Nvidia Corporation

Soumenkumar Dey

Vinayak Jayaram Pore

Shashank Garg

Harikrishna Madadi Reddy

Manindra Parhy

Vikas Patel

Ankur Gupta

Manish Jatashanker Pandey

Jaiprakash Rao

A technique of encoding video frames allocates an available number of bits to different portions of the video frame. A processing unit identifies a region of interest (ROI) in a video frame, and computes a first and second complexity parameter respectively representing the change in video information in the ROI portions and non-ROI portions in the video frame relative to a reference frame. Bits are allocated to the ROI portion proportional (positive correlation) to the first complexity parameter and a ratio of the area of the ROI to the area of the frame. The remaining available bits are allocated to the non-ROI. In an embodiment, the bits are encoded according to H.264 standard.

Allocation of available bits to represent different portions of video frames captured in a sequence

An encoder provided according to an aspect of the present invention uses different encoding techniques depending on an amount of power available in the corresponding durations. Due to the ability to use such different encoding techniques, power may be optimally utilized. The optimization is further enhanced by dynamically switching between encoding techniques according to power amount availability in corresponding durations. In an embodiment, each encoding technique estimates motion vectors at corresponding level of precision (thereby consuming a corresponding level of power) and the precision level is chosen to correspond to available power budget. The circuitry not required for a desired precision level may be switched off.

Optimal power usage in encoding data streams

Multiple sets of pixel values representing a captured image of a scene are received, with each set representing an image captured with a corresponding degree of focus. An image processor may identify a region of interest in the captured image, automatically determine the configuration parameters for a lens assembly to provide a desired degree of focus for the region of interest, and generate signals to configure a lens assembly. In an embodiment, the region of interest is a face, the desired degree of focus of the face is determined by computing a rate of variation of luminance of pixels representing the face, and the desired degree is the degree of the image having the maximum degree of focus.

Auto-focus technique in an image capture device

Auto focus technique in an image capture device

An image processor, which determines appropriate exposure parameters for a shutter assembly in a camera. The image processor may computationally determine a region of interest in a scene sought to be captured, and set the parameters to ensure that the exposure parameters are set to capture an image of the scene with the region of interest having a desired brightness level. In an embodiment, pixel values of multiple frames (each frame with a corresponding set of configuration parameters of the shutter assembly) may be examined to determine the frame having pixel values with the region having the desired brightness level. The shutter assembly may be configured with the parameters corresponding to such a frame to provide an auto-exposure feature.

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Pune, India

Soumenkumar Dey