There exists numerous applications in which multiple image sensors are desired. Two image sensors are needed for applications such as 3D stereoscopic video, black box car driver recorder designs, accurate 3D analytics for security/surveillance and many other applications. Although todays Image Signal Processors, (ISP) are capable of processing the data that two image sensors output, they do not often have the port configurations to support multiple sensors.
Typical dual image sensor application – Black box car driver recorder
Given that many of the current ISPs on the market today can handle higher resolutions and frame rates, it is possible to process two image sensors if they can be correctly combined. The Lattice MachXO2 used with an inexpensive LP SDRAM device can properly synchronize and merge two image sensors and output the data in a format than an ISP can accept. The MachXO2 receives the image data from both image sensors and by using the LP SDRAM as a frame buffer, the MachXO2 can output a combined image for the ISP to process. The MachXO2 dual sensor interface design can output two 720p images in a top / bottom format or a left / right configuration, depending on what format the ISP would like to accept the data in. With a low cost Lattice MachXO2 customers can implement dual image sensor designs now with their current ISP of choice.
Dual Sensor to ISP Interface
© Lattice Semiconductor Corporation 2012
