Patents by Inventor Shintaro Takenaka
Shintaro Takenaka 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).
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Patent number: 11838668Abstract: The photoelectric conversion device includes pixels each including photoelectric converters and a floating diffusion to which charges of the photoelectric converters are transferred, a vertical scanning unit for performing readout processing and reset processing on the pixels while switching the photoelectric converter to be processed and the floating diffusion to be processed, and a control unit that controls the vertical scanning unit. The control unit includes a readout row address generation unit and a reset row address generation unit that generate a row address to be processed. A first cycle in which the photoelectric converter is switched is shorter than a second cycle in which the floating diffusion is switched, an update cycle of the row address is equal to the second cycle, and a setting unit of an update timing of the row address is equal to the length of one cycle of the first cycle.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2022Date of Patent: December 5, 2023Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Taichi Kasugai, Shintaro Takenaka
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Patent number: 11778347Abstract: A photoelectric conversion device includes a plurality of unit pixels each including a charge holding portion to which charges are transferred from four or more photoelectric conversion units. Sensitivity of each photoelectric conversion unit of a first group to incident light is greater than sensitivity of each photoelectric conversion unit of a second group to the incident light. After charge accumulation is started in all the photoelectric conversion units of the second group, charge accumulation is started in the photoelectric conversion units of the first group. After signals corresponding to charges accumulated in all the photoelectric conversion units of the second group are read out, signals corresponding to charges accumulated in the photoelectric conversion units of the first group are read out.Type: GrantFiled: September 7, 2022Date of Patent: October 3, 2023Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Satoshi Suzuki, Shintaro Takenaka, Taichi Kasugai
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Publication number: 20230119511Abstract: An apparatus includes a pixel unit including a plurality of pixels arranged in a plurality of rows and each including a quench element of which a control node a signal defining a start and an end of an exposure period is input to and a photodiode connected to the quench element, a scan unit that scans the pixel unit by performing processing of reading signals of the pixels, processing of starting the exposure period, and processing of ending the exposure period on the plurality of rows sequentially in units of one row or two or more rows, and a control unit that outputs a synchronization signal to the scan unit to control a timing of the reading processing, wherein at least one of a timing of the start processing and a timing of the end processing is controlled by another control signal different from the synchronization signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 17, 2022Publication date: April 20, 2023Inventors: Taichi Kasugai, Yasuharu Ota, Shintaro Takenaka
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Publication number: 20230077775Abstract: A photoelectric conversion device includes a plurality of unit pixels each including a charge holding portion to which charges are transferred from four or more photoelectric conversion units. Sensitivity of each photoelectric conversion unit of a first group to incident light is greater than sensitivity of each photoelectric conversion unit of a second group to the incident light. After charge accumulation is started in all the photoelectric conversion units of the second group, charge accumulation is started in the photoelectric conversion units of the first group. After signals corresponding to charges accumulated in all the photoelectric conversion units of the second group are read out, signals corresponding to charges accumulated in the photoelectric conversion units of the first group are read out.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 7, 2022Publication date: March 16, 2023Inventors: Satoshi Suzuki, Shintaro Takenaka, Taichi Kasugai
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Patent number: 11595606Abstract: A photoelectric conversion apparatus includes a pixel array having pixels arranged to form rows and columns and column signal lines configured to output noise signals and optical signals of the pixels, a driver configured to drive the pixels so that the optical signal is output following the noise signal from each pixel, A/D converters configured to perform A/D conversion to convert the noise signals output to the column signal lines into noise data and to subsequently perform A/D conversion to covert the optical signals output to the column signal lines into optical data, a data hold circuit, and a transmitter configured to transmit the noise data converted by the A/D converters to the data hold circuit and to subsequently transmit the optical data converted by the A/D converters to the data hold circuit.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2020Date of Patent: February 28, 2023Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Noriyuki Shikina, Yoshiko Shigiya, Shintaro Takenaka
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Publication number: 20220353450Abstract: The photoelectric conversion device includes pixels each including photoelectric converters and a floating diffusion to which charges of the photoelectric converters are transferred, a vertical scanning unit for performing readout processing and reset processing on the pixels while switching the photoelectric converter to be processed and the floating diffusion to be processed, and a control unit that controls the vertical scanning unit. The control unit includes a readout row address generation unit and a reset row address generation unit that generate a row address to be processed. A first cycle in which the photoelectric converter is switched is shorter than a second cycle in which the floating diffusion is switched, an update cycle of the row address is equal to the second cycle, and a setting unit of an update timing of the row address is equal to the length of one cycle of the first cycle.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 26, 2022Publication date: November 3, 2022Inventors: Taichi Kasugai, Shintaro Takenaka
