the fifth byte of the seven bytes and in a first portion of a sixth byte of the seven bytes, wherein the lower 6 bits of the third raw pixel of the four 14-bit raw pixels is stored in a second portion of the sixth byte of the seven bytes and in a first portion of a seventh byte of the seven bytes, and wherein the lower 6 bits of the fourth raw pixel of the four 14-bit raw pixels is stored in a second portion of the seventh byte of the seven bytes; and wherein if the raw pixels have a precision of 16 bits (RAW 16), a fifth raw pixel memory format is used to store each of the 16-bit raw pixels into two bytes of the memory array.