Patents by Inventor Minoru Ariyama

Minoru Ariyama 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: 20180062631
    Abstract: Provided is a semiconductor device which is testable even with an inspection apparatus having low current drivability, and includes an output terminal which is also used as a test terminal and an output driver having high current drivability. The semiconductor device includes a plurality of voltage determination circuits connected to the output terminal of the semiconductor device, and have threshold values that are different from each other, an encoding circuit connected to the plurality of voltage determination circuits, and configured to output an encoded signal, and a mode switching circuit configured to output a mode signal to an internal circuit depending on the encoded signal and a signal from the internal circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2017
    Publication date: March 1, 2018
    Inventors: Tomoki HIKICHI, Minoru ARIYAMA, Kozo IIJIMA, Masashi SHIGA
  • Publication number: 20180059193
    Abstract: Provided is a sensor circuit that has little possibility of being accidentally put into a test mode in response to an external input of noise or the like. The sensor circuit includes a clock generation circuit configured to output a control signal that is used to control intermittent operation to a physical quantity detection unit, and to output a sampling signal in a sleep period, a potential detection circuit configured to detect a potential at an output terminal and to output a detection signal, and a clock control circuit configured to output a mode switching signal that is a command to switch the clock generation circuit to a test mode, when a given signal pattern is detected in data that is obtained by sampling the detection signal based on the sampling signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2017
    Publication date: March 1, 2018
    Inventors: Tomoki HIKICHI, Minoru ARIYAMA, Hironori YANO
  • Patent number: 9837997
    Abstract: To provide a comparison circuit capable of removing the influence of an offset voltage of a comparator in the comparison circuit and obtaining a highly accurate comparison determination result even at a high temperature. A comparison circuit is equipped with a comparator including a first input terminal inputted with a first input voltage through a first capacitor and inputted with a third input voltage through a third capacitor, a second input terminal inputted with a second input voltage through a second capacitor and inputted with a fourth input voltage through a fourth capacitor, and an output terminal; a first switch which has one end connected to the first input terminal and is turned ON in a sample phase to switch the voltage of the first input terminal to a voltage of the output terminal; and a second switch which has one end connected to the second input terminal and is turned ON in the sample phase to switch the voltage of the second input terminal to a reference voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: SII Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventor: Minoru Ariyama
  • Publication number: 20170336445
    Abstract: Provided is a zero-crossing detection circuit capable of detecting zero-crossing with high accuracy without being influenced by noise. The zero-crossing detection circuit includes a first comparison circuit, a second comparison circuit having a hysteresis function, and a logic circuit. The first comparison circuit is configured to output a zero-crossing detection result of a first input signal and a second input signal. The second comparison circuit is configured to output a comparison result of the first input signal and the second input signal. The logic circuit includes a unit configured to determine whether to reflect the zero-crossing detection result to output of the logic circuit based on the zero-crossing detection result and the comparison result.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2017
    Publication date: November 23, 2017
    Inventor: Minoru ARIYAMA
  • Patent number: 9810746
    Abstract: To provide a magnetic sensor which is reduced in power consumption without reducing magnetism detection sensitivity of a magnetoelectric transducing element. One end of a magnetoelectric transducing element is connected to an output electrode of a constant current circuit, and the other end thereof is connected to a power supply electrode on the positive side of one or plural signal processing circuits, and the like built in a magnetic sensor, whereby a connection relation of the magnetoelectric transducing element and the signal processing circuit is configured such that they are connected in series with a voltage source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: SII Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Kentaro Fukai, Minoru Ariyama, Tomoki Hikichi, Takemasa Miura
  • Patent number: 9768758
    Abstract: A comparison circuit includes a comparator having a first input terminal receiving a first input voltage through a first capacitor, and a second input terminal receiving a second input voltage through a second capacitor, and an output terminal. A first switch has one end connected to the first input terminal and is turned on in a sample phase to set a voltage of the first input terminal as a voltage of the output terminal. A second switch has one end connected to the second input terminal and is turned on in the sample phase to set a voltage of the second input terminal as a reference voltage. A third switch is turned on in a comparison phase to equalize voltages of the other end of the first switch and the other end of the second switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: SII SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
    Inventor: Minoru Ariyama
  • Publication number: 20170261566
    Abstract: Provided are a magnetic sensor, which is capable of accurately determining abnormalities, such as disconnection and a short circuit, of wiring of a magnetic sensor device, and the magnetic sensor device. An output control circuit of the magnetic sensor includes a voltage divider circuit, which is connected to an output terminal of the magnetic sensor, and an amplifier, which is configured to control a gate voltage of a MOS transistor, which is connected to the output terminal of the magnetic sensor, so that a voltage of the voltage divider circuit and a reference voltage become equal to each other, with the result that an output voltage of the magnetic sensor is determined by the reference voltage and a voltage dividing ratio of the voltage divider circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2017
