Patents by Inventor Noriyuki Kaifu

Noriyuki Kaifu 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: 10033953
    Abstract: Provided is a solid state imaging device including a plurality of pixels, a signal line on which a pixel signal is transmitted, a load transistor having a drain connected to the signal line, a readout circuit that reads out the pixel signal from the signal line, and a control unit that controls a current flowing in the load transistor in accordance with a potential of a control terminal. When a reference potential of the pixel fluctuates relatively to a reference potential of the readout circuit, a potential of the control terminal relative to a potential of a source of the load transistor is changed in a same phase with a fluctuation of the reference potential of the pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masaaki Minowa, Keisuke Ota, Takahiro Yamasaki, Takamasa Sakuragi, Noriyuki Kaifu
  • Patent number: 10027915
    Abstract: A photoelectric conversion device according to an exemplary embodiment includes a pixel which includes a photoelectric conversion unit and an amplifier transistor configured to output a signal generated by the photoelectric conversion unit. The photoelectric conversion unit includes a first electrode, a second electrode electrically connected to the amplifier transistor, a photoelectric conversion layer, and an insulating layer disposed between the photoelectric conversion layer and the second electrode. The photoelectric conversion layer includes quantum dots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuaki Tashiro, Noriyuki Kaifu, Hidekazu Takahashi
  • Patent number: 10021358
    Abstract: A plurality of adjacent pixels is provided adjacently in a plurality of directions to a first pixel. A direction with a highest correlation is derived from signals of the plurality of pixels, and the direction with the highest correlation is reflected to interpolation processing to be performed on the signal of first pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tomoya Onishi, Noriyuki Kaifu, Fujio Kawano, Hisashi Takado
  • Publication number: 20180160062
    Abstract: An image capturing apparatus is provided. The apparatus comprises an image sensor comprising pixels and a controller. The pixels include a photoelectric converter, a holding unit, an output unit and a first and second transfer unit. The controller causes the sensor to repeatedly perform a holding operation that the first transfer unit transfer charge from the photoelectric conversion unit to the holding unit, and a transfer operation that the second transfer unit transfer the charge from the holding unit to the output unit. The controller causes the sensor to perform, as the holding operation, holding operations including a first holding operation for performing the first transfer unit transfer charge generated in a first exposure time and a second holding operation for performing the first transfer unit transfer charge generated in a second exposure time longer than the first exposure time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2018
    Publication date: June 7, 2018
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Shigeta, Noriyuki Kaifu, Hisashi Takado
  • Publication number: 20180131883
    Abstract: To increase image quality of a moving image by suppressing a color afterimage while reducing color noise, provided is an imaging apparatus, including: an imaging device; and a signal processing unit, in which: the imaging device includes a first pixel group and a second pixel group each including a plurality of pixels each configured to output a pixel signal; and the signal processing unit is configured to perform weighted addition for a second pixel signal output from the second pixel group by inter-frame processing, and to change a weight on each frame in the weighted addition based on an inter-frame differential of a first pixel signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2018
    Publication date: May 10, 2018
    Inventors: Hisashi Takado, Noriyuki Kaifu, Fujio Kawano, Tomoya Onishi
  • Publication number: 20180109769
    Abstract: A plurality of adjacent pixels is provided adjacently in a plurality of directions to a first pixel. A direction with a highest correlation is derived from signals of the plurality of pixels, and the direction with the highest correlation is reflected to interpolation processing to be performed on the signal of first pixel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2017
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Inventors: Tomoya Onishi, Noriyuki Kaifu, Fujio Kawano, Hisashi Takado
  • Patent number: 9912886
    Abstract: An image capturing apparatus is provided. The apparatus comprises an image sensor comprising pixels and a controller. The pixels include a photoelectric converter, a holding unit, an output unit and a first and second transfer unit. The controller causes the sensor to repeatedly perform a holding operation that the first transfer unit transfer charge from the photoelectric conversion unit to the holding unit, and a transfer operation that the second transfer unit transfer the charge from the holding unit to the output unit. The controller causes the sensor to perform, as the holding operation, holding operations including a first holding operation for performing the first transfer unit transfer charge generated in a first exposure time and a second holding operation for performing the first transfer unit transfer charge generated in a second exposure time longer than the first exposure time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Shigeta, Noriyuki Kaifu, Hisashi Takado
  • Patent number: 9900539
