Abstract: A method of binning pixels in an image sensor including: dividing a pixel array into a plurality of binning areas, wherein each binning area includes (2n)*(2n) pixels, wherein n is an integer equal to or greater than two; and generating binning pixel data in each of the binning areas, wherein the locations of the binning pixel data of each binning area are evenly distributed within the binning area.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides an electric headrest including: an oil damper which has a storing part in which oil is stored, and a rotary shaft coupled to the top of the storing part and having a first saw-toothed part protruding from the outer peripheral surface of the rotary shaft; a center cover that is formed in the center of the rear of a headrest pad and in which the oil damper is coupled to the inside of a hinge coupling part; and a side cover coupled to the center cover at the side of the center cover by the hinge coupling part, and having a second saw-toothed part formed at a position corresponding to the first saw-toothed part of the oil damper.

Abstract: An image sensor includes a first column pair and a second column pair among a plurality of columns of a pixel array, an analog-to-digital converter pair, and a switch arrangement circuit configured to connect the first column pair with the analog-to-digital converter pair in response to first switch control signals such that two rows among a plurality of rows in the pixel array are read during a single access time.

Abstract: An image sensor operating in a skip mode and reading out a pixel signal provided by at least one of a plurality of pixels and compensating for fixed pattern noise (FPN) in column-parallel pipelines.

Abstract: An analog-to-digital converter includes a gain amplification unit configured to receive a pixel signal at a first node and to amplify a gain of the pixel signal, a first capacitor connected between the first node and a second node, an amplifier configured to receive and amplify a signal output from the gain amplification unit and the first capacitor, and a conversion circuit configured to convert an output signal of the amplifier to a digital signal based on a reference signal and output the digital signal as a first output signal.

Abstract: An image sensor which operates in a global shutter mode is provided. The image sensor includes a pixel array comprising a plurality of pixels arranged in a plurality of rows and columns, a timing generator configured to generate row driver control signals which controls an integration period of a pixel of the plurality of pixels to include at least two sub integration periods, and a row driver configured to generate a plurality of row control signals which controls each of the rows in the pixel array based on the row driver control signals, wherein the timing generator is further configured to control a single image frame to include the integration period and a readout period of the pixel, based on the row driver control signals.

Abstract: An image sensor includes a pixel array and an analog-to-digital (A/D) conversion unit. The pixel array generates an analog signal by sensing an incident light. The A/D conversion unit generates a digital signal in a first operation mode by performing a sigma-delta A/D conversion and a cyclic A/D conversion with respect to the analog signal and generates the digital signal in a second operation mode by performing a single-slope A/D conversion with respect to the analog signal. The image sensor provides a high-quality image in a still image photography mode and a dynamic image video mode.

Abstract: A headrest device comprises a fixed bracket fixed at a headrest stay and having a driving portion. A first link bracket is connected to the driving portion and a headrest panel which is connected to a headrest cushion, thus the first link bracket moving forward upon actuation of the driving portion. A second link bracket is rotatably connected to the headrest panel and the fixed bracket, respectively, and the first link bracket is connected to the second link bracket. When the first link bracket moves forward, the second link bracket rotatably moves forward together with the first link bracket, thereby tilting the headrest cushion and at the same time moving forward.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of producing 2,3-butanediol using a recombinant yeast having a 2,3-butanediol biosynthesis pathway controlled in a metabolic engineering manner. The method enables production of 2,3-butanediol at high production efficiency from glucose or xylose using a recombinant yeast wherein enzymatic activity of pyruvate decarboxylase is inhibited and exotic genes associated with 2,3-butanediol biosynthesis are introduced.

Abstract: An image sensor includes a comparator configured to compare a pixel signal with a ramp signal and generate a comparison signal and a counter configured to be reset by a counter reset value based on an offset of the comparator and to generate a digital pixel signal according to the comparison signal.

