Case 2:20-cv-00234-JRG Document 1-3 Filed 07/13/20 Page 1 of 7 PageID #: 79
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`Exhibit 3
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`

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`Case 2:20-cv-00234-JRG Document 1-3 Filed 07/13/20 Page 2 of 7 PageID #: 80
`
`(12) United States Patent
`Wang
`
`USOO6473527B1
`(10) Patent No.:
`US 6,473,527 B1
`(45) Date of Patent:
`Oct. 29, 2002
`
`(54) MODULE AND METHOD FOR
`INTERFACING ANALOG/DIGITAL
`CONVERTING MEANS AND JPEG
`COMPRESSION MEANS
`(75) Inventor: Chia-Ying Wang, Taichung Hsien
`(TW)
`Inc., Hsinchu (TW
`: Mustek Swst
`73) Assi
`(73)
`Signee
`ustek Systems Inc., Hsinchu (TW)
`(*) Notice:
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
`
`7
`
`(56)
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 09/324,095
`(22) Filed:
`Jun. 1, 1999
`(51) Int. Cl.' .................................................. "...'
`(52) U.S. Cl. ................
`... 382/232; 382/248
`(58) Field of Search ................................. 382/232, 248;
`348/231: 341/126, 144; 358/426, 432, 433
`s
`s
`s
`s
`s
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`a
`6/1998 Murabayashi et al. ...... 369/124
`5,761,180 A
`8/2000 Suzuki ....................... 348/220
`6,111,605 A
`6,134,375 A * 10/2000 Naganawa et al. ........... 386/33
`6,323,897 B1 * 11/2001 Kogane et al. ............. 348/159
`6,323,899 B1 * 11/2001 Roberts et al.
`... 348/220
`6,330,028 B1 * 12/2001 Oie et al. ................... 348/231
`* cited by examiner
`
`Primary Examiner Yon J. Couso
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Christensen O'Connor
`Johnson Kindness PLLC
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`An interface module and method is disclosed for receiving
`the digital image data output of an analog/digital converter
`and transmitting the digital image data output to the JPEG
`compression device when the image data is determined to be
`compressed. The interface module comprises a read control
`device, an output control device and a memory device. The
`read control device reads a predetermined number of image
`lines from the data output of the analog/digital converter and
`Stores these image data in a memory device. The memory
`device can Save the Same number of image lines as the
`memory device built in the JPEG compression device. After
`reading the predetermined number of image lines, the read
`g line p
`9.
`s
`control device will generate a control Signal to the output
`control device for Sequentially reading an image block from
`the memory device and Sending each of the image block to
`the JPEG compression device. Since the image block is of
`the same size of the compression unit required by the JPEG
`compression device, therefore the image block can be
`directly transmitted to the JPEG compression device for data
`compression without having to access an extra memory
`device.
`
`11 Claims, 3 Drawing Sheets
`
`21
`S
`
`25
`S
`
`26
`-
`
`
`
`A/D Converter
`
`ImageReading
`Device
`
`Read control
`Device
`
`Output control
`Device
`
`I/O Interface
`Device
`
`Host
`Computer
`
`JPEG Compression
`Device
`
`271
`
`Memory
`WCe
`
`

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`Case 2:20-cv-00234-JRG Document 1-3 Filed 07/13/20 Page 3 of 7 PageID #: 81
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 29, 2002
`
`Sheet 1 of 3
`
`US 6,473,527 B1
`
`N
`
`
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`

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`Case 2:20-cv-00234-JRG Document 1-3 Filed 07/13/20 Page 4 of 7 PageID #: 82
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`U.S. Patent
`
`US 6,473,527 B1
`
`
`
`

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`Case 2:20-cv-00234-JRG Document 1-3 Filed 07/13/20 Page 5 of 7 PageID #: 83
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 29, 2002
`
`Sheet 3 of 3
`
`US 6,473,527 B1
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Set I=0, J=0, N=the number of
`image lines of a compression unit,
`M=the number of pixels for the
`width of compression unit
`
`3O1
`
`Read the data output of the
`analog/digital converter, set I=I-1
`
`Store the image data
`in a memory device
`
`3O3
`
`304
`
`NO
`
`Send the image data in the memory
`device the a host computer for
`further processing
`
`307
`
`
`
`
`
`Yes
`
`305
`Compression required?
`
`Yes
`
`SetJ-M, read JN image block from
`the memory device and transmit
`the image block to the JPEG
`compression device, M=M--M
`
`Fig.3
`
`

