Patents by Inventor Tomoaki Atsumi

Tomoaki Atsumi 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: 10250247
    Abstract: Provided is a semiconductor device that can directly compare two negative potentials. The semiconductor device includes a first to a third transistor and a load and is configured to compare a first negative potential and a second negative potential. The first negative potential and the second negative potential are input to a gate of the first transistor and a gate of the second transistor, respectively. Each drain of the first transistor and the second transistor is electrically connected to the load. The third transistor serves as a current source. The first transistor and the second transistor each include a backgate. A positive potential is input to the backgates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Kato, Yutaka Shionoiri, Tomoaki Atsumi, Takanori Matsuzaki
  • Publication number: 20190074049
    Abstract: The semiconductor device includes a first memory cell, and a second memory cell thereover. The first memory cell includes first and second transistors, and a first capacitor. The second memory cell includes third and fourth transistors, and a second capacitor. A gate of the first transistor is electrically connected to one of a source and a drain of the second transistor and the first capacitor. A gate of the third transistor is electrically connected to one of a source and a drain of the fourth transistor and the second capacitor. One of a source and a drain of the first transistor is electrically connected to one of a source and a drain of the third transistor. The second and fourth transistors include an oxide semiconductor. A channel length direction of the first and third transistors is substantially perpendicular to a channel length direction of the second and fourth transistors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2018
    Publication date: March 7, 2019
    Applicant: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoaki ATSUMI, Junpei SUGAO
  • Patent number: 10217752
    Abstract: [Problem] To provide a semiconductor device suitable for miniaturization. To provide a highly reliable semiconductor device. To provide a semiconductor device with improved operating speed. [Solving Means] A semiconductor device including a memory cell including first to cth (c is a natural number of 2 or more) sub memory cells, wherein: the jth sub memory cell includes a first transistor, a second transistor, and a capacitor; a first semiconductor layer included in the first transistor and a second semiconductor layer included in the second transistor include an oxide semiconductor; one of terminals of the capacitor is electrically connected to a gate electrode included in the second transistor; the gate electrode included in the second transistor is electrically connected to one of a source electrode and a drain electrode which are included in the first transistor; and when j?2, the jth sub memory cell is arranged over the j?1th sub memory cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoaki Atsumi, Shuhei Nagatsuka, Tamae Moriwaka, Yuta Endo
  • Patent number: 10193563
    Abstract: An object is to reduce power consumption of an analog-digital converter circuit. An analog potential obtained in a sensor or the like is held in a sample-and-hold circuit including a transistor with an extremely low off-state current. In the sample-and-hold circuit, the analog potential is held in a node which is able to hold a charge by turning off the transistor. Then, power supply to a buffer circuit or the like included in the sample-and-hold circuit is stopped to reduce power consumption. In a structure where a potential is held in each node, power consumption can be further reduced when a transistor with an extremely low off-state current is connected to a node holding a potential of a comparator, a successive approximation register, a digital-analog converter circuit, or the like, and power supply to these circuits is stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yutaka Shionoiri, Kiyoshi Kato, Tomoaki Atsumi
  • Patent number: 10170486
    Abstract: Probability of malfunction of a semiconductor storage device is reduced. A shielding layer is provided between a memory cell array (e.g., a memory cell array including a transistor formed using an oxide semiconductor material) and a peripheral circuit (e.g., a peripheral circuit including a transistor formed using a semiconductor substrate), which are stacked. With this structure, the memory cell array and the peripheral circuit can be shielded from radiation noise generated between the memory cell array and the peripheral circuit. Thus, probability of malfunction of the semiconductor storage device can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoaki Atsumi, Takashi Okuda
  • Publication number: 20180326800
    Abstract: To provide a circuit with low power consumption, a semiconductor device with low power consumption, a highly reliable semiconductor device, a tire whose performance is controlled, a moving object whose performance is controlled, or a moving object with a high degree of safety. A tire provided with a semiconductor device is provided. The semiconductor device includes a circuit portion, an antenna, and a sensor element. The circuit portion includes a transistor. The transistor includes an oxide semiconductor. The sensor element is configured to measure the air pressure of the tire.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2018
    Publication date: November 15, 2018
    Inventors: Tomoaki ATSUMI, Masayuki SAKAKURA, Kazuaki OHSHIMA
  • Patent number: 10109371
    Abstract: The semiconductor device includes a bit line, a transistor, a retention node, and a capacitor. The transistor has a function of charging or discharging the retention node. The capacitor has a function of retaining a potential of the retention node. A voltage greater than the sum of a writing voltage and a threshold voltage is applied to a gate of the transistor. When the transistor is turned on, a first potential is supplied to the bit line with a reference potential in a floating state. A voltage less than the sum of the writing voltage and the threshold voltage is applied to the gate of the transistor. When the transistor is turned on, a second potential is supplied to the bit line with a reference potential in a floating state. With use of the first and second potentials, the threshold voltage of the transistor is calculated without being influenced by parasitic capacitance and variations in the storage capacitance of the capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoaki Atsumi, Shuhei Nagatsuka, Kazuaki Ohshima
