Abstract: An apparatus for recognizing an iris is provided. The apparatus includes an image acquisition module configured to acquire a plurality of images, and a processor configured to select at least one image for iris recognition from among the plurality of images based on pupil information of each of the plurality of images, and recognize an iris in at least one image, wherein the pupil information includes at least one of information about a pupil radius and information about a pupil contrast.

Abstract: A user recognition method that uses an iris is provided. The user recognition method includes generating a first mask for blocking a non-iris object area of an iris image, generating a converted iris image, in which the non-iris object area is blocked according to the first mask, generating a second mask for additionally blocking an inconsistent area, in which quantization results of the converted iris image are inconsistent, by adaptively transforming the first mask according to features of the converted iris image, obtaining an iris code by quantizing pixels included in the iris image, obtaining a converted iris code, in which portions corresponding to the non-iris object area and the inconsistent area are blocked, by applying the second mask to the iris code, and recognizing a user by matching a reference iris code, stored by the user in advance, to the converted iris code.

Abstract: An image sensor can include a pixel array including a plurality of unit pixels and a row driver arranged in a matrix form that includes a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns. Respective ones of the unit pixels may convent an incident light to an electric signal and may store the electric signal. The row driver may sequentially scan the plurality of rows and may sequentially perform an electronic shutter operation and read-out operation. The electronic shutter operation may reset the stored electric signal in each unit pixel and the read-out operation may read-out the stored electric signal in each unit pixel. The electric shutter operation can include a preliminary shutter operation and a main shutter operation which are sequentially performed on one row. The row driver may overlap the main shutter operation on a first row and the preliminary shutter operation on a second row.

Abstract: Provided are an image sensor and a method of driving the same. The image sensor includes n optical black pixels which are arranged in the same horizontal line; and m comparators which are matched with the n optical black pixels, wherein n is a natural number greater than or equal to two, and m is a natural number greater than n.

Abstract: An image sensor according to an example embodiment concepts includes a pixel array including pixels, and each of the pixels includes photoelectric conversion elements. The photoelectric conversion elements independently operating to detect a phase difference. The image sensor further includes a control circuit configured to independently control exposure times of each of the photoelectric conversion elements included in each of the pixels.

Abstract: A correlated double sampling (CDS) circuit includes a comparator and a first circuit. The comparator including, a first input terminal, a second input terminal, at least one output terminal, and a plurality of first transistors operably coupled between the at least one output terminal and the first and second input terminals. The first circuit includes at least one second transistor, the at least one second transistor operably coupled to the at least one output terminal and one of the first input terminal and the second input terminal, the at least one second transistor having at least one of (i) a different number of layers than the first transistors, and (ii) a different dimension than the first transistors.

Abstract: Provided are an image sensor and a method of driving the same. The image sensor includes n optical black pixels which are arranged in the same horizontal line; and m comparators which are matched with the n optical black pixels, wherein n is a natural number greater than or equal to two, and m is a natural number greater than n.

Abstract: An image sensor includes a pixel array including a plurality of pixels, a row driver configured to control an operation of each of the plurality of pixels, a voltage supply line connected to a reset transistor included in each of the plurality of pixels, and a voltage supply circuit which detects a signal from the voltage supply line and supplies one of a first voltage and a second voltage to the voltage supply line based on the signal from the voltage supply line.

Abstract: An image sensor according to an example embodiment concepts includes a pixel array including pixels, and each of the pixels includes photoelectric conversion elements. The photoelectric conversion elements independently operating to detect a phase difference. The image sensor further includes a control circuit configured to independently control exposure times of each of the photoelectric conversion elements included in each of the pixels.

Abstract: An image sensor includes a pixel array in which a plurality of pixels, first and second row selection lines separated from each other, and first and second column lines separated from each other are disposed and a column selecting circuit configured to connect the first and second column lines using a column selection signal. The pixel array includes a first pixel which is connected to the first row selection line and the first column line and a second pixel which is disposed in the same row as the first pixel and connected to the second row selection line and the second column line.

Abstract: An analog-to-digital converter includes a comparator, a switch, and a counter circuit. The comparator is configured to generate a comparison signal by comparing an analog signal received through a first signal line and a reference signal received through a second signal line. The switch is coupled between the first signal line and the comparator. The switch is open before the analog signal is applied to the first signal line to disconnect the first signal line from the comparator, and is closed after the analog signal is applied to the first signal line to provide the analog signal to the comparator. The counter circuit is configured to generate a digital signal corresponding to the analog signal by performing a count operation in synchronization with a count clock signal based on the comparison signal.

