Signal processing apparatus, control method for signal processing apparatus, imaging apparatus recording/reproducing apparatus

Abstract

An imaging system in which, if image data of variable resolutions is to be handled in keeping with the increasing resolution of the image data, the processing is executed efficiently without lowering the processing capability of the respective circuits. To this end, a memory controller 22 time-divisionally transmits an acknowledge signal to the respective circuits within a range of the bandwidth limitation of an image data bus 33 in which image data can be furnished to the respective circuits, and manages control so that the respective circuits will execute the pre-set processing. That is, the memory controller 22 has access to data in the respective circuits in real-time in actuality to cause image data to be written from the respective circuits to the image memory 32 or to be read out from the image memory 32 and sent to the respective circuits.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A signal processing apparatus comprising: 
 storage means for storing image data;    control means for controlling the writing/readout of the image data for said storage means; and    a plurality of signal processing means for processing the image data in a pre-set fashion and for outputting to said control means a request signal for demanding furnishment of the image data for the signal processing or demanding the outputting of the processed image data;    said control means managing control on furnishment of said request signal to select one or more of said signal processing means which has outputted said request signal, to furnish the image data read out from the storage means to the selected signal processing means or to write the image data outputted by the selected signal processing means in said storage means.    
     
     
         2 . The signal processing apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said plural signal processing means includes respective timing generating means.  
     
     
         3 . The signal processing apparatus according to  claim 1  further comprising: 
 an image data bus arranged between said control means and the signal processing means for transmitting/receiving said image data.  
 
     
     
         4 . The signal processing apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said control means preferentially selects the signal processing means required to perform signal processing in real-time.  
     
     
         5 . The signal processing apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the apparatus includes a plurality of processing modes and wherein 
 said control means sets the order of priority of said plural signal processing means responsive to said operating modes.  
 
     
     
         6 . The signal processing apparatus according to  claim 3  wherein said control means manages control so that the image data will be within the range of a transfer band of the image data bus.  
     
     
         7 . The signal processing apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said control means selects a plurality of signal processing means from the signal processing means time-divisionally and simultaneously.  
     
     
         8 . The signal processing apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said control means outputs an acknowledge signal indicating the effect of selection to the selected signal processing means; 
 said signal processing means after receiving said acknowledge signal exchanging image data with said control means.  
 
     
     
         9 . A controlling method for a signal processing apparatus adapted for transmitting/receiving image data between a plurality of signal processing means and storage means adapted for storing image data, said signal processing means being adapted for processing the image data in a pre-set fashion and for outputting to said control means a request signal demanding furnishment of the image data for signal processing or demanding the outputting of the processed image data, comprising: 
 selecting, on furnishment of said request signal from said plural signal processing means, one or more of said signal processing means which has outputted said request signal; and    furnishing the image data read out from the storage means to the selected signal processing means or writing the image data outputted by the selected signal processing means in said storage means.    
     
     
         10 . The control method according to  claim 9  wherein said plural signal processing means output said request signals based on timing generating means owned individually by said signal processing means.  
     
     
         11 . The control method according to  claim 9  wherein transmission/reception of said image data is via an image data bus.  
     
     
         12 . The control method according to  claim 9  wherein the signal processing means required to be processed in real-time is preferentially selected.  
     
     
         13 . The control method according to  claim 9  wherein the signal processing apparatus has a plurality of operating modes; and wherein 
 the order of priority of said plural signal processing means is set responsive to said operating mode.  
 
     
     
         14 . The control method according to  claim 11  wherein control is performed so that the image data will be comprised within the transfer band of said image data bus.  
     
     
         15 . The control method according to  claim 9  wherein the plural signal processing means are selected simultaneously time-divisionally.  
     
     
         16 . The signal processing method according to  claim 9  wherein an acknowledge signal indicating the effect of selection is outputted to the selected signal processing means; 
 said signal processing means after receiving said acknowledge signal exchanging image data with said control means.  
 
     
     
         17 . An imaging apparatus comprising: 
 imaging means;    storage means for transiently storing image data from said imaging means;    control means for controlling the writing/readout of said image data for said storage means;    a plurality of signal processing means for processing the image data in a pre-set fashion and for outputting to said control means a request signal demanding furnishment of the image data for signal processing or demanding the outputting of the processed image data; and    outputting means for outputting image data processed by said signal processing means;    said control means managing control on furnishment of said request signal to select one or more of said signal processing means which has outputted said request signal, to furnish the image data read out from the storage means to the selected signal processing means or to write the image data outputted by the selected signal processing means in said storage means.    
     
     
         18 . The imaging apparatus according to  claim 17  comprising, as said signal processing means: 
 display processing means for performing processing to display said image data on display means; and  
 recording processing means for performing processing to record said image data on a recording medium;  
 said control means preferentially selecting said display processing means.  
 
     
     
         19 . A recording/reproducing apparatus comprising: 
 imaging means;    input processing means for performing pre-set input processing on image data from said imaging means;    display processing means for displaying image data on display means;    first storage means for transiently storing the image data from said imaging means;    control means for controlling the writing/readout of the image data for said first storage means;    resolution converting means for converting the resolution of image data;    compression/expansion means for compressing/expanding the image data; and    recording/reproducing controlling means for causing the compressed image data to be recorded on second storage means and for causing the image data recorded on said second storage means to be reproduced;    said control means selecting one or more signal processing means from said input processing means, display processing means, resolution converting means and said compression/expansion means, said control means causing the image data read out from the first storage means to be sent to the selected signal processing means or causing the image data outputted by the selected signal processing means to be written in the first storage means.    
     
     
         20 . The recording/reproducing apparatus according to  claim 19  having a finder mode for displaying image data from said imaging means on said display means, a recording mode for recording the image data on said second recording means, and a reproducing mode for reproducing the image data from said second storage means; 
 said control means setting the order of priority of said plural signal processing means responsive to said respective modes.  
 
     
     
         21 . The recording/reproducing apparatus according to  claim 20  wherein said control means preferentially selects the input processing means and the display processing means if the mode is the finder mode.