Patents by Inventor Munehiro Kozuma

Munehiro Kozuma 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: 20230109354
    Abstract: A semiconductor device with a novel structure is provided. The semiconductor device includes a plurality of memory circuits, a switching circuit, a first arithmetic circuit, and a second arithmetic circuit. The plurality of memory circuits each have a function of retaining weight data. The switching circuit has a function of switching electrical continuity and discontinuity between any one of the memory circuits and the first arithmetic circuit. The first arithmetic circuit outputs a first output signal based on product-sum operation processing of input data and the weight data selected by the switching circuit to the second arithmetic circuit. A layer including the plurality of memory circuits is provided to be stacked over a layer including the switching circuit, the first arithmetic circuit, and the second arithmetic circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2021
    Publication date: April 6, 2023
    Inventors: Minato ITO, Munehiro KOZUMA, Yuki OKAMOTO
  • Publication number: 20230099168
    Abstract: A semiconductor device with a novel structure is provided. The semiconductor device includes a plurality of arithmetic blocks each including an arithmetic circuit portion and a memory circuit portion. The arithmetic circuit portion and the memory circuit portion are electrically connected to each other. The arithmetic circuit portion and the memory circuit portion have an overlap region. The arithmetic circuit portion includes, for example, a Si transistor, and the memory circuit portion includes, for example, an OS transistor. The arithmetic circuit portion has a function of performing product-sum operation. The memory circuit portion has a function of retaining weight data. A first driver circuit has a function of writing the weight data to the memory circuit portion. The weight data is written to all the memory circuit portions included in the same column with the use of the first driver circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2021
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Inventors: Yuki OKAMOTO, Tatsuya ONUKI, Munehiro KOZUMA, Takanori MATSUZAKI
  • Publication number: 20230082313
    Abstract: A semiconductor device with reduced power consumption that can perform a product-sum operation is provided. The semiconductor device includes first and second circuits, and the second circuit includes first and second switches, a current/voltage converter circuit, and a first transistor. The first circuit is electrically connected to a first terminal of the second circuit; a first terminal of the first switch is electrically connected to the first terminal of the second circuit; a second terminal of the first switch is electrically connected to an input terminal of the current/voltage converter circuit; an output terminal of the current/voltage converter circuit is electrically connected to a first terminal of the first transistor; a second terminal of the first transistor is electrically connected to a first terminal of the second switch; and a second terminal of the second switch is electrically connected to a second terminal of the second circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2021
    Publication date: March 16, 2023
    Inventors: Takeshi AOKI, Yoshiyuki KUROKAWA, Munehiro KOZUMA, Takuro KANEMURA
  • Publication number: 20230055062
    Abstract: A semiconductor device with a novel structure is provided. A plurality of memory circuits, a switching circuit, and an arithmetic circuit are included. Each of the plurality of memory circuits has a function of retaining weight data and a function of outputting the weight data to a first wiring. The switching circuit has a function of switching a conduction state between any one of the plurality of first wirings and a second wiring. The arithmetic circuit has a function of performing arithmetic processing using input data and the weight data supplied to the second wiring. The memory circuits are provided in a first layer. The switching circuit and the arithmetic circuit are provided in a second layer. The first layer is provided in a layer different from the second layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2021
    Publication date: February 23, 2023
    Inventors: Yuki OKAMOTO, Munehiro KOZUMA, Tatsuya ONUKI
  • Publication number: 20230049977
    Abstract: A semiconductor device that has low power consumption and is capable of performing arithmetic operation is provided. The semiconductor device includes first to third circuits and first and second cells. The first cell includes a first transistor, and the second cell includes a second transistor. The first and second transistors operate in a subthreshold region. The first cell is electrically connected to the first circuit, the first cell is electrically connected to the second and third circuits, and the second cell is electrically connected to the second and third circuits. The first cell sets current flowing from the first circuit to the first transistor to a first current, and the second cell sets current flowing from the second circuit to the second transistor to a second current. At this time, a potential corresponding to the second current is input to the first cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2020
    Publication date: February 16, 2023
