Patents by Inventor Shiro Tsunai

Shiro Tsunai 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: 20190222741
    Abstract: An image-capturing device includes: a plurality of pixels, having a plurality of first electrodes provided upon one surface of a light reception unit that receives incident light, and a plurality of second electrodes provided upon another surface of the light reception unit; and an output unit that outputs a signal generated by the light reception unit upon receipt of the incident light, the light reception unit being sandwiched between the first electrodes, to which a voltage is applied, and the second electrodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2017
    Publication date: July 18, 2019
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shiro TSUNAI
  • Publication number: 20190182446
    Abstract: An imaging element includes: an imaging unit in which a plurality of pixel groups including a plurality of pixels that output pixel signals according to incident light are formed, and on which incident light corresponding to mutually different pieces of image information is incident; a control unit that controls, for each of the pixel groups, a period of accumulating in the plurality of pixels included in the pixel group; and a readout unit that is provided to each of the pixel groups, and reads out the pixel signals from the plurality of pixels included in the pixel group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2019
    Publication date: June 13, 2019
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shiro TSUNAI, Hironobu MURATA
  • Publication number: 20190137741
    Abstract: An image capturing apparatus includes an image capturing device that has a plurality of photoelectric converting elements, and a light restricting portion that has a plurality of light inlets and a plurality of light outlets provided to each of the plurality of photoelectric converting elements, that emits, to each of the plurality of photoelectric converting elements, light that can reach each of the plurality of light inlets among light incident on each of the plurality of light outlets and that restricts light that cannot reach each of the plurality of light outlets among the light incident on the light inlets from being emitted to each of the plurality of photoelectric converting elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2018
    Publication date: May 9, 2019
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shiro TSUNAI
  • Publication number: 20190104266
    Abstract: An image sensor is provided, the image sensor including: an imaging unit that has a first imaging region and a second imaging region, and outputs: a first pixel signal generated according to light incident on the first imaging region; and a second pixel signal generated according to light incident on the second imaging region; a first ramp generating unit that generates a first ramp signal; a second ramp generating unit that generates a second ramp signal; a first signal converting unit that converts the first pixel signal into a first digital image signal based on a result of comparison between the first pixel signal and the first ramp signal; and a second signal converting unit that converts the second pixel signal into a second digital image signal based on a result of comparison between the second pixel signal and the second ramp signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2018
    Publication date: April 4, 2019
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hironobu MURATA, Shiro TSUNAI, Takashi KURIYAMA
  • Patent number: 10244194
    Abstract: An imaging element includes: an imaging unit in which a plurality of pixel groups including a plurality of pixels that output pixel signals according to incident light are formed, and on which incident light corresponding to mutually different pieces of image information is incident; a control unit that controls, for each of the pixel groups, a period of accumulating in the plurality of pixels included in the pixel group; and a readout unit that is provided to each of the pixel groups, and reads out the pixel signals from the plurality of pixels included in the pixel group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shiro Tsunai, Hironobu Murata
  • Publication number: 20190074307
    Abstract: An image sensor includes: a photoelectric conversion layer where light having entered therein undergoes photoelectric conversion; a first electrode disposed at one surface located on one side of the photoelectric conversion layer; and a second electrode disposed at the one surface so as to surround the first electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2017
    Publication date: March 7, 2019
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuki KITA, Shiro TSUNAI
  • Patent number: 10205901
    Abstract: An image sensor is provided, the image sensor including: an imaging unit that has a first imaging region and a second imaging region, and outputs: a first pixel signal generated according to light incident on the first imaging region; and a second pixel signal generated according to light incident on the second imaging region; a first ramp generating unit that generates a first ramp signal; a second ramp generating unit that generates a second ramp signal; a first signal converting unit that converts the first pixel signal into a first digital image signal based on a result of comparison between the first pixel signal and the first ramp signal; and a second signal converting unit that converts the second pixel signal into a second digital image signal based on a result of comparison between the second pixel signal and the second ramp signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hironobu Murata, Shiro Tsunai, Takashi Kuriyama
  • Patent number: 10182190