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`Case 2:20-cv-00234-JRG Document 1-3 Filed 07/13/20 Page 6 of 7 PageID #: 84
`
`US 6,473,527 B1
`
`1
`MODULE AND METHOD FOR
`INTERFACING ANALOG/DIGITAL
`CONVERTING MEANS AND JPEG
`COMPRESSION MEANS
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`15
`
`25
`
`35
`
`A. Field of the Invention
`The invention is generally related to a module and method
`for interfacing analog/digital converting means and JPEG
`compression means, and especially to a module and method
`which complies with JPEG compression format without
`having to use an extra memory device originally required by
`JPEG compression means.
`B. Description of the Prior Art
`JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) graphic images
`refer to images compressed following the Set of compression
`algorithms defined by the International Standard Organiza
`tion for still image compression standard. Since the JPEG
`algorithm (ITU-T Rec.T.81/ISO/IEC 10918-1) does not per
`mit the modification of the coding parameters in the middle
`of the encoding of a single image. Hence, any JPEG com
`pliant rate control Scheme has to process an input image at
`least twice. One pass is to assess the complexity of the image
`and the other to perform the actual coding.
`Currently JPEG algorithms are implemented as Integrated
`Circuits by hardware vendors for Still image compression in
`the application for a Scanner, or even a host computer to
`increase the Speed of image compression and decompres
`Sion. FIG. 1 illustrates a functional block diagram for a
`conventional JPEG compression device. Refer to FIG. 1, the
`JPEG compression means 12, which is an integrated circuit,
`can receive the digital image data output from a memory
`device 15. The memory device 15 can be a random access
`memory or any memory device. The memory device 15
`receives the data output from an analog/digital converter 11.
`Since JPEG compliant rate control Scheme has to proceSS
`an input image at least twice, and the data rates of com
`40
`pression and transmission are different, So the JPEG com
`pression device 12 has a built-in memory device 13 and an
`extra memory device 14, usually a RAM, for temporary
`Storing the image data while compressing. Take a general
`JPEG compression algorithm as an example, the basic
`compression unit is an image block of 8x8 pixels.
`Accordingly, the size of the memory device 13 can Store 8x8
`pixels at one time. On the other hand, the image data in the
`memory device 15 is transmitted to the memory device 14
`line by line in a Sequential order. AS Soon as the memory
`device 14 is full, the image data will be transmitted to the
`memory device 13 as an image block each time for image
`compression. The disadvantage for this approach is that an
`extra memory 14 is required to comply with the compression
`unit of the memory device 13. For the concern of cost and
`efficiency, it is desirable that the extra memory 14 is to be
`omitted.
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to
`provide a module and method for interfacing an analog/
`digital converter and a JPEG compression means which
`involves in a memory management So as to Save an extra
`memory device originally required by JPEG compression
`CS.
`In accordance with the invention, the invention applies an
`interface module for receiving the digital image data output
`
`60
`
`65
`
`2
`of an analog/digital converter and transmitting the digital
`image data output to the JPEG compression device when the
`image data output is determined to be compressed. The
`interface module comprises a read control device, an output
`control device and a memory device. The read control
`device reads a predetermined number of image lines from
`the data output of the analog/digital converter and Stores
`these image data in a memory device. The memory device
`can Save the same number of the image lines as the memory
`device built-in the JPEG compression device. If the com
`pression unit is an 8x8 image block, then the memory device
`can Store 8 lines of image data. After reading the predeter
`mined number of lines of image data, the read control device
`will generate a control Signal to the output control device for
`reading an image block from the memory device in a
`Sequential order and Sequentially Send each of the image
`block to the JPEG compression device. Since the image
`block is of the same Size of the compression unit required by
`the JPEG compression device, therefore the image block can
`be directly transmitted to the JPEG compression device for
`data compression without having to access the extra memory
`device. Consequently, the cost on the extra memory can be
`Saved.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`These and other objects and advantages of the present
`invention will become apparent by reference to the follow
`ing description and accompanying drawings wherein:
`FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram schematically show
`ing the Structure of a conventional JPEG compression
`device.
`FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing the structure
`of the interfacing module according to the preferred embodi
`ment of the present invention.
`FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the inventive method
`according to the preferred embodiment of the present inven
`tion.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
`A preferred embodiment of the invention is described
`below. This embodiment is merely exemplary. Those skilled
`in the art will appreciate that changes can be made to the
`disclosed embodiment without departing from the Spirit and
`Scope of the invention.
`Refer to FIG.2 for showing the interface module 21 of the
`present invention. It comprises a read control device 22, an
`output control device 23, and a memory device 24. The
`interface module 21 is a modularized unit for communicat
`ing the analog/digital converter 26 and the JPEG compres
`sion device 27. The interface module 21 can be adapted to
`a JPEG compression device 27 in a still image processor,
`Such as a Scanner, or even a digital camera, for image
`compression. The interface module 21 receives the image
`data output of the analog/digital converter 26 and Sends the
`image data to the JPEG compression device 27 when the
`image data is determined to be compressed. If the image data
`does not need to be compressed, the interface module 21 can
`transfer the image data to an input/output interface 25 for
`Sending the image data to a host computer for further image
`processing.
`On the other hand, the analog/digital converter 26
`receives the image data output from the image reading
`device 28. The image reading device 28 can be a charge
`coupled device, a contact image Sensor, or a digital camera.
`
`

