Patents by Inventor Tae-Chan Kim

Tae-Chan Kim has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9432605
    Abstract: A method of operating an image processing system includes storing differences between first analog pixel signals and second analog pixel signals and converting the stored differences to one-bit digital signals, the first analog pixel signals being output from a plurality of pixels and corresponding to a previous frame, and the second analog pixel signals being output from the plurality of pixels and corresponding to a current frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Moo Young Kim, Tae Chan Kim, Jae Cheol Yun, Seog Heon Ham
  • Patent number: 9418306
    Abstract: An iris recognition device, a mobile device having the same, and a method of biometric authentication using the same are provided. The iris recognition device includes: a light source unit configured to transmit a light signal to an iris; and a light source receiver configured to receive a reflected light signal of an image of the iris from the iris, and remove an offset of the reflected light signal, corresponding to noise in the iris image, using a plurality of reference signals having different phases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kwang-Hyuk Bae, Tae-Chan Kim, Seong-Yeong Jeong, Shung-Han Cho
  • Patent number: 9357142
    Abstract: An image sensor includes a pixel array and a row driver block. The pixel array includes a plurality of subpixel groups, each including a plurality of subpixels. Each of the plurality of subpixels is configured to generate a subpixel signal corresponding to photocharge accumulated in response to a photon. The row driver block is configured to generate a first control signal to control the subpixels included in each of the plurality of subpixel groups to accumulate the photocharge in parallel from a first time point to a second time point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tae Chan Kim, Min Ho Kim, Dong Ki Min, Sang Chul Sul, Tae Seok Oh, Kwang Hyun Lee, Tae Yon Lee, Jung Hoon Jung, Young Gu Jin
  • Patent number: 9349762
    Abstract: A pixel array for an image sensor is provided. The pixel array includes a dark pixel which is configured to detect a local dark current in an active pixel block. The dark pixel is distinguished from an optical black pixel block which is arranged around the active pixel block and is configured to detect a global dark current. The pixel array is configured to compensate for dark shading, which is not compensated through global dark current compensation, using the local dark current output from the dark pixel which is arranged within the active pixel block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Young Sung Cho, Dong Jae Lee, Tae Chan Kim, Tomer Livneh
  • Patent number: 9343492
    Abstract: Provided are a complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor based on a thin-film-on-application specific integrated circuit (TFA), and a method of operating the same. The CMOS image sensor may include at least one floating diffusion region formed in a semiconductor substrate, and a thin film type light sensor disposed to correspond to a plurality of pixels. The CMOS image sensor may also include at least one via electrically connected between the light sensor and the at least one floating diffusion region. The CMOS image sensor may also include a first micro lens disposed to correspond to at least two pixels of the plurality of pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Young-Gu Jin, Dong-Ki Min, Hirosige Goto, Tae-Chan Kim
  • Patent number: 9324758
    Abstract: A depth pixel includes a photo detection region, first and second photo gates and first and second floating diffusion regions. The photo detection region collects photo charges based on light reflected by an object. The collected photo charges are drifted in a first direction and a second direction different from the first direction based on an internal electric field in the photo detection region. The first photo gate is activated in response to a first photo control signal. The first floating diffusion region accumulates first photo charges drifted in the first direction if the first photo gate is activated. The second photo gate is activated in response to the first photo control signal. The second floating diffusion region accumulates second photo charges drifted in the second direction if the second photo gate is activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Min-Seok Oh, Hae-Kyung Kong, Tae Chan Kim, Jung Chak Ahn, Moo Sup Lim
  • Patent number: 9300868
    Abstract: An image processing device includes a pixel array including multiple unit pixels each configured to generate multiple color signals in response to incident light, and a data processing unit configured to generate output image data by processing the color signals in parallel in a first operating mode, and further configured to generate two image signals for each unit pixel based on the color signals and to generate the output image data by processing the two image signals in parallel in a second operating mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Byung-Joon Baek, Dong-Jae Lee, Tae-Chan Kim