    Publication date: September 14, 2017
    Inventors: Kentaro FUKAI, Minoru ARIYAMA
  • Patent number: 9638761
    Abstract: To provide a magnetic sensor circuit that outputs a desired detection pulse while preventing an erroneous detection/erroneous release pulse output when a fluctuation in a power supply voltage occurs within an operating power supply voltage range. A magnetic sensor circuit is configured to include a detection circuit that detects a fluctuation in a power supply voltage or an internal power supply voltage and so as not to latch a determination output of a comparator by a latch circuit that, on the basis of a power supply fluctuation detection signal output from the detection circuit, holds the logic of a control clock signal output from an oscillation circuit for a prescribed period of time and determines the output logic of an output terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: SII SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomoki Hikichi, Daisuke Muraoka, Minoru Ariyama, Kentaro Fukai
  • Patent number: 9523743
    Abstract: Provided is a magnetic sensor capable of identifying an individual having a high offset voltage, which is a cause of an initial defect in magnetic characteristics, and changes over time. A cross-transmission switch is provided in a changeover switch circuit which transmits to an amplifier circuit a differential signal voltage output from a Hall element, and the cross-transmission switch cross-transmits a signal in any one of a first period and a second period during which a current flowing into the Hall element is switched by a control signal from a control circuit, to thereby determine and identify a magnitude of an offset voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: SII Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Tomoki Hikichi, Minoru Ariyama
  • Publication number: 20160356862
    Abstract: Provided is a temperature compensation circuit capable of solely and independently adjusting a temperature compensation amount. The temperature compensation circuit includes: a first temperature compensation voltage terminal connected to a node between a first resistor and a second resistor; a second temperature compensation voltage terminal connected to a node between a third resistor and a fourth resistor; a first voltage terminal formed at a node between the first resistor and the fourth resistor; a second voltage terminal formed at a node between the second resistor and the third resistor; a fifth resistor connected between a power supply terminal and the first voltage terminal; and a sixth resistor connected between a ground terminal and the second voltage terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2016
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Inventor: Minoru ARIYAMA
  • Patent number: 9453888
    Abstract: The sensor device includes: a physical quantity voltage conversion element; a differential amplifier; a first capacitor that includes one terminal connected to a first output terminal of the differential amplifier; a comparator; a low pass filter circuit arranged at the first output terminal of the differential amplifier; a control circuit configured to on/off control the physical quantity voltage conversion element, the differential amplifier, the comparator, and the low pass filter circuit; and a logic circuit configured to output a result of operation processing performed on an output signal of the comparator. The logic circuit is configured to: successively verify, in a case where there is a change between a previous logic output and a first logic output, the logic outputs a plurality of times; and output a control signal to the control circuit so that the low pass filter circuit is turned on in a second signal processing period and thereafter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: SII SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomoki Hikichi, Minoru Ariyama, Kentaro Fukai, Takemasa Miura
  • Patent number: 9453889
    Abstract: To provide a magnetic sensor device which maintains accuracy thereof while reducing current consumption by switching drive power of a Hall element to two drive power. A magnetic sensor device is equipped with a driving circuit which supplies power to a sensor element, a switch changeover circuit which restricts the supply of the power from the driving circuit to the sensor element, a differential amplifier circuit which performs arithmetic processing on an output signal of the sensor element, a threshold voltage generating circuit which generates a threshold voltage used in magnetism determination, a comparison circuit which compares and determines a voltage of the differential amplifier circuit and the threshold voltage, and a logic circuit which according to the output of the comparison circuit, switches the power outputted from the driving circuit, switches the threshold voltage and controls on/off of the switch changeover circuit in a constant cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: SII SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takemasa Miura, Minoru Ariyama, Tomoki Hikichi, Kentaro Fukai
  • Publication number: 20160261253
    Abstract: To provide a comparison circuit capable of removing the influence of an offset voltage of a comparator in the comparison circuit and obtaining a highly accurate comparison determination result even at a high temperature. A comparison circuit is equipped with a comparator including a first input terminal inputted with a first input voltage through a first capacitor and inputted with a third input voltage through a third capacitor, a second input terminal inputted with a second input voltage through a second capacitor and inputted with a fourth input voltage through a fourth capacitor, and an output terminal; a first switch which has one end connected to the first input terminal and is turned ON in a sample phase to switch the voltage of the first input terminal to a voltage of the output terminal; and a second switch which has one end connected to the second input terminal and is turned ON in the sample phase to switch the voltage of the second input terminal to a reference voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2016
