Patents by Inventor Hirotaka Murakami
Hirotaka Murakami 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).
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Publication number: 20240196113Abstract: An imaging device having a digital circuit block therein subjected to in-frame DVFS during a frame sequence of the sensing operating mode. In an example embodiment, the in-frame DVFS causes a higher power-supply voltage and a higher clock frequency to be supplied to the digital circuit block during read periods of the frame sequence, and a lower power-supply voltage and a lower clock frequency to be supplied to the digital circuit block during V-blanking periods of the frame sequence. The lower power-supply voltage and clock frequency are selected to be sufficient for the digital circuit block to support the pertinent functions thereof during the V-blanking periods without adversely impacting performance. For example, the lower power-supply voltage is sufficient for a SRAM of the digital circuit block to retain data therein. Beneficially, the in-frame DVFS enables the imaging device to perform motion detection while consuming very little power.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 22, 2022Publication date: June 13, 2024Inventors: John Steven Childs, Mark Pude, Hirotaka Murakami, Robert James Childs, Cody Cziesler
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Publication number: 20240172394Abstract: A refrigerant circulation device includes a housing including an opening, a protrusion protruding from the housing, and a pump movable in a first direction in an internal space of the housing through the opening and mounted at a mounting position on one side in the first direction relative to the opening. The pump includes a stopper movable between a first position that does not overlap with the protrusion and a second position that overlaps with the protrusion and is on one side in the first direction relative to the protrusion.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 17, 2023Publication date: May 23, 2024Inventors: Toshihiko TOKESHI, Shinsuke HAMANO, Tomoaki ANDO, Taku MURAKAMI, Hirotaka WATANABE, Naoya NONOMURA
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Publication number: 20240056699Abstract: Color image sensors and systems are provided. A color image sensor as disclosed includes a plurality of pixels disposed within an array, each of which includes a plurality of sub-pixels. A pixel array includes pixel cells, each pixel cell including one or more photodiodes. Pixel cells are arranged in rows and columns. The pixel array includes transistors for vertical binning of pixel cells in different rows and transistors for horizontal binning of pixel cells in different columns.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 8, 2023Publication date: February 15, 2024Applicant: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATIONInventors: Gui GUI, Hirotaka Murakami, Hung DOAN, Sungin HAN, Frederick Brady
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Patent number: 11758302Abstract: An imaging device includes a controller, a power supply, a regulator, and a switch. The controller is configured to control an imaging unit, on the basis of a command and data that are received from a host in accordance with an I2C/I3C communication protocol. The power supply is configured to supply a voltage to a digital block of the controller. The digital block is configured to be subjected to dynamic voltage frequency scaling within one-frame operation. The regulator and the switch are provided between the digital block and the power supply, and coupled in parallel with each other.Type: GrantFiled: September 3, 2021Date of Patent: September 12, 2023Assignee: Sony Semiconductor Solutions CorporationInventors: Chiaki Takano, Toshimasa Shimizu, Yuki Takizawa, Mark Pude, Hirotaka Murakami, Kevin Fronczak
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Patent number: 11705473Abstract: An imaging device includes a photodetector and an optical filter disposed on a light-receiving surface of the photodetector. The optical filter may include a diffraction grating, a core layer, and a reflector disposed on first and second opposing sides of the core layer. In some cases, the optical filter (e.g., a GMR filter) uses interference of electromagnetic waves on an incidence plane of light or a plane parallel to the incidence plane. The reflector may reflect electromagnetic waves between adjacent optical filters. The present technology can be applied to, for example, an image sensor provided with a GMR filter, such as a back-side-illuminated or front-side-illuminated CMOS image sensor.Type: GrantFiled: January 6, 2022Date of Patent: July 18, 2023Assignee: Sony Semiconductor Solutions CorporationInventors: Sozo Yokogawa, Hirotaka Murakami, Mikinori Ito
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Patent number: 11653122Abstract: A solid-state image capturing element includes a pair of first floating diffusion layers arranged in a direction perpendicular to a predetermined direction and a pair of second floating diffusion layers arranged in the perpendicular direction and adjacent to the pair of first floating diffusion layers in the predetermined direction. The element includes a first connection circuit configured to select at least one of the pair of first floating diffusion layers and to connect the selected first floating diffusion layer to a predetermined first wire; a second connection circuit configured to select at least one of the pair of second floating diffusion layers and to connect the selected second floating diffusion layer to the first wire; and an output circuit configured to output a signal according to an amount of charge of at least one of the pair of first floating diffusion layers or the pair of second floating diffusion layers.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2020Date of Patent: May 16, 2023Assignee: Sony Semiconductor Solutions CorporationInventors: Katsuhiko Hanzawa, Yoshikazu Nitta, Hirotaka Murakami, Kazumasa Nishimura, Pude Mark, Christopher Moule Eric
