VLIW image processor

1. A microcontroller for an image sensing and processing apparatus, the microcontroller comprising:

VLIW processor circuitry;

image sensor interface circuitry connected between the VLIW processor circuitry and the image sensor;

bus interface circuitry connected between the VLIW processor circuitry and a bus connectable with devices other than the image sensor; and

buffer memory and queuing circuitry intermediate the VLIW processor and each of the image sensor and bus interface circuitry to control delivery of information to the VLIW processor.

2. A microcontroller as claimed in claim 1 , in which the interface circuitry defines a state machine that is configured to provide the image sensor with control information generated by the VLIW processor.

3. A microcontroller as claimed in claim 1 , in which the image sensor is in the form of a CMOS-based image sensor.

4. A microcontroller as claimed in claim 2 , in which the image sensor is in the form of an active pixel sensor (APS).

5. A microcontroller as claimed in claim 1 , in which the image sensor is in the form of a charge-coupled device (CCD) sensor.

6. A microcontroller as claimed in claim 1 , in which the interface circuitry defines an analog/digital converter (ADC) to convert an analog signal generated by the image sensor into a digital signal and to convert a digital signal carrying control information generated by the VLIW processor into a suitable analog signal that is readable by the image sensor.