iSEW: in-Sensor Embedded Watermarking for Secure Imaging

This paper proposes an analog-domain watermarking approach implemented directly in CMOS sensors. By embedding the watermark at the readout stage before ADC, we achieve a robust, tamper-resistant mechanism with minimal impact on image quality. Modifications to the column amplifier architecture and a secure pattern generator enable effective watermark embedding. Experimental results on a 64×64 pixel array showcase high watermark detection rates (> 85%) under various attacks.