Image sensors and methods of operating the same

Abstract

According to example embodiments, a method of operating a three-dimensional image sensor comprises measuring a distance of an object from the three-dimensional image sensor using light emitted by a light source module, and adjusting an emission angle of the light emitted by the light source module based on the measured distance. The three-dimensional image sensor includes the light source module.

1 . A method of operating a three-dimensional image sensor, the method comprising:
 measuring a distance of an object from the three-dimensional image sensor using light emitted by a light source module, the three-dimensional image sensor including the light source module; and   adjusting an emission angle of the light emitted by the light source module based on the measured distance.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the measuring comprises:
 emitting the light with desired emission angle at the light source module; and   measuring the distance of the object from the three-dimensional image sensor by detecting a time-of-flight of the emitted light.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the adjusting decreases the emission angle of the light as the distance of the object from the three-dimensional image sensor increases. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the light source module includes a light source and a lens, and wherein the adjusting adjusts an interval between the light source and the lens based on the measured distance. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the adjusting moves the light source or the lens such that a separation between the light source and the lens increases as the distance of the object from the three-dimensional image sensor increases. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the light source module includes a light source and a lens, and wherein the adjusting
 adjusts a refractive index of the lens based on the measured distance.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the adjusting
 increases the refractive index of the lens as the distance of the object from the three-dimensional image sensor increases.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the light source module includes a light source and a lens, and wherein the adjusting
 adjusts a curvature of the lens based on the measured distance.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the adjusting
 increases the curvature of the lens as the distance of the object from the three-dimensional image sensor increases.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 adjusting an amplitude of the light emitted by the light source module according to an increment or a decrement of the emission angle of the light.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the adjusting
 decreases the amplitude of the light as the emission angle of the light decreases.   
     
     
         12 . A method of operating a three-dimensional image sensor, the method comprising:
 obtaining position information of an object using light emitted by a light source module, the three-dimensional image sensor including the light source module having a light source and a lens; and   adjusting a relative position of the light source to the lens based on the obtained position information of the object.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the position information of the object includes at least one of a distance of the object from the three-dimensional image sensor, a horizontal position of the object, a vertical position of the object and a size of the object. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the relative position of the light source to the lens includes at least one of an interval between the light source and the lens, a horizontal position of the light source and a vertical position of the light source. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the position information of the object includes a horizontal position and a vertical position of the object, and wherein the adjusting
 moves the light source or the lens such that the object, the lens and the light source are positioned in a straight line.   
     
     
         16 . A method of operating an image sensor, the method comprising:
 obtaining position information of an object using light emitted by a light source module, the image sensor including the light source module; and   adjusting an emission angle of the light emitted by the light source module based on the obtained position information.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the obtaining the position information of the object comprises:
 emitting the light with a desired emission angle from the light source module; and   measuring a distance of the object from the image sensor by detecting a time-of-flight of the emitted light.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the adjusting adjusts the emission angle of the light based on the distance of the object from the image sensor. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the adjusting adjusts the emission angle of the light by adjusting a separation between a light source and a lens based on the measured distance, the light source module including the light source and the lens. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the adjusting adjusts the emission angle of the light by adjusting a refractive index of a lens included in the light source module based on the measured distance. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the adjusting adjusts the emission angle of the light by adjusting a curvature of the lens based on the measured distance. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 adjusting an amplitude of the light emitted by the light source module according to an increase or a decrease in the emission angle of the light.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the measuring at least twice samples light reflected from the object, calculates a phase difference between the emitted and reflected light based on the at least two samples and detects the time-of-flight of the emitted light. 
     
     
         24 .- 30 . (canceled)