Patents by Inventor Hideo Kobayashi

Hideo Kobayashi 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).

  • Patent number: 11268851
    Abstract: A photoelectric conversion apparatus includes a first substrate including a pixel array, a second substrate including a readout circuit configured to read out a signal from the pixel array, and a drive terminal to which a drive potential is externally applied. The readout circuit includes a first node to which the drive potential is supplied from the drive terminal via an electrically conductive line arranged in the pixel array, and a second node to which the drive potential is supplied from the drive terminal without going through the pixel array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideo Kobayashi, Fumihiro Inui, Daisuke Yoshida
  • Publication number: 20220030164
    Abstract: An imaging device according to the present disclosure is provided with: a pixel array having a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix and outputting pixel signals corresponding to the amount of light received; a first column signal line and a second column signal line respectively provided corresponding to the columns of the pixel array; a first column circuit connected to the first column signal line; a second column circuit connected to the second column signal line; a first control line for controlling the first column circuit; a second control line for controlling the second column circuit; and a plurality of switches provided between the first control line and the second control line, and are controlled by a common signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2021
    Publication date: January 27, 2022
    Inventor: Hideo Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20220024172
    Abstract: A nanofiber sheet includes: a substrate layer; and a nanofiber layer located on one surface side of the substrate layer and containing nanofibers of a polymer compound. A peripheral edge of the nanofiber layer has a thickness of from 0.1 to 10 ?m. The nanofiber layer includes a gradation region having a thickness that gradually increases inward from the peripheral edge. The distance W1 between the peripheral edge of the nanofiber layer and a maximum thickness portion where the thickness becomes the greatest in the gradation region is at least 3 mm. A nanofiber sheet manufacturing method involves depositing nanofibers onto a collecting unit by moving at least either a nozzle or the collecting unit, to thereby manufacture a predetermined nanofiber sheet including a gradation region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2019
    Publication date: January 27, 2022
    Applicant: Kao Corporation
    Inventors: Suguru IKEYAMA, Hideo KOBAYASHI, Takehiko TOJO, Koji SAITO, Yuting YANG, Shunetsu YONAIYAMA, Ikuo FUKUDA
  • Publication number: 20210391365
    Abstract: Provided is a photoelectric conversion device including a pixel array in which pixels, each of the pixels including a photoelectric conversion element, are arranged in columns, a signal line that is arranged corresponding to one of the columns in the pixel array and to which a signal from the pixel is output, a current source configured to supply the signal line with a driving current; a current adjusting unit configured to control the driving current into a current amount including a first current amount and a second current amount greater than the first current amount, and an assisting element configured to assist a change in a current flowing through the signal line when the driving current changes from the first current amount to the second current amount. The first current amount is a current amount in a state where the driving current is disconnected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2021
    Publication date: December 16, 2021
    Inventors: Hideo Kobayashi, So Hasegawa, Yu Katase
  • Publication number: 20210368121
    Abstract: A semiconductor apparatus includes a stack of first and second chips each having a plurality of pixel circuits arranged in a matrix form. The pixel circuit of the a-th row and the e1-th column is connected to the electric circuit of the p-th row and the v-th column. The pixel circuit of the a-th row and the f1-th column is connected to the electric circuit of the q-th row and the v-th column. The pixel circuit of the a-th row and the g1-th column is connected to the electric circuit of the r-th row and the v-th column. The pixel circuit of the a-th row and the h1-th column is connected to the electric circuit of the s-th row and the v-th column.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2021
    Publication date: November 25, 2021
    Inventors: Katsuhito Sakurai, Yoshiaki Takada, Takahiro Shirai, Hideo Kobayashi, Kohichi Nakamura, Daisuke Yoshida, Fumihiro Inui
  • Publication number: 20210360180
    Abstract: An imaging device includes: a first pad portion that is connected to a voltage supply line in an aperture pixel region, and to which a reference voltage from outside of the semiconductor substrate is supplied; and a second pad portion that is connected to the voltage supply line in the light-shielded pixel region, and to which the reference voltage from outside of the semiconductor substrate is supplied, the second pad portion being separated from the first pad portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2021
    Publication date: November 18, 2021
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Saito, Hideo Kobayashi, Koichiro Iwata, Yoshiaki Takada, Satoshi Kato
  • Publication number: 20210352199
