Patents by Inventor Fumihiko Koga

Fumihiko Koga has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20200366859
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device that is one aspect of the present disclosure has a first photoelectric conversion portion, an upper electrode, and a lower electrode formed outside a substrate, the first photoelectric conversion portion performing photoelectric conversion in accordance with incident light, the upper electrode and the lower electrode being formed to sandwich the first photoelectric conversion portion. The solid-state imaging device includes an aperture pixel that is disposed on a pixel array, and generates a normal pixel signal; an OPB pixel that is disposed at an end portion on the pixel array, and generates a pixel signal indicating a dark current component; and a charge releasing portion that is disposed between the aperture pixel and the OPB pixel, and releases electric charge flowing out from the aperture pixel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2020
    Publication date: November 19, 2020
    Inventors: TAIICHIRO WATANABE, FUMIHIKO KOGA
  • Patent number: 10805562
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an imaging device, a manufacturing method, a semiconductor device, and an electronic device that can further improve image quality. An imaging device includes a photoelectric conversion unit that receives and photoelectrically converts light, a floating diffusion layer that accumulates charge generated by the photoelectric conversion unit, and a diffusion layer that serves as a source or a drain of a transistor. Then, the floating diffusion layer is formed to have an impurity concentration lower than an impurity concentration of the diffusion layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ryosuke Nakamura, Fumihiko Koga
  • Publication number: 20200303449
    Abstract: An imaging device is provided. The imaging device may include a substrate having a first photoelectric conversion unit and a second photoelectric conversion unit at a light-incident side of the substrate. The second photoelectric conversion unit may include a photoelectric conversion layer, a first electrode, a second electrode above the photoelectric conversion layer, a third electrode, and an insulating material between the third electrode and the photoelectric conversion layer, wherein a portion of the insulating material is between the first electrode and the third electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2020
    Publication date: September 24, 2020
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hideaki TOGASHI, Fumihiko KOGA, Tetsuji YAMAGUCHI, Shintarou HIRATA, Taiichiro WATANABE, Yoshihiro ANDO, Toyotaka KATAOKA, Satoshi KEINO, Yukio KANEDA
  • Patent number: 10764523
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a solid-state imaging device and an electronic apparatus that can reduce the influence on an OPB pixel in a case where blooming has occurred in an aperture pixel. A solid-state imaging device that is one aspect of the present disclosure has a first photoelectric conversion portion, an upper electrode, and a lower electrode formed outside a substrate, the first photoelectric conversion portion performing photoelectric conversion in accordance with incident light, the upper electrode and the lower electrode being formed to sandwich the first photoelectric conversion portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Taiichiro Watanabe, Fumihiko Koga
  • Publication number: 20200244911
    Abstract: There is provided an imaging element including: a photoelectric conversion unit formed by stacking a first electrode 21, a photoelectric conversion layer, and a second electrode, in which the photoelectric conversion unit further includes a charge storage electrode 24 that has an opposite region 24a opposite to the first electrode 21 via an insulating layer 82, and a transfer control electrode 25 that is opposite to the first electrode 21 and the charge storage electrode 24 via the insulating layer 82, and the photoelectric conversion layer is disposed above at least the charge storage electrode 24 via the insulating layer 82.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2018
    Publication date: July 30, 2020
    Inventors: YUSUKE SATO, FUMIHIKO KOGA
  • Patent number: 10714532
    Abstract: An imaging device is provided. The imaging device may include a substrate having a first photoelectric conversion unit and a second photoelectric conversion unit at a light-incident side of the substrate. The second photoelectric conversion unit may include a photoelectric conversion layer, a first electrode, a second electrode above the photoelectric conversion layer, a third electrode, and an insulating material between the third electrode and the photoelectric conversion layer, wherein a portion of the insulating material is between the first electrode and the third electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Hideaki Togashi, Fumihiko Koga, Tetsuji Yamaguchi, Shintarou Hirata, Taiichiro Watanabe, Yoshihiro Ando, Toyotaka Kataoka, Satoshi Keino, Yukio Kaneda
  • Publication number: 20200219918
    Abstract: There is provided a solid-state image pickup device including: a semiconductor substrate; a photodiode formed in the semiconductor substrate; a transistor having a gate electrode part or all of which is embedded in the semiconductor substrate, the transistor being configured to read a signal electric charge from the photodiode via the gate electrode; and an electric charge transfer layer provided between the gate electrode and the photodiode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2019
    Publication date: July 9, 2020
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Ryosuke NAKAMURA, Fumihiko KOGA, Taiichiro WATANABE
  • Publication number: 20200221042
