Patents by Inventor Nobuo Nakamura

Nobuo Nakamura 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: 9832405
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device is capable of simplifying the pixel structure to reduce the pixel size and capable of suppressing the variation in the characteristics between the pixels when a plurality of output systems is provided. A unit cell includes two pixels. Upper and lower photoelectric converters and, transfer transistors and connected to the upper and lower photoelectric converters, respectively, a reset transistor, and an amplifying transistor form the two pixels. A full-face signal line is connected to the respective drains of the reset transistor and the amplifying transistor. Controlling the full-face signal line, along with transfer signal lines and a reset signal line, to read out signals realizes the simplification of the wiring in the pixel, the reduction of the pixel size, and so on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Abe, Nobuo Nakamura, Tomoyuki Umeda, Keiji Mabuchi, Hiroaki Fujita, Eiichi Funatsu, Hiroki Sato
  • Publication number: 20170253948
    Abstract: A method for upgrading an ilmenite ore for yielding a high-TiO2-content titanium source by separating and removing an iron component from ilmenite (FeTiO3), which includes an oxidation step of oxidizing a starting ilmenite; after the oxidation step, a reduction step of reducing the treated ilmenite; and after the reduction step, an extraction step of dissolving the iron component with an acid, to thereby remove the iron component. Also disclosed is a production method for producing a high-TiO2-content titanium source, which includes upgrading an ilmenite ore as described above, and a high-TiO2-content titanium source produced through the production method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2017
    Publication date: September 7, 2017
    Applicant: TOHOKU UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Tetsuya NAGASAKA, Yoshihiro ITO, Katsuyuki IIJIMA, Eiichiro YOSHIKAWA, Toru TAKAI, Nobuo NAKAMURA
  • Publication number: 20170208278
    Abstract: An image sensor controls the gain of a pixel signal on a pixel-by-pixel basis and extends a dynamic range while maintaining a S/N ratio at a favorable level. A column unit in an image sensor is independently detects a level of each pixel signal and independently sets a gain for level of the signal. A photoelectric converting region unit has pixels arranged two-dimensionally with a vertical signal line for each pixel column to output each pixel signal. The column unit is on an output side of the vertical signal line. The column unit for each pixel column has a pixel signal level detecting circuit, a programmable gain control, a sample and hold (S/H) circuit. Gain correction is performed according to a result of a detected level of the pixel signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2017
    Publication date: July 20, 2017
    Inventors: Nobuo Nakamura, Shoji Kawahito, Hiroki Sato, Mizuho Higashi
  • Patent number: 9648258
    Abstract: An image sensor controls the gain of a pixel signal on a pixel-by-pixel basis and extends a dynamic range while maintaining a S/N ratio at a favorable level. A column unit in an image sensor is independently detects a level of each pixel signal and independently sets a gain for level of the signal. A photoelectric converting region unit has pixels arranged two-dimensionally with a vertical signal line for each pixel column to output each pixel signal. The column unit is on an output side of the vertical signal line. The column unit for each pixel column has a pixel signal level detecting circuit, a programmable gain control, a sample and hold (S/H) circuit. Gain correction is performed according to a result of a detected level of the pixel signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Nobuo Nakamura, Shoji Kawahito, Hiroki Sato, Mizuho Higashi
  • Publication number: 20170077167
    Abstract: An imaging device including an electronic shutter and a pixel array with color pixels with different characteristics of spectral sensitivity arranged. The pixel array part has at least one clear pixel, the plurality of color pixels including at least two of (i) a first color filter pixel having a peak of spectral sensitivity characteristics for red, (ii) a second color filter pixel having a peak for blue, and (iii) a third color filter pixel having a peak for green. The clear pixel has a high transmittance arranged in an oblique pixel array system at a given position of a given row and a given column with respect to the first color filter pixel, the second color filter pixel, and the third color filter pixel. An electronic shutter is separately driven for the at least one clear pixel and for the plurality of color filter pixels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2016
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Inventors: Junichi Kanai, Nobuo Nakamura
  • Patent number: 9560325
