Patents by Inventor Isao Hirota

Isao Hirota 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: 20140240567
    Abstract: To provide an apparatus that generates an RGB pattern data from an image pickup signal by an image pickup element having an RGBW pattern and a method. An edge detection unit analyzes an output signal of the image pickup signal of the RGBW pattern to obtain edge information corresponding to the respective pixels, and a texture detection unit generates texture information. Furthermore, a parameter calculation unit executes an interpolation processing in which an applied pixel position is changed in accordance with an edge direction of a transform target pixel to generate parameters equivalent to an interpolation pixel value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2014
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yasushi Saito, Isao Hirota
  • Patent number: 8754967
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes a color filter array based on a checkered pattern array and in which two pixels adjacent to each other in at least one of upper/lower and right/left directions have the same color. The color filter array is a color filter array in which a spatial sampling point (x, y) is approximately arranged in at least one of (x=3*(2n?1+oe)+1±2 and y=3m?2 (n and m are an integer, oe has a value of 0 when m is an odd number and 1 when m is an even number)) and (x=3*(2n?1+oe)+1 and y=3m?2±2 (n and m denote an integer, and oe has a value of 0 when m is an odd number and 1 when m is an even number)).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Isao Hirota
  • Patent number: 8755640
    Abstract: To provide an apparatus that generates an RGB pattern data from an image pickup signal by an image pickup element having an RGBW pattern and a method. An edge detection unit analyzes an output signal of the image pickup signal of the RGBW pattern to obtain edge information corresponding to the respective pixels, and a texture detection unit generates texture information. Furthermore, a parameter calculation unit executes an interpolation processing in which an applied pixel position is changed in accordance with an edge direction of a transform target pixel to generate parameters equivalent to an interpolation pixel value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yasushi Saito, Isao Hirota
  • Patent number: 8704924
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes a substrate, a photoelectric conversion element provided on the light incidence side of the substrate and including a photoelectric conversion film sandwiched between a first electrode provided separately for each of pixels, and a second electrode provided opposite the first electrode, the photoelectric conversion film being made of an organic material or an inorganic material and generating a signal charge according to the quantity of incident light, an amplifier transistor having an amplifier gate electrode connected to the first electrode, and a voltage control circuit that is connected to the second electrode, and supplies a desired voltage to the second electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Taiichiro Watanabe, Keiji Mabuchi, Tetsuji Yamaguchi, Isao Hirota, Kouichi Harada
  • Patent number: 8698932
    Abstract: A solid-state image pickup apparatus supplies power during a driving for a signal read via a pixel transistor that is adjacent in a Y direction (vertically). In the solid-state image pickup apparatus, for resetting, a drive pulse RsrD is supplied on a drain line connected in the horizontal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Isao Hirota
  • Patent number: 8687101
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes pixel cells that are formed on a substrate having a first substrate surface side, on which light is irradiated, and a second substrate surface side, on which elements are formed, and separated by an adjacent cell group and an element separation layer for each of the pixel cells or with plural pixel cells as a unit. Each of the pixel cells has a first conductive well formed on the first substrate surface side and a second conductive well formed on the second substrate surface side. The first conductive well receives light from the first substrate surface side and has a photoelectric conversion function and a charge accumulation function for the received light. A transistor that detects accumulated charges in the first conductive well and has a threshold modulation function is formed in the second conductive well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Isao Hirota, Kouichi Harada, Nobuhiro Karasawa, Yasushi Maruyama, Yoshikazu Nitta, Hiroyuki Terakago, Hajime Takashima, Hideo Nomura
  • Patent number: 8674417
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device including: a substrate; a light-receiving part; a second-conductivity-type isolation layer; a detection transistor; and a reset transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Isao Hirota
  • Publication number: 20140071244
