Automotive image sensor, image processing system including the same and operating method thereof

An image processing system comprising:

• an image sensor configured to obtain image data from a pixel array;
• and
• an electronic control unit configured to receive the image data from the image sensor and process the image data,
• wherein the image sensor comprises:
• at least one processor configured to select one of a first boot mode and a second boot mode;
• and
• a security circuit configured to perform an authentication operation with the electronic control unit according to the selected boot mode,
• wherein, in the first boot mode, first image data are output to a host device after the authentication operation is performed,
• wherein, in the second boot mode, non-secured second image data are output to the electronic control unit while the authentication operation and key sharing operation are performed and secured second image data are output to the electronic control unit after the authentication operation and the key sharing operation are finished,
• wherein the non-secured second image data do not include a security image tag corresponding to the image data,
• wherein the secured second image data include the security image tag corresponding to the image data.

A method of operating an electronic control unit, the method comprising:

• selecting one of a first boot mode and a second boot mode;
• and
• transmitting an authentication request to an image sensor through a communication channel after receiving operation information from the image sensor;
• receiving a public key of an automotive image sensor from the image sensor through a communication channel;
• generating an encryption code based on the public key;
• transmitting the encryption code to the image sensor through the communication channel;
• receiving first stream data from the image sensor through a transmission channel in the first boot mode after an authentication operation is completed;
• and
• receiving second stream data from the image sensor through the transmission channel in the second boot mode before the authentication operation is completed.