Patents by Inventor Junji Hirase

Junji Hirase 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: 20190259793
    Abstract: An imaging device includes a photoelectric converter that includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and a photoelectric conversion layer between the first electrode and the second electrode, a first transistor that has a gate connected to the first electrode, and a first capacitor and a switching element that are connected, in series, between the first electrode and either a voltage source or a ground.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2019
    Publication date: August 22, 2019
    Inventors: Masashi MURAKAMI, Kazuko NISHIMURA, Yutaka ABE, Yoshiyuki MATSUNAGA, Yoshihiro SATO, Junji HIRASE
  • Patent number: 10367025
    Abstract: Each unit pixel includes a photoelectric converter, an n-type impurity region forming an accumulation diode together with the semiconductor region, the accumulation diode accumulating a signal charge generated by the photoelectric converter, an amplifier transistor including a gate electrode electrically connected to the impurity region, and an isolation region formed around the amplifier transistor and implanted with p-type impurities. The amplifier transistor includes an n-type source/drain region formed between the gate electrode and the isolation region, and a channel region formed under the gate electrode. A gap in the isolation region is, in a gate width direction, wider at a portion including the channel region than at a portion including the source/drain region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Sato, Ryohei Miyagawa, Tokuhiko Tamaki, Junji Hirase, Yoshiyuki Ohmori, Yoshiyuki Matsunaga
  • Patent number: 10341591
    Abstract: An imaging device includes a semiconductor layer and a pixel cell. The pixel cell includes an impurity region of a first conductivity type, the impurity region located in the semiconductor layer, a photoelectric converter electrically connected to the impurity region and located above the semiconductor layer, a first transistor having a first gate, a first source and a first drain, one of the first source and the first drain electrically connected to the impurity region, a second transistor having a second gate of a second conductivity type different from the first conductivity type, a second source and a second drain, the second transistor including the impurity region as one of the second source and the second drain, the second gate electrically connected to the impurity region, and a third transistor having a third gate, a third source and a third drain, the third gate electrically connected to the photoelectric converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Junji Hirase, Yoshihiro Sato, Yoshinori Takami, Masayuki Takase, Masashi Murakami
  • Patent number: 10325945
    Abstract: An imaging device includes a unit pixel cell including: a photoelectric converter that generates a signal charge through photoelectric conversion of incident light, and a signal detection circuit that detects an electric signal according to an amount of the signal charge, wherein the signal detection circuit includes: a first transistor that amplifies the electric signal, a gate of the first transistor being connected to the photoelectric converter, a second transistor having a source and a drain, one of the source and the drain being connected to the photoelectric converter, and a first capacitor having a first end and a second end, the first end being connected to the other of the source and the drain of the second transistor, the second end being connected to a first voltage source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masashi Murakami, Kazuko Nishimura, Yutaka Abe, Yoshiyuki Matsunaga, Yoshihiro Sato, Junji Hirase
  • Publication number: 20190166319
    Abstract: An imaging device includes first and second pixels, arranged in a first direction, each of which includes: a photoelectric converter converting incident light into signal charge; an impurity region, in a semiconductor substrate, coupled to the photoelectric converter; a first transistor having a first gate coupled to the impurity region, and first source and drain; and a second transistor having second gate, source and drain. One of the second source and the second drain is the impurity region, and another is coupled to the first source or the first drain. The imaging device further includes a signal line, coupled to the first source or the first drain, and extends along the first direction and overlaps with both of the first and second pixels. The signal line is located on an opposite side from the impurity region across a center line of the first pixel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2019
    Publication date: May 30, 2019
    Inventors: Yoshihiro SATO, Junji HIRASE
  • Publication number: 20190081099
    Abstract: An imaging device including a semiconductor substrate; and a pixel. The pixel includes a photoelectric converter having a first electrode, a second electrode and a photoelectric conversion layer sandwiched between the first electrode and the second electrode, the photoelectric converter located above a surface of the semiconductor substrate; a first transistor that includes a part of the semiconductor substrate and detects electric charges; and a second transistor that includes a gate electrode and initializes a voltage of the first electrode. The first electrode, the second transistor, and the first transistor are arranged in that order toward the semiconductor substrate from the first electrode in cross sectional view, and when viewed from the direction normal to the surface of the semiconductor substrate, a part of the gate electrode overlaps the first electrode, and another part of the gate electrode does not overlap the first electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2018
    Publication date: March 14, 2019
    Inventors: Tokuhiko TAMAKI, Junji HIRASE, Shigeo YOSHII
  • Patent number: 10212372
    Abstract: An imaging device of the present disclosure includes: a unit pixel cell comprising a photoelectric converter converting incident light into signal charge, a semiconductor substrate, a charge storage region located in the semiconductor substrate and storing the signal charge, and a signal detection circuit detecting the signal charge; a feedback circuit negatively feeding back output of the signal detection circuit and comprising a signal line; and at least one wiring layer located between the semiconductor substrate and the photoelectric converter. The at least one wiring layer includes a portion of the signal line, the portion overlapping the unit pixel cell in a plan view. In the plan view, the portion is located on an opposite side from the charge storage region across a center line of the unit pixel cell, the center line being in parallel with a direction in which the signal line extends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Sato, Junji Hirase
