Patents by Inventor MASAAKI YANAGIDA

MASAAKI YANAGIDA 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: 11659299
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a unit pixel including a pixel electrode, a charge accumulation region electrically connected to the pixel electrode, and a signal detection circuit electrically connected to the charge accumulation region; a counter electrode facing the pixel electrode; a photoelectric conversion layer disposed between the electrodes; and a voltage supply circuit configured to selectively apply any one of first, second, and third voltages between the electrodes. The photoelectric conversion layer exhibits first and second wavelength sensitivity characteristics in a wavelength range when the voltage supply circuit applies the first and second voltages between the electrodes, respectively, and becomes insensitive to light in the wavelength range when the voltage supply circuit applies the third voltage between the electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinichi Machida, Takeyoshi Tokuhara, Manabu Nakata, Sanshiro Shishido, Masaaki Yanagida, Masumi Izuchi
  • Patent number: 11559205
    Abstract: A biological measuring device includes a light source that emits first light illuminating an area on a living body, an imaging device that detects second light returned from the living body and acquires a first image including at least part of the living body, and a control circuit that controls the light source. If a specific part of the living body is not located in a predetermined coordinate range in the first image, the control circuit restricts emission of the first light from the light source. The predetermined coordinate range is set outside the area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takamasa Ando, Teruhiro Shiono, Masaaki Yanagida
  • Publication number: 20220378298
    Abstract: An information processing method includes: obtaining first image data indicating an image of at least one portion of a face of a target person from a camera connected to or built into a first computer; obtaining cerebral blood flow information indicating a state of cerebral blood flow of the target person from a detector that is connected to or built into the first computer and that detects the cerebral blood flow information; and displaying, on a display connected to or built into a second computer connected to the first computer through a remote network, an output image including a first image based on the first image data and a second image based on the cerebral blood flow information. The first image is a moving image including the at least one portion of the face, and the second image indicates changes over time in the cerebral blood flow information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2022
    Publication date: December 1, 2022
    Inventors: Masaaki YANAGIDA, Masato SUZUKI
  • Patent number: 11445920
    Abstract: An information processing method includes: obtaining first image data indicating an image of at least one portion of a face of a target person from a camera connected to or built into a first computer; obtaining cerebral blood flow information indicating a state of cerebral blood flow of the target person from a detector that is connected to or built into the first computer and that detects the cerebral blood flow information; and displaying, on a display connected to or built into a second computer connected to the first computer through a remote network, an output image including a first image based on the first image data and a second image based on the cerebral blood flow information. The first image is a moving image including the at least one portion of the face, and the second image indicates changes over time in the cerebral blood flow information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masaaki Yanagida, Masato Suzuki
  • Patent number: 11438536
    Abstract: An imaging device that includes pixels arranged in a matrix having rows and columns, the pixels including first pixels and second pixels different from the first pixels, the first pixels and the second pixels being located in one of the columns, each of the pixels including a photoelectric converter that converts incident light into signal charge, and a first transistor having a first gate, a first source and a first drain, the first gate being coupled to the photoelectric converter. The imaging device further includes a first line coupled to one of the first source and drain of the first pixels; a second line coupled to one of the first source and drain of the second pixels; a third line coupled to the other of the first source and drain of the first pixels; and voltage circuitry coupled to the third line and that supplies a first and second voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masaaki Yanagida, Masashi Murakami, Sanshiro Shishido
  • Publication number: 20220208816
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus comprises a semiconductor substrate, a photoelectric converter, a charge storage region, and an amplification transistor. The photoelectric converter includes a pixel electrode, a counter electrode, and a photoelectric conversion layer. The photoelectric conversion layer is positioned above the semiconductor substrate and is disposed between the pixel electrode and the counter electrode. Charge generated by the photoelectric converter is stored in the charge storage region. The amplification transistor includes a source, a drain, and a gate electrode. The gate electrode is electrically connected to the charge storage region. In a plan view, the width of the drain of the amplification transistor is less than the width of the source of the amplification transistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2022
    Publication date: June 30, 2022
    Inventors: Junji HIRASE, Masaaki YANAGIDA, Kazuko NISHIMURA, Yoshinori TAKAMI
  • Publication number: 20220103773
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a unit pixel including a pixel electrode, a charge accumulation region electrically connected to the pixel electrode, and a signal detection circuit electrically connected to the charge accumulation region; a counter electrode facing the pixel electrode; a photoelectric conversion layer disposed between the electrodes; and a voltage supply circuit configured to selectively apply any one of first, second, and third voltages between the electrodes. The photoelectric conversion layer exhibits first and second wavelength sensitivity characteristics in a wavelength range when the voltage supply circuit applies the first and second voltages between the electrodes, respectively, and becomes insensitive to light in the wavelength range when the voltage supply circuit applies the third voltage between the electrodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2021
