Patents by Inventor Yoshihiro Ando

Yoshihiro Ando 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: 20240096914
    Abstract: Provided is an imaging element including a photoelectric conversion unit formed by stacking a first electrode, a photoelectric conversion layer and a second electrode. The photoelectric conversion unit further includes a charge storage electrode which is disposed to be spaced apart from the first electrode and disposed opposite to the photoelectric conversion layer via an insulating layer. The photoelectric conversion unit is formed of N number of photoelectric conversion unit segments, and the same applies to the photoelectric conversion layer, the insulating layer and the charge storage electrode. An nth photoelectric conversion unit segment is formed of an nth charge storage electrode segment, an nth insulating layer segment and an nth photoelectric conversion layer segment. As n increases, the nth photoelectric conversion unit segment is located farther from the first electrode. A thickness of the insulating layer segment gradually changes from a first to Nth photoelectric conversion unit segment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2023
    Publication date: March 21, 2024
    Applicant: SONY GROUP CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akira FURUKAWA, Yoshihiro ANDO, Hideaki TOGASHI, Fumihiko KOGA
  • Publication number: 20240084849
    Abstract: A rolling guide device includes a track member, a moving member, and a plurality of rolling bodies. Rolling-body rolling surfaces that come into contact with an rolling-body outer circumferential surface of a rolling body are respectively formed in wall surfaces of a pair of wall portions included in the track member facing each other, a scraper including a pressing portion that presses the rolling-body rolling surfaces is turnably installed in the moving member, the scraper includes at least an attachment portion and a pressing portion, and is formed such that a frictional force of the pressing portion with respect to the rolling-body rolling surfaces is smaller than a frictional force of the attachment portion with respect to an attachment shaft formed in the moving member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2022
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Applicant: THK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Ando, Hitoshi Aoyagi, Yuki Toba
  • Patent number: 11901382
    Abstract: Provided is an imaging element including a photoelectric conversion unit formed by stacking a first electrode, a photoelectric conversion layer and a second electrode. The photoelectric conversion unit further includes a charge storage electrode which is disposed to be spaced apart from the first electrode and disposed opposite to the photoelectric conversion layer via an insulating layer. The photoelectric conversion unit is formed of N number of photoelectric conversion unit segments, and the same applies to the photoelectric conversion layer, the insulating layer and the charge storage electrode. An nth photoelectric conversion unit segment is formed of an nth charge storage electrode segment, an nth insulating layer segment and an nth photoelectric conversion layer segment. As n increases, the nth photoelectric conversion unit segment is located farther from the first electrode. A thickness of the insulating layer segment gradually changes from a first to Nth photoelectric conversion unit segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Sony Group Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Furukawa, Yoshihiro Ando, Hideaki Togashi, Fumihiko Koga
  • Publication number: 20240025678
    Abstract: A sheet conveyance device includes a cover member, a sheet stacking tray, a control portion, and an optical sensor. The cover member has a stationary rib that enters and retreats from an optical path along with opening and closing of the cover member, and a swingable rib that enters and retreats from the optical path along with up-down movement of the sheet on the sheet stacking tray. The control portion, based on an amount of received light incident on the optical sensor, detects an opened state and a closed state of the cover member and an up-down position of the sheet stacked on the sheet stacking tray.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2023
    Publication date: January 25, 2024
    Applicant: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Yoshihiro ANDO
  • Patent number: 11841663
    Abstract: A sheet storage device includes a housing, a sheet stacking tray, a shaft, a suspension mechanism, a driving device, and a drive transmission portion. The suspension mechanism includes a plurality of winding pulleys and a plurality of wires. The drive transmission portion includes a plurality of driving gears and a plurality of driven gears. The plurality of winding pulleys permit the engagement positions of the plurality of driven gears with respect to the plurality of driving gears to be changed in the circumferential direction of the shaft. The drive transmission portion changes the respective engagement positions of the plurality of driven gears and thereby changes the respective relative positions of the fixing portions of the plurality of winding pulleys in the rotation direction. This permits adjustment of the respective unwound lengths of the plurality of wires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Ando
