Photographing device capable of outputting tagged image frame

Abstract

There is provided a photographing device having two output interfaces that respectively used to output a first image frame and a second image frame. The first image frame is provided to a processor of the photographing device to perform the feature extraction and tag the second image frame accordingly. The tagged second image frame is for the image recording of an external back end.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A photographing device, comprising:
 an image sensor configured to capture a series of image data; and   a processor configured to
 receive a first image frame, which corresponds to a first part of the series of image data and has a first size, 
 control the photographing device to output a second image frame, which corresponds to a second part of the series of image data and has a second size, and a tag associated with a predetermined feature to downstream of the photographing device upon identifying the first image frame containing the predetermined feature, and 
 control the photographing device to continuously output successive second image frames for a predetermined interval. 
   
     
     
         2 . The photographing device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first and second parts of the series of image data correspond to image data of a same image frame or different image frames. 
     
     
         3 . The photographing device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the photographing device is configured not to output the first image frame within the predetermined interval. 
     
     
         4 . The photographing device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein
 the second image frame is outputted to a back end circuit, and   the image sensor is further configured to receive, within the predetermined interval, an auto exposure control signal from the back end circuit.   
     
     
         5 . The photographing device as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein within the predetermined interval the processor is configured not to output an auto exposure control signal to the image sensor. 
     
     
         6 . The photographing device as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein after the predetermined interval,
 the processor is configured to receive another first image frame, and   the photographing device is configured to stop outputting the second image.   
     
     
         7 . The photographing device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein before the processor identifies the first image frame containing the predetermined feature, the photographing device is configured not to output any second image frame. 
     
     
         8 . The photographing device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the second size is larger than the first size. 
     
     
         9 . The photographing device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to enter a sleep mode within the predetermined interval. 
     
     
         10 . A photographing device, comprising:
 an image sensor configured to capture a series of image data; and   a processor configured to
 receive a first image frame, which corresponds to a first part of the series of image data and has a first size, and 
 control the photographing device to output a second image frame, which corresponds to a second part of the series of image data and has a second size, and a tag associated with a predetermined feature to downstream of the photographing device upon identifying the first image frame containing the predetermined feature, 
   wherein before the processor identifies the first image frame containing the predetermined feature, the photographing device is configured not to output any second image frame.   
     
     
         11 . The photographing device as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the first and second parts of the series of image data correspond to image data of a same image frame or different image frames. 
     
     
         12 . The photographing device as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein
 the processor is configured to control the photographing device to continuously output successive second image frames within a predetermined interval; and   within the predetermined interval the photographing device is configured not to output the first image frame.   
     
     
         13 . The photographing device as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein
 the second image frame is outputted to a back end circuit, and   the image sensor is further configured to receive, within the predetermined interval, an auto exposure control signal from the back end circuit.   
     
     
         14 . The photographing device as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein within the predetermined interval the processor is configured not to output an auto exposure control signal to the image sensor. 
     
     
         15 . The photographing device as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein after the predetermined interval,
 the processor is configured to receive another first image frame, and   the photographing device is configured to stop outputting the second image.   
     
     
         16 . The photographing device as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the second size is larger than the first size. 
     
     
         17 . A photographing device, comprising:
 an image sensor configured to capture a series of image data;   a first output interface coupled to the image sensor, and configured to output a first image frame, which corresponds to a first part of the series of image data and has a first size;   a second output interface coupled to the image sensor, and configured to output a second image frame, which corresponds to a second part of the series of image data and has a second size, to downstream of the photographing device; and   a processor configured to
 receive the first image frame, 
 upon identifying the first image frame containing a predetermined feature, control the image sensor to output the second image frame via the second output interface for a predetermined interval and to output at least one first image frame via the first output interface within the predetermined interval, and 
 extend the predetermined interval when the predetermined feature or a new predetermined feature is identified in the at least one first image frame within the predetermined interval. 
   
     
     
         18 . The photographing device as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the first and second parts of the series of image data correspond to image data of a same image frame . 
     
     
         19 . The photographing device as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the first and second parts of the series of image data correspond to image data of different image frames. 
     
     
         20 . The photographing device as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the second size is larger than the first size.