Abstract: A unit pixel of an image sensor is provided. The unit pixel includes a visible light detection layer and an infrared light detection layer disposed on the visible light detection layer. The visible light detection layer includes visible light pixels and color filters configured to detect visible light to output first charges. The infrared light detection layer includes at least one infrared light pixel configured to detect infrared light to output second charges.

Abstract: The image sensor includes a plurality of column lines, a plurality of active road circuits and a selection circuit. The plurality of column lines are each connected to a corresponding one of a plurality of pixels. The plurality of active road circuits are each connected to a corresponding one of the plurality of column lines. The selection circuit is configured to enable a portion of the plurality of active road circuits based on a plurality of column selection signals.

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.

Abstract: A sampling period control circuit according to an example embodiment of the inventive concepts is configured to derive a ramp voltage range of a row signal when analyzing a previous row signal in order to control a ramp voltage range of a next row signal.

Abstract: A backside illumination image sensor is provided. The backside illumination image sensor includes a plurality of different types of pixels, each pixel including a photodiode configured to accumulate photogenerated charges corresponding to light incident on a backside of a semiconductor substrate and a transfer transistor configured to transfer the photogenerated charges to a floating diffusion node; and a plurality of transfer lines disposed at a front side of the semiconductor substrate, the plurality of transfer lines connected to a gate of the transfer transistor of a respective one of the pixels, wherein transfer control signals respectively transmitted through the transfer lines produce different effective integration times in the pixels.

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.

Abstract: An image processor corrects for color shading and lens shading separately. The image processor may also provide dynamic range correction between color shading and lens shading correction. Whichever operation, color shading correction or lens shading correction employs lower correction values may be employed first in a sequence of operations that includes color shading, dynamic range, and lens shading corrections.

Abstract: A method of unlocking an electronic device based on motion recognitions generates motion information by detecting a user's motion, calculates optical flows based on the motion information, converts the optical flows into a code by sorting and grouping the optical flows based on predetermined reference directions, generates a comparison result indicating whether the code is consistent with a predetermined password by comparing the code with the predetermined password, and determines whether to unlock the electronic device based on the comparison result.

Abstract: An image sensor includes a plurality of pixel groups each of which includes pixels corresponding to at least two row lines among a plurality of row lines in a pixel array, a readout block configured to read out pixel signals output from the pixels in each of the pixel groups, and a row driver configured to control an operation of the pixel groups. The row lines are differently spaced according to position information of the pixels.

Abstract: A time of flight (TOF) camera device and a method of driving the same are provided. The TOF camera device includes a pulse generator configured to generate a pulse signal, and generate a first photo gate signal and a second photo gate signal; a light source configured to irradiate an object with light emitted in synchronization with the pulse signal; and an image sensor configured to receive light reflected from the object in synchronization with the first photo gate signal during a first frame, and receive light reflected from the object in synchronization with the second photo gate signal during a second frame. The pulse generator is further configured to modulate the pulse signal so as to use a frequency of the light as a single frequency.

Abstract: Provided are an image processing apparatus and an image processing method using sharpening filtering. The image processing method includes filtering input image data using a plurality of directional filters, comparing a plurality of filtering results with a threshold value that corresponds to the filtering results, selectively aggregating a plurality of output values of the directional filters according results of the comparison, and performing a first calculation on the input image data and a result of the selective aggregation.

Abstract: A method is provided for analyzing motion of a subject. The method includes receiving multiple events from an event-based sensor, the events corresponding to a luminance change of the subject; calculating velocities of the events and directions of the events; generating a motion analysis table comprising an X axis classified into multiple velocity sections, a Y axis classified into multiple direction sections, and multiple cells representing frequencies of events corresponding to combinations of the velocity sections and the direction sections; and determining a motion of the subject based on the motion analysis table.

Abstract: A vision sensor chip includes a photoelectric conversion element that generates a current based on an incident light, a current-voltage (I-V) converter that converts the current into a voltage, an AC coupling capacitor directly connected to the I-V converter, an open-loop amplifier that includes a reset switch and amplifies a voltage provided by the I-V converter via the AC coupling capacitor. An event detection block detects motion according to a change in the amplified output voltage and generates first and second detection signals. A reset signal generator generates a reset signal controlling operation of the reset switch in response to first and second control signals respectively related to the first and second detection signals.

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.

Abstract: A method of operating an image sensor is provided. The method includes detecting a signal related to brightness of an object and generating a control signal which corresponds to a result of the detected signal and adjusting an oversampling number within a range of a single frame time based on the control signal.

Abstract: An image sensor is provided. The image sensor includes a photoelectric converter formed on a first layer and configured to generate light charges by receiving light, a read circuit formed on a second layer below the first layer and configured to accumulate the generated light charges and produce a video signal according to an amount of the accumulated light charges, and a light charge transfer layer formed on a third layer between the first and second layers and configured to transfer the generated light charges to the read circuit. The read circuit includes a single transistor, and the light charges are accumulated in a body of the single transistor.

Abstract: A method of operating an image sensor chip including a motion sensor pixel sensing a motion of an object and a depth sensor pixel, the method including the operations of activating either the depth sensor pixel or the motion sensor pixel according to a mode selection signal, and processing a pixel signal output by either the activated depth sensor pixel or the activated motion sensor pixel.

Abstract: In image processing, a color fringe is removed. The processing includes selecting a maximum gradient magnitude among gradient magnitudes for each of color components in an image, calculating a boundary of a dilated near-saturation region in the image, detecting a transition region in the image according to the maximum gradient magnitude and the dilated near-saturation region, and removing a color fringe from the transition region.

Abstract: A 3D image sensor includes a depth pixel that includes; a photo detector generating photo-charge, first and second floating diffusion regions, a first transfer transistor transferring photo-charge to the first floating diffusion region during a first transfer period in response to a first transfer gate signal, a second transfer transistor transferring photo-charge to the second floating diffusion region during a second transfer period in response to a second transfer gate signal, and an overflow transistor that discharges surplus photo-charge in response to a drive gate signal. Control logic unit controlling operation of the depth pixel includes a first logic element providing the first transfer gate signal, a second logic element providing the second transfer gate signal, and another logic element providing the drive gate signal to the overflow transistor when the first transfer period overlaps, at least in part, the second transfer period.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling a pixel output level includes a column signal line connected to an output node of at least one pixel sensor. The apparatus includes a load circuit is connected between the column signal line and a ground terminal. The apparatus also includes a level adjusting circuit configured to adjust a voltage level of a pixel signal output from the at least one pixel sensor to the column signal line based on a correction target value.