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Publication number: 20230070410Abstract: An imaging device includes a controller, a power supply, a regulator, and a switch. The controller is configured to control an imaging unit, on the basis of a command and data that are received from a host in accordance with an I2C/I3C communication protocol. The power supply is configured to supply a voltage to a digital block of the controller. The digital block is configured to be subjected to dynamic voltage frequency scaling within one-frame operation. The regulator and the switch are provided between the digital block and the power supply, and coupled in parallel with each other.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 3, 2021Publication date: March 9, 2023Inventors: Chiaki Takano, Toshimasa Shimizu, Yuki Takizawa, Mark Pude, Hirotaka Murakami, Kevin Fronczak
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Publication number: 20220375282Abstract: An acquisition unit that acquires vehicle information related to a vehicle state of a vehicle; a determination unit that determines whether the vehicle has traveled in a state in which energy consumption efficiency of the vehicle is poor within a predetermined time from a predetermined driving operation of the vehicle based on the vehicle information acquired by the acquisition unit; and a display control unit that causes a display unit to display the number of times of traveling in the state per unit time within the predetermined time from the predetermined driving operation, the traveling being determined by the determination unit, are included.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 3, 2022Publication date: November 24, 2022Inventors: Tatsunobu MURAI, Hirotaka MURAKAMI
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Patent number: 11490042Abstract: An image sensor and pixel circuit therefor includes a photoelectric conversion device; an amplifier including a first input terminal connected to the photoelectric conversion device, and an output terminal; a capacitor disposed between the first input terminal and the output terminal; and a reset switch network disposed between the first input terminal and the output terminal in parallel with the capacitor, the reset switch network including at least a first reset transistor, a second reset transistor, and a third reset transistor.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2020Date of Patent: November 1, 2022Assignee: Sony Semiconductor Solutions CorporationInventors: Eric Bohannon, Hirotaka Murakami, Christopher Urban
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Publication number: 20220208826Abstract: An imaging device includes a photodetector and an optical filter disposed on a light-receiving surface of the photodetector. The optical filter may include a diffraction grating, a core layer, and a reflector disposed on first and second opposing sides of the core layer. In some cases, the optical filter (e.g., a GMR filter) uses interference of electromagnetic waves on an incidence plane of light or a plane parallel to the incidence plane. The reflector may reflect electromagnetic waves between adjacent optical filters. The present technology can be applied to, for example, an image sensor provided with a GMR filter, such as a back-side-illuminated or front-side-illuminated CMOS image sensor.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 6, 2022Publication date: June 30, 2022Applicant: Sony Semiconductor Solutions CorporationInventors: Sozo Yokogawa, Hirotaka Murakami, Mikinori Ito
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Publication number: 20220191422Abstract: An image sensor and pixel circuit therefor includes a photoelectric conversion device; an amplifier including a first input terminal connected to the photoelectric conversion device, and an output terminal; a capacitor disposed between the first input terminal and the output terminal; and a reset switch network disposed between the first input terminal and the output terminal in parallel with the capacitor, the reset switch network including at least a first reset transistor, a second reset transistor, and a third reset transistor.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 15, 2020Publication date: June 16, 2022Inventors: Eric Bohannon, Hirotaka Murakami, Christopher Urban
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Patent number: 11264424Abstract: An imaging device includes a photodetector and an optical filter disposed on a light-receiving surface of the photodetector. The optical filter may include a diffraction grating, a core layer, and a reflector disposed on first and second opposing sides of the core layer. In some cases, the optical filter (e.g., a guided mode resonance (“GMR”) filter) uses interference of electromagnetic waves on an incidence plane of light or a plane parallel to the incidence plane. The reflector may reflect electromagnetic waves between adjacent optical filters. In some cases, the imaging device is a back-side-illuminated or front-side-illuminated CMOS or CCD image sensor.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 2018Date of Patent: March 1, 2022Assignee: Sony Semiconductor Solutions CorporationInventors: Sozo Yokogawa, Hirotaka Murakami, Mikinori Ito