    Abstract: Provided is a solid-state image pickup element including: a plurality of pixels arranged in a pixel well region; a readout circuit arranged in a peripheral well region, having a first input terminal for receiving the pixel signals from the plurality of pixels and a second input terminal for receiving a reference signal; and a reference signal circuit arranged in the peripheral well region, having a first electrode to which a ground voltage is supplied, and being configured to output the reference signal to the second input terminal of the readout circuit, wherein a resistance value R1 of an electrical path from one of a plurality of pixel well contacts to the first electrode and a resistance value R2 of an electrical path from one of a plurality of peripheral well contacts closest to the first electrode to the first electrode satisfy a relationship of R1<R2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takahiro Yamasaki, Masaaki Minowa, Keisuke Ota, Takamasa Sakuragi, Noriyuki Kaifu, Toru Koizumi, Kazuhiro Saito, Daisuke Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 9900532
    Abstract: To increase image quality of a moving image by suppressing a color afterimage while reducing color noise, provided is an imaging apparatus, including: an imaging device; and a signal processing unit, in which: the imaging device includes a first pixel group and a second pixel group each including a plurality of pixels each configured to output a pixel signal; and the signal processing unit is configured to perform weighted addition for a second pixel signal output from the second pixel group by inter-frame processing, and to change a weight on each frame in the weighted addition based on an inter-frame differential of a first pixel signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hisashi Takado, Noriyuki Kaifu, Fujio Kawano, Tomoya Onishi
  • Patent number: 9883152
    Abstract: A plurality of adjacent pixels is provided adjacently in a plurality of directions to a first pixel. A direction with a highest correlation is derived from signals of the plurality of pixels, and the direction with the highest correlation is reflected to interpolation processing to be performed on the signal of first pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tomoya Onishi, Noriyuki Kaifu, Fujio Kawano, Hisashi Takado
  • Patent number: 9826181
    Abstract: A photoelectric conversion device according to an exemplary embodiment includes a pixel which includes a photoelectric conversion unit, a reset transistor, and an amplifier transistor that outputs a signal from the photoelectric conversion unit. The photoelectric conversion unit includes a first electrode, a second electrode, a photoelectric conversion layer, and an insulating layer disposed between the photoelectric conversion layer and the second electrode. The photoelectric conversion unit alternately performs an accumulation operation and a discharge operation in accordance with the voltage between the first electrode and the second electrode. In a period between two consecutive discharge operations among a plurality of discharge operations, a reset operation in which the reset transistor resets the voltage on the second electrode is performed a plurality of times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuaki Tashiro, Noriyuki Kaifu, Hidekazu Takahashi
  • Patent number: 9722107
    Abstract: A photoelectric conversion device according to an exemplary embodiment includes a pixel which includes a photoelectric conversion unit, an amplifier transistor that outputs a signal from the photoelectric conversion unit, and a reset transistor that supplies a reset voltage to the amplifier transistor. The photoelectric conversion unit includes a first electrode, a second electrode electrically connected to the amplifier transistor, a photoelectric conversion layer, and an insulating layer disposed between the photoelectric conversion layer and the second electrode. The pixel includes a first capacitor electrically connected to the second electrode. The capacitance value of the first capacitor, the capacitance value of a second capacitor between the first electrode and the second electrode, and a voltage supplied to the pixel satisfy a certain relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuaki Tashiro, Noriyuki Kaifu, Hidekazu Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20170163913
    Abstract: There is provided an imaging device configured to acquire an image with the restrained influence of the blinking state of a light source while ensuring synchronicity of charge accumulation. For a plurality of pixels arranged in a plurality of rows, the imaging device intermittently turns on a first transfer switch at a same timing a plurality of times to transfer electric charges from a photoelectric conversion unit to a holding unit a plurality of times. The imaging device row-sequentially turns on a second transfer switch of the plurality of pixels to transfer electric charges transferred a plurality of times to and held by the holding unit, to an amplifying unit on a row basis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2016
    Publication date: June 8, 2017
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Shigeta, Noriyuki Kaifu
  • Publication number: 20170111601
    Abstract: A photoelectric conversion device according to an exemplary embodiment includes a pixel which includes a photoelectric conversion unit, a reset transistor, and an amplifier transistor that outputs a signal from the photoelectric conversion unit. The photoelectric conversion unit includes a first electrode, a second electrode, a photoelectric conversion layer, and an insulating layer disposed between the photoelectric conversion layer and the second electrode. The photoelectric conversion unit alternately performs an accumulation operation and a discharge operation in accordance with the voltage between the first electrode and the second electrode. In a period between two consecutive discharge operations among a plurality of discharge operations, a reset operation in which the reset transistor resets the voltage on the second electrode is performed a plurality of times.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2016