    Publication date: September 8, 2016
    Inventor: Minoru ARIYAMA
  • Publication number: 20160241222
    Abstract: A comparison circuit is provided which is capable of removing the influence of an offset voltage of a comparator in the comparison circuit and obtaining a highly accurate comparison/determination result even at a high temperature. The comparison circuit includes a comparator having a first input terminal inputted with a first input voltage through a first capacitor, a second input terminal inputted with a second input voltage through a second capacitor, and an output terminal; a first switch which has one end connected to the first input terminal and is turned on in a sample phase to set a voltage of the first input terminal as a voltage of the output terminal; a second switch which has one end connected to the second input terminal and is turned on in the sample phase to set a voltage of the second input terminal as a reference voltage; and a third switch which is turned on in a comparison phase to equalize voltages of the other end of the first switch and the other end of the second switch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2016
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Inventor: Minoru ARIYAMA
  • Publication number: 20160216339
    Abstract: Disclosed is a current output-type detection device capable of reducing an amount of power consumption without sacrificing detection accuracy. The detection device includes: a sensor circuit; a sensor signal processing circuit that outputs a detection signal upon receiving a signal of a detection result of the sensor circuit; and a control circuit that outputs control signals to the sensor circuit and the sensor signal processing circuit and receives the detection signal from the sensor signal processing circuit, configured in that the sensor circuit and the sensor signal processing circuit operate intermittently by the control signals from the control circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2016
    Publication date: July 28, 2016
    Inventor: Minoru ARIYAMA
  • Patent number: 9322672
    Abstract: Provided is a magnetic sensor device capable of performing signal processing at high speed with high accuracy. The magnetic sensor device includes: a plurality of Hall elements; a plurality of differential amplifiers to which the plurality of Hall elements are connected, respectively; a detection voltage setting circuit for outputting a reference voltage; and a comparator including: a plurality of differential input pairs connected to the plurality of differential amplifiers, respectively; and a differential input pair connected to the detection voltage setting circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: SII SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Daisuke Muraoka, Minoru Ariyama
  • Patent number: 9267818
    Abstract: Provided is a magnetic sensor device capable of performing signal processing at high speed with high accuracy. The magnetic sensor device includes: a plurality of Hall elements; a plurality of differential amplifiers to which the plurality of Hall elements are connected, respectively; a detection voltage setting circuit for outputting a reference voltage; and a comparator including: a plurality of differential input pairs connected to the plurality of differential amplifiers, respectively; and a differential input pair connected to the detection voltage setting circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: SEIKO INSTRUMENTS INC.
    Inventors: Daisuke Muraoka, Minoru Ariyama, Tomoki Hikichi, Kentaro Fukai
  • Patent number: 9261569
    Abstract: Provided is a sensor device capable of removing the influence of each offset voltage of a sensor element, a differential amplifier, and an amplifier of the sensor device, to thereby detect a physical quantity with high precision and respond to high-speed operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: SEIKO INSTRUMENTS INC.
    Inventors: Minoru Ariyama, Daisuke Muraoka, Tomoki Hikichi, Kentaro Fukai
  • Publication number: 20150377647
    Abstract: To provide a magnetic sensor which is reduced in power consumption without reducing magnetism detection sensitivity of a magnetoelectric transducing element. One end of a magnetoelectric transducing element is connected to an output electrode of a constant current circuit, and the other end thereof is connected to a power supply electrode on the positive side of one or plural signal processing circuits, and the like built in a magnetic sensor, whereby a connection relation of the magnetoelectric transducing element and the signal processing circuit is configured such that they are connected in series with a voltage source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2015
    Publication date: December 31, 2015
    Inventors: Kentaro FUKAI, Minoru ARIYAMA, Tomoki HIKICHI, Takemasa MIURA
  • Publication number: 20150377983
    Abstract: To provide a magnetic sensor device which maintains accuracy thereof while reducing current consumption by switching drive power of a Hall element to two drive power. A magnetic sensor device is equipped with a driving circuit which supplies power to a sensor element, a switch changeover circuit which restricts the supply of the power from the driving circuit to the sensor element, a differential amplifier circuit which performs arithmetic processing on an output signal of the sensor element, a threshold voltage generating circuit which generates a threshold voltage used in magnetism determination, a comparison circuit which compares and determines a voltage of the differential amplifier circuit and the threshold voltage, and a logic circuit which according to the output of the comparison circuit, switches the power outputted from the driving circuit, switches the threshold voltage and controls on/off of the switch changeover circuit in a constant cycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2015
    Publication date: December 31, 2015
    Inventors: Takemasa MIURA, Minoru ARIYAMA, Tomoki HIKICHI, Kentaro FUKAI