    Abstract: The lens interchangeable digital camera includes a sensor movement type shake correction mechanism that performs a sensor movement operation of moving an image sensor in a direction to cancel a shake. A characteristic data acquisition unit acquires optical characteristic data corresponding to optical characteristics of an imaging optical system of a lens unit mounted on a body mount. A determination unit determines whether or not adaptive optical characteristic data that can be handled by an image correction unit that performs image correction based on the optical characteristic data can be acquired. An operation deciding unit prohibits a shift operation which is at least a part of a sensor movement operation in an uncorrectable state where the image correction based on the adaptive optical characteristic data is not possible since the adaptive optical characteristic data cannot be acquired.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2021
    Publication date: November 11, 2021
    Applicant: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Koichi TANAKA, Akihiro UCHIDA, Kenkichi HAYASHI, Seiichi IZAWA, Hideo KOBAYASHI
  • Patent number: 11159760
    Abstract: A photoelectric conversion apparatus, comprising: a pixel array; a first and a second signal line groups; a first and a second readout circuit groups; a first multiplexer group that selects one of at least two first signal lines, and connects the selected first signal line to one first readout circuit; and a second multiplexer group that selects one of at least two second signal lines, and connects the selected second signal line to one second readout circuit, a number of the first readout circuits is more than a number of the first signal lines, a number of the second readout circuits is more than a number of the second signal lines, the selection operations by the first and second multiplexer groups are executable independently from each other, the selection operation of the first multiplexer group is controlled collectively, and the selection operation of the second multiplexer group is controlled collectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideo Kobayashi, Satoshi Kato, Kohei Matsumoto
  • Publication number: 20210306589
    Abstract: In an imaging device, a differential stage includes an input transistor having an input node connected to a floating diffusion portion, a first control line and a second control line are located in a plurality of sets, the first control line is connected to connection portions of some sets of the plurality of sets, and the second control line is connected to connection portions of the other sets of the plurality of sets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2021
    Publication date: September 30, 2021
    Inventor: Hideo Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 11129974
    Abstract: The present invention provides a fine hollow protruding tool (1) having a basal member (2) and a fine hollow protrusions (3) project from the basal member (2). The fine hollow protrusions (3) each has an opening portion (3h) on a tip side thereof and an interior in which an interior space linked to the opening portion (3h) is formed. In any vertical cross-section passing through an apex of the fine hollow protrusion (3), a wall thickness (T1) in an apex-side region (TB) on the apex side is thinner than a wall thickness (T2) in a lower-side region (BP) that is closer to the basal member (2) than the apex-side region (TB) is, and a gap (M1c) between inner walls (31) in the apex-side region (TB) is smaller than a gap (M2c) between the inner walls (31) in the lower-side region (BP). A base portion (34) of the fine hollow protrusion (3) projecting from the basal member (2) has a curvature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: KAO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Satoshi Ueno, Takatoshi Niitsu, Hideo Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 11134212
    Abstract: A photoelectric conversion device includes a plurality of pixels and a readout circuit. Each of the plurality of pixels includes a pixel circuit including a photoelectric conversion unit. The readout circuit is configured for reading out a signal from the plurality of pixels. The pixel circuit of each of the plurality of pixels includes at least a first transistor that receives a signal based on signal charges generated by the photoelectric conversion unit and is a part of a differential pair. The pixel circuit or the readout circuit has a second transistor. The size of the first transistor and the size of the second transistor are different from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hideo Kobayashi, Shinya Nakano, Hirofumi Totsuka, Daisuke Yoshida
  • Patent number: 11115593
    Abstract: The lens interchangeable digital camera includes a sensor movement type shake correction mechanism that performs a sensor movement operation of moving an image sensor in a direction to cancel a shake. A characteristic data acquisition unit acquires optical characteristic data corresponding to optical characteristics of an imaging optical system of a lens unit mounted on a body mount. A determination unit determines whether or not adaptive optical characteristic data that can be handled by an image correction unit that performs image correction based on the optical characteristic data can be acquired. An operation deciding unit prohibits a shift operation which is at least a part of a sensor movement operation in an uncorrectable state where the image correction based on the adaptive optical characteristic data is not possible since the adaptive optical characteristic data cannot be acquired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Koichi Tanaka, Akihiro Uchida, Kenkichi Hayashi, Seiichi Izawa, Hideo Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 11108986