  • Publication number: 20190035842
    Abstract: An imaging device includes a semiconductor substrate having a surface, the semiconductor substrate including: a first layer of a first conductivity type; a second layer of a second conductivity type, the second layer being closer to the surface; and a pixel including: a photoelectric converter configured to convert light into charge; a first diffusion region of the first conductivity type, the first diffusion region facing the first layer via the second layer, configured to store at least a part of the charge; and a second diffusion region being a diffusion region closest to the first diffusion region among diffusion regions of the first conductivity type, the diffusion regions facing the first layer via the second layer. A distance between the second diffusion region and the first layer is equal to or less than 1.5 times a distance between the second diffusion region and the first diffusion region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2018
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Inventors: JUNJI HIRASE, YOSHINORI TAKAMI, SHOTA YAMADA, YOSHIHIRO SATO, YOSHIAKI SATOU
  • Publication number: 20190027524
    Abstract: An imaging device includes: a pixel that includes a semiconductor substrate including a first diffusion region containing a first impurity of a first conductivity type, and a second diffusion region containing a second impurity of the first conductivity type, a concentration of the first impurity in the first diffusion region being less than a concentration of the second impurity in the second diffusion region, an area of the first diffusion region being less than an area of the second diffusion region in a plan view, a photoelectric converter configured to convert light into charges, and a first transistor including a source and a drain, the first diffusion region functioning as one of the source and the drain, the second diffusion region functioning as the other of the source and the drain, the first diffusion region being configured to store at least a part of the charges.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2018
    Publication date: January 24, 2019
    Inventors: YOSHIHIRO SATO, JUNJI HIRASE, YOSHINORI TAKAMI
  • Patent number: 10164123
    Abstract: An imaging device includes a semiconductor substrate comprising a first semiconductor; and a unit pixel cell provided to the semiconductor substrate. The unit pixel cell includes: a photoelectric converter that includes a pixel electrode and a photoelectric conversion layer, the photoelectric converter converting incident light into electric charges; a charge detection transistor that includes a part of the semiconductor substrate and detects the electric charges; and a reset transistor that includes at least a part of a first semiconductor layer comprising a second semiconductor and initializes a voltage of the photoelectric converter. The pixel electrode is located above the charge detection transistor. The reset transistor is located between the charge detection transistor and the pixel electrode. A band gap of the second semiconductor is larger than a band gap of the first semiconductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shigeo Yoshii, Junji Hirase, Daisuke Ueda
  • Patent number: 10157952
    Abstract: An imaging device includes a semiconductor substrate and at least one unit pixel cell provided to a surface of the semiconductor substrate. Each of the at least one unit pixel cell includes: a photoelectric converter including a pixel electrode and a photoelectric conversion layer located on the pixel electrode, the photoelectric converter converting incident light into electric charges; a charge detection transistor that includes a part of the semiconductor substrate and detects the electric charges; and a reset transistor that includes a gate electrode and initializes a voltage of the photoelectric converter. The pixel electrode is located above the charge detection transistor. The reset transistor is located between the charge detection transistor and the pixel electrode. When viewed from a direction normal to the surface of the semiconductor substrate, at least a part of the gate electrode is located outside the pixel electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tokuhiko Tamaki, Junji Hirase, Shigeo Yoshii
  • Publication number: 20180331149
    Abstract: An imaging device including a semiconductor substrate having a surface, the semiconductor substrate including a first region of a first conductivity type and a pixel. The pixel includes a photoelectric converter; a first transistor including a second region of a second conductivity type different from the first conductivity type as a source or a drain and a first electrode as a gate, the second region being located in the semiconductor substrate and being adjacent to the first region, the first electrode being located above the surface; a contact plug coupled to the second region; and a second electrode located above the surface; wherein when seen in a direction perpendicular to the surface, a contact point between the contact plug and the second region is located between the first electrode and the second electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2018
    Publication date: November 15, 2018
    Inventors: Yoshihiro SATO, Junji HIRASE
  • Publication number: 20180315786
    Abstract: An imaging device includes: a pixel including a photoelectric converter including a pixel electrode, a counter electrode, and a photoelectric conversion fila converting light into a charge, an amplification transistor a first gate of which is connected to the pixel electrode, a reset transistor one of second source and drain of which is connected to the pixel electrode, and a feedback transistor one of third source and drain of which is connected to the other of the second source and drain; and a first voltage supply circuit supplying a first voltage to the counter electrode. The reset transistor has such a characteristic that when a voltage equal to or higher than a clipping voltage is supplied between the second gate and the one of the second source and drain, the reset transistor is turned off. The clipping voltage is lower than the first voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2018
    Publication date: November 1, 2018
    Inventors: JUNJI HIRASE, MASASHI MURAKAMI
  • Patent number: 10062726