    Abstract: An imaging device including an electronic shutter and a pixel array with color pixels with different characteristics of spectral sensitivity arranged. The pixel array part has at least one clear pixel, the plurality of color pixels including at least two of (i) a first color filter pixel having a peak of spectral sensitivity characteristics for red, (ii) a second color filter pixel having a peak for blue, and (iii) a third color filter pixel having a peak for green. The clear pixel has a high transmittance arranged in an oblique pixel array system at a given position of a given row and a given column with respect to the first color filter pixel, the second color filter pixel, and the third color filter pixel. An electronic shutter is separately driven for the at least one clear pixel and for the plurality of color filter pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Junichi Kanai, Nobuo Nakamura
  • Patent number: 9530816
    Abstract: Forming a back-illuminated type CMOS image sensor, includes process for formation of a registration mark on the wiring side of a silicon substrate during formation of an active region or a gate electrode. A silicide film using an active region may also be used for the registration mark. Thereafter, the registration mark is read from the back-side by use of red light or near infrared rays, and registration of the stepper is accomplished. It is also possible to form a registration mark in a silicon oxide film on the back-side (illuminated side) in registry with the registration mark on the wiring side, and to achieve the desired registration by use of the registration mark thus formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Abe, Nobuo Nakamura, Keiji Mabuchi, Tomoyuki Umeda, Hiroaki Fujita, Eiichi Funatsu, Hiroki Sato
  • Publication number: 20160343768
    Abstract: Forming a back-illuminated type CMOS image sensor, includes process for formation of a registration mark on the wiring side of a silicon substrate during formation of an active region or a gate electrode. A silicide film using an active region may also be used for the registration mark. Thereafter, the registration mark is read from the back-side by use of red light or near infrared rays, and registration of the stepper is accomplished. It is also possible to form a registration mark in a silicon oxide film on the back-side (illuminated side) in registry with the registration mark on the wiring side, and to achieve the desired registration by use of the registration mark thus formed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2016
    Publication date: November 24, 2016
    Inventors: Takashi Abe, Nobuo Nakamura, Keiji Mabuchi, Tomoyuki Umeda, Hiroaki Fujita, Eiichi Funatsu, Hiroki Sato
  • Patent number: 9475934
    Abstract: An object is to increase crystallization speed, which is a drawback of polyhydroxyalkanoate, to improve processability in processing such as injection molding or blow molding and increase the speed of processing and is, in addition, to refine the crystal of polyhydroxyalkanoate to suppress a change of mechanical properties with passage of time of a resulting molded article. Disclosed herein is a polyester resin composition containing polyhydroxyalkanoate and pentaerythritol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignees: KANEKA CORPORATION, RIKEN
    Inventors: Hideki Abe, Noriyuki Suzuki, Tetsuya Minami, Nobuo Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20160269665
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device is capable of simplifying the pixel structure to reduce the pixel size and capable of suppressing the variation in the characteristics between the pixels when a plurality of output systems is provided. A unit cell includes two pixels. Upper and lower photoelectric converters and, transfer transistors and connected to the upper and lower photoelectric converters, respectively, a reset transistor, and an amplifying transistor form the two pixels. A full-face signal line is connected to the respective drains of the reset transistor and the amplifying transistor. Controlling the full-face signal line, along with transfer signal lines and a reset signal line, to read out signals realizes the simplification of the wiring in the pixel, the reduction of the pixel size, and so on.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2016
    Publication date: September 15, 2016
    Inventors: Takashi Abe, Nobuo Nakamura, Tomoyuki Umeda, Keiji Mabuchi, Hiroaki Fujita, Eiichi Funatsu, Hiroki Sato
  • Publication number: 20160195737