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Patent number: 11490041Abstract: The photoelectric conversion device includes a pixel unit configured to output first and second signals from columns of first and second regions, and a processing circuit including a first processing circuit including first and third memories, a second processing circuit including second and fourth memories, and a data exchange circuit. The first memory stores the first and second signals output from the first region, and the second memory stores the first and second signals output from the second region. The data exchange circuit stores the first signals read out from the first and second memories in the third memory, and stores the second signals read out from the first and second memories in the fourth memory. The processing circuit outputs the first signals stored in the third memory from the first processing circuit, and outputs the second signals stored in the fourth memory from the second processing circuit.Type: GrantFiled: September 3, 2021Date of Patent: November 1, 2022Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Yoshiko Shigiya, Noriyuki Shikina, Shintaro Takenaka
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Patent number: 11303829Abstract: Provided is an imaging device including a scanning unit configured to control a plurality of pixels so as to perform a shutter scan and a readout scan, and the scanning unit is further configured to switch a drive mode between a first drive mode and a second drive mode having periods of different lengths of the readout scan in control of the plurality of pixels and start the shutter scan performed in the second drive mode before the readout scan performed in the first drive mode ends when switching a drive mode from the first drive mode to the second drive mode.Type: GrantFiled: August 4, 2020Date of Patent: April 12, 2022Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Yoshiko Shigiya, Noriyuki Shikina, Shintaro Takenaka
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Publication number: 20220086383Abstract: The photoelectric conversion device includes a pixel unit configured to output first and second signals from columns of first and second regions, and a processing circuit including a first processing circuit including first and third memories, a second processing circuit including second and fourth memories, and a data exchange circuit. The first memory stores the first and second signals output from the first region, and the second memory stores the first and second signals output from the second region. The data exchange circuit stores the first signals read out from the first and second memories in the third memory, and stores the second signals read out from the first and second memories in the fourth memory. The processing circuit outputs the first signals stored in the third memory from the first processing circuit, and outputs the second signals stored in the fourth memory from the second processing circuit.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 3, 2021Publication date: March 17, 2022Inventors: Yoshiko Shigiya, Noriyuki Shikina, Shintaro Takenaka
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Patent number: 11218661Abstract: A signal processing apparatus includes an analog-to-digital conversion unit, a determination unit including a comparator, and a data calculation unit that performs calculation. The data calculation unit generates a first calculation result by performing calculation including processing for averaging a first digital signal and a second digital signal or processing for adding the first and second digital signals. The data calculation unit generates a second calculation result based on a difference between the first digital signal and first noise digital data. The data calculation unit switches whether to output the first calculation result or output the second calculation result, based on a comparison result of the comparator.Type: GrantFiled: December 16, 2020Date of Patent: January 4, 2022Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Atsushi Shimada, Noriyuki Shikina, Shintaro Takenaka
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Patent number: 11202023Abstract: An imaging device includes pixels, output lines on each column, an AD conversion unit including column AD conversion circuits connected to the output lines, a first storage unit including holding units connected to the column AD conversion circuits, a transfer unit that transfers signals in the first storage unit, a second storage unit that holds signals from the transfer unit, and an output unit that outputs signals in the second storage unit. The pixels output a first analog signal based on signal from the first photoelectric converter and a second analog signal based on signal from the first and second photoelectric converter. The AD conversion unit converts the first and second analog signals into first and second digital signals. The number of signals corresponding to the first digital signals of signals output by the output unit is less than the number of signals output in parallel from the output lines.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2021Date of Patent: December 14, 2021Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Yoshiko Shigiya, Noriyuki Shikina, Shintaro Takenaka
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Publication number: 20210306577Abstract: An imaging device includes pixels, output lines on each column, an AD conversion unit including column AD conversion circuits connected to the output lines, a first storage unit including holding units connected to the column AD conversion circuits, a transfer unit that transfers signals in the first storage unit, a second storage unit that holds signals from the transfer unit, and an output unit that outputs signals in the second storage unit. The pixels output a first analog signal based on signal from the first photoelectric converter and a second analog signal based on signal from the first and second photoelectric converter. The AD conversion unit converts the first and second analog signals into first and second digital signals. The number of signals corresponding to the first digital signals of signals output by the output unit is less than the number of signals output in parallel from the output lines.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 11, 2021Publication date: September 30, 2021Inventors: Yoshiko Shigiya, Noriyuki Shikina, Shintaro Takenaka
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Publication number: 20210195131Abstract: A signal processing apparatus includes an analog-to-digital conversion unit, a determination unit including a comparator, and a data calculation unit that performs calculation. The data calculation unit generates a first calculation result by performing calculation including processing for averaging a first digital signal and a second digital signal or processing for adding the first and second digital signals. The data calculation unit generates a second calculation result based on a difference between the first digital signal and first noise digital data. The data calculation unit switches whether to output the first calculation result or output the second calculation result, based on a comparison result of the comparator.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 16, 2020Publication date: June 24, 2021Inventors: Atsushi Shimada, Noriyuki Shikina, Shintaro Takenaka