  • Publication number: 20230362508
    Abstract: [Problem] To provide a solid-state imaging device and an electronic apparatus capable of improving detection sensitivity while enabling miniaturization of pixels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2023
    Publication date: November 9, 2023
    Inventors: SHINPEI FUKUOKA, HIDEAKI TOGASHI, YOSHIHIRO ANDO, MASASHI NAKATA
  • Publication number: 20230343807
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging element includes a pixel including a first imaging element, a second imaging element, a third imaging element, and an on-chip micro lens 90. The first imaging element includes a first electrode 11, a third electrode 12, and a second electrode 16. The pixel further includes a third electrode control line VOA connected to the third electrode 12 and a plurality of control lines 62B connected to various transistors included in the second and third imaging elements and different from the third electrode control line VOA. In the pixel, a distance between the center of the on-chip micro lens 90 included in the pixel and any one of the plurality of control lines 62B included in the pixel is shorter than a distance between the center of the on-chip micro lens 90 included in the pixel and the third electrode control line VOA included in the pixel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2023
    Publication date: October 26, 2023
    Inventors: Nobuhiro KAWAI, Hideaki TOGASHI, Fumihiko KOGA, Tetsuji YAMAGUCHI, Shintarou HIRATA, Taiichiro WATANABE, Yoshihiro ANDO
  • Patent number: 11743614
    Abstract: There is provided a solid-state imaging device that includes a substrate having a pixel array unit sectioned into a matrix, a plurality of normal pixels, a plurality of phase difference detection pixels, and a plurality of adjacent pixels adjacent to the phase difference detection pixels, each provided in each of the plurality of sections, in which each of the normal pixel, the phase difference detection pixel, and the adjacent pixel has a photoelectric conversion film, and an upper electrode and a lower electrode that sandwich the photoelectric conversion film in a thickness direction of the photoelectric conversion film, and the lower electrode, in the adjacent pixel, extends from the section in which the adjacent pixel is provided to cover the section in which the phase difference detection pixel adjacent to the adjacent pixel is provided, when viewed from above the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shinpei Fukuoka, Hideaki Togashi, Yoshihiro Ando, Masashi Nakata
  • Patent number: 11621290
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging element includes a pixel including a first imaging element, a second imaging element, a third imaging element, and an on-chip micro lens 90. The first imaging element includes a first electrode 11, a third electrode 12, and a second electrode 16. The pixel further includes a third electrode control line VOA connected to the third electrode 12 and a plurality of control lines 62B connected to various transistors included in the second and third imaging elements and different from the third electrode control line VOA. In the pixel, a distance between the center of the on-chip micro lens 90 included in the pixel and any one of the plurality of control lines 62B included in the pixel is shorter than a distance between the center of the on-chip micro lens 90 included in the pixel and the third electrode control line VOA included in the pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nobuhiro Kawai, Hideaki Togashi, Fumihiko Koga, Tetsuji Yamaguchi, Shintarou Hirata, Taiichiro Watanabe, Yoshihiro Ando
  • Publication number: 20230007198
    Abstract: There is provided a solid-state imaging device that includes a substrate having a pixel array unit sectioned into a matrix, a plurality of normal pixels, a plurality of phase difference detection pixels, and a plurality of adjacent pixels adjacent to the phase difference detection pixels, each provided in each of the plurality of sections, in which each of the normal pixel, the phase difference detection pixel, and the adjacent pixel has a photoelectric conversion film, and an upper electrode and a lower electrode that sandwich the photoelectric conversion film in a thickness direction of the photoelectric conversion film, and the lower electrode, in the adjacent pixel, extends from the section in which the adjacent pixel is provided to cover the section in which the phase difference detection pixel adjacent to the adjacent pixel is provided, when viewed from above the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2022