    Abstract: [Object] To provide a Faraday rotator excellent in productivity and also hardly causing an isolation function of an optical isolator to deteriorate even when the Faraday rotator is used in a high-power laser with a wavelength of 1.1 ?m or less and an output of 1 W or more. [Solving Means] The Faraday rotator comprises: a non-magnetic garnet substrate 4; bismuth-substituted rare-earth iron garnet films 1 grown respectively on both surfaces of the non-magnetic garnet substrate by a liquid phase epitaxial method; and sapphire crystal substrates 2 bonded respectively to outer surfaces of the bismuth-substituted rare-earth iron garnet films, and configured to dissipate heat. The Faraday rotator is characterized in that the bismuth-substituted rare-earth iron garnet films have an absorption coefficient of 9 cm?1 or less for light at a wavelength of 1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2014
    Publication date: July 7, 2016
    Applicant: SUMITOMO METAL MINING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Nobuo NAKAMURA
  • Patent number: 9371445
    Abstract: This invention aims at improving the tear strength of a film and a sheet molded from a resin composition containing microorganism-produced aliphatic polyester. This invention relates to a biodegradable polyester resin composition containing polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT) in the proportion of 60 to 400 parts by weight and modified-glycerin in the proportion of 10 to 50 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of aliphatic polyester (P3HA) having a repeating unit represented by Formula (1): [—CHR—CH2—CO—O—] (wherein R is an alkyl group represented by CnH2n+1 and n is an integer of 1 or more and 15 or lower) and a film or a sheet obtained by molding the biodegradable polyester resin composition in which the maximum major axis of phases containing the aliphatic polyester (P3HA) measured by a transmission electron microscopy analysis-image analysis method (TEM method) is 18 ?m or lower and the average value is 8 ?m or lower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: Kaneka Corporation
    Inventors: Noriyuki Suzuki, Nobuo Nakamura
  • Patent number: 9374505
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device is capable of simplifying the pixel structure to reduce the pixel size and capable of suppressing the variation in the characteristics between the pixels when a plurality of output systems is provided. A unit cell (30) includes two pixels (31) and (32). Upper and lower photoelectric converters (33) and (34), transfer transistors (35) and (36) connected to the upper and lower photoelectric converters, respectively, a reset transistor (37), and an amplifying transistor (38) form the two pixels (31) and (32). A full-face signal line 39 is connected to the respective drains of the reset transistor (37) and the amplifying transistor (38). Controlling the full-face signal line (39), along with transfer signal lines (42) and (43) and a reset signal line (41), to read out signals realizes the simplification of the wiring in the pixel, the reduction of the pixel size, and so on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Abe, Nobuo Nakamura, Tomoyuki Umeda, Keiji Mabuchi, Hiroaki Fujita, Eiichi Funatsu, Hiroki Sato
  • Patent number: 9322111
    Abstract: A bismuth-substituted rare-earth iron garnet crystal film (RIG) which has an insertion loss of less than 0.60 dB and which can be produced in a high yield, as well as an optical isolator, which is grown by liquid phase epitaxy on a non-magnetic garnet substrate represented by a chemical formula of Gd3(ScGa)5O12, wherein the bismuth-substituted rare-earth iron garnet crystal film is represented by a chemical formula of La3-x-yGdxBiyFe5O12 (provided that 0<x<3 and 0<y<3), and a composition ratio between the La, Gd, and Bi falls within a numeric value range corresponding to the inside of a quadrilateral having composition points A, B, C, and D as vertices in a La—Gd—Bi ternary composition diagram: composition point A (La: 0.15, Gd: 1.66, Bi: 1.19), composition point B (La: 0.32, Gd: 1.88, Bi: 0.80), composition point C (La: 0.52, Gd: 1.68, Bi: 0.80), and composition point D (La: 0.35, Gd: 1.46, Bi: 1.19).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: SUMITOMO METAL MINING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shuuji Oosumi, Yasutaka Nomi, Nobuo Nakamura, Hiroshi Hatanaka, Tomio Kajigaya
  • Publication number: 20160109735
    Abstract: [Object] To provide a polarization independent optical isolator enabling downsizing of a Faraday element and a magnet. [Solving means] The polarization independent optical isolator comprises: a pair of wedge-shaped birefringent crystal plates (1, 2) provided in an optical path; and a Faraday element (30) made of a paramagnetic body and provided in the optical path between the wedge-shaped birefringent crystal plates. The pair of wedge-shaped birefringent crystal plates have inclined light-transmitting surfaces parallel to each other and non-inclined light-transmitting surfaces parallel to each other. The non-inclined light-transmitting surfaces are disposed to face the Faraday element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2014
    Publication date: April 21, 2016
    Applicant: SUMITOMO METAL MINING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Nobuo NAKAMURA, Kinya OIGAWA
  • Patent number: 9303333