Abstract: A wireless communication node device is provided. The node device includes a network adaptor configured to perform short-range wireless communication, a channel manager configured to receive channel setting information comprising information about channel member nodes through the network adaptor, and to store the received channel setting information, a channel state manager configured to update a channel state table which indicates that the node device is connected to another node device, in response to the node device being connected to the other node device through the network adaptor, and to propagate the updated connection state table via the network adaptor, and an alarm controller configured to verify a connection state between the channel member nodes by analyzing the connection state table, and to generate an alarm control signal based on the verified connection state.

Abstract: An image sensor includes a pixel array in which a plurality of pixels, first and second row selection lines separated from each other, and first and second column lines separated from each other are disposed and a column selecting circuit configured to connect the first and second column lines using a column selection signal. The pixel array includes a first pixel which is connected to the first row selection line and the first column line and a second pixel which is disposed in the same row as the first pixel and connected to the second row selection line and the second column line.

Abstract: There are provided a power conversion mode control apparatus of a bi-directional DC-DC converter including: a controlling unit determining an overall reference current so as to perform a power conversion from a side in which an actual voltage is relatively larger than a reference voltage to a side in which the actual voltage is relatively smaller than the reference voltage by comparing a voltage error of low voltage side and a voltage error of high voltage side with each other; and a duty command generating unit generating duty command based on a difference between the overall reference current and a current of low voltage side and providing the duty command to the bi-directional DC-DC converter.

Abstract: A cluster system and a method for providing service availability. The cluster system includes a first physical server having registered therein an active virtual machine; and a plurality of physical servers, wherein the plurality of physical servers comprises a second physical server having registered therein a standby virtual machine corresponding to the active virtual machine, the active virtual machine failing over to the standby virtual machine when a failure occurs in the first physical server, wherein each of the plurality of physical servers stores post-failure registration information when the failure occurs, wherein the post-failure registration information associates the active virtual machine with a physical server among the plurality of physical servers, and wherein the physical server is different from the second physical server.

Abstract: An image sensor includes a sampling circuit, which is responsive to ramp and input signals provided by a pixel array. The sampling circuit is configured to perform a correlated double sampling (CDS) operation on a reset component of the input signal and an image component of the input signal. A reset circuit is also provided, which is configured to reset an output signal generated by the sampling circuit to a first level in response to a reset control signal. This reset control signal can be active during at least one of a first reset interval and a second reset interval. The first reset interval precedes a first comparison interval during which a first comparison operation is performed on the ramp signal and the reset component. The second reset interval precedes a second comparison interval during which a second comparison operation is performed on the ramp signal and the image component.

Abstract: An image sensor can include a pixel array including a plurality of unit pixels and a row driver arranged in a matrix form that includes a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns. Respective ones of the unit pixels may convent an incident light to an electric signal and may store the electric signal. The row driver may sequentially scan the plurality of rows and may sequentially perform an electronic shutter operation and read-out operation. The electronic shutter operation may reset the stored electric signal in each unit pixel and the read-out operation may read-out the stored electric signal in each unit pixel. The electric shutter operation can include a preliminary shutter operation and a main shutter operation which are sequentially performed on one row. The row driver may overlap the main shutter operation on a first row and the preliminary shutter operation on a second row.

Abstract: An ambient light sensor includes a photoelectric conversion unit, a current control unit, a signal conversion unit and a comparison unit. The photoelectric conversion unit provides a photo current having a magnitude corresponding to illuminance of incident light to a first node. The current control unit generates a control current exponentially proportional to an elapse time based on a clock signal, provides the control current to the first node, and outputs a digital code corresponding to the elapse time in response to a reset signal. The signal conversion unit generates a comparison voltage logarithmically proportional to a sum of the photo current and the control current. The comparison unit generates the reset signal by comparing a magnitude of the comparison voltage and a magnitude of a reference voltage. The ambient light sensor generates the digital code effectively representing illuminance of ambient light that eyes of a human being perceives.

Abstract: A method of operating an image sensor includes: generating a pixel signal according to intensity of incident light; and generating a digital pixel signal based on a comparison between the pixel signal and at least one reference current. Accordingly, a current output from a 1T pixel in the image sensor is sensed such that the influence of noise is reduced and a pixel signal is sensed more precisely.

Abstract: An optical biosensor is provided. The optical biosensor includes a biosensing unit, a detection unit, and a feedback circuit. The biosensing unit is configured to receive an input optical signal, sense a biomaterial, and generate a sensed optical signal. The detecting unit is configured to convert the sensed optical signal into an electrical signal and output the electrical signal as a detection signal. The feedback circuit is configured to output a feedback signal. The feedback signal is generated based on the detection signal and is changed according to a changed amount of a resonant wavelength of the biosensing unit.