    Publication date: January 5, 2023
    Inventors: SHINPEI FUKUOKA, HIDEAKI TOGASHI, YOSHIHIRO ANDO, MASASHI NAKATA
  • Patent number: 11509846
    Abstract: There is provided a solid-state imaging device including a substrate having a pixel array unit sectioned into a matrix, a plurality of normal pixels, a plurality of phase difference detection pixels, and a plurality of adjacent pixels adjacent to the phase difference detection pixels, each provided in each of the plurality of sections, in which each of the normal pixel, the phase difference detection pixel, and the adjacent pixel has a photoelectric conversion film, and an upper electrode and a lower electrode that sandwich the photoelectric conversion film in a thickness direction of the photoelectric conversion film, and the lower electrode, in the adjacent pixel, extends from the section in which the adjacent pixel is provided to cover the section in which the phase difference detection pixel adjacent to the adjacent pixel is provided, when viewed from above the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shinpei Fukuoka, Hideaki Togashi, Yoshihiro Ando, Masashi Nakata
  • Publication number: 20220336521
    Abstract: An imaging device is provided. The imaging device may include a substrate having a first photoelectric conversion unit and a second photoelectric conversion unit at a light-incident side of the substrate. The second photoelectric conversion unit may include a photoelectric conversion layer, a first electrode, a second electrode above the photoelectric conversion layer, a third electrode, and an insulating material between the third electrode and the photoelectric conversion layer, wherein a portion of the insulating material is between the first electrode and the third electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2022
    Publication date: October 20, 2022
    Applicant: SONY GROUP CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hideaki TOGASHI, Fumihiko KOGA, Tetsuji YAMAGUCHI, Shintarou HIRATA, Taiichiro WATANABE, Yoshihiro ANDO, Toyotaka KATAOKA, Satoshi KEINO, Yukio KANEDA
  • Publication number: 20220311943
    Abstract: An error is reduced in phase difference detection of an imaging element including a phase difference pixel with an on-chip lens in common for a pair of pixels. The imaging element includes a pixel, an individual on-chip lens, a plurality of phase difference pixels, a common on-chip lens, and a pixel circuit. The individual on-chip lens individually collects incident light for each pixel. The phase difference pixels are arranged adjacent to each other to detect a phase difference. The common on-chip lens is arranged in common for the plurality of phase difference pixels and collects incident light in common. The pixel circuit is formed in a semiconductor substrate and generates an image signal on the basis of a transferred charge. Charge transfer units of the plurality of phase difference pixels are in a region between the common on-chip lens and the individual on-chip lens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2020
    Publication date: September 29, 2022
    Applicants: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION, SONY GROUP CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yusuke MURAKAWA, Hideaki TOGASHI, Yoshito NAGASHIMA, Akira FURUKAWA, Yoshihiro ANDO, Yasumasa AKUTAGAWA, Taku MINODA, Hiroki IWASHITA, Takahito NIWA, Sho NISHIDA, Mikio ISHIMARU
  • Publication number: 20220269208
    Abstract: A sheet storage device includes a housing, a sheet stacking tray, a shaft, a suspension mechanism, a driving device, and a drive transmission portion. The suspension mechanism includes a plurality of winding pulleys and a plurality of wires. The drive transmission portion includes a plurality of driving gears and a plurality of driven gears. The plurality of winding pulleys permit the engagement positions of the plurality of driven gears with respect to the plurality of driving gears to be changed in the circumferential direction of the shaft. The drive transmission portion changes the respective engagement positions of the plurality of driven gears and thereby changes the respective relative positions of the fixing portions of the plurality of winding pulleys in the rotation direction. This permits adjustment of the respective unwound lengths of the plurality of wires.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2022
    Publication date: August 25, 2022
    Applicant: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Yoshihiro ANDO
  • Patent number: 11348965