`

`Case 2:20-cv-00234-JRG Document 1-3 Filed 07/13/20 Page 7 of 7 PageID #: 85
`
`US 6,473,527 B1
`
`4
`trol signal after finishing reading Said predetermined
`number of image lines,
`memory means coupled to Said read control means for
`Storing Said predetermined number of image lines, Said
`memory means capable of Storing the same number of
`image lines as Said built-in memory device; and
`output control means in response to Said control Signal for
`Sequentially reading an image block from Said memory
`means and forwarding Said image block to Said built-in
`memory device.
`2. The module as claimed in claim 1, wherein Said
`analog/digital converting means is coupled to a charge
`coupled device for converting the data output of Said charge
`coupled device to digital data.
`3. The module as claimed in claim 1, wherein said
`analog/digital converting means is coupled to a contact
`image Sensor for converting the data output of Said contact
`image Sensor to digital data.
`4. The module as claimed in claim 1, wherein Said
`analog/digital converting means is coupled to a digital
`camera for converting data output of Said digital camera into
`digital data.
`5. The module as claimed in claim 1, wherein said
`memory means is a random acceSS memory.
`6. The module as claimed in claim 1, wherein said
`predetermined number of image lines is eight, and Said
`image block is 8x8 pixels.
`7. The module as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:
`input/output interfacing means coupled to an input/output
`port of a host computer for Sending data output from
`Said interface module to Said host computer.
`8. A method for interfacing analog/digital converting
`means and JPEG compression means, said JPEG compres
`Sion means having a built-in memory device, comprising the
`Steps of
`Sequentially reading a predetermined number of image
`lines from the image data output of Said analog/digital
`converting means;
`Storing Said predetermined number of image lines in
`memory means, Said memory means capable of Storing
`the same number of image lines as Said built-in
`memory device; and
`Sequentially reading a predetermined size of image block
`from Said memory means to Said built-in memory
`device when Said image data output is determined to be
`compressed.
`9. The method as claimed in claim 8, further comprising
`the step of:
`forwarding Said predetermined size of image block to an
`input/output interfacing means So as to Send Said pre
`determined size of image block to a host computer,
`when Said image data output of Said analog/digital
`converting means is determined not to be compressed.
`10. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein said
`predetermined number of image lines is eight, and Said
`predetermined size of image block is 8x8 pixels.
`11. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the size of
`Said memory means is determined by the compression
`format of said JPEG compression means.
`
`k
`
`k
`
`k
`
`k
`
`k
`
`3
`In the interface module 21, read control device 22 reads
`a predetermined number of image lines from the image data
`output of the analog/digital converter 26 and Store the image
`data in the memory device 24. The memory device 24 can
`Store the same number of image lines as that of the memory
`device 271 built in the JPEG compression device 27. For
`instance, if the compression unit is 8x8 pixels, the memory
`device 24 can Save 8 lines of image data. After finishing
`reading the 8 lines of image data, the read control device 22
`generates a control Signal 221 to the output control device 23
`for Sequentially reading the image block of 8x8 pixels from
`the memory device 24 and Store the image block in the
`memory device 271. Since the image block complies with
`size required by the compression unit of the JPEG compres
`Sion device, So the image block can be directly Sent to the
`JPEG compression device 27 for compression without hav
`ing to access an extra memory. Consequently, the cost on the
`memory device can be Saved.
`The flowchart of the operations of the inventive interface
`module is illustrated in FIG. 3.
`301: Set I=0, J=0, N=the number of image lines of a
`compression unit, M=the number of pixels for the width
`of a compression unit;
`302: Read the data output of the analog/digital converter, set
`I=I+1;
`303: Store the image data in a memory device in a Sequential
`order;
`304: Determine if I=N'? If yes, go to step 305, if not, go to
`step 302;
`305: Determine if the image data is to be compressed"? If yes,
`go to step 306, if not, go to step 307;
`306: Set J=M, read J*N image block from the memory
`device and transmit the image block to the JPEG com
`pression device, M=M+M;
`307: Send the image data in the memory device to a host
`computer for further processing.
`To sum up, the inventive module and method which
`complies with JPEG compression format is capable of
`communicating the image data output of an analog/digital
`converter and a JPEG compression device in a Still image
`processor. Moreover, the interface module of the present
`invention functions as a memory device against the different
`data rates of compression and transmission. Consequently,
`with the inventive interface module, a JPEG compression
`device doesn’t need an extra memory for data Swapping.
`While this invention has been described with reference to
`an illustrative embodiment, this description is not intended
`to be construed in a limiting Sense. Various modifications
`and combinations of the illustrative embodiment, as well as
`other embodiments of the invention, will be apparent to
`perSons skilled in the art upon reference to the description.
`It is therefore intended that the appended claims encompass
`any Such modifications or embodiments.
`What is claimed is:
`1. A module for interfacing analog/digital converting
`means and JPEG compression means, said JPEG compres
`Sion means having a built-in memory device, comprising:
`read control means coupled to Said analog/digital con
`Verting means for Sequentially reading a predetermined
`number of image lines from a data output of Said
`analog/digital converting means, and generating a con
`
`15
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`25
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`35
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`40
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`45
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`50
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`55
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`60
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