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki KUROKAWA, Munehiro KOZUMA, Takeshi AOKI, Takuro KANEMURA
  • Publication number: 20230040508
    Abstract: To provide a semiconductor device with a novel structure. The semiconductor device includes an accelerator. The accelerator includes a first memory circuit, a second memory circuit, and an arithmetic circuit. The first memory circuit includes a first transistor. The second memory circuit includes a second transistor. Each of the first transistor and the second transistor includes a semiconductor layer including a metal oxide in a channel formation region. The arithmetic circuit includes a third transistor. The third transistor includes a semiconductor layer including silicon in a channel formation region. The first transistor and the second transistor are provided in different layers. The layer including the first transistor is provided over a layer including the third transistor. The layer including the second transistor is provided over the layer including the first transistor. The data retention characteristics of the first memory circuit are different from those of the second memory circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2020
    Publication date: February 9, 2023
    Inventors: Tatsuya ONUKI, Munehiro KOZUMA, Takeshi AOKI, Takanori MATSUZAKI, Yuki OKAMOTO, Masashi OOTA, Shuhei NAGATSUKA, Hitoshi KUNITAKE, Shunpei YAMAZAKI
  • Publication number: 20230043910
    Abstract: A semiconductor device that has low power consumption and is capable of performing a product-sum operation is provided. The semiconductor device includes first and second cells, a first circuit, and first to third wirings. Each of the first and second cells includes a capacitor, and a first terminal of each of the capacitors is electrically connected to the third wiring. Each of the first and second cells has a function of feeding a current based on a potential held at a second terminal of the capacitor, to a corresponding one of the first and second wirings. The first circuit is electrically connected to the first and second wirings and stores currents I1 and I2 flowing through the first and second wirings. When the potential of the third wiring changes and accordingly the amount of current of the first wiring changes from I1 to I3 and the amount of current of the second wiring changes from I2 to I4, the first circuit generates a current with an amount I1-I2-I3+I4.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2021
    Publication date: February 9, 2023
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki KUROKAWA, Munehiro KOZUMA, Takeshi AOKI, Takuro KANEMURA
  • Patent number: 11568223
    Abstract: A neural network circuit having a novel structure is provided. A plurality of arithmetic circuits each including a register, a memory, a multiplier circuit, and an adder circuit are provided. The memory outputs different weight data in response to switching of a context signal. The multiplier circuit outputs multiplication data of the weight data and input data held in the register. The adder circuit performs a product-sum operation by adding the obtained multiplication data to data obtained by a product-sum operation in an adder circuit of another arithmetic circuit. The obtained product-sum operation data is output to an adder circuit of another arithmetic circuit, so that product-sum operations of different weight data and input data are performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Inventors: Yuki Okamoto, Munehiro Kozuma, Yoshiyuki Kurokawa, Takayuki Ikeda
  • Publication number: 20230004704
    Abstract: The circuit layout generation system includes a memory portion, a limitation data arithmetic portion, and a layout data arithmetic portion. The memory portion is configured to store circuit connection data and first limitation data. The circuit connection data is data regarding connection of a transistor and a capacitor included in a pixel circuit. The first limitation data includes data that determines a wiring interval of the transistor and a wiring interval of the capacitor and data that determines placement coordinates of the transistor and the capacitor. The limitation data arithmetic portion is configured to generate second limitation data on the basis of the circuit connection data and the first limitation data and store the second limitation data in the memory portion. The second limitation data is data that determines the placement of the transistor and the capacitor designated by the placement coordinates so that the transistor and the capacitor are positioned close to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2022
    Publication date: January 5, 2023
    Inventors: Munehiro KOZUMA, Minato ITO, Yusuke KOUMURA, Tatsuya ONUKI
  • Publication number: 20220374203
    Abstract: A semiconductor device that inhibits signal delay and can perform parallel product-sum operations is provided. The semiconductor device includes first to fourth registers, an adder, a multiplier, a selector, and a first memory unit. An output terminal of the first register is electrically connected to an input terminal of the second register, and an output terminal of the second register is electrically connected to a first input terminal of the multiplier. An output terminal of the multiplier is electrically connected to a first input terminal of the adder, and an output terminal of the adder is electrically connected to an input terminal of the third register. An output terminal of the third register is electrically connected to a first input terminal of the selector, and an output terminal of the selector is electrically connected to an input terminal of the fourth register, and the first memory unit is electrically connected to a second input terminal of the multiplier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2020
