Image processor for visual prosthesis based on ARM

Visual prosthesis is designed and developed to help the blind people to restore vision [1]. Image processor is an essential part of visual prosthesis. It receives image data from a camera, and fulfills specific image processing strategy to transfer image information to data forms that can be recognized by implanted stimulator. To extract useful information from original image and provide satisfying image processing ability are the basic requirements for the image processor. In this article, an image processor based on ARM Cortex-A9 processor running mobile operating system Android is introduced. Image processing algorithms such as edge detection are applied to provide vital information of the scene to the following components. Software optimizations like using native code and hardware acceleration are made to reduce the processing time. After optimization, this image processor can process a 640*480 image within 50ms. This work could become the foundation of future researches to build visual prosthesis with impressive processing ability and flexibility.