  • Patent number: 10090022
    Abstract: To provide a semiconductor device with a high output voltage. A gate of a first transistor is electrically connected to a first terminal through a first capacitor. A gate of a second transistor is electrically connected to a second terminal through a second capacitor. One of a source and a drain of a third transistor is electrically connected to the gate of the first transistor through a third capacitor. One of a source and a drain of a fourth transistor is electrically connected to the gate of the second transistor through a fourth capacitor. The other of the source and the drain of the third transistor and the other of the source and the drain of the fourth transistor are electrically connected to a high potential power source. A third terminal is electrically connected to one of a source and a drain of the second transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yutaka Shionoiri, Tomoaki Atsumi, Kiyoshi Kato, Takanori Matsuzaki
  • Patent number: 10056131
    Abstract: The semiconductor device includes a first memory cell, and a second memory cell thereover. The first memory cell includes first and second transistors, and a first capacitor. The second memory cell includes third and fourth transistors, and a second capacitor. A gate of the first transistor is electrically connected to one of a source and a drain of the second transistor and the first capacitor. A gate of the third transistor is electrically connected to one of a source and a drain of the fourth transistor and the second capacitor. One of a source and a drain of the first transistor is electrically connected to one of a source and a drain of the third transistor. The second and fourth transistors include an oxide semiconductor. A channel length direction of the first and third transistors is substantially perpendicular to a channel length direction of the second and fourth transistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoaki Atsumi, Junpei Sugao
  • Patent number: 10035386
    Abstract: To provide a circuit with low power consumption, a semiconductor device with low power consumption, a highly reliable semiconductor device, a tire whose performance is controlled, a moving object whose performance is controlled, or a moving object with a high degree of safety. A tire provided with a semiconductor device is provided. The semiconductor device includes a circuit portion, an antenna, and a sensor element. The circuit portion includes a transistor. The transistor includes an oxide semiconductor. The sensor element is configured to measure the air pressure of the tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoaki Atsumi, Masayuki Sakakura, Kazuaki Ohshima
  • Patent number: 9990965
    Abstract: Noise attributed to signals of a word line, in first and second bit lines which are overlapped with the same word line in memory cells stacked in a three-dimensional manner is reduced in a storage device with a folded bit-line architecture. The storage device includes a driver circuit including a sense amplifier, and first and second memory cell arrays which are stacked each other. The first memory cell array includes a first memory cell electrically connected to the first bit line and a first word line, and the second memory cell array includes a second memory cell electrically connected to the second bit line and a second word line. The first and second bit lines are electrically connected to the sense amplifier in the folded bit-line architecture. The first word line, first bit line, second bit line, and second word line are disposed in this manner over the driver circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tomoaki Atsumi
  • Patent number: 9971680
    Abstract: A semiconductor device including a register controller and a processor which includes a register is provided. The register includes a first circuit and a second circuit which includes a plurality of memory portions. The first circuit and the plurality of memory portions can store data by an arithmetic process of the processor. Which of the plurality of memory portions the data is stored in depends on a routine by which the data is processed. The register controller switches the routine in response to an interrupt signal. The register controller can make any one of the plurality of memory portions which corresponds to the routine store the data in the first circuit every time the routine is switched. The register controller can make data stored in any one of the plurality of memory portions which corresponds to the routine be stored in the first circuit every time the routine is switched.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Wataru Uesugi, Tomoaki Atsumi, Naoaki Tsutsui, Hikaru Tamura, Takahiko Ishizu, Takuro Ohmaru
  • Publication number: 20180123455
    Abstract: Provided is a structure which is capable of central control of an electric device and a sensor device and a structure which can reduce power consumption of an electric device and a sensor device. A central control system includes at least a central control device, an output unit, and an electric device or a sensor device. The central control device performs arithmetic processing on information transmitted from the electric device or the sensor device and makes the output unit output information obtained by the arithmetic processing. It is possible to know the state of the electric device or the sensor device even apart from the electric device or the sensor device. The electric device or the sensor device includes a transistor which includes an activation layer using a semiconductor with the band gap wider than that of single crystal silicon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2017
    Publication date: May 3, 2018
    Inventors: Shunpei YAMAZAKI, Tatsuji NISHIJIMA, Hidetomo KOBAYASHI, Tomoaki ATSUMI, Kiyoshi KATO