    Abstract: Provided is a light detecting apparatus including: a first photoelectric converting element which outputs a first electrical signal in accordance with an incident light including a modulated light component and a background light component; a filter which outputs a second electrical signal resulting from the modulated light component being reduced in the incident light; and a signal processor which subtracts the second electrical signal from the first electrical signal to reduce a component corresponding to the background light component in the first electrical signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sota Nakanishi, Wataru Funamizu, Kazuya Okamoto, Shiro Tsunai, Isao Sugaya
  • Publication number: 20180295309
    Abstract: An imaging element comprising: an imaging unit that has: a plurality of groups each including at least one pixel; and a plurality of signal readout units that are each provided to each of the groups and read out a signal from the pixel; and a control unit that controls the signal readout unit in at least one group among the plurality of groups is provided. Each of the plurality of groups may include a plurality of the pixels. The control unit may select at least one group among the plurality of groups and control the signal readout unit by using a control parameter that is different from a control parameter that is used for another group among the plurality of groups.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2018
    Publication date: October 11, 2018
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takashi KURIYAMA, Hironobu MURATA, Shiro TSUNAI, Tetsuya KONISHI, Masahiro SUZUKI
  • Publication number: 20180227512
    Abstract: When the amplification ratio is low and strong incident light causes a large charge, the signal retrieved from regions where the incident light is weak is also weak, but when the amplification ratio is high in regions where the incident light is weak, the signal retrieved from regions where the incident light is strong becomes saturated. Therefore, the dynamic range of the imaging unit is narrow. Provided is an imaging unit comprising an imaging section that includes a first group having one or more pixels and a second group having one or more pixels different from those of the first group; and a control section that, while a single charge accumulation is performed in the first group, causes pixel signals to be output by performing charge accumulation in the second group a number of times differing from a number of times charge accumulation is performed in the first group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2018
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shiro TSUNAI
  • Patent number: 9967480
    Abstract: When the amplification ratio is low and strong incident light causes a large charge, the signal retrieved from regions where the incident light is weak is also weak, but when the amplification ratio is high in regions where the incident light is weak, the signal retrieved from regions where the incident light is strong becomes saturated. Therefore, the dynamic range of the imaging unit is narrow. Provided is an imaging unit comprising an imaging section that includes a first group having one or more pixels and a second group having one or more pixels different from those of the first group; and a control section that, while a single charge accumulation is performed in the first group, causes pixel signals to be output by performing charge accumulation in the second group a number of times differing from a number of times charge accumulation is performed in the first group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shiro Tsunai
  • Publication number: 20180048842
    Abstract: An imaging element includes: an imaging unit in which a plurality of pixel groups including a plurality of pixels that output pixel signals according to incident light are formed, and on which incident light corresponding to mutually different pieces of image information is incident; a control unit that controls, for each of the pixel groups, a period of accumulating in the plurality of pixels included in the pixel group; and a readout unit that is provided to each of the pixel groups, and reads out the pixel signals from the plurality of pixels included in the pixel group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2017
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shiro TSUNAI, Hironobu MURATA
  • Publication number: 20170302859
    Abstract: Provided is a light detecting apparatus including: a first photoelectric converting element which outputs a first electrical signal in accordance with an incident light including a modulated light component and a background light component; a filter which outputs a second electrical signal resulting from the modulated light component being reduced in the incident light; and a signal processor which subtracts the second electrical signal from the first electrical signal to reduce a component corresponding to the background light component in the first electrical signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2017
    Publication date: October 19, 2017
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sota NAKANISHI, Wataru FUNAMIZU, Kazuya OKAMOTO, Shiro TSUNAI, Isao SUGAYA
  • Publication number: 20170118422
    Abstract: When the amplification ratio is low and strong incident light causes a large charge, the signal retrieved from regions where the incident light is weak is also weak, but when the amplification ratio is high in regions where the incident light is weak, the signal retrieved from regions where the incident light is strong becomes saturated. Therefore, the dynamic range of the imaging unit is narrow. Provided is an imaging unit comprising an imaging section that includes a first group having one or more pixels and a second group having one or more pixels different from those of the first group; and a control section that, while a single charge accumulation is performed in the first group, causes pixel signals to be output by performing charge accumulation in the second group a number of times differing from a number of times charge accumulation is performed in the first group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2017
