Abstract: Provided are an image processing apparatus and an image processing method. The image processing apparatus includes a point spread function (PSF) pattern generation unit for generating a PSF pattern in which a plurality of PSFs are located in a plurality of lines of the PSF pattern; a PSF estimation unit for estimating PSFs of an out-of-focus input image from step responses of the plurality of lines of the PSF pattern with respect to an edge of the out-of-focus input image; and an image restoration unit for restoring the out-of-focus input image to a focused restored image using the estimated PSF.

Abstract: An image restoration device, an image restoration method, and an image restoration system are provided. The image restoration device includes a point spread function estimation unit, and an image restoration filter unit. The point spread function estimation unit receives an image signal and estimates a Point Spread Function (PSF) from the received image signal. The image restoration filter unit receives the image signal and the PSF, generates an image restoration filter coefficient from the PSF, and filters the image signal according to the image restoration filter coefficient to output the filtered image signal.

Abstract: A method of interpolating a signal output from an image sensor including a pixel array having an M×N matrix as a basic pixel block where M and N are integers is provided. The method includes selecting a target pixel signal from among pixel signals output from the basic pixel block; and converting a pattern of a pixel signal output from the pixel array into a Bayer pattern by converting a pixel signal output from the basic pixel block into the Bayer pattern through an operation on the target pixel signal and a neighboring pixel signal of the target pixel signal and interpolating an output signal converted into the Bayer pattern.

Abstract: An apparatus for canceling a fixed pattern noise in a CMOS image sensor includes a storage device, a fixed pattern noise operation circuit, and a fixed pattern noise canceling circuit. The storage device stores first reference fixed pattern noises operated in a vertical blank section of an (n?1)th frame. The fixed pattern noise operation circuit calculates second reference fixed pattern noises based on the first reference fixed pattern noises stored in the storage device and blank fixed pattern noises output in a vertical blank section of an n-th frame and outputs the second reference fixed pattern noises to the storage device to update the first reference fixed pattern noises to the second reference fixed pattern noises.

Abstract: An image restoration method includes receiving an externally input image signal, generating a filtered image signal by filtering the input image signal, and generating a restored image signal by calculating a weighted average of the input image signal and the filtered image signal. Such a method may be implemented using an image restoration device including an image filtering unit adapted generated the filtered image signal, and an image mixing unit adapted to generate the restored image signal. More particularly, the restored image signal may be generated using weighting factors calculated based on the input image signal, by calculating a local variance of pixels in the input image signal, and calculating the weighting factor for each of the pixels based on the local variance of each of the pixels.

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: A color filter array includes a plurality of white filters, a plurality of yellow filters, a plurality of cyan filters and a plurality of green filters. The plurality of white filters transmits incident light. The plurality of yellow filters transmits a green component and a red component of the incident light. The plurality of cyan filters transmits the green component and a blue component of the incident light. The plurality of green filters transmits the green component of the incident light. An image sensor including the color filter array has high sensitivity and high SNR by increasing transmittance of the incident light.

Abstract: An apparatus for canceling a fixed pattern noise in a CMOS image sensor includes a storage device, a fixed pattern noise operation circuit, and a fixed pattern noise canceling circuit. The storage device stores first reference fixed pattern noises operated in a vertical blank section of an (n?1)th frame. The fixed pattern noise operation circuit calculates second reference fixed pattern noises based on the first reference fixed pattern noises stored in the storage device and blank fixed pattern noises output in a vertical blank section of an n-th frame and outputs the second reference fixed pattern noises to the storage device to update the first reference fixed pattern noises to the second reference fixed pattern noises.

Abstract: In a low-power cache memory and a method of determining a hit/miss thereof, a tag is divided into pre-select bits and post-select bits. In a first phase for comparison of the tag, the pre-select bits of the cache memory are compared with pre-select bits of the processor to generate a first hit/miss signal. In the first phase, when the first hit/miss signal is in a miss state, the cache memory discriminates a cache miss. On the other hand, when the first hit/miss signal is in a hit state in the first phase, in a second phase, the post-select bits of the cache memory are compared with tag bits from the processor corresponding to the pre-select bits to generate a second hit/miss signal. Similarly, in the second phase, when the second hit/miss signal is in a hit state, the cache memory discriminates a cache hit.