  • Patent number: 9953695
    Abstract: A semiconductor device capable of stably holding data for a long time is provided. A transistor including a back gate is used as a writing transistor of a memory element. In the case where the transistor is an n-channel transistor, a negative potential is supplied to a back gate in holding memory. The supply of the negative potential is stopped while the negative potential is held in the back gate. In the case where an increase in the potential of the back gate is detected, the negative potential is supplied to the back gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takayuki Ikeda, Yutaka Shionoiri, Kiyoshi Kato, Tomoaki Atsumi
  • Publication number: 20180109267
    Abstract: An object is to reduce power consumption of an analog-digital converter circuit. An analog potential obtained in a sensor or the like is held in a sample-and-hold circuit including a transistor with an extremely low off-state current. In the sample-and-hold circuit, the analog potential is held in a node which is able to hold a charge by turning off the transistor. Then, power supply to a buffer circuit or the like included in the sample-and-hold circuit is stopped to reduce power consumption. In a structure where a potential is hold in each node, power consumption can be further reduced when a transistor with an extremely low off-state current is connected to a node holding a potential of a comparator, a successive approximation register, a digital-analog converter circuit, or the like, and power supply to these circuits is stopped.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2017
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Inventors: Yutaka SHIONOIRI, Kiyoshi KATO, Tomoaki ATSUMI
  • Patent number: 9898194
    Abstract: An object is to solve all of the following problems caused when a volatile register and a non-volatile register are used as registers in a processor: degradation of the integrity of data stored in the non-volatile register; loss of data security due to the processor and a non-volatile memory device that are provided apart from each other; and slow data processing speed due to wiring delay or the like caused by these devices provided apart from each other. When data maintained in the volatile register is stored in the non-volatile register before supply of power supply voltage is stopped, the data is encrypted by an encryption circuit and stored in a non-volatile memory device that is provided separately from the processor. Then, the data stored in the non-volatile register is compared with the compressed and encrypted data stored in the non-volatile memory device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yutaka Shionoiri, Tomoaki Atsumi, Masaaki Hiroki
  • Patent number: 9887212
    Abstract: A semiconductor device that can store multilevel data is provided. A circuit includes a transistor. The circuit includes another circuit including a terminal, for example. The terminal is connected to a gate of the transistor. One of a source and a drain of the transistor is connected to a wiring, and the other of the source and the drain is connected to another wiring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hajime Kimura, Tomoaki Atsumi, Shunpei Yamazaki
  • Publication number: 20180005668
    Abstract: To provide a semiconductor device with a high output voltage. A gate of a first transistor is electrically connected to a first terminal through a first capacitor. A gate of a second transistor is electrically connected to a second terminal through a second capacitor. One of a source and a drain of a third transistor is electrically connected to the gate of the first transistor through a third capacitor. One of a source and a drain of a fourth transistor is electrically connected to the gate of the second transistor through a fourth capacitor. The other of the source and the drain of the third transistor and the other of the source and the drain of the fourth transistor are electrically connected to a high potential power source. A third terminal is electrically connected to one of a source and a drain of the second transistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2017
    Publication date: January 4, 2018
    Inventors: Yutaka SHIONOIRI, Tomoaki ATSUMI, Kiyoshi KATO, Takanori MATSUZAKI
  • Patent number: 9859905
    Abstract: An object is to reduce power consumption of an analog-digital converter circuit. An analog potential obtained in a sensor or the like is held in a sample-and-hold circuit including a transistor with an extremely low off-state current. In the sample-and-hold circuit, the analog potential is held in a node which is able to hold a charge by turning off the transistor. Then, power supply to a buffer circuit or the like included in the sample-and-hold circuit is stopped to reduce power consumption. In a structure where a potential is held in each node, power consumption can be further reduced when a transistor with an extremely low off-state current is connected to a node holding a potential of a comparator, a successive approximation register, a digital-analog converter circuit, or the like, and power supply to these circuits is stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., LTD.
    Inventors: Yutaka Shionoiri, Kiyoshi Kato, Tomoaki Atsumi
  • Patent number: 9837890
    Abstract: Efficiency of a charge pump circuit is increased. The charge pump circuit includes serially connected fundamental circuits each including a diode-connected transistor and a capacitor. At least one transistor is provided with a back gate, and the back gate is connected to any node in the charge pump circuit. For example, the charge pump circuit is of a step-up type; in which case, if the transistor is an n-channel transistor, a back gate of the transistor in the last stage is connected to an output node of the charge pump circuit. Back gates of the transistors in the other stages are connected to an input node of the charge pump circuit. In this way, the voltage holding capability of the fundamental circuit in the last stage is increased, and the conversion efficiency can be increased because an increase in the threshold of the transistors in the other stages is prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazunori Watanabe, Tomoaki Atsumi