  • Patent number: 9294688
    Abstract: Methods of correcting saturated pixel data in an image sensor are provided. A method of correcting saturated pixel data in an image sensor includes determining a weight function. The weight function indicates a correlation between color values of saturated pixels and color values of neighboring pixels. The saturated pixels are among a plurality of pixels which have a color value greater than a saturation threshold value. The neighboring pixels are among the plurality of pixels that are proximate to each of the saturated pixels. The method includes determining weight values of a neighboring pixels that are proximate to a first saturated pixel using the weight function. The method includes determining a weighted average value of the color values of each of the neighboring pixels using the weight values. The method includes correcting the color value of the first saturated pixel to the weighted average value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignees: SOGANG UNIVERSITY RESEARCH FOUNDATION, SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hae-Jin Ju, Tae-Chan Kim, Won-Ho Cho, Rae-Hong Park
  • Publication number: 20160065822
    Abstract: An image sensor operates in a base mode according to a first sampling rate and a first pixel exposure time and includes a light condition detector that extracts illuminance information from a pixel signal received from pixels in a pixel array, and generates a low-illuminance information signal upon detecting that a value of the illuminance information falls within a first range, a sampling controller that changes the first sampling rate to a second sampling rate in response to the low-illuminance information signal, and an exposure time controller that changes the first pixel exposure time to a second pixel exposure time in response to the low-illuminance information signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2015
    Publication date: March 3, 2016
    Inventors: Dong-Ki Min, Ilia Ovsiannikov, Lilong Shi, Tae-Chan Kim
  • Patent number: 9277146
    Abstract: An image sensor includes a pixel array having a plurality of layers and a control unit. Each of the plurality of layers including pixels having a photoelectric conversion element and a transmission transistor therein. The photoelectric conversion element is configured to collect charges during an associated charge collection time period and the transmission transistor is configured to transmit the charges to a respective floating diffusion node at an end of the charge collection time period. The control unit configured to individually instruct the transmission transistors associated with different ones of the layers to transmit the charges to the respective floating diffusion nodes such that the charge collection time periods associated with the photoelectric conversion elements implemented in at least two of the layers differs in length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Byung-Joon Baek, Young-Jin Kim, Tae Chan Kim
  • Patent number: 9253471
    Abstract: A depth camera includes a sensor unit receiving a reflected light and in response thereto outputting an electrical sensing signal; and a synchronization information calculation unit calculating a performance index with reference to the sensing signal, and with reference to the performance index, generating synchronization information for synchronizing a demodulation clock for sensing the received reflected light. The sensor unit adjusts the frequency and/or phase of the demodulation clock with reference to the synchronization information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kwanghyuk Bae, Kyu-Min Kyung, Tae-Chan Kim, Seunghee Lee
  • Publication number: 20160028977
    Abstract: ACMOS image sensor includes a pixel array having a plurality of pixels. Each of the plurality of pixels includes: a photogate structure configured to be controlled based on a first gate voltage; and a sensing transistor including a charge pocket region formed in a substrate region, the sensing transistor being configured to be controlled based on a second gate voltage. Based on the first gate voltage, the photogate structure is configured to integrate charges generated in response to light incident on the substrate region. The sensing transistor is configured to adjust at least one of a threshold voltage of the sensing transistor and a current flow in the sensing transistor according to charges transferred from the photogate structure to the charge pocket region based on a difference between the first gate voltage and the second gate voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2015
    Publication date: January 28, 2016
    Inventors: Young Gu JIN, Min Ho Kim, Tae Chan Kim, Dong Ki Min, Sang Chul Sul, Tae Seok Oh, Kwang Hyun Lee, Tae Yon Lee, Ju Hwan Jung
  • Publication number: 20150363921
    Abstract: A lens distortion correction device and an application processor having the same include a distortion correction unit configured to correct a distorted image into an undistorted image and an image enhancement unit configured to improve the undistorted image using a high-frequency component of the distorted image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2015
