Event-based sensor and operating method of processor

1. An event-based sensor, comprising:

a sensor module configured to generate an event signal comprising identification information that relates to an active pixel that detects an event, the active pixel being included among a plurality of sensing pixels;

a determiner configured to determine whether the event signal is to be blocked based on a predetermined condition; and

an outputter configured to output the event signal based on a result of a determination by the determiner as to whether the event signal is to be blocked, and to transmit, to the determiner, a response signal after the event signal has been output,

wherein the determiner is further configured to reset a parameter that relates to determining the predetermined condition in response to receiving the response signal.

2. The event-based sensor of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined condition comprises at least one from among:

a first condition that relates to a time at which the event is detected;

a second condition that relates to a space in which the event is detected; and

a third condition based on a spatiotemporal correlation among respective occurrences of the event.

3. The event-based sensor of claim 2 , wherein the first condition comprises at least one from among:

first information indicating whether a current occurrence of the event is detected in a first time interval of a predetermined pattern;

second information indicating whether the current occurrence of the event is detected within a second time interval with respect to a preceding time at which a preceding occurrence of the event was detected; and

third information indicating whether the current occurrence of the event is detected in a third time interval associated with at least one temporal characteristic of the respective occurrences of the event.

4. The event-based sensor of claim 2 , wherein the second condition comprises at least one from among:

first information indicating whether a current occurrence of the event is detected in a first region of a predetermined pattern;

second information indicating whether the current occurrence of the event is detected in a second region of a predetermined range with respect to a location at which a preceding occurrence of the event was detected;

third information indicating whether the current occurrence of the event is detected in a third region that corresponds to an outline of an object; and

fourth information indicating whether the current occurrence of the event is detected in a fourth region associated with a spatial characteristic of the respective occurrences of the event.

5. The event-based sensor of claim 2 , wherein the third condition comprises:

information indicating whether a current occurrence of the event is detected within a predetermined time interval with respect to a preceding time at which a preceding occurrence of the event was detected within a predetermined region.

6. The event-based sensor of claim 5 , wherein the predetermined region comprises at least one from among:

an adjacent region comprising a location at which the current occurrence of the event is detected; and

a region of a predetermined pattern comprising the location at which the current occurrence of the event is detected.

7. The event-based sensor of claim 1 , wherein:

the sensor module is further configured to transmit the event signal to the determiner in response to the event,

the determiner is further configured to determine, in response to receiving the event signal, whether the event signal is blocked, and to transmit, to the outputter, a pass logic signal comprising the result of the determination as to whether the event signal is to be blocked in response to a pass enable signal received from the outputter, and

the outputter is further configured to the event signal based on the pass logic signal.

8. The event-based sensor of claim 1 , wherein the outputter is further configured to output the event signal and information that relates to a time at which the event signal is generated.

9. The event-based sensor of claim 1 , wherein the active pixel detects a change in incident light.

10. An event-based sensor, comprising:

a sensor module configured to generate an event signal comprising identification information that relates to an active pixel that detects an event, the active pixel being included among a plurality of sensing pixels;

a determiner configured to determine whether the event signal is to be filtered based on a predetermined condition; and

an outputter configured to output the event signal based on a result of a determination by the determiner as to whether the event signal is to be filtered, wherein:

the determiner comprises filter cells configured to divide the plurality of sensing pixels into a predetermined pattern,

each of the filter cells is configured to determine whether the event signal is to be filtered, and

each of the filter cells comprises:

a comparer;

a first switch configured to connect an output of the comparer to a first input of the comparer in response to receiving, from the outputter, a response signal that is associated with a previous occurrence of the event, and to disconnect the output of the comparer from the first input of the comparer in response to receiving, from the sensor module, a suspension of a request signal that is associated with a preceding occurrence of the event;

a second switch configured to connect a second input of the comparer to a reset voltage in response to receiving the response signal, and to connect the second input of the comparer to a threshold voltage in response to receiving the event signal;

a capacitor connected to the second input of the comparer; and

a transistor configured to discharge a charge from the capacitor based on a predetermined current capacity.

11. The event-based sensor of claim 10 , wherein the predetermined current capacity is set based on at least one from among a gate voltage of the transistor and a source voltage of the transistor.

12. An operating method that is performable by using a processor, the operating method comprising:

receiving an event signal generated by an event-based sensor, the event signal comprising identification information that relates to an active pixel that detects an event;

determining, by the processor, whether the event signal is to be blocked based on a first condition that relates to a time at which a current occurrence of the event is detected;

outputting the event signal according to a result of the determining; and

resetting a parameter that relates to the determining after outputting the event signal.

13. The operating method of claim 12 , wherein the first condition comprises at least one from among:

first information indicating whether the current occurrence of the event is detected in a first time interval of a predetermined pattern;

second information indicating whether the current occurrence of the event is detected within a second time interval with respect to a time at which a preceding occurrence of the event was detected; and

third information indicating whether the current occurrence of the event is detected in a third time interval associated with at least one temporal characteristic of respective occurrences of the event.

14. The operating method of claim 12 , wherein the first condition comprises information indicating whether the current occurrence of the event is detected within a predetermined time interval with respect to a time at which a preceding occurrence of the event was detected within a predetermined region.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium which stores a computer program that includes instructions configured to cause a computer to perform the operating method of claim 12 .