    Abstract: A bismuth-substituted rare-earth iron garnet crystal film (RIG) which has an insertion loss of less than 0.6 dB and which can be produced in a high yield, as well as an optical isolator, which is grown by liquid phase epitaxy on a non-magnetic garnet substrate represented by a chemical formula of Gd3(ScGa)5O12, wherein the RIG is represented by a chemical formula of Nd3-x-yGdxBiyFe5O12, and x and y satisfy 0.89?x?1.43 and 0.85?y?1.19. In contrast to conventional RIGs, the RIG represented by the chemical formula of Nd3-x-yGdxBiyFe5O12 of the present invention has an insertion loss of less than 0.6 dB and makes it possible to reduce the amount of heat generated because of absorption of light at wavelengths of about 1 ?m. Hence, the RIG has such a remarkable effect that the RIG can be used as a Faraday rotator used for an optical isolator in a high-power laser device for processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: SUMITOMO METAL MINING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shuuji Oosumi, Yasutaka Nomi, Nobuo Nakamura, Hiroshi Hatanaka, Tomio Kajigaya
  • Publication number: 20160014304
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device is capable of simplifying the pixel structure to reduce the pixel size and capable of suppressing the variation in the characteristics between the pixels when a plurality of output systems is provided. A unit cell (30) includes two pixels (31) and (32). Upper and lower photoelectric converters (33) and (34), transfer transistors (35) and (36) connected to the upper and lower photoelectric converters, respectively, a reset transistor (37), and an amplifying transistor (38) form the two pixels (31) and (32). A full-face signal line 39 is connected to the respective drains of the reset transistor (37) and the amplifying transistor (38). Controlling the full-face signal line (39), along with transfer signal lines (42) and (43) and a reset signal line (41), to read out signals realizes the simplification of the wiring in the pixel, the reduction of the pixel size, and so on.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2015
    Publication date: January 14, 2016
    Inventors: Takashi Abe, Nobuo Nakamura, Tomoyuki Umeda, Keiji Mabuchi, Hiroaki Fujita, Eiichi Funatsu, Hiroki Sato
  • Patent number: 9185369
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device is capable of simplifying the pixel structure to reduce the pixel size and capable of suppressing the variation in the characteristics between the pixels when a plurality of output systems is provided. A unit cell (30) includes two pixels (31) and (32). Upper and lower photoelectric converters (33) and (34), transfer transistors (35) and (36) connected to the upper and lower photoelectric converters, respectively, a reset transistor (37), and an amplifying transistor (38) form the two pixels (31) and (32). A full-face signal line 39 is connected to the respective drains of the reset transistor (37) and the amplifying transistor (38). Controlling the full-face signal line (39), along with transfer signal lines (42) and (43) and a reset signal line (41), to read out signals realizes the simplification of the wiring in the pixel, the reduction of the pixel size, and so on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takashi Abe, Nobuo Nakamura, Tomoyuki Umeda, Keiji Mabuchi, Hiroaki Fujita, Eiichi Funatsu, Hiroki Sato
  • Patent number: 9154714
    Abstract: An image sensor controls the gain of a pixel signal on a pixel-by-pixel basis and extends a dynamic range while maintaining a S/N ratio at a favorable level. A column unit in an image sensor is independently detects a level of each pixel signal and independently sets a gain for level of the signal. A photoelectric converting region unit has pixels arranged two-dimensionally with a vertical signal line for each pixel column to output each pixel signal. The column unit is on an output side of the vertical signal line. The column unit for each pixel column has a pixel signal level detecting circuit, a programmable gain control, a sample and hold (S/H) circuit. Gain correction is performed according to a result of a detected level of the pixel signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Nobuo Nakamura, Shoji Kawahito, Hiroki Sato, Mizuho Higashi
  • Patent number: 9131175
    Abstract: There is provided a solid state imaging apparatus, including a plurality of line sensors including a plurality of pixels arrayed in a line, each of the pixels including an amplifier which amplifies a signal corresponding to a charge accumulated in a photoelectric transducer, and signal lines each for reading a signal of each pixel of the line sensors. The plurality of line sensors are discretely arranged, and the signal lines are gathered and wired along a region in which a circuit block including the line sensors is arranged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenya Kondou, Haruhisa Naganokawa, Daijiro Anai, Makoto Aoki, Syouhei Taguchi, Ken Koseki, Nobuo Nakamura