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Publication number: 20210289156Abstract: A solid-state image capturing element includes: a pair of first floating diffusion layers arranged in a direction perpendicular to a predetermined direction; a pair of second floating diffusion layers arranged in the perpendicular direction and adjacent to the pair of first floating diffusion layers in the predetermined direction; a first connection circuit configured to select at least one of the pair of first floating diffusion layers and to connect the selected first floating diffusion layer to a predetermined first wire; a second connection circuit configured to select at least one of the pair of second floating diffusion layers and to connect the selected second floating diffusion layer to the first wire; and an output circuit configured to output a signal according to an amount of charge of at least one of the pair of first floating diffusion layers or the pair of second floating diffusion layers.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 13, 2020Publication date: September 16, 2021Applicant: Sony Semiconductor Solutions CorporationInventors: Katsuhiko Hanzawa, Yoshikazu Nitta, Hirotaka Murakami, Kazumasa Nishimura, Pude Mark, Christopher Moule Eric
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Publication number: 20210091135Abstract: An imaging device includes a photodetector and an optical filter disposed on a light-receiving surface of the photodetector. The optical filter may include a diffraction grating, a core layer, and a reflector disposed on first and second opposing sides of the core layer. In some cases, the optical filter (e.g., a GMR filter) uses interference of electromagnetic waves on an incidence plane of light or a plane parallel to the incidence plane. The reflector may reflect electromagnetic waves between adjacent optical filters. The present technology can be applied to, for example, an image sensor provided with a GMR filter, such as a back-side-illuminated or N front-side-illuminated CMOS image sensor.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 1, 2018Publication date: March 25, 2021Applicant: Sony Semiconductor Solutions CorporationInventors: Sozo Yokogawa, Hirotaka Murakami, Mikinori Ito
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Patent number: 9363452Abstract: A solid-state imaging device having an analog-digital converter, and an analog-digital conversion method are described herein. An example of a solid-state imaging device comprises a bit inconsistency prevention section configured to prevent bit inconsistency between output of a low-level bit latch section and a high-level bit counting section.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 2015Date of Patent: June 7, 2016Assignee: SONY CORPORATIONInventors: Hiroyuki Iwaki, Hirotaka Murakami, Yoshiaki Inada, Yasuaki Hisamatsu
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Publication number: 20150229853Abstract: A solid-state imaging device having an analog-digital converter, and an analog-digital conversion method are described herein. An example of a solid-state imaging device comprises a bit inconsistency prevention section configured to prevent bit inconsistency between output of a low-level bit latch section and a high-level bit counting section.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 8, 2015Publication date: August 13, 2015Inventors: Hiroyuki Iwaki, Hirotaka Murakami, Yoshiaki Inada, Yasuaki Hisamatsu
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Patent number: 9053999Abstract: A solid-state imaging device having an analog-digital converter, and an analog-digital conversion method are described herein. An example of a solid-state imaging device includes a bit inconsistency prevention section configured to prevent bit inconsistency between output of a low-level bit latch section and a high-level bit counting section.Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 2011Date of Patent: June 9, 2015Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Hiroyuki Iwaki, Hirotaka Murakami, Yoshiaki Inada, Yasuaki Hisamatsu
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Publication number: 20140240565Abstract: Solid-state imaging devices and electronic apparatuses are provided. More particularly, a solid-state imaging device that includes first and second substrates are provided. The first and second substrates are stacked on top of one another. The first substrate includes a pixel array and a peripheral circuit. The second substrate also includes a peripheral circuit. The device can be configured such that all resistors are formed in the second substrate, with no resistors being formed in the first substrate. Alternatively, the device can be configured such that all capacitors are formed in the second substrate, with no capacitors being formed in the first substrate. As yet another alternative, the second substrate can be configured such that it contains all resistors and capacitors of the peripheral circuits, with no resistors or capacitors being formed in the peripheral circuit of the first substrate.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 19, 2014Publication date: August 28, 2014Applicant: Sony CorporationInventor: Hirotaka Murakami
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Publication number: 20130068931Abstract: A solid-state imaging device having an analog-digital converter, and an analog-digital conversion method are described herein. An example of a solid-state imaging device includes a bit inconsistency prevention section configured to prevent bit inconsistency between output of a low-level bit latch section and a high-level bit counting section.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 22, 2011Publication date: March 21, 2013Applicant: SONY CORPORATIONInventors: Hiroyuki Iwaki, Hirotaka Murakami, Yoshiaki Inada, Yasuaki Hisamatsu
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Patent number: D752716Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2015Date of Patent: March 29, 2016Assignee: KUBOTA CORPORATIONInventors: Yoshifumi Hirosawa, Norihiro Teramoto, Hirotaka Murakami