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Inventors: Shinichi MACHIDA, Takeyoshi TOKUHARA, Manabu NAKATA, Sanshiro SHISHIDO, Masaaki YANAGIDA, Masumi IZUCHI
  • Patent number: 11258970
    Abstract: In an imaging device, each of first and second pixels in a same column includes a photoelectric converter, a first transistor, and a second transistor wherein a source (or a drain) of the first transistor is connected to the photoelectric converter, a gate of the second transistor is connected to the photoelectric converter, and a source (or a drain) of the second transistor is connected to the drain (or the source) of the first transistor. A first current source is configured to be electrically connected to the source (or the drain) of the second transistor of the first pixel, a second current source is configured to be electrically connected to the source (or the drain) of the second transistor of the second pixel, and a signal line is configured to be electrically connected to the drain (or the source) of the second transistor of the first pixel and to the drain (or the source) of the second transistor of the second pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masaaki Yanagida, Kazuko Nishimura
  • Patent number: 11233955
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a unit pixel including a pixel electrode; a counter electrode facing the pixel electrode; a photoelectric conversion layer disposed between the pixel electrode and the counter electrode; and a computing circuit that acquires a first signal upon a first voltage being applied between the pixel electrode and the counter electrode, the first signal corresponding to an image captured with visible light and infrared light and a second signal upon a second voltage being applied between the pixel electrode and the counter electrode, the second signal corresponding to an image captured with visible light, and generates a third signal by performing a computation using the first signal and the second signal, the third signal corresponding to an image captured with infrared light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinichi Machida, Masashi Murakami, Takeyoshi Tokuhara, Masaaki Yanagida, Sanshiro Shishido, Manabu Nakata, Masumi Izuchi
  • Patent number: 11233965
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a unit pixel including a pixel electrode, a charge accumulation region electrically connected to the pixel electrode, and a signal detection circuit electrically connected to the charge accumulation region; a counter electrode facing the pixel electrode; a photoelectric conversion layer disposed between the electrodes; and a voltage supply circuit configured to selectively apply any one of first, second, and third voltages between the electrodes. The photoelectric conversion layer exhibits first and second wavelength sensitivity characteristics in a wavelength range when the voltage supply circuit applies the first and second voltages between the electrodes, respectively, and becomes insensitive to light in the wavelength range when the voltage supply circuit applies the third voltage between the electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinichi Machida, Takeyoshi Tokuhara, Manabu Nakata, Sanshiro Shishido, Masaaki Yanagida, Masumi Izuchi
  • Publication number: 20210227157
    Abstract: An imaging device that includes pixels arranged in a matrix having rows and columns, the pixels including first pixels and second pixels different from the first pixels, the first pixels and the second pixels being located in one of the columns, each of the pixels including a photoelectric converter that converts incident light into signal charge, and a first transistor having a first gate, a first source and a first drain, the first gate being coupled to the photoelectric converter. The imaging device further includes a first line coupled to one of the first source and drain of the first pixels; a second line coupled to one of the first source and drain of the second pixels; a third line coupled to the other of the first source and drain of the first pixels; and voltage circuitry coupled to the third line and that supplies a first and second voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2021
    Publication date: July 22, 2021
    Inventors: Masaaki YANAGIDA, Masashi MURAKAMI, Sanshiro SHISHIDO
  • Publication number: 20210195122
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a unit pixel including a pixel electrode; a counter electrode facing the pixel electrode; a photoelectric conversion layer disposed between the pixel electrode and the counter electrode; and a computing circuit that acquires a first signal upon a first voltage being applied between the pixel electrode and the counter electrode, the first signal corresponding to an image captured with visible light and infrared light and a second signal upon a second voltage being applied between the pixel electrode and the counter electrode, the second signal corresponding to an image captured with visible light, and generates a third signal by performing a computation using the first signal and the second signal, the third signal corresponding to an image captured with infrared light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2021
    Publication date: June 24, 2021
    Inventors: Shinichi MACHIDA, Masashi MURAKAMI, Takeyoshi TOKUHARA, Masaaki YANAGIDA, Sanshiro SHISHIDO, Manabu NAKATA, Masumi IZUCHI
  • Patent number: 11044433
    Abstract: An imaging device including an imaging cell including a photoelectric converter including a first electrode, a second electrode, and a photoelectric conversion layer between the first electrode and the second electrode, and a first transistor one of a source and a drain of which is coupled to the first electrode; and voltage supply circuitry coupled to the other of the source and the drain of the first transistor, the voltage supply circuitry being configured to supply a first voltage in a first period and a second voltage different from the first voltage in a second period different from the first period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sanshiro Shishido, Takeyoshi Tokuhara, Masaaki Yanagida
  • Patent number: 11019289
    Abstract: An imaging device includes: a pixel including a photoelectric converter that generates signal charge by photoelectric conversion, and a charge accumulation region that accumulates the signal charge, the pixel being configured to output a signal corresponding to a voltage of the charge accumulation region; a signal line electrically connected to the pixel, the signal being transmitted through the signal line; a first switch that is electrically connected to the signal line and that has input-output characteristics in which an output is linear with respect to an input up to a clipping voltage and the output is clipped at the clipping voltage with respect to the input exceeding the clipping voltage; and a second switch that is electrically connected to the signal line and that has input-output characteristics in which an output is linear with respect to an input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Makoto Shouho, Masaaki Yanagida
