KR20150094138A - Image sensor and photographing system having the same - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an image sensor and a photographing system including the same. Disclosed is a technology that an on-screen display function is installed inside an image sensor of a rear camera module to reduce the size of a chip and to save costs required for implementing a board. The image sensor comprises: a decoding unit decoding tuning information and vehicle information applied from the outside; a data processing unit processing vehicle data applied from the decoding unit; and an image processing unit reading an on-screen display image corresponding to the tuning information and the output data of the data processing unit, applying the on-screen display image to image data and outputting the image data.

Description

[0001] IMAGE SENSOR AND PHOTOGRAPHING SYSTEM HAVING THE SAME [0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image sensor and a photographing system including the same. More particularly, the present invention relates to an image sensor for converting an external optical image signal into an electric image signal.

Generally, an image sensor is an apparatus that converts an external optical image signal into an electric image signal. In particular, a CMOS image sensor is an image sensor manufactured using CMOS manufacturing technology. In a CMOS image sensor, each pixel stores a light signal that is copied at a corresponding portion of the subject by using a photodiode, stores the charge, and converts the amount of charge, which is proportional to the number of accumulated electrons, Lt; / RTI >

Image sensors are divided into a CMOS image sensor using complementary-MOS (CMOS) technology and a CCD image sensor using charge coupled device (CCD) technology, all of which are manufactured using semiconductor technology.

Such a CMOS image sensor is a device widely used in various electronic products such as a mobile phone, a camera for a PC (Personal Computer), a video camera, a digital camera, and the like.

The CMOS image sensor is easier to drive than the CCD that was used as an image sensor and can integrate a signal processing circuit on a single chip, thus enabling a system on chip (SoC), which enables miniaturization of the module. . In addition, since there is a lot of advantages such as the fact that the set-up CMOS technology can be used in compatibility with the conventional technology, the demand for the CMOS technology is rapidly increasing.

2. Description of the Related Art A photographing apparatus including an image sensor, such as a digital camera, a camcorder, and a portable terminal having a camera function, captures an image coming through a lens with an image sensor to acquire a video signal. Then, the video signal is converted into digital video data and displayed on a liquid crystal screen as a preview screen. When the user presses the shutter key while the preview image is displayed, the image data is compressed and stored as image data.

1 is a configuration diagram of a photographing system including a conventional image sensor.

The conventional photographing system includes a rear camera module 10 and a navigation 20. Here, the rear camera module 10 includes a ROM (Read Only Memory) 11, an image sensor (CIS) 12, a micro control unit (MCU) 13, and a SERDES. Serializer / Deserializer, 14).

The rear camera module 10 using the CD-ROM 14 is mounted on the rear of the vehicle. The rear camera module 10 is operated in accordance with a sensor tuning register and a parking guide line made by a manufacturer.

In the field, additional tuning is often required for sensor functions such as contrast, brightness, and mirror, and sensor functions such as parking guideline, crop, and zoom . In order to support such a function, a micro control unit 13 is required.

The desert 14 transmits and receives signals to and from the navigation 20. [ The desdes 140 convert parallel signals to serial signals or convert serial signals to parallel signals.

The desert 14 transfers the signal received from the navigation 20 via the I2C signal line to the microcontroller 13. When the user inputs the tuning information through the keyboard of the navigation device 20, the desert 14 receives the tuning information and outputs the tuning information to the microcontroller 13.

The micro control unit 13 converts the digital signal applied from the display 14 to an analog signal and outputs the analog display control signal OSDC to the input pad of the image sensor 12. [ The image sensor 12 performs an on-screen display (OSD) function and an image tuning function according to the display control signal OSDC. At this time, the image sensor 12 controls on-screen display (OSD) and image tuning operations with reference to the data stored in the ROM 11.

This conventional photographing system exchanges data and performs communication between the micro control unit 13, the image sensor 12, and the desert 14 chip. That is, in order to control the on-screen display operation, the micro control unit 13 chip and the desert 14 chip must be used in addition to the image sensor 12 chip.

That is, in the conventional rear camera module 10, image tuning and screen correction using remote communication are supported, and a dynamic parking guide line that moves according to the movement of the vehicle handle on the image of the rear camera at the time of parking, A micro control unit 13 is required in the image sensor 12 to display the display on the navigation screen.