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Publication number: 20210176421Abstract: A photoelectric conversion apparatus includes a pixel array having pixels arranged to form rows and columns and column signal lines configured to output noise signals and optical signals of the pixels, a driver configured to drive the pixels so that the optical signal is output following the noise signal from each pixel, A/D converters configured to perform A/D conversion to convert the noise signals output to the column signal lines into noise data and to subsequently perform A/D conversion to covert the optical signals output to the column signal lines into optical data, a data hold circuit, and a transmitter configured to transmit the noise data converted by the A/D converters to the data hold circuit and to subsequently transmit the optical data converted by the A/D converters to the data hold circuit.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 8, 2020Publication date: June 10, 2021Inventors: Noriyuki Shikina, Yoshiko Shigiya, Shintaro Takenaka
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Patent number: 11025849Abstract: In a photoelectric conversion apparatus, an amplification unit outputs a first amplified signal generated by amplifying a first signal using a first gain, a second amplified signal generated by amplifying the first signal using a second gain, a third amplified signal generated by amplifying a second signal using a third gain, and a fourth amplified signal generated by amplifying the second signal using a fourth gain to an analog to digital (AD) conversion unit in this order. The AD conversion unit generates first to fourth digital signals corresponding to the first to fourth amplified signals, respectively, and outputs the second digital signal and the third digital signal to an output unit prior to the first digital signal and the fourth digital signal.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2020Date of Patent: June 1, 2021Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Kentaro Tsukida, Takenori Kobuse, Shintaro Takenaka, Daisuke Kobayashi
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Publication number: 20210067717Abstract: Provided is an imaging device including a scanning unit configured to control a plurality of pixels so as to perform a shutter scan and a readout scan, and the scanning unit is further configured to switch a drive mode between a first drive mode and a second drive mode having periods of different lengths of the readout scan in control of the plurality of pixels and start the shutter scan performed in the second drive mode before the readout scan performed in the first drive mode ends when switching a drive mode from the first drive mode to the second drive mode.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 4, 2020Publication date: March 4, 2021Inventors: Yoshiko Shigiya, Noriyuki Shikina, Shintaro Takenaka
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Publication number: 20200314378Abstract: In a photoelectric conversion apparatus, an amplification unit outputs a first amplified signal generated by amplifying a first signal using a first gain, a second amplified signal generated by amplifying the first signal using a second gain, a third amplified signal generated by amplifying a second signal using a third gain, and a fourth amplified signal generated by amplifying the second signal using a fourth gain to an analog to digital (AD) conversion unit in this order. The AD conversion unit generates first to fourth digital signals corresponding to the first to fourth amplified signals, respectively, and outputs the second digital signal and the third digital signal to an output unit prior to the first digital signal and the fourth digital signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 16, 2020Publication date: October 1, 2020Inventors: Kentaro Tsukida, Takenori Kobuse, Shintaro Takenaka, Daisuke Kobayashi
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Patent number: 10750103Abstract: Provided is an imaging device including row drive unit having a first storage unit that stores and outputs a first signal for a readout from the pixels on an associated row, a second storage unit that stores and outputs a second signal for an operation for causing the photoelectric conversion element on an associated row to be reset to a charge accumulation state, and a third storage unit that stores and outputs a third signal for maintaining the photoelectric conversion element on an associated row in a charge accumulation state or a reset state based on the first signal output from the first storage unit and the second signal output from the second storage unit.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2019Date of Patent: August 18, 2020Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Shintaro Takenaka, Yasuji Ikeda
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Patent number: 10645316Abstract: An embodiment includes: a pixel unit including first and second imaging regions arranged with effective pixels and first and second reference regions arranged with optical black pixels; and a scanning unit that performs, on a row-by-row basis, reset operations of photoelectric converters and readout operations of pixel signals based on charges generated in the photoelectric converters which includes charge transfer to transfer charges generated in the photoelectric converters to holding portions. The scanning unit drives the pixels in the first imaging region and the first reference region in a first condition where a period from the end of reset operation to the end of charge transfer is a first length and drives the pixels in the second imaging region and the second reference region in a second condition where a period from the end of reset operation to the end of charge transfer is a second length.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2018Date of Patent: May 5, 2020Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Yoshiko Shigiya, Shintaro Takenaka
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Patent number: 10547794Abstract: A solid-state imaging apparatus includes: a pixel unit (1) configured to perform imaging of a plurality of frames by a photoelectric conversion; an exposure amount calculating unit (9) configured to calculate exposure amounts of the plurality of frames imaged in a flicker cycle of a light source; and a control unit (12) configured to control the exposure amount of each of the frames imaged by the pixel unit based on the exposure amounts of the plurality of frames calculated by the exposure amount calculating unit.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2017Date of Patent: January 28, 2020Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Shintaro Takenaka, Kazuhiro Sonoda