    Abstract: A semiconductor apparatus includes a stack of first and second chips each having a plurality of pixel circuits arranged in a matrix form. The pixel circuit of the a-th row and the e1-th column is connected to the electric circuit of the p-th row and the v-th column. The pixel circuit of the a-th row and the f1-th column is connected to the electric circuit of the q-th row and the v-th column. The pixel circuit of the a-th row and the g1-th column is connected to the electric circuit of the r-th row and the v-th column. The pixel circuit of the a-th row and the h1-th column is connected to the electric circuit of the s-th row and the v-th column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Katsuhito Sakurai, Yoshiaki Takada, Takahiro Shirai, Hideo Kobayashi, Kohichi Nakamura, Daisuke Yoshida, Fumihiro Inui
  • Patent number: 11108985
    Abstract: Provided is an imaging device including: a photoelectric converter; an AD converter unit including a differential stage; and a ramp signal generator. The photoelectric converter and a first part of the differential stage are arranged in a first chip, a second part of the differential stage is arranged in a second chip that is a different chip from the first chip and stacked on the first chip, and the ramp signal generator is arranged in a different chip from the first chip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kohichi Nakamura, Masahiro Kobayashi, Hideo Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 11109494
    Abstract: A display device includes a control substrate provided in the display device, a first connecting part provided on the control substrate and connecting a controller to the control substrate, the controller configured to control the display device, and a second connecting part provided on the control substrate and connecting a user interface unit to the control substrate, the user interface unit connected to an external device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hideo Kobayashi, Kouhei Yoshida, Hiroyuki Suwa, Hideki Okamura
  • Publication number: 20210266484
    Abstract: A disclosed comparator includes a comparison circuit including a differential unit that compares an input signal with a reference signal and changes a level of a signal output to a first node in accordance with a result of comparison and an amplifier unit that includes a load element and outputs a signal in accordance with a potential of the first node to a second node, and a positive feedback circuit that is connected to the second node and a third node and changes a level of a signal at the third node at a rate higher than a change rate of a level of a signal at the second node in accordance with a change in a level of a signal at the second node.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2021
    Publication date: August 26, 2021
    Inventors: Hideo Kobayashi, So Hasegawa
  • Publication number: 20210266485
    Abstract: A disclosed comparator includes a comparison circuit that performs comparison between an input signal and a reference signal and changes a level of a signal to be output to a first node in accordance with a result of the comparison; and a positive feedback circuit including an amplifier unit that includes a current source load and outputs a signal in accordance with a potential of the first node to a second node and a feedback unit that positively feeds back a signal in accordance with a potential of the second node to the first node. The feedback unit includes a first transistor to which output of the amplifier unit is fed back and a switch that controls turning on or off of the first transistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2021
    Publication date: August 26, 2021
    Inventors: Hideo Kobayashi, So Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 11100603
    Abstract: A controller is attached to a back face of a display device. The controller includes: a housing; a control unit removably accommodated in a slot formed in the housing and configured to control the display device; a backboard provided inside the housing on the interior side with respect to the direction of insertion of the control unit and connected to the control unit; and a second connector connected to a first connector provided for the display device to establish connection between the backboard and the display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kouhei Yoshida, Hideo Kobayashi, Hiroyuki Suwa, Junichi Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 11064145
    Abstract: In an imaging device, a differential stage includes an input transistor having an input node connected to a floating diffusion portion, a first control line and a second control line are located in a plurality of sets, the first control line is connected to connection portions of some sets of the plurality of sets, and the second control line is connected to connection portions of the other sets of the plurality of sets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hideo Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20210084244
    Abstract: An image pickup device according to an embodiment includes pixels each configured to output an analog signal based on electric charges produced in a photoelectric conversion unit and a control unit configured to control a gain applied to the analog signal to be at least a first gain and a second gain greater than the first gain in accordance with a signal value of the analog signal. Each of the pixels outputs, as the analog signal, a first signal and a second signal based on electric charges produced in the photoelectric conversion unit in a first exposure period and a second exposure period shorter than the first exposure period. The control unit controls the gain applied to the analog signal by selecting one from the first gain and the second gain in accordance with the signal value, for at least one of the first signal and the second signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2020
    Publication date: March 18, 2021
    Inventors: Tetsuya Itano, Shoji Kono, Hideo Kobayashi, Hiroyuki Morita, Yasuhiro Oguro, Kei Ochiai