    Publication date: April 20, 2017
    Inventors: Kazuaki Tashiro, Noriyuki Kaifu, Hidekazu Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20170099448
    Abstract: Provided is a solid state imaging device including a plurality of pixels, a signal line on which a pixel signal is transmitted, a load transistor having a drain connected to the signal line, a readout circuit that reads out the pixel signal from the signal line, and a control unit that controls a current flowing in the load transistor in accordance with a potential of a control terminal. When a reference potential of the pixel fluctuates relatively to a reference potential of the readout circuit, a potential of the control terminal relative to a potential of a source of the load transistor is changed in a same phase with a fluctuation of the reference potential of the pixel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2016
    Publication date: April 6, 2017
    Inventors: Masaaki Minowa, Keisuke Ota, Takahiro Yamasaki, Takamasa Sakuragi, Noriyuki Kaifu
  • Publication number: 20170078603
    Abstract: Provided is a solid-state image pickup element including: a plurality of pixels arranged in a pixel well region; a readout circuit arranged in a peripheral well region, having a first input terminal for receiving the pixel signals from the plurality of pixels and a second input terminal for receiving a reference signal; and a reference signal circuit arranged in the peripheral well region, having a first electrode to which a ground voltage is supplied, and being configured to output the reference signal to the second input terminal of the readout circuit, wherein a resistance value R1 of an electrical path from one of a plurality of pixel well contacts to the first electrode and a resistance value R2 of an electrical path from one of a plurality of peripheral well contacts closest to the first electrode to the first electrode satisfy a relationship of R1<R2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2016
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Inventors: Takahiro Yamasaki, Masaaki Minowa, Keisuke Ota, Takamasa Sakuragi, Noriyuki Kaifu, Toru Koizumi, Kazuhiro Saito, Daisuke Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 9571768
    Abstract: A photoelectric conversion device according to an exemplary embodiment includes a pixel which includes a photoelectric conversion unit, a reset transistor, and an amplifier transistor that outputs a signal from the photoelectric conversion unit. The photoelectric conversion unit includes a first electrode, a second electrode, a photoelectric conversion layer, and an insulating layer disposed between the photoelectric conversion layer and the second electrode. The photoelectric conversion unit alternately performs an accumulation operation and a discharge operation in accordance with the voltage between the first electrode and the second electrode. In a period between two consecutive discharge operations among a plurality of discharge operations, a reset operation in which the reset transistor resets the voltage on the second electrode is performed a plurality of times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuaki Tashiro, Noriyuki Kaifu, Hidekazu Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20160344956
    Abstract: To increase image quality of a moving image by suppressing a color afterimage while reducing color noise, provided is an imaging apparatus, including: an imaging device; and a signal processing unit, in which: the imaging device includes a first pixel group and a second pixel group each including a plurality of pixels each configured to output a pixel signal; and the signal processing unit is configured to perform weighted addition for a second pixel signal output from the second pixel group by inter-frame processing, and to change a weight on each frame in the weighted addition based on an inter-frame differential of a first pixel signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2016
    Publication date: November 24, 2016
    Inventors: Hisashi Takado, Noriyuki Kaifu, Fujio Kawano, Tomoya Onishi
  • Publication number: 20160337623
    Abstract: A plurality of adjacent pixels is provided adjacently in a plurality of directions to a first pixel. A direction with a highest correlation is derived from signals of the plurality of pixels, and the direction with the highest correlation is reflected to interpolation processing to be performed on the signal of first pixel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2016
    Publication date: November 17, 2016
    Inventors: Tomoya Onishi, Noriyuki Kaifu, Fujio Kawano, Hisashi Takado
  • Publication number: 20160330414
    Abstract: Provided is an imaging apparatus including: a first signal processing unit configured to generate first data on a plurality of frames by executing processing for generating the first data by using first pixel signals in one frame, which have been output from a first pixel group, for the first pixel signal in each frame, the first data being obtained by interpolating a pixel signal corresponding to a first wavelength band in a second pixel group; a second signal processing unit configured to generate second data on a plurality of frames by using second pixel signals in the plurality of frames, which have been output from the second pixel group; and a signal combining unit configured to generate an image by combining the first data on the plurality of frames and the second data on the plurality of frames.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2016
    Publication date: November 10, 2016
    Inventors: Hisashi Takado, Noriyuki Kaifu, Fujio Kawano, Tomoya Onishi