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device according to an embodiment of the disclosure includes a first electrode, a second electrode, a photoelectric conversion layer, and a voltage applier. The first electrode includes a plurality of electrodes independent from each other. The second electrode is disposed opposite to the first electrode. The photoelectric conversion layer is disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. The voltage applier applies different voltages to at least one of the first electrode or the second electrode during a charge accumulation period and a charge non-accumulation period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2018
    Publication date: July 9, 2020
    Inventors: TAIICHIRO WATANABE, TETSUJI YAMAGUCHI, YUSUKE SATO, FUMIHIKO KOGA
  • Publication number: 20200195869
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a solid-state imaging device, a method for driving the solid-state imaging device, and an electronic device capable of improving auto-focusing accuracy by using a phase difference signal obtained by using a photoelectric conversion film. The solid-state imaging device includes a pixel including a photoelectric conversion portion having a structure where a photoelectric conversion film is interposed by an upper electrode on the photoelectric conversion film and a lower electrode under the photoelectric conversion film. The upper electrode is divided into a first upper electrode and a second upper electrode. The present disclosure can be applied to, for example, a solid-state imaging device or the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2020
    Publication date: June 18, 2020
    Applicant: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keisuke HATANO, Fumihiko KOGA, Tetsuji YAMAGUCHI, Shinichiro IZAWA
  • Publication number: 20200185437
    Abstract: The present technology relates to a solid-state image sensing device capable of restricting a deterioration in photoelectric conversion characteristic of a photoelectric conversion unit, and an electronic device. A solid-state image sensing device includes: a photoelectric conversion unit formed outside a semiconductor substrate; a charge holding unit for holding signal charges generated by the photoelectric conversion unit; a reset transistor for resetting the potential of the charge holding unit; a capacitance switching transistor connected to the charge holding unit and directed for switching the capacitance of the charge holding unit; and an additional capacitance device connected to the capacitance switching transistor. The present technology is applicable to solid-state image sensing devices and the like, for example.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2020
    Publication date: June 11, 2020
    Applicant: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Fumihiko KOGA
  • Patent number: 10629645
    Abstract: The present technology relates to a solid-state imaging device and an electronic apparatus that perform a stable overflow from a photodiode and prevent Qs from decreasing and color mixing from occurring. A solid-state imaging device according to an aspect of the present technology includes, at a light receiving surface side of a semiconductor substrate, a charge retention part that generates and retains a charge in response to incident light, an OFD into which the charge saturated at the charge retention part is discharged, and a potential barrier that becomes a barrier of the charge that flows from the charge retention part to the OFD, the OFD including a low concentration OFD and a high concentration OFD having different impurity concentrations of the same type, and the high concentration OFD and the potential barrier being formed at a distance. For example, the present technology is applicable to a CMOS image sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Taiichiro Watanabe, Ryosuke Nakamura, Yusuke Sato, Fumihiko Koga
  • Publication number: 20200119077
    Abstract: An imaging element has at least a photoelectric conversion section, a first transistor TR1, and a second transistor TR2, the photoelectric conversion section includes a photoelectric conversion layer, a first electrode, and a second electrode, the imaging element further has a first photoelectric conversion layer extension section, a third electrode, and a fourth electrode, the first transistor TR1 includes the second electrode that functions as one source/drain section, the third electrode that functions as a gate section, and the first photoelectric conversion layer extension section that functions as the other source/drain section, and the first transistor TR1 (TRrst) is provided adjacent to the photoelectric conversion section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2018
    Publication date: April 16, 2020
    Applicant: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Fumihiko KOGA
  • Patent number: 10616515
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a solid-state imaging device, a method for driving the solid-state imaging device, and an electronic device capable of improving auto-focusing accuracy by using a phase difference signal obtained by using a photoelectric conversion film. The solid-state imaging device includes a pixel including a photoelectric conversion portion having a structure where a photoelectric conversion film is interposed by an upper electrode on the photoelectric conversion film and a lower electrode under the photoelectric conversion film. The upper electrode is divided into a first upper electrode and a second upper electrode. The present disclosure can be applied to, for example, a solid-state imaging device or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keisuke Hatano, Fumihiko Koga, Tetsuji Yamaguchi, Shinichiro Izawa
  • Publication number: 20200105837
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a solid state image sensor capable of reducing signal mixture due to electric capacitive coupling between adjacent pixels, a method for manufacturing the same, and an electronic device. A first pixel and a second pixel are adjacently arranged in the solid state image sensor. Each of the first pixel and the second pixel has a photoelectric conversion film for photoelectrically converting an incident light, and a lower electrode arranged below the photoelectric conversion film, and another electrode different from the lower electrodes is provided between the lower electrodes of the first pixel and the second pixel. The present disclosure is applicable to solid state image sensors and the like, for example.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: SHINTAROU HIRATA, TETSUJI YAMAGUCHI, FUMIHIKO KOGA, SHINPEI FUKUOKA, SHUJI MANDA
