Patent ID: 7471333

Claim:
An improved image sensing device interface unit to interface an image sensing device and a color & format converter that is capable to process the lines and pixel of an image comprising: a control register to generate a set of control signals to adapt the image sensing device interface unit to the specific sensing device being used; a clock signal generator configured to generate a first clock signal to be externaly used for the synchronizaton of sad image sensing device and a second clock signal to be internally used; data processing and synchronization circuit configured to receive a Start Of Frame signal, synchronization signals and data from the image sensing device and said second clock signal to generate regenerated Start of Frame, Start of Line, End of Frame, End of Line and Data Valid signals and corresponding data to the color & format converter; the interface unit being characterized in that it further comprises: counter and comparator comprising: time interval counter for counting the time interval between the start of line 1 and the start of line 2 of a frame; time out counting counter for counting the time interval for any other pair of two consecutive lines and being reset at each start of a new time; first comparator for comparing values in the time interval and time out counters to generate a first missing tine interrupt signal if the time out value is greater than the time interval value and configured to apply said interrupt signal to the data processing and synchronization circuit which in turn generates a clock control signal; and clock gating signal generator, connected to said clock signal generator, which is configured to generate a gated clock signal derived from the second clock signal that is used in the data processing and synchronization circuit and in the color & format converter as their current clock, the gated clock signal being switched off upon receipt of the clock control signal for power saving.