    Abstract: An imaging device including a unit pixel cell including a semiconductor substrate having a surface including a first area and a second area surrounded by the first area. The semiconductor substrate including a first region of a first conductivity type exposed to the surface in the first area, and a second region of a second conductivity type directly adjacent to the first region and exposed to the surface in the second area; a photoelectric converter; an amplifier; a contact plug connected to the second region; a first transistor including a first electrode; a second electrode covering a second portion of the first area; and a second insulation layer between the second electrode and the semiconductor substrate. When viewed in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the semiconductor substrate, a contact between the second region and the contact plug is located between the first electrode and the second electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Sato, Junji Hirase
  • Publication number: 20180166479
    Abstract: An imaging device includes a unit pixel cell including: a photoelectric converter that generates a signal charge through photoelectric conversion of incident light, and a signal detection circuit that detects an electric signal according to an amount of the signal charge, wherein the signal detection circuit includes: a first transistor that amplifies the electric signal, a gate of the first transistor being connected to the photoelectric converter, a second transistor having a source and a drain, one of the source and the drain being connected to the photoelectric converter, and a first capacitor having a first end and a second end, the first end being connected to the other of the source and the drain of the second transistor, the second end being connected to a first voltage source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2018
    Publication date: June 14, 2018
    Inventors: Masashi MURAKAMI, Kazuko NISHIMURA, Yutaka ABE, Yoshiyuki MATSUNAGA, Yoshihiro SATO, Junji HIRASE
  • Publication number: 20180114811
    Abstract: Each unit pixel includes a photoelectric converter, an n-type impurity region forming an accumulation diode together with the semiconductor region, the accumulation diode accumulating a signal charge generated by the photoelectric converter, an amplifier transistor including a gate electrode electrically connected to the impurity region, and an isolation region formed around the amplifier transistor and implanted with p-type impurities. The amplifier transistor includes an n-type source/drain region formed between the gate electrode and the isolation region, and a channel region formed under the gate electrode. A gap in the isolation region is, in a gate width direction, wider at a portion including the channel region than at a portion including the source/drain region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2017
    Publication date: April 26, 2018
    Inventors: Yoshihiro SATO, Ryohei MIYAGAWA, Tokuhiko TAMAKI, Junji HIRASE, Yoshiyuki OHMORI, Yoshiyuki MATSUNAGA
  • Publication number: 20180114812
    Abstract: An imaging device including a unit pixel cell including a semiconductor substrate having a surface including a first area and a second area surrounded by the first area. The semiconductor substrate including a first region of a first conductivity type exposed to the surface in the first area, and a second region of a second conductivity type directly adjacent to the first region and exposed to the surface in the second area; a photoelectric converter; an amplifier; a contact plug connected to the second region; a first transistor including a first electrode; a second electrode covering a second portion of the first area; and a second insulation layer between the second electrode and the semiconductor substrate. When viewed in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the semiconductor substrate, a contact between the second region and the contact plug is located between the first electrode and the second electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2017
    Publication date: April 26, 2018
    Inventors: Yoshihiro SATO, Junji HIRASE
  • Patent number: 9917119
    Abstract: An imaging device includes: a unit pixel cell comprising: a photoelectric converter generating an electric signal and comprising a first and second electrodes and a photoelectric conversion film located therebetween, the first electrode being located on a light receiving side of the photoelectric conversion film, a signal detection circuit detecting the electric signal and comprising a first transistor and a second transistor that are connected to the second electrode, the first transistor amplifying the electric signal, and a capacitor circuit comprising a first capacitor and a second capacitor having a capacitance value larger than that of the first capacitor that are serially connected to each other, the capacitor circuit being provided between the second electrode and a reference voltage; and a feedback circuit comprising the first transistor and an inverting amplifier and negatively feeding back the electric signal to the second transistor via the first transistor and the inverting amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masashi Murakami, Kazuko Nishimura, Yutaka Abe, Yoshiyuki Matsunaga, Yoshihiro Sato, Junji Hirase
  • Patent number: 9887231
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes unit pixels formed on a semiconductor substrate. Each of the unit pixels includes a photoelectric converter, a floating diffusion, a pinning layer, and a pixel transistor. The pixel transistor includes a gate electrode formed on the semiconductor substrate, a source diffusion layer, and a drain diffusion layer. At least one of the source diffusion layer or the drain diffusion layer functions as the floating diffusion. The pinning layer is covered by the floating diffusion at a bottom and a side at a channel of the pixel transistor. A conductivity type of the floating diffusion is opposite to that of the pinning layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kentaro Nakanishi, Junji Hirase, Kosaku Saeki, Yoshinori Takami, Takeshi Hidaka, Tokuhiko Tamaki
  • Patent number: 9881967
    Abstract: An imaging device includes a unit pixel cell including: a semiconductor substrate including a first region exposed to a surface of the semiconductor substrate in a first area, and a second region directly adjacent to the first region and exposed to the surface in a second area; a photoelectric converter; a contact plug connected to the second region; a first transistor including the second region as one of a source and a drain, a first electrode covering a first portion of the first area, and a first insulation layer between the first electrode and the semiconductor substrate; a second electrode covering a second portion of the first area; and a second insulation layer between the second electrode and the semiconductor substrate. When seen in a direction perpendicular to the surface, a contact between the second region and the contact plug is located between the first electrode and the second electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Sato, Junji Hirase