Smart Camera Based on Embedded HW/SW Coprocessor

This paper describes an image acquisition and a processing system based on a new coprocessor architecture designed for CMOS sensor imaging. The system exploits the full potential CMOS selective access imaging technology because the coprocessor unit is integrated into the image acquisition loop. The acquisition and coprocessing architecture are compatible with the majority of CMOS sensors. It enables the dynamic selection of a wide variety of acquisition modes as well as the reconfiguration and implementation of high-performance image preprocessing algorithms (calibration, filtering, denoising, binarization, and pattern recognition). Furthermore, the processing and data transfer, from the CMOS sensor to the processor, can be operated simultaneously to increase achievable performances.