Abstract: An electronic device and an image capture method are provided. The electronic device includes an image sensor, a ramp analog to digital converter, and a memory. The image sensor includes a plurality of pixel units arranged in an array, and the pixel units output a plurality of first image capturing signals and a plurality of second image capturing signals in an image capturing operation. The ramp analog to digital converter generates a plurality of most significant bit data corresponding to a plurality of pixels according to a first nonlinear ramp signal and the first image capturing signals, and generates a plurality of least significant bit data corresponding to the plurality of pixels according to a second nonlinear ramp signal and the second image capturing signals. The memory stores the most significant bit data of these pixels and the least significant bit data of these pixels together to generate frame data.

Abstract: An electronic device and an automatic exposure convergence method are provided. The electronic device includes an image sensor and a processor. The image sensor is configured to obtain a first frame. The first frame includes a plurality of sub-frame regions, and each of the sub-frame regions includes a plurality of pixel data. The plurality of pixel data are obtained based on different exposure times. The processor is coupled to the image sensor. The processor is configured to analyze the first frame to combine the pixel data having the same exposure times in the sub-frame regions into a plurality of second frames. The processor analyzes the plurality of second frame to obtain a plurality of exposure values. The processor performs an exposure convergence operation based on the plurality of exposure values.

Abstract: A memory cell including a first transistor, an inverter, and a second transistor is provided. A first terminal of the first transistor serves as a data input terminal of the memory cell. A control terminal of the first transistor receives a write control signal. A second terminal of the first transistor is coupled to a memory node. An input terminal of the inverter is coupled to the memory node. An output terminal of the inverter serves as a data output terminal of the memory cell. A first terminal of the second transistor is coupled to a first voltage. A control terminal of the second transistor is coupled to the output terminal of the inverter. A second terminal of the second transistor is coupled to the memory node. A body of the second transistor is coupled to a second voltage. A voltage value of the second voltage is not equal to a voltage value of the first voltage to reduce a leakage current of the second transistor.

Abstract: A fingerprint sensing device and a fingerprint sensing method are provided. The fingerprint sensing device includes a transparent panel, an illumination source, a fingerprint sensor, and a processor. The illumination source is configured to sequentially provide a plurality of illuminating patterns during one exposure period to sequentially illuminate a finger object placed on the transparent panel. The fingerprint sensor includes a plurality of image sensing units. The image sensing units sense the finger object illuminated by the illuminating patterns provided by the illumination source during the one exposure period to output a plurality of pixel data. The processor is configured to receive the pixel data to generate a fingerprint image according to the pixel data. Each of the illuminating patterns includes a plurality of bright regions and a plurality of dark regions arranged in sequence, and the bright regions and the dark regions are dynamically displaced in the illuminating patterns.

Abstract: An electronic device and a fingerprint sensing method are provided. The electronic device includes a display panel, a fingerprint sensor, and an integrated driver chip. The display panel includes a plurality of pixel units arranged in an array. The integrated driver chip integrates a display driver circuit and a fingerprint sensing circuit. When the pixel units of the display panel are in an undriven state and a finger object is in contact with a sensing area of the display panel to perform a fingerprint unlock operation, the display driver circuit drives at least a portion of the pixel units corresponding to the sensing area, so that at least a portion of the pixel units provide illumination light to the sensing area. The fingerprint sensing circuit drives the fingerprint sensor to capture a fingerprint feature image of the finger object.

Abstract: An under-screen fingerprint identification system includes an image sensing element, a display element, a translucent cover, and a Bragg polarization grating. The display element is disposed on the image sensing element. The translucent cover is disposed on the display element, and the display element is located between the translucent cover and the image sensing element. The translucent cover has a first surface and a second surface opposite to each other, and the first surface is farther away from the display element than the second surface. The Bragg polarization grating is disposed on the second surface of the translucent cover.

Abstract: A structured light projecting apparatus including a light source module, a beam splitting element, and first and second diffraction optical elements is provided. The light source emits a light beam. The beam splitting element is disposed on a transmission path of the light beam, and splits the light beam into first and second portion light beams. The first diffraction optical element is disposed on a transmission path of the first portion light beam. Multiple light beams are produced after the first portion light beam passes through the first diffraction optical element, so as to form a first structured light. The second diffraction optical element is disposed beside the first diffraction optical element and on a transmission path of the second portion light beam. Multiple light beams are produced after the second portion light beam passes through the second diffraction optical element, so as to form a second structured light.

Abstract: A visible light communication sensor is provided. The visible light communication sensor includes a sensing module, an image data readout circuit, and a visible light communication data readout circuit. The sensing module includes a plurality of pixel units arranged in an array. When the sensing module performs an image sensing operation, a first portion of the pixel units performs an image sensing operation, and the image data readout circuit is idle. When the sensing module performs a visible light communication operation, a second portion of the plurality of pixel units receives a visible light communication signal, so that the visible light communication data readout circuit outputs the visible light communication data, and the image data readout circuit performs an analog-to-digital conversion on a plurality of image sensing signals outputted by the first portion of the plurality of pixel units performed in the image sensing operation to output image sensing data.

Abstract: A visible light communication sensor and visible light communication method are provided. The visible light communication sensor includes a comparator, a sensing unit, and a first ramp signal generator. The comparator includes a first input terminal, a second input terminal, and an output terminal. The sensing unit is coupled to the first input terminal of the comparator. The sensing unit is configured to sense a visible light communication signal to output a sensing signal to the first input terminal of the comparator. The first ramp signal generator is coupled to the second input terminal of the comparator and is configured to output the first ramp signal to the second input terminal of the comparator. The comparator outputs a comparison result signal via the output terminal according to the voltage values of the first input terminal and the second input terminal.