    Abstract: An imaging device is provided. The imaging device may include a substrate having a first photoelectric conversion unit and a second photoelectric conversion unit at a light-incident side of the substrate. The second photoelectric conversion unit may include a photoelectric conversion layer, a first electrode, a second electrode above the photoelectric conversion layer, a third electrode, and an insulating material between the third electrode and the photoelectric conversion layer, wherein a portion of the insulating material is between the first electrode and the third electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hideaki Togashi, Fumihiko Koga, Tetsuji Yamaguchi, Shintarou Hirata, Taiichiro Watanabe, Yoshihiro Ando, Toyotaka Kataoka, Satoshi Keino, Yukio Kaneda
  • Publication number: 20220124268
    Abstract: [Problem] Provided are: a solid-state imaging element capable of actualizing a phase difference detection pixel that enables a finer pattern of pixels and also enables improvement in quality of a captured image in a stacked structure including a plurality of photodiodes; a method for manufacturing the solid-state imaging element; and an electronic apparatus. [Solution] Provided is a solid-state imaging element including a plurality of pixels including at least two phase difference detection pixels for focus detection. In the solid-state imaging element, each pixel has a stacked structure including a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements that are stacked on top of each other and absorb light beams different in wavelength from one another to generate electrical charges, and each phase difference detection pixel includes, in the stacked structure, a color filter that partially covers an upper face of one of the photoelectric conversion elements and absorbs a light beam with a specific wavelength.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2022
    Publication date: April 21, 2022
    Inventors: YOSHIHIRO ANDO, HIDEAKI TOGASHI, SHINPEI FUKUOKA
  • Publication number: 20220093660
    Abstract: Provided is an imaging element including a photoelectric conversion unit formed by stacking a first electrode, a photoelectric conversion layer and a second electrode. The photoelectric conversion unit further includes a charge storage electrode which is disposed to be spaced apart from the first electrode and disposed opposite to the photoelectric conversion layer via an insulating layer. The photoelectric conversion unit is formed of N number of photoelectric conversion unit segments, and the same applies to the photoelectric conversion layer, the insulating layer and the charge storage electrode. An nth photoelectric conversion unit segment is formed of an nth charge storage electrode segment, an nth insulating layer segment and an nth photoelectric conversion layer segment. As n increases, the nth photoelectric conversion unit segment is located farther from the first electrode. A thickness of the insulating layer segment gradually changes from a first to Nth photoelectric conversion unit segment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2021
    Publication date: March 24, 2022
    Applicant: SONY GROUP CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akira FURUKAWA, Yoshihiro ANDO, Hideaki TOGASHI, Fumihiko KOGA
  • Patent number: 11240450
    Abstract: Provided is a solid-state imaging element including a plurality of pixels that includes at least two phase difference detection pixels for focus detection. Each pixel has a stacked structure including a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements that are stacked on top of each other and absorb light beams different in wavelength from one another to generate electrical charges, and each phase difference detection pixel includes, in the stacked structure, a color filter that partially covers an upper face of one of the photoelectric conversion elements and absorbs a light beam with a specific wavelength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Ando, Hideaki Togashi, Shinpei Fukuoka
  • Patent number: 11222912
    Abstract: Provided is an imaging element including a photoelectric conversion unit formed by stacking a first electrode, a photoelectric conversion layer and a second electrode. The photoelectric conversion unit further includes a charge storage electrode which is disposed to be spaced apart from the first electrode and disposed opposite to the photoelectric conversion layer via an insulating layer. The photoelectric conversion unit is formed of N number of photoelectric conversion unit segments, and the same applies to the photoelectric conversion layer, the insulating layer and the charge storage electrode. An nth photoelectric conversion unit segment is formed of an nth charge storage electrode segment, an nth insulating layer segment and an nth photoelectric conversion layer segment. As n increases, the nth photoelectric conversion unit segment is located farther from the first electrode. A thickness of the insulating layer segment gradually changes from a first to Nth photoelectric conversion unit segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akira Furukawa, Yoshihiro Ando, Hideaki Togashi, Fumihiko Koga
  • Patent number: D1020827
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: THK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Ando, Hitoshi Aoyagi, Yuki Toba