    Publication date: November 24, 2022
    Inventors: Munehiro KOZUMA, Yoshiyuki KUROKAWA, Takeshi AOKI, Takuro KANEMURA
  • Publication number: 20220366958
    Abstract: Since power source voltages are different depending on circuits used for devices, a circuit for outputting at least two or more power sources is additionally prepared. An object is to unify outputs of the power source voltages. A transistor using an oxide semiconductor is provided in such a manner that electrical charge is retained in a node where the transistor and a capacitor are electrically connected to each other, a reset signal is applied to a gate of the transistor to switch the states of the transistor from off to on, and the node is reset when the transistor is on. A circuit configuration that generates and utilizes a potential higher than or equal to a potential of a single power source can be achieved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2020
    Publication date: November 17, 2022
    Inventors: Fumika AKASAWA, Munehiro KOZUMA
  • Publication number: 20220343954
    Abstract: A semiconductor device in which energy required for data transfer between an arithmetic device and a memory is reduced is provided. The semiconductor device includes a peripheral circuit and a memory cell array. The peripheral circuit has a function of a driver circuit and a control circuit for the memory cell array, and an arithmetic function. The peripheral circuit includes a sense amplifier circuit and an arithmetic circuit, and the memory cell array includes a memory cell and a bit line. The sense amplifier circuit has a function of determining whether the bit line is at a high level or a low level, and outputs the result to the arithmetic circuit. The arithmetic circuit has a function of performing a product-sum operation, the result of which is output from the semiconductor device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2020
    Publication date: October 27, 2022
    Inventors: Takeshi AOKI, Munehiro KOZUMA, Masashi FUJITA, Takahiko ISHIZU
  • Publication number: 20220294402
    Abstract: A novel comparison circuit, a novel amplifier circuit, a novel battery control circuit, a novel battery protection circuit, a power storage device, a semiconductor device, an electric device, and the like are provided. In a semiconductor device, one of a source and a drain of a first transistor is electrically connected to one of a source and a drain of a second transistor and one of a source and a drain of a third transistor; the other of the source and the drain of the third transistor is electrically connected to a first output terminal; and the other of the source and the drain of the second transistor is electrically connected to a second output terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2020
    Publication date: September 15, 2022
    Inventors: Kei TAKAHASHI, Takeshi AOKI, Munehiro KOZUMA, Takayuki IKEDA
  • Publication number: 20220276834
    Abstract: A semiconductor device which can efficiently perform reading of a weight coefficient and a product-sum operation is provided. The semiconductor device includes a product-sum operation circuit and a memory device. The product-sum operation circuit is formed using transistors formed on a semiconductor substrate, and a memory cell of the memory device is formed using an OS transistor provided to be stacked above the semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor device includes a plurality of product-sum operation units where the product-sum operation circuit and the memory cell of the memory device are electrically connected to each other. In each of the product-sum operation units, a weight coefficient stored in the memory cell can be read and a product-sum operation can be performed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2020
    Publication date: September 1, 2022
    Inventors: Takeshi AOKI, Yoshiyuki KUROKAWA, Munehiro KOZUMA, Takuro KANEMURA
  • Publication number: 20220276838
    Abstract: A semiconductor device having a novel structure is provided. The semiconductor device includes a plurality of operation circuits that can switch different kinds of operation processing; a plurality of switch circuits that can switch a connection state between the operation circuits; and a controller. The operation circuit includes a first memory that stores data corresponding to a weight parameter used in the plurality of kinds of operation processing. The operation circuit executes a product-sum operation by switching weight data in accordance with a context. The switch circuit includes a second memory that stores data for switching a plurality of connection states in response to switching of a second context signal. The controller generates a second context signal on the basis of a first context signal. The amount of data stored in the second memory can be smaller than the amount of data stored in the first memory in the operation circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2022
    Publication date: September 1, 2022
    Inventors: Munehiro KOZUMA, Takeshi AOKI, Seiichi YONEDA, Yoshiyuki KUROKAWA
  • Publication number: 20220262953