Abstract: An image sensor and a pixel array circuit thereof are provided. The image sensor includes the pixel array circuit and a readout circuit. The pixel array circuit includes pixel units. Each pixel unit includes a photo sensor, N storages, N transmission circuits, and M floating diffusion nodes. The N storages are coupled to the photo sensor and configured to store charges accumulated by the photo sensor at different exposures. Each transmission circuit is coupled between a corresponding storage and a corresponding floating diffusion node, and controlled by one of N transmission control signals to transmit the charges of the corresponding storage to the corresponding floating diffusion node during a certain time period. The readout circuit is coupled to the M floating diffusion nodes and configured to obtain N digital pixel values respectively corresponding to N image frames according to voltages of the M floating diffusion nodes of each pixel unit.

Abstract: An image sensing system and a multi-function image sensor thereof are provided. The multi-function image sensor includes a pixel array circuit and a readout circuit. The pixel array circuit includes a plurality of pixel units. Each of the pixel units is controlled by a first control signal group in a first mode to perform a time-of-flight sensing operation and sequentially generates a plurality of first output voltages. Each of the pixel units is controlled by a second control signal group in a second mode to perform a structured light sensing operation and sequentially generates a plurality of second output voltages. The readout circuit respectively obtains a plurality of first digital information corresponding to the time-of-flight sensing operation according to the first output voltages in the first mode. The readout circuit respectively obtains a plurality of second digital information corresponding to the structured light sensing operation according to the second output voltages in the second mode.

Abstract: An image sensor including a plurality of pixel-group sensors is provided. Each of the pixel-group sensors includes a first pixel group, a second pixel group and a read out circuit. The first pixel group includes a plurality of first pixels. A floating diffusion node of each of the first pixels is coupled to a first node. The second pixel group includes a plurality of second pixels. A floating diffusion node of each of the second pixels is coupled to a second node. The read out circuit is coupled to the first node and the second node, and configured to compare a voltage of the first node with a voltage of the second node, so as to sequentially obtain a digital pixel value of each of the first pixels and the second pixels.

Abstract: An integrated circuit having an optical structure is provided. The integrated circuit includes a semiconductor substrate and a plurality of light guiding pattern layers. The light guiding pattern layers are located above the semiconductor substrate, and each of the light guiding pattern layers has a plurality of openings and a plurality of side wall portions corresponding to the openings. Each of the side wall portions surrounds the corresponding opening. A projection of one of the openings of one of the light guiding pattern layers on the semiconductor substrate at least partially overlaps a projection of one of the openings of the adjacent light guiding pattern layer on the semiconductor substrate, so as to form at least one light via hole and allow external light to be transferred to the semiconductor substrate through the light guiding pattern layers.

Abstract: An image sensor including a plurality of pixel-group sensors is provided. Each of the pixel-group sensors includes a first pixel group, a second pixel group and a read out circuit. The first pixel group includes a plurality of first pixels. A floating diffusion node of each of the first pixels is coupled to a first node. The second pixel group includes a plurality of second pixels. A floating diffusion node of each of the second pixels is coupled to a second node. The read out circuit is coupled to the first node and the second node, and configured to compare a voltage of the first node with a voltage of the second node, so as to sequentially obtain a digital pixel value of each of the first pixels and the second pixels.

Abstract: A pico projector with visible light communication has three different modes for various applications.

Abstract: A pico projector with visible light communication has three different modes for various applications.

Abstract: An image sensor includes readout circuits coupled to read out integrated light signals from pixels via bitlines respectively. Each readout circuit includes a correlated double sampling (CDS) circuit, followed by an analog-to-digital converter (ADC). At least two pixels of a row share a bitline and an associated readout circuit. The ADC operates concurrently with the CDS circuit, such that their operating periods are substantially overlapped with each other.

Abstract: A method to read out pixels includes reading a first pixel by resetting a first photodetector, integrating the first photodetector after resetting the first photodetector, resetting a first floating diffusion node coupled to the first photodetector and a second floating diffusion node coupled to a second photodetector, transferring charge from the first photodetector to the first floating diffusion node, comparing a first signal at the first floating diffusion node and a second signal at the second floating diffusion node and generating a first signal to latch a first counter value when the first signal is less than the second signal, incrementing the first signal and decrementing the second signal, and comparing the first signal and the second signal and generating a second signal to latch a second counter value when the first signal is greater than the second signal, wherein the difference between the second counter value and the first counter value indicates a first pixel level.

Abstract: An image sensor includes readout circuits coupled to read out integrated light signals from pixels via bitlines respectively. Each readout circuit includes a correlated double sampling (CDS) circuit, followed by an analog-to-digital converter (ADC). At least two pixels of a row share a bitline and an associated readout circuit. The ADC operates concurrently with the CDS circuit, such that their operating periods are substantially overlapped with each other.

Abstract: A method of adaptively reducing power consumption in an image sensor includes using an electronic rolling shutter to reset pixels of the image sensor row by row. Signal charges are read out from the pixels row by row, followed by obtaining an integration time and a frame height. A power-saving signal is generated when the integration time is substantially greater than the frame height, and at least a circuitry that is not required to operate during an active period of the power-saving signal is turned off.