When the image sensor 12, the micro control unit 13 and the undersurface 14 are made up of respective individual chips in the photographing system, the cost of the elements for connection between the chips increases and the cost of the printed circuit board The area of the printed circuit board (PCB) increases.

That is, when the micro control unit 13 is implemented as a separate chip in the photographing system, the volume of the system becomes large and the implementation cost of the photographing system increases. In addition, the camera module can not be implemented simply because of an increase in the number of lines for connecting individual chips and respective chips.

In addition, it is difficult and limited to implement a program for image tuning of the image sensor 10. In this case, the memory code size of the micro control unit is increased and the unit price of the micro control unit is increased.

The present invention is characterized in that a separate MCU chip is not installed in a rear camera module in a photographing system, thereby reducing cost and simplifying board design.

An image sensor according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a decoding unit decoding an externally applied tuning information and vehicle information; A data processing unit for processing the vehicle data applied from the decoding unit; And an image processing unit for reading out the on-screen display image corresponding to the tuning information and the output data of the data processing unit, applying the result to the image data, and outputting the read image.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a photographing system including an image sensor, comprising: navigation for transmitting tuning information and vehicle information; A rear camera module for transmitting and receiving the navigation and mutual images, receiving the tuning information and the vehicle information from the navigation and generating an on-screen display image in the image sensor; And an electronic control device for transmitting the sensing data of the vehicle to the navigation.

The present invention provides the following effects.

First, since the MCU is not provided in the image sensor, the present invention provides the convenience of the rear camera module and reduces the productivity and the cost.

Second, the present invention can reduce the chip size by controlling the OSD function through an image sensor without using a separate OSD (On Screen Display) chip.

Third, the present invention provides an effect that the OSD control function is built in the image sensor in the photographing system and the separate MCU chip is not installed, thereby reducing the cost and simplifying the board design.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications, additions, and substitutions may be made to the invention by way of example, without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims. As shown in Fig.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a photographing system including a conventional image sensor. FIG.
2 is a block diagram of a photographing system including an image sensor according to an embodiment of the present invention.
3 is a detailed configuration diagram of the image processing unit of FIG. 2;

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

2 is a configuration diagram of a photographing system including an image sensor according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The photographing system according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a rear camera module 100, a navigation device 200, an electronic control unit (ECU) 300, a rear distance sensor 310, and a steering angle sensor 320 do.

Here, the rear camera module 100 includes a CIS image sensor (CIS) 110 and a serializer / deserializer (SERDES) 150. The image sensor 110 includes an image processing unit 120, a data processing unit 130, and a decoding unit 140. The decoding unit 140 includes a keyboard decoding unit 141 and a data decoding unit 142. The navigation 200 also includes a sled 210, a micro control unit (MCU) 220, a monitor 230, and a joystick 240.

The rear camera module 100 is mounted on the rear side of the vehicle and transmits the image to the monitor 230 or the black box monitor of the navigation device 200. The desert 150 transmits and receives signals to and from the desert 210 of the navigation system 200. The SSD 150 converts a parallel signal into a serial signal or converts a serial signal into a parallel signal.

The desert 150 transmits the tuning signal received through the I2C signal line from the desert 210 of the navigation system 200 to the decoding unit 140. [ Here, the image sensor 110 and the wireless terminal 150 can exchange data using a communication method according to the I 2 C (Inter-Integrated Circuit) protocol. Here, I2C is a serial computer bus developed by Philips that uses two bidirectional open collector lines called a serial clock with a pull-up resistor connected, and is used to connect low-speed peripherals to motherboards, embedded systems and mobile phones .

When the user inputs the tuning information through a simple operation of the keyboard 200 of the navigation system 200 or the joystick 240, the desert 150 receives the tuning information and outputs the tuning information to the decoding unit 140. The desert 150 is a transceiver relating to transmission and reception of signals transmitted between high-speed serial links.

The system 150 includes a serializer and a deserializer. Here, a serializer is a device for converting a parallel signal into a serial signal, and a deserializer is a device for converting a serial signal into a parallel signal. Such a desert 150 can be widely employed in order to perform data communication of a higher bandwidth.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the rear camera module 100 and the navigation device 200 transmit signals to each other. However, the embodiment of the present invention is not limited thereto, but the rear camera module 100 and the black box may exchange signals with each other.