    Abstract: There are provided a solid-state image pickup device and a camera system that include no useless pixel arrangement and are capable of suppressing decrease in resolution caused by adopting stereo function. A pixel array section including a plurality of pixels arranged in an array is included. Each of the plurality of pixels has a photoelectric conversion function. Each of the plurality of pixels in the pixel array section includes a first pixel section and a second pixel section. The first pixel section includes at least a light receiving function. The second pixel section includes at least a function to detect electric charge that has been subjected to photoelectric conversion. The first and second pixel sections are formed in a laminated state. Further, the first pixel section is formed to have an arrangement in a state shifted in a direction different from first and second directions that are used as references. The second direction is orthogonal to the first direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2012
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Isao Hirota
  • Patent number: 8650987
    Abstract: A driving force distribution/transmission device suppresses a shift of lubrication oil when a vehicle makes a turn, smoothly lubricates sliding parts, and improves reliability. The driving force distribution/transmission device 1 includes a gear input rotary member 53 and a gear output rotary member 55 that are interlocked to transmit a driving force through the meshing of a drive pinion gear 91 and a ring gear 93; and a left-right pair of clutch output adjusting mechanisms 57 and 59 coupled with both ends of the gear output rotary member 55, to carry out a driving force output adjustment through the engagement of frictional multiplate clutches 139. A closed and partitioned gear room 56 contains the drive pinion gear 91 and ring gear 93 therein. The main clutches 139 are contained in a left-right pair of closed and partitioned clutch rooms 125, respectively. Lubrication spaces in the three separate rooms, i.e.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: GKN Driveline Torque Technology K.K.
    Inventors: Susumu Sasaki, Atsushi Tamura, Isao Hirota
  • Publication number: 20130335604
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes a color filter array based on a checkered pattern array and in which two pixels adjacent to each other in at least one of upper/lower and right/left directions have the same color. The color filter array is a color filter array in which a spatial sampling point (x, y) is approximately arranged in at least one of (x=3*(2n?1+oe)+1±2 and y=3m?2 (n and m are an integer, oe has a value of 0 when m is an odd number and 1 when m is an even number)) and (x=3*(2n?1+oe)+1 and y=3m?2±2 (n and m denote an integer, and oe has a value of 0 when m is an odd number and 1 when m is an even number)).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2013
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Isao Hirota
  • Publication number: 20130307940
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes: a pixel array section in which a plurality of color pixels are arranged in a matrix form in a first direction and a second direction which is perpendicular to the first direction; and a multi-lens array in which multi-lenses which allow light to be incident on the plurality of color pixels are arranged, wherein in the respective color pixels of the pixel array section, color pixels adjacent in at least one direction of the first direction and the second direction are allocated to a pixel for L in stereo and a pixel for R in stereo, and wherein the multi-lens array is disposed so that at least part of the multi-lens array allows the light to be incident on the adjacent color pixels which are different in color in the first direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2012
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Isao Hirota
  • Publication number: 20130286260
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes a color filter unit disposed on a pixel array unit including pixels two-dimensionally arranged in a matrix and a conversion processing unit disposed on a substrate having the pixel array unit thereon. The color filter unit has a color arrangement in which a color serving as a primary component of a luminance signal is arranged in a checkerboard pattern and a plurality of colors serving as color information components are arranged in the other area of the checkerboard pattern. The conversion processing unit converts signals that are output from the pixels of the pixel array unit and that correspond to the color arrangement of the color filter unit into signals that correspond to a Bayer arrangement and outputs the converted signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2013
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Inventor: Isao Hirota
  • Patent number: 8520103
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device including a plurality of pixels and a color array filter. The color array filter is provided with filters over the plurality of pixels. The color array filter has a spatial sampling point (x, y) is approximately arranged in at least one of (x=3*(2n?1+oe)+1±2 and y=3m?2)and (x=3*(2n?1+oe)+1 and y=3m?2±2) is satisfied, where n and m are integers, and oe has a value of 0 when m is an odd number and 1 when m is an even number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Isao Hirota
  • Publication number: 20130216130