Abstract: An image sensor includes multiple pixel groups arranged in a row included in a pixel array, the row including multiple pixels respectively allocated to the multiple pixel groups. The image sensor further includes multiple row drivers configured to respectively control operations of the pixels respectively allocated to the pixel groups in the row, and multiple readout circuits configured to respectively read out pixel signals output by the pixels respectively allocated to the pixel groups in the row.

Abstract: A correlated double sampling (CDS) circuit included in an image sensor includes a sampling unit and a timing controlled band-limitation (TCBL) unit. The sampling unit is configured to generate an output signal by performing a CDS operation with respect to a reset component of an input signal and an image component of the input signal based on a ramp signal, the input signal being provided from a pixel array included in the image sensor. The TCBL unit is connected to the sampling unit, and is configured to remove noise from the output signal based on a timing control signal. The timing control signal is activated during a first comparison duration, in which a first comparison operation is performed with respect to the ramp signal and the reset component of the input signal, and during a second comparison duration, in which a second comparison operation is performed with respect to the ramp signal and the image component of the input signal.

Abstract: A data sampler and a photo detecting apparatus compensate a reference signal with offset information measured from a unit pixel, and compare an offset-compensated reference signal with a data signal, thereby minimizing the impact of an offset occurring with an increase of gain in the data sampler.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an image sensor includes a pixel array including a plurality of pixels, an analog-to-digital converter configured to convert analog pixel signals output from the pixels into digital signals, a first cluster configured to store a first group of digital signals among the digital signals and to output first image data, a second cluster configured to store a second group of digital signals among the digital signals and to output second image data, and at least one cluster switch connected to the first cluster and the second cluster, a first channel, and a second channel. The image sensor is configured to transmit at least one among the first image data and the second image data to at least one among the first channel and the second channel based on an operation mode.

Abstract: A programmable gain amplifier includes a sampling circuit, a source follower, a first capacitor and an error amplifier. The sampling circuit is configured to perform correlated double sampling on an input signal using a reference voltage. The first capacitor is connected between the sampling circuit and the source follower. The error amplifier is connected between an input terminal of the source follower and an output terminal of the source follower. The error amplifier is configured to reset a voltage of the output terminal of the source follower to the reference voltage during a source follower reset operation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a reclining apparatus for a head rest of a rear seat that includes: a reclining motor operably coupled to an integral lead screw; a carrier thread fastened to the integral lead screw; and a link module configured to transmit operation force from the carrier to a head rest module, wherein the head rest module angle is adjusted in a forward/rearward direction by the operation force from the carrier and the link module.

Abstract: A washing machine including a main body and a control panel mounted to the main body. The control panel includes a control panel frame assembled to the main body, a circuit board housing coupled to a rear side of the control panel frame and having an open rear side, and a circuit board accommodated in the circuit board housing. The circuit board is inserted into the circuit board housing through the open rear side of the circuit board housing such that a front surface thereof, on which light emitting elements to display operational modes of the washing machine are mounted, faces an inner wall surface of a front wall portion of the circuit board housing.

Abstract: A method of binning pixels in an image sensor including: dividing a pixel array into a plurality of binning areas, wherein each binning area includes (2n)*(2n) pixels, wherein n is an integer equal to or greater than two; and generating binning pixel data in each of the binning areas, wherein the locations of the binning pixel data of each binning area are evenly distributed within the binning area.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of producing 2,3-butanediol using a recombinant yeast having a 2,3-butanediol biosynthesis pathway controlled in a metabolic engineering manner. The method enables production of 2,3-butanediol at high production efficiency from glucose or xylose using a recombinant yeast wherein enzymatic activity of pyruvate decarboxylase is inhibited and exotic genes associated with 2,3-butanediol biosynthesis are introduced.

Abstract: Image sensors include an array of image sensor pixels therein. This array of image sensor pixels includes a first focus detection pixel and at least a first color pixel. A switching network is provided, which is electrically coupled to the array. This switching network may be configured to generate a first mixed image signal by electronically mixing a focus detection signal generated by the first focus detection pixel with at least one color pixel signal generated by the at least a first color pixel. The first focus detection pixel can be a color-blind pixel, which may include a light-blocking shield mask therein.