The decoding unit 140 decodes the data supplied from the decoding unit 150 through the I2C signal line and outputs the decoded data to the image processing unit 120 and the data processing unit 130. [ Here, the keyboard decoding unit 141 decodes the tuning signal applied through the sub-system 150, and outputs the decoded signal to the image processing unit 120. The data decoding unit 142 decodes the vehicle information applied from the vehicle 150 and outputs the decoded vehicle information to the data processing unit 130.

In this way, the image sensor 110 can receive the sensing data of the vehicle applied from the navigation system 200 through the data decoding unit 142. Here, the sensing data of the vehicle may include data for displaying the rear numeric distance of the vehicle, and digital data such as steering wheel steering angle data.

The data processing unit 130 processes the vehicle data applied from the data decoding unit 142 and outputs the vehicle data to the image processing unit 120 so that the vehicle information can be displayed on the image screen. The image processing unit 120 performs image processing in accordance with the data supplied from the keyboard decoding unit 141 and the data processing unit 130.

At this time, the image processing unit 130 performs an on screen display (OSD) function and an image tuning function in response to the data supplied from the keyboard decoding unit 141. In addition, the image processor 130 displays information such as a dynamic parking guide line and a rear numerical distance on the screen of the image corresponding to the data supplied from the data decoder 142 and the data processor 130 .

Here, the image processing unit 130 may perform an on-screen display (OSD) on the image screen, control the sensor tuning register, and perform an image processing function in the image sensor 110 .

The rear distance sensor 310 senses the rear distance between the vehicle and the object according to the movement of the vehicle handle and outputs the sensing result to the electronic control unit 300. The steering angle sensor 320 senses the steering angle of the vehicle according to the movement of the vehicle handle and outputs the sensed steering angle to the electronic control unit 300. The electronic control unit 300 outputs a signal sensed by the rear distance sensor 310 and the steering angle sensor 320 to the micro control unit 220 via CAN communication.

The system 200 of the navigation system 200 transmits and receives signals to and from the system 150 of the rear camera module 100. The micro control unit 220 transmits a signal to the desk 210 through the I 2 C signal line and receives data of the rear camera module 100 through the desk 210. That is, the micro control unit 220 can transmit the sensing data of each vehicle to the image sensor 110 through the I2C signal line.

The micro control unit 220 controls the monitor 230 to display a dynamic parking guide line and a numerical distance display which change according to the movement of the vehicle handle in response to the sensing information applied from the electronic control unit 300 . Here, the micro control unit 220 transmits sensing information to the electronic control unit 300 through CAN (Cntroller Area Network) communication.

As described above, the rear camera module 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention performs an on screen display (OSD) function and an image tuning function without providing a separate micro control unit in the image sensor 110 .

That is, in the rear camera module 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention, image tuning and screen correction using telecommunication are supported, and an expected moving locus (Dynamic Parking Guide Line) and the image sensor 110 to display a numerical distance display on the navigation screen 200.

3 is a detailed configuration diagram of the image processing unit 120 of FIG.

The image processing unit 120 includes a pixel array 121, an image signal processor (ISP) 122, an embedded OSD (On Screen Display) control unit 123, a register 124, And an output unit 125.

A user interface (UI) enables communication between a person (user) and various electric or electronic devices, allowing a user to easily control the device as desired. Representative examples of such a user interface include a keypad, a keyboard, a mouse, an on screen display (OSD), a remote controller having infrared communication or radio frequency (RF) communication function, and the like.

User interface technology has been developed to enhance the user's sensibility and ease of operation. Recently, the user interface has evolved into a touch UI, a voice recognition UI, a 3D UI, and the like.

The built-in OSD control unit 123 processes the tuning information applied from the keyboard decoding unit 141 and the vehicle information applied from the data processing unit 130 to perform an on-screen display function.

That is, when the tuning information is applied from the keyboard decoding unit 141 and the vehicle information is supplied from the data processing unit 130, the embedded OSD control unit 123 reads the OSD image from the data stored in the register 124, 122. Here, the built-in OSD control unit 123 reads the data of the specific position of the register 124 and outputs the corresponding OSD image to the video output unit 125.

