Pixel data processing apparatus and method of processing pixel data
View Patent ↗A pixel data processing apparatus comprises a data path unit comprising a hardware module dedicated to performing, when in use, predetermined functionality in relation to image data. The apparatus also comprises a data store for storing image data and a programmable engine. The programmable engine is arranged to route, when in use, data associated with the image data through the data path unit in a predetermined manner.
1. A pixel data processing apparatus, comprising:
a data path unit comprising:
an arithmetic logic unit configured to perform a first function on image data;
a working buffer configured to receive a result of the first function from the arithmetic logic unit; and
a first hardware module configured in a first mode to perform a second function on the image data, and in a second mode to receive the result from the working buffer and to perform the second function on the result of the first function; and
a programmable engine configured in the first mode to direct the data path unit to route the image data to the first hardware module, and in the second mode to direct the data path unit to route the image data to the arithmetic logic unit and to route the result of the first function from the working buffer to the first hardware module;
wherein the data path unit further comprises a mask processor configured to prevent the arithmetic logic unit from performing the first function on a particular pixel of the image data, and to prevent the first hardware module in the first mode from performing the second function on the particular pixel of the image data and in the second mode from performing the second function on the particular pixel of the result of the first function.
2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:
an input buffer configured to receive the image data, wherein the input buffer provides the image data to the first hardware module in the first mode, and to the arithmetic logic unit in the second mode.
3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the data path unit further comprises:
a second hardware module configured in a third mode to perform a third function, and in a fourth mode to receive the result from the working buffer and to perform the third function on the result;
wherein the programmable engine is further configured in the third mode to direct the data path unit to route the image data to the second hardware module, and in the fourth mode to direct the data path unit to route the image data to the arithmetic logic unit and to route the result of the first function from the working buffer to the second hardware module.
4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the input buffer provides the image data to the second hardware module in the third mode, and to the arithmetic logic unit in the fourth mode.
5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the second hardware module is a sorting tree.
6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein:
the programmable engine comprises a buffer; and
the programmable engine is further configured to direct the data path unit to route the result of the second function from the first hardware module to the buffer.
7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the image data is received from a buffer for centrally storing the image data, the buffer being accessible by a CPU-independent memory access hardware module.
8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the CPU-independent memory access hardware module is one of a Direct Memory Access (DMA) module coupled to the buffer and a streaming interface module coupled to the buffer.
9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first hardware module is an adder tree.
10. A method of processing pixel data, comprising:
performing, by an arithmetic logic unit of a pixel data processing apparatus, a first function on image data;
providing a result of the first function to a working buffer of the pixel data processing apparatus;
directing, by a programmable engine of the pixel data processing apparatus:
in a first mode, a first hardware module of the pixel data processing apparatus, to perform a second function on the image data; and
in a second mode, the first hardware module to perform the second function on the result of the first function;
preventing, by by a mask processor, the arithmetic logic unit from performing the first function on a particular pixel of the image data; and
preventing, by the mask processor, the first hardware module in the first mode from performing the second function on the particular pixel of the image data and in the second mode from performing the second function on the particular pixel of the result of the first function.
11. A semiconductor device for processing pixel data, comprising:
a data path unit comprising:
an arithmetic logic unit configured to perform a first function on image data;
a working buffer configured to receive a result of the first function from the arithmetic logic unit; and
a first hardware module configured in a first mode to perform a second function on the image data, and in a second mode to receive the result from the working buffer and to perform the second function on the result of the first function; and
a programmable engine configured in the first mode to direct the data path unit to route to the first hardware module, and in the second mode to direct the data path unit to route the image data to the arithmetic logic unit and to route the result of the first function from the working buffer to the first hardware module;
wherein the data path unit further comprises a mask processor configured to prevent the arithmetic logic unit from performing the first function on a particular pixel of the image data, and to prevent the first hardware module in the first mode from performing the second function on the particular pixel of the image data and in the second mode from performing the second function on the particular pixel of the result of the first function.
12. The semiconductor device as claimed in claim 11 , further comprising:
an input buffer configured to receive the image data, wherein the input buffer provides the image data to the first hardware module in the first mode, and to the arithmetic logic unit in the second mode.
13. The semiconductor device as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the data path unit further comprises:
a second hardware module configured in a third mode to perform a third function, and in a fourth mode to receive the result from the working buffer and to perform the third function on the result;
wherein the programmable engine is further configured in the third mode to direct the data path unit to route the image data to the second hardware module, and in the fourth mode to direct the data path unit to route the image data to the arithmetic logic unit and to route the result of the first function from the working buffer to the second hardware module.
14. The semiconductor device as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the input buffer provides the image data to the second hardware module in the third mode, and to the arithmetic logic unit in the fourth mode.
15. The semiconductor device as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the second hardware module is a sorting tree.
16. The semiconductor device as claimed in claim 11 , wherein:
the programmable engine comprises a buffer; and
the programmable engine is further configured to direct the data path unit to route the result of the second function from the first hardware module to the buffer.
17. The semiconductor device as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the image data is received from a buffer for centrally storing the image data, the buffer being accessible by a CPU-independent memory access hardware module.
18. The semiconductor device as claimed in claim 17 , wherein the CPU-independent memory access hardware module is one of a Direct Memory Access (DMA) module coupled to the buffer and a streaming interface module coupled to the buffer.
19. The semiconductor device as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the first hardware module is an adder tree.