  • Patent number: 10999542
    Abstract: An imaging device including: pixel cells arranged in a matrix having rows and columns, the pixel cells including first pixel cells and different second pixel cells, each of the pixel cells having: a photoelectric converter that converts incident light into signal charge, a first transistor having a first gate, a first source and a first drain, the first gate coupled to the photoelectric converter, and a second transistor having a second gate, a second source and a second drain, either the first source or the first drain electrically coupled to the photoelectric converter via the second transistor. The imaging device further including a first line coupled to one of the first source and the first drain of each of the first pixel cells; and a second line coupled to one of the first source and the first drain of each of the second pixel cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaaki Yanagida, Masashi Murakami, Sanshiro Shishido
  • Patent number: 10951839
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a unit pixel including a pixel electrode; a counter electrode facing the pixel electrode; a photoelectric conversion layer disposed between the pixel electrode and the counter electrode; and a computing circuit that acquires a first signal upon a first voltage being applied between the pixel electrode and the counter electrode, the first signal corresponding to an image captured with visible light and infrared light and a second signal upon a second voltage being applied between the pixel electrode and the counter electrode, the second signal corresponding to an image captured with visible light, and generates a third signal by performing a computation using the first signal and the second signal, the third signal corresponding to an image captured with infrared light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinichi Machida, Masashi Murakami, Takeyoshi Tokuhara, Masaaki Yanagida, Sanshiro Shishido, Manabu Nakata, Masumi Izuchi
  • Publication number: 20210075984
    Abstract: In an imaging device, each of first and second pixels in a same column includes a photoelectric converter, a first transistor, and a second transistor wherein a source (or a drain) of the first transistor is connected to the photoelectric converter, a gate of the second transistor is connected to the photoelectric converter, and a source (or a drain) of the second transistor is connected to the drain (or the source) of the first transistor. A first current source is configured to be electrically connected to the source (or the drain) of the second transistor of the first pixel, a second current source is configured to be electrically connected to the source (or the drain) of the second transistor of the second pixel, and a signal line is configured to be electrically connected to the drain (or the source) of the second transistor of the first pixel and to the drain (or the source) of the second transistor of the second pixel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2020
    Publication date: March 11, 2021
    Inventors: MASAAKI YANAGIDA, KAZUKO NISHIMURA
  • Patent number: 10841526
    Abstract: An imaging device including a first imaging cell having a first photoelectric converter including a first electrode, a second electrode, and a first photoelectric conversion layer between the first electrode and the second electrode, and a first reset transistor one of a source and a drain of which is coupled to the first electrode; and a second imaging cell having a second photoelectric converter including a third electrode, a fourth electrode, and a second photoelectric conversion layer between the third electrode and the fourth electrode, and a second reset transistor one of a source and a drain of which is coupled to the third electrode. The imaging device further including a first voltage supply circuitry to supply a first voltage to the first reset transistor; and a second voltage supply circuitry to supply a second voltage different from the first voltage to the second reset transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takeyoshi Tokuhara, Sanshiro Shishido, Masaaki Yanagida
  • Patent number: 10735652
    Abstract: A method for controlling an imaging device having a first mode to perform imaging in a first imaging wavelength band and a second mode to perform imaging in a second imaging wavelength band different from the first imaging wavelength band, and that allows switching of an operation mode from the first mode to the second mode or from the second mode to the first mode. The method including causing the imaging device to perform imaging in the first mode or the second mode; determining, with a predetermined frequency or in response to a predetermined trigger, whether to maintain a current operation mode or switch the current operation mode on the basis of first image information in the first imaging wavelength band and second image information in the second imaging wavelength band; and in accordance with the determination, selectively maintaining the current operation mode or switching the current operation mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Manabu Nakata, Shinichi Machida, Takeyoshi Tokuhara, Sanshiro Shishido, Masaaki Yanagida, Masumi Izuchi
  • Patent number: 10708511
    Abstract: A three-dimensional motion obtaining apparatus includes: a light source; a charge amount obtaining circuit that includes pixels and obtains, for each of the pixels, a first charge amount under a first exposure pattern and a second charge amount under a second exposure pattern having an exposure period that at least partially overlaps an exposure period of the first exposure pattern; and a processor that controls a light emission pattern for the light source, the first exposure pattern, and the second exposure pattern. The processor estimates a distance to a subject for each of the pixels on the basis of the light emission pattern and on the basis of the first charge amount and the second charge amount of each of the pixels obtained by the charge amount obtaining circuit, and estimates an optical flow for each of the pixels on the basis of the first exposure pattern, the second exposure pattern, and the first charge amount and the second charge amount obtained by the charge amount obtaining circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Satoshi Sato, Sanshiro Shishido, Katsuya Nozawa, Takeo Azuma, Masaaki Yanagida, Takeyoshi Tokuhara, Kunio Nobori