  • Patent number: 10553629
    Abstract: There is provided a solid-state image pickup device including: a semiconductor substrate; a photodiode formed in the semiconductor substrate; a transistor having a gate electrode part or all of which is embedded in the semiconductor substrate, the transistor being configured to read a signal electric charge from the photodiode via the gate electrode; and an electric charge transfer layer provided between the gate electrode and the photodiode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Ryosuke Nakamura, Fumihiko Koga, Taiichiro Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20200029038
    Abstract: The present technology relates to a solid-state imaging device and an electronic apparatus which make it possible to improve the pixel property. Provided is a solid-state imaging device, including a first electrode formed on a semiconductor layer, a photoelectric conversion layer formed on the first electrode, a second electrode formed on the photoelectric conversion layer, and a third electrode disposed between the first electrode and an adjacent first electrode, and electrically insulated. A voltage of the third electrode is controlled to a voltage corresponding to a detection result which can contribute to control of discharge of charges or assist for transfer of charges. The present technology can be applied to, for example, a CMOS image sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2018
    Publication date: January 23, 2020
    Inventors: YUJI UESUGI, FUMIHIKO KOGA, KEISUKE HATANO
  • Publication number: 20200021763
    Abstract: Imaging devices and electronic apparatuses incorporating imaging devices are provided. An imaging device as disclosed can include a first pixel of a first pixel and a second pixel of a second pixel. The first and second pixels each have a first electrode, a portion of a photoelectric conversion film, and a portion of a second electrode, where the photoelectric conversion film is between the first electrode and the second electrode. The first electrode of the first pixel has a first area, while the first electrode of the second pixel has a second area that is smaller than the first area. The first pixel can include a light shielding film. Alternatively or in addition, the first pixel can be divided into first and second portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Publication date: January 16, 2020
    Applicant: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keisuke HATANO, Ryosuke NAKAMURA, Yuji UESUGI, Fumihiko KOGA, Tetsuji YAMAGUCHI
  • Publication number: 20200014868
    Abstract: The present technology relates to a solid-state imaging device that can improve imaging quality by reducing variation in the voltage of a charge retention unit, a method of driving the solid-state imaging device, and an electronic apparatus. A first photoelectric conversion unit generates and accumulates signal charge by receiving light that has entered a pixel, and photoelectrically converting the light. A first charge retention unit retains the generated signal charge. A first output transistor outputs the signal charge in the first charge retention unit as a pixel signal, when the pixel is selected by the first select transistor. A first voltage control transistor controls the voltage of the output end of the first output transistor. The present technology can be applied to pixels in solid-state imaging devices, for example.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2019
    Publication date: January 9, 2020
    Applicant: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Fumihiko KOGA
  • Publication number: 20190371844
    Abstract: Provided is an imaging element including a photoelectric conversion unit formed by stacking a first electrode, a photo-electric conversion layer and a second electrode. The photoelectric conversion unit further includes a charge storage electrode which is disposed to be spaced apart from the first electrode and disposed opposite to the photoelectric conversion layer via an insulating layer. The photoelectric conversion unit is formed of N number of photoelectric conversion unit segments, and the same applies to the photoelectric conversion layer, the insulating layer and the charge storage electrode. An nth photoelectric conversion unit segment is formed of an nth charge storage electrode segment, an nth insulating layer segment and an nth photoelectric conversion layer segment. As n increases, the nth photoelectric conversion unit segment is located farther from the first electrode. A thickness of the insulating layer segment gradually changes from a first to Nth photoelectric conversion unit segment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2017
    Publication date: December 5, 2019
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akira FURUKAWA, Yoshihiro ANDO, Hideaki TOGASHI, Fumihiko KOGA
  • Patent number: 10469780
    Abstract: Imaging devices and electronic apparatuses incorporating imaging devices are provided. An imaging device as disclosed can include a first pixel (2PA, 2PB) and a second pixel (2X). The first and second pixels each have a first electrode (51A, 51B, 51C), a portion of a photoelectric conversion film (81), and a portion of a second electrode (82), where the photoelectric conversion film is between the first electrode and the second electrode. The first electrode (51A, 51B) of the first pixel has a first area, while the first electrode (51C) of the second pixel has a second area that is smaller than the first area. The first pixel can include a light shielding film (52A, 52B). Alternatively or in addition, the first pixel can be divided into first and second portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation
    Inventors: Keisuke Hatano, Ryosuke Nakamura, Yuji Uesugi, Fumihiko Koga, Tetsuji Yamaguchi