    Abstract: A semiconductor device having a novel structure is provided. The semiconductor device includes a CPU and an accelerator. The accelerator includes a first memory circuit and an arithmetic circuit. The first memory circuit includes a first transistor. The first transistor includes a semiconductor layer containing a metal oxide in a channel formation region. The arithmetic circuit includes a second transistor. The second transistor includes a semiconductor layer containing silicon in a channel formation region. The first transistor and the second transistor are provided to be stacked. The CPU includes a CPU core including a flip-flop provided with a backup circuit. The backup circuit includes a third transistor. The third transistor includes a semiconductor layer containing a metal oxide in a channel formation region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2020
    Publication date: August 18, 2022
    Inventors: Munehiro KOZUMA, Takahiko ISHIZU, Takeshi AOKI, Masashi FUJITA, Kazuma FURUTANI, Kousuke SASAKI
  • Publication number: 20220254401
    Abstract: A semiconductor device resistant to a high temperature with low power consumption is provided. The semiconductor device includes a first and a second circuit, a first and a second cell, and a first and a second wiring. The first cell includes a first transistor, and the second cell includes a second transistor. The first and the second transistor operate in a subthreshold region. The first cell is electrically connected to the first circuit through the first wiring, the first cell is electrically connected to the second circuit through the second wiring, and the second cell is electrically connected to the second circuit through the second wiring. The first cell sets a current flowing through the first transistor to a first current and the second cell sets a current flowing through the second transistor to a second current. At this time, a potential corresponding to the second current is input from the second wiring to the first cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2020
    Publication date: August 11, 2022
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki KUROKAWA, Munehiro KOZUMA, Takeshi AOKI
  • Publication number: 20220237440
    Abstract: A semiconductor device capable of performing arithmetic operation with low power consumption is provided. The semiconductor device includes first and second circuits, a first amplifier circuit, first to fourth switches, and a capacitor, the first circuit is electrically connected to a first wiring, and the second circuit is electrically connected to a second wiring. The first wiring is electrically connected to a first terminal of the capacitor through the first switch, and the second wiring is electrically connected to the first terminal of the capacitor through the third switch. The first terminal of the capacitor is electrically connected to a first terminal of the second switch, and a second terminal of the capacitor is electrically connected to the first amplifier circuit through the fourth switch. Current corresponding to the result of product-sum operation flows through each of the first and second wirings, and the current is converted into potentials by the first and second circuits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2020
    Publication date: July 28, 2022
    Inventors: Hajime KIMURA, Munehiro KOZUMA
  • Publication number: 20220208245
    Abstract: A semiconductor device with reduced power consumption is provided. The semiconductor device includes a transmitter unit, a receiver unit, a bias-outputting unit, and a controller unit. The bias-outputting unit has a plurality of memory units. The plurality of memory units each retains information to determine transmission power. The receiver unit receives a request signal transmitted from a base station and supplies it to the controller unit. The controller unit selects one of the plurality of memory units according to the request signal. The memory unit has an OS transistor and retains information when power supply is stopped.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2020
    Publication date: June 30, 2022
    Inventors: Munehiro KOZUMA, Takayuki IKEDA, Kei TAKAHASHI, Takeshi AOKI
  • Publication number: 20220190398
    Abstract: A semiconductor device with reduced power consumption is provided. With three transistors, potentials of two nodes are switched and a voltage is detected. One of a source and a drain of a first transistor is electrically connected to a first terminal. The other of the source and the drain of the first transistor is electrically connected to a non-inverting input of a comparator through a first node. One of a source and a drain of a second transistor is electrically connected to a second terminal. The other of the source and the drain of the second transistor is electrically connected to one of a source and a drain of a third transistor through a second node. The other of the source and the drain of the third transistor is electrically connected to a third terminal. A first capacitor is provided between the first node and the second node. An inverting input of the comparator is electrically connected to a fourth terminal. An output of the comparator is electrically connected to a fifth terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2020
    Publication date: June 16, 2022
    Inventors: Takayuki IKEDA, Takeshi AOKI, Munehiro KOZUMA, Kei TAKAHASHI, Shunpei YAMAZAKI