Patents by Inventor Masahiro Yatokoro

Masahiro Yatokoro 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).

  • Electron multiplying solid-state image pickup apparatus, method and computer program product for adjusting electron multiplying gain
    Patent number: 7579575
    Abstract: An electron multiplying solid-state image pickup apparatus which obtains a desired electron multiplying gain through adjusting a voltage applied to an electron multiplying gate electrode includes an electron multiplying unit, a test signal supply unit and a control unit. The electron multiplying unit multiplies an electron corresponding to an input signal by an electric field generated by the applied voltage. The test signal supply unit supplies a test signal to the electron multiplying unit. The control unit compares a level of the test signal multiplied by the electron multiplying unit with an expected level determined in advance, and adjusts the voltage applied to the electron multiplying gate electrode so that the multiplied test signal level is equal to or larger than the expected level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Inventor: Masahiro Yatokoro
  • ELECTRON MULTIPLYING SOLID-STATE IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS, METHOD AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR ADJUSTING ELECTRON MULTIPLYING GAIN
    Publication number: 20080230680
    Abstract: An electron multiplying solid-state image pickup apparatus which obtains a desired electron multiplying gain through adjusting a voltage applied to an electron multiplying gate electrode includes an electron multiplying unit, a test signal supply unit and a control unit. The electron multiplying unit multiplies an electron corresponding to an input signal by an electric field generated by the applied voltage. The test signal supply unit supplies a test signal to the electron multiplying unit. The control unit compares a level of the test signal multiplied by the electron multiplying unit with an expected level determined in advance, and adjusts the voltage applied to the electron multiplying gate electrode so that the multiplied test signal level is equal to or larger than the expected level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2008
    Publication date: September 25, 2008
    Inventor: Masahiro Yatokoro