    Abstract: A device and method for generating RGB arrangement data from an imaging signal by a photograph imaging device having an RGBW arrangement are provided. An edge detection unit analyzes an output signal in the RGBW arrangement from the imaging device, and thus obtains edge information corresponding to each pixel, and a texture detection unit generates texture information. Furthermore, a parameter calculation unit performs an interpolation process of converting an application pixel position according to the edge direction corresponding to a conversion pixel. A blend process unit inputs a parameter which the parameter calculation unit generates, edge information and texture information, and determines a conversion pixel value by performing a blend process by changing a blend ratio of the parameter which the parameter calculation unit calculates, according to the edge information corresponding to the conversion pixel and the texture information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2011
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Inventors: Yasushi Saito, Isao Hirota
  • Patent number: 8451352
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus allowed to obtain parallax information while preventing a decline in apparent resolution. An image pickup apparatus includes: an image pickup lens having an aperture stop; an image pickup device including a plurality of pixels and obtaining image pickup data based on light received on the plurality of pixels; and a microlens array arranged between the image pickup lens and the image pickup device so that one microlens is allocated to 2×2 pixels in the image pickup device. The plurality of pixels are disposed in a fashion of two-dimensional arrangement along two directions rotated a certain angle with respect to a horizontal direction and a vertical direction, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Kengo Hayasaka, Kenji Yamamoto, Isao Ichimura, Isao Hirota
  • Patent number: 8436925
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes a color filter unit disposed on a pixel array unit including pixels two-dimensionally arranged in a matrix and a conversion processing unit disposed on a substrate having the pixel array unit thereon. The color filter unit has a color arrangement in which a color serving as a primary component of a luminance signal is arranged in a checkerboard pattern and a plurality of colors serving as color information components are arranged in the other area of the checkerboard pattern. The conversion processing unit converts signals that are output from the pixels of the pixel array unit and that correspond to the color arrangement of the color filter unit into signals that correspond to a Bayer arrangement and outputs the converted signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Isao Hirota
  • Patent number: 8415725
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device including: a substrate; a light-receiving part; a second-conductivity-type isolation layer; a detection transistor; and a reset transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Isao Hirota
  • Publication number: 20130063631
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a solid-state imaging apparatus including a pixel cell separated by a device separation layer from a group of adjacent pixel cells by taking one pixel cell or a plurality of pixel cells as a unit wherein: the pixel cell has a first-conduction well, and a second-conduction well; the first-conduction well receives light and has an opto-electrical conversion function of carrying out an opto-electrical conversion process to convert the received light into electric charge as well as an electric-charge accumulation function for accumulating the electric charge; in the second-conduction well, a transistor is created to serve as a transistor used for detecting the electric charge accumulated in the first-conduction well and provided with a threshold modulation function.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Isao Hirota, Hirano Fujiki
  • Patent number: 8376106
    Abstract: A driving force transmitting device is comprised of a first rotary member, a second rotary member securely fit around the first rotary member, a third rotary member rotatably supported in the first and second rotary members for being engaged with a shaft, an anti-rotated solenoid slidably fit in a solenoid housing hollow defined by the second rotary member, and a friction clutch driven by the solenoid for transmitting torque between the first rotary member and the third rotary member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: GKN Driveline Japan Ltd.
    Inventors: Noboru Uchida, Masaki Takahashi, Isao Hirota
  • Patent number: 8379125
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes an imaging section having multiple pixels laid out in a matrix form for performing photoelectric conversion and multiple vertical transfer sections that vertically transfer signal charges of the multiple pixels in columns, a control section that controls the transfer, hold and addition of signal charges transferred from each of the vertical transfer sections, at least two horizontal transfer sections that horizontally transfer signal charges output from the control section, and a horizontal-horizontal transfer section that transfers the signal charges of one horizontal transfer section that has received the signal charges transferred from the control section to the other horizontal transfer section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Isao Hirota