Here, the register 124 may be a static random access memory (SRAM). However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the register 124 may be a flash memory type, a hard disk type, a multimedia card micro type, a card type memory (ROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), programmable read-only memory (PROM), magnetic memory A magnetic disk, an optical disk, a memory, a magnetic disk, or an optical disk.

The pixel array 121 photographs a subject through a lens, receives a video image signal, and converts it into an electrical signal. Then, the pixel array 121 outputs the input video signal to the video signal processing unit 122. That is, the pixel array 121 converts the light into an electrical signal to generate digital image data, and outputs the digital image data to the image signal processing unit 122.

The image signal processing unit 122 processes the digital image data applied from the pixel array 121 and outputs the signal to the image output unit 125. The built-in OSD control unit 123 applies the tuning information and the vehicle information to the digital image data, and outputs the digital image data to the image signal processing unit 122.

The image signal processing unit 122 corrects the digital image data applied from the pixel array 121 and converts the digital image data into image data of a clear image quality. Here, the video signal processing unit 122 corrects luminance and color processing and performs special processing such as auto white balance (AWB), auto exposure (AE), gamma correction, color correction, interpolation, mirror, Function.

The video output unit 125 receives the tuning information and the digital video data to which the on-screen display function is applied from the video signal processing unit 122. Accordingly, the video output unit 125 combines and processes the digital video data and the OSD image to which the changed tuning information is applied. That is, the video output unit 125 synthesizes the digital image data with the tuning information changed and the OSD image, and outputs the synthesized digital video data to the desert 150.

Here, the image sensor 110 may be a Charge Coupled Device (CCD) image sensor and a Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor. In the embodiment of the present invention, And a CMOS image sensor (CIS) will be described as an example.

Claims (13)

A decoding unit decoding the tuning information and the vehicle information applied from outside;
A data processing unit for processing the vehicle data applied from the decoding unit; And
And an image processor for reading out the on-screen display image corresponding to the tuning information and the output data of the data processor, applying the read image to the image data, and outputting the read image. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the decoding unit
A keyboard decoding unit for receiving and decoding the tuning information; And
And a data decoding unit for receiving and decoding the vehicle information. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the image processing unit
A pixel array for receiving a video image signal for a subject and converting the video image signal into the image data;
A video signal processor for applying the tuning information and the output data of the data processor to the video data and performing signal processing;
A built-in OSD (On Screen Display) control unit for reading the tuning information and the on-screen display image corresponding to the vehicle information; And
And an image output unit for synthesizing the tuning information, the image data on which the vehicle information is reflected, and the on-screen display image and performing signal processing to display the synthesized image on the outside. 4. The image sensor of claim 3, further comprising a register for storing the on-screen display image. The image sensor according to claim 1, wherein the image sensor is a CMOS image sensor. The image sensor according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle information includes at least one of rear numerical distance display data and steering wheel steering angle data. Navigation for transmitting tuning information and vehicle information;
A rear camera module for transmitting and receiving a mutual image with the navigation, receiving the tuning information and the vehicle information from the navigation and generating an on-screen display image in the image sensor; And
And an electronic control device for transmitting the sensing data of the vehicle to the navigation. 8. The method of claim 7,
A rear distance sensor for outputting rear numerical distance display data to the electronic control unit; And
Further comprising a steering angle sensor for outputting steering wheel steering angle data to the electronic control unit. 8. The imaging system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the rear camera module and the navigation unit transmit / receive signals to / from each other via a front panel. 8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the image sensor
A decoding unit decoding the tuning information and the vehicle information;
A data processing unit for processing the vehicle data applied from the decoding unit; And
And an image processor for reading the on-screen display image corresponding to the tuning information and the output data of the data processor, applying the read image to the image data, and outputting the image data. 11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the decoding unit
A keyboard decoding unit for receiving and decoding the tuning information; And
And a data decoding unit for receiving and decoding the vehicle information. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the image processing unit
A pixel array for receiving a video image signal for a subject and converting the video image signal into the image data;
A video signal processor for applying the tuning information and the output data of the data processor to the video data and performing signal processing;
A built-in OSD (On Screen Display) control unit for reading the tuning information and the on-screen display image corresponding to the vehicle information; And
And an image output unit that synthesizes the tuned information, the image data on which the vehicle information is reflected, and the on-screen display image, and processes the synthesized image to be displayed externally. 13. The system of claim 12, further comprising a register for storing the on-screen display image.

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