    Publication date: December 17, 2015
    Inventors: Byung-Joon Baek, Joon-Ki Paik, Tae-Chan Kim, Dong-Gyun Kim, Jin-Ho Park
  • Publication number: 20150326841
    Abstract: A white balancing device and a method of driving the same are provided. The white balancing device includes a map generator and an automatic white balancing (AWB) block. The map generator is configured to generate an indoor-outdoor map comparing a first image and a second image generated by performing a wide dynamic range (WDR) algorithm on the first image. The AWB block is configured to generate a first white point with respect to an outdoor region and a second white point with respect to an indoor region using the indoor-outdoor map.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2015
    Publication date: November 12, 2015
    Inventors: SUNG-KWANG CHO, TAE-CHAN KIM, DONG-PAN LIM
  • Patent number: 9177987
    Abstract: A binary complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor includes a pixel array and a readout circuit. The pixel array includes at least one pixel having a plurality of sub-pixels. The readout circuit is configured to quantize a pixel signal output from the pixel using a reference signal. The pixel signal corresponds to sub-pixel signals output from sub-pixels, from among the plurality of sub-pixels, activated in response to incident light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tae-Yon Lee, Ju Hwan Jung, Seok Yong Hong, Tae-Chan Kim, Dong Ki Min, Yoon Dong Park, Sang-Chul Sul, Tae-Seok Oh, Je Il Ryu, Kwang-Hyun Lee, Young-Gu Jin
  • Publication number: 20150311243
    Abstract: A pixel array of an image sensor includes a substrate, a chromatic pixel including a first photodiode formed in the substrate and a color filter formed over the first photodiode, and an achromatic pixel including a second photodiode formed in the substrate, the second photodiode having a nano pillar pattern at a surface region of the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2015
    Publication date: October 29, 2015
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hyun-Jong JIN, Tae-Chan KIM, Dong-Ki MIN
  • Publication number: 20150312557
    Abstract: In an example embodiment, an image processing device includes a pixel array including pixels two-dimensionally arranged and configured to capture an image, each of the pixels including a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements and an image data processing circuit configured to generate image data from pixel signals output from the pixels. The image processing device further includes a color data processing circuit configured to extract color data from the image data and output extracted color data. The image processing device further includes a depth data extraction circuit configured to extract depth data from the image data and output extracted depth data. The image processing device further includes an output control circuit configured to control the output of the color data and the depth data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2015
    Publication date: October 29, 2015
    Inventor: Tae Chan KIM
  • Publication number: 20150312461
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2015
    Publication date: October 29, 2015
    Inventors: Tae Chan KIM, Dong Ki MIN, Kwang Hyun LEE, Yo Hwan NOH, Se Hwan YUN, Dae Kwan KIM, Young Jin KIM, Wang Hyun KIM, Hyuk Soon CHOI
  • Publication number: 20150302710
    Abstract: A dynamic vision sensor includes a sensing pixel array including a plurality of sensing pixels each detecting a change of light intensity to output an event by a unit of time-stamp and a control unit that controls the sensing pixel array. Here, each of the sensing pixels has an inclined N-polygon shape, where N is an even number greater than or equal to 4. In addition, each of the sensing pixels includes first sides extended in a first direction that stand opposite to each other in a second direction in a staggered form and second sides extended in the second direction that stand opposite to each other in the first direction in a staggered form, where the first direction is perpendicular to the second direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2014
    Publication date: October 22, 2015
    Inventors: Hyun-Jong JIN, Yun-Hong Kim, Tae-Chan Kim
  • Publication number: 20150296194
    Abstract: An image sensor includes a pixel array, a micro lens array and polarizing filters. The pixel array includes a plurality of pixels. The micro lens array is disposed on the pixel array and includes a plurality of micro lenses. The micro lens overlaps a pixel group of the pixel array. The polarizing filter is disposed on the micro lens and includes a plurality of polarizing filters having at least two different polarizing phases. Accordingly, the accuracy and the reliability of the local auto white balancing may be improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2015
    Publication date: October 15, 2015
    Inventors: SUNG-KWANG CHO, DAE-KWAN KIM, TAE-CHAN KIM, HYUNG-GU LEE