Image data transmission apparatus, transmission method, and image processing system

1. An image data transmission apparatus for transmitting image data of a plurality of planes, the image data transmission apparatus comprising:

circuitry configured to:

deliver the image data to a common transmission line used for transmitting the image data of the planes;

generate first timing signals indicating transmission timings of the image data of the planes for the respective planes, and

generate a second timing signal indicating a transmission timing of the image data in the common transmission line based on the first timing signals for the respective planes, the second timing signal being transmitted through the common transmission line.

2. The image data transmission apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the common transmission line is a serial bus, and ranges of a transmission band of the serial bus that are used for transmitting the image data of the respective planes are previously defined.

3. The image data transmission apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

each of the first timing signals and the second timing signals contains a line data valid signal indicating a timing at which valid image data is transmitted to a transmission line, and

the circuitry asserts the line data valid signal in the common transmission line when the line data valid signal is asserted for any of the planes for which the image data is transmitted through the common transmission line.

4. The image data transmission apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the circuitry also deliver the image data to an exclusive transmission line transmitting image data of one plane, and

the circuitry divides the image data of one plane into a first part that is transmitted through the exclusive transmission line and a second part that is transmitted through the common transmission line, and delivers the first part to the exclusive transmission line and delivers the second part to the common transmission line simultaneously in accordance with one synchronization signal from a transmission target apparatus of the image data.

5. An image data transmission method of transmitting image data of a plurality of planes, the image data transmission method comprising:

using a common transmission line that is used for transmitting the image data of the planes as a transmission line for transmitting the pieces of image data;

generating first timing signals indicating transmission timings of the image data of the planes for the respective planes, and

generating a second timing signal indicating a transmission timing of the image data, the second timing signal being transmitted in the common transmission line based on the first timing signals for the planes that are transmitted through the common transmission line.

6. An image processing system configured to include a plurality of apparatuses and transmits image data of a plurality of planes between the apparatuses, the image processing system comprising:

a common transmission line configured to be used for transmitting the image data of the planes; the common transmission line serving as a transmission line for transmitting the image data between the apparatuses, and

circuitry configured to:

generate first timing signals indicating transmission timings of the pieces of image data of the planes for the respective planes, and

generate a second timing signal indicating a transmission timing of the image data in the common transmission line based on the first timing signals for the planes, the second timing signal being transmitted through the common transmission line.

7. The image processing system according to claim 6 , wherein

each of the first timing signals and the second timing signal includes a line data valid signal indicating a timing at which valid image data is transmitted to a transmission line, and

at a reception side of the common transmission line, it is determined for each plane of the image data that the image data of the plane transmitted through the common transmission line in a period during which both of a line data valid signal of the plane and a line data valid signal in the common transmission line used for transmitting the image data of the plane are asserted is valid.