    Publication date: April 27, 2017
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shiro TSUNAI
  • Patent number: 9571767
    Abstract: When the amplification ratio is low and strong incident light causes a large charge, the signal retrieved from regions where the incident light is weak is also weak, but when the amplification ratio is high in regions where the incident light is weak, the signal retrieved from regions where the incident light is strong becomes saturated. Therefore, the dynamic range of the imaging unit is narrow. Provided is an imaging unit comprising an imaging section that includes a first group having one or more pixels and a second group having one or more pixels different from those of the first group; and a control section that, while a single charge accumulation is performed in the first group, causes pixel signals to be output by performing charge accumulation in the second group a number of times differing from a number of times charge accumulation is performed in the first group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shiro Tsunai
  • Publication number: 20160381313
    Abstract: An image sensor is provided, the image sensor including: an imaging unit that has a first imaging region and a second imaging region, and outputs: a first pixel signal generated according to light incident on the first imaging region; and a second pixel signal generated according to light incident on the second imaging region; a first ramp generating unit that generates a first ramp signal; a second ramp generating unit that generates a second ramp signal; a first signal converting unit that converts the first pixel signal into a first digital image signal based on a result of comparison between the first pixel signal and the first ramp signal; and a second signal converting unit that converts the second pixel signal into a second digital image signal based on a result of comparison between the second pixel signal and the second ramp signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2016
    Publication date: December 29, 2016
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hironobu MURATA, Shiro TSUNAI, Takashi KURIYAMA
  • Publication number: 20150077590
    Abstract: An imaging element comprising: an imaging unit that has: a plurality of groups each including at least one pixel; and a plurality of signal readout units that are each provided to each of the groups and read out a signal from the pixel; and a control unit that controls the signal readout unit in at least one group among the plurality of groups is provided. Each of the plurality of groups may include a plurality of the pixels. The control unit may select at least one group among the plurality of groups and control the signal readout unit by using a control parameter that is different from a control parameter that is used for another group among the plurality of groups.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2014
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Inventors: Takashi KURIYAMA, Hironobu MURATA, Shiro TSUNAI, Tetsuya KONISHI, Masahiro SUZUKI
  • Publication number: 20150015760
    Abstract: When the amplification ratio is low and strong incident light causes a large charge, the signal retrieved from regions where the incident light is weak is also weak, but when the amplification ratio is high in regions where the incident light is weak, the signal retrieved from regions where the incident light is strong becomes saturated. Therefore, the dynamic range of the imaging unit is narrow. Provided is an imaging unit comprising an imaging section that includes a first group having one or more pixels and a second group having one or more pixels different from those of the first group; and a control section that, while a single charge accumulation is performed in the first group, causes pixel signals to be output by performing charge accumulation in the second group a number of times differing from a number of times charge accumulation is performed in the first group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Inventor: Shiro TSUNAI
  • Publication number: 20150009376
    Abstract: An imaging element includes: an imaging unit in which a plurality of pixel groups including a plurality of pixels that output pixel signals according to incident light are formed, and on which incident light corresponding to mutually different pieces of image information is incident; a control unit that controls, for each of the pixel groups, a period of accumulating in the plurality of pixels included in the pixel group; and a readout unit that is provided to each of the pixel groups, and reads out the pixel signals from the plurality of pixels included in the pixel group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2014
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Inventors: Shiro TSUNAI, Hironobu MURATA
  • Patent number: 8102443
    Abstract: The signal charge corresponding to the amount of light is obtained from a photodiode section and is then stored in a charge storage section under the control of a first control gate. An additional charge storage section may be provided between the photodiode section and the charge storage section. The signal charge thus stored in the charge storage section is supplied to a charge transfer section under the control of a second control gate. The charge storage section is set to operate in a PIN-ing state during its operation, which may be carried out by, for example, covering an N-type region with a storage control electrode to which a predetermined DC bias voltage is applied, or by forming a P-type region in surface portion of the N-type region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Shiro Tsunai