Patents by Inventor Yoshikazu Nitta
Yoshikazu Nitta 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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Publication number: 20160044267Abstract: An image pickup apparatus for photographing an image, includes: a photoelectric converter to convert incident light an electric charge and accumulate the electric charge, a transfer element to transfer the electric charge accumulated in the photoelectric converter, a converter to convert the electric charge in the photoelectric converter transferred via the transfer element into a voltage, a reset element to reset potentials of the converter, and an amplifier to amplify a voltage converted by the converter to generate a pixel signal and output the pixel signal to a read signal line for reading the pixel signal. A plurality of the photoelectric converter and the transfer element are disposed at least in a horizontal direction share the amplifier and the read signal line.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 21, 2015Publication date: February 11, 2016Inventors: Koji Mishina, Yoshikazu Nitta
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Patent number: 9204073Abstract: An image pickup apparatus for photographing an image, includes: a photoelectric converter to convert incident light an electric charge and accumulate the electric charge, a transfer element to transfer the electric charge accumulated in the photoelectric converter, a converter to convert the electric charge in the photoelectric converter transferred via the transfer element into a voltage, a reset element to reset potentials of the converter, and an amplifier to amplify a voltage converted by the converter to generate a pixel signal and output the pixel signal to a read signal line for reading the pixel signal. A plurality of the photoelectric converter and the transfer element are disposed at least in a horizontal direction share the amplifier and the read signal line.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 2014Date of Patent: December 1, 2015Assignee: SONY CORPORATIONInventors: Koji Mishina, Yoshikazu Nitta
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Publication number: 20150334329Abstract: A solid-state imaging element including pixel signal read lines, and a pixel signal reading unit for reading pixel signals from a pixel unit via the pixel signal read line. The pixel unit includes a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix form, each pixel including a photoelectric conversion element. In the pixel unit, a shared pixel in which an output node is shared among a plurality of pixels is formed, and a pixel signal of each pixel in the shared pixel is capable of being selectively output from the shared output node to a corresponding one of the pixel signal read lines. The pixel signal reading unit sets a bias voltage for a load element which is connected to the pixel signal read line and in which current dependent on a bias voltage flows in the load element, to a voltage causing a current value to be higher than current upon a reference bias voltage when there is no difference between added charge amounts, when addition of pixel signals of the respective pixels in the shared pixel is driven.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 29, 2015Publication date: November 19, 2015Inventors: Yuichi Kato, Yoshikazu Nitta, Noriyuki Fukushima, Takashi Suenaga, Toshiyuki Sugita
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Patent number: 9160954Abstract: Provided is a solid-state imaging element including pixel signal read lines, and a pixel signal reading unit for reading pixel signals from a pixel unit via the pixel signal read line. The pixel unit includes a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix form, each pixel including a photoelectric conversion element. In the pixel unit, a shared pixel in which an output node is shared among a plurality of pixels is formed, and a pixel signal of each pixel in the shared pixel is capable of being selectively output from the shared output node to a corresponding one of the pixel signal read lines.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2014Date of Patent: October 13, 2015Assignee: SONY CORPORATIONInventors: Yuichi Kato, Yoshikazu Nitta, Noriyuki Fukushima, Takashi Suenaga, Toshiyuki Sugita
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Publication number: 20150014516Abstract: A DA converter includes a first DA conversion section for obtaining an analog output signal in accordance with a digital input signal value, and a second DA conversion section for obtaining an analog gain control output signal in accordance with a digital gain control input signal value. In the DA converter, the gain control of the analog output signal generated by the first DA conversion section is performed on the basis of the gain control output signal generated by the second DA conversion section.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 17, 2014Publication date: January 15, 2015Applicant: Sony CorporationInventors: Go ASAYAMA, Noriyuki FUKUSHIMA, Yoshikazu NITTA, Yoshinori MURAMATSU, Kiyotaka AMANO
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Publication number: 20140285697Abstract: A system and method for driving a solid-state image pickup device including a pixel array unit including unit pixels. Each unit pixel includes a photoelectric converter, column signal lines and a number of analog-digital converting units. The unit pixels are selectively controlled in units of rows. Analog signals output from the unit pixels in a row selected by the selective control though the column signal lines are converted to digital signals via the analog-digital converting units. The digital signals are added among a number of unit pixels via the analog-digital converting units. The added digital signals from the analog-digital converting units are read. Each unit pixel in the pixel array unit is selectively controlled in units of arbitrary rows, the analog-distal converting units being operable to performing the converting in a (a) normal-frame-rate mode and a (b) high-frame-rate mode in response to control signals.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 3, 2014Publication date: September 25, 2014Applicant: Sony CorporationInventors: Yoshikazu Nitta, Noriyuki Fukushima, Yoshinori Muramatsu, Yukihiko Yasui
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Publication number: 20140267862Abstract: Provided is a solid-state imaging element including pixel signal read lines, and a pixel signal reading unit for reading pixel signals from a pixel unit via the pixel signal read line. The pixel unit includes a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix form, each pixel including a photoelectric conversion element. In the pixel unit, a shared pixel in which an output node is shared among a plurality of pixels is formed, and a pixel signal of each pixel in the shared pixel is capable of being selectively output from the shared output node to a corresponding one of the pixel signal read lines.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 27, 2014Publication date: September 18, 2014Applicant: Sony CorporationInventors: Yuichi Kato, Yoshikazu Nitta, Noriyuki Fukushima, Takashi Suenaga, Toshiyuki Sugita
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Patent number: 8830352Abstract: There is provided an image pickup device which eliminates the need for image processing different from one frame to another, and is capable of eliminating centroid displacement without additionally performing a centroid correction process, thereby improving an S/N ratio and image quality. A controller 140 sequentially reads signals from all pixels when an operation mode control signal designates all-pixel readout mode, whereas, controls to read a signal from a different pixel while varying a readout position from one field to another when the operation mode control signal designates selective readout mode, and a signal processing section 150 performs signal processing on a set of field data of a single field to output resultant data as frame data when the operation mode control signal designates all-pixel readout mode, whereas, adds up plural sets of field data over a plurality of fields to output resultant data as frame data when the operation mode control signal designates selective readout mode.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2010Date of Patent: September 9, 2014Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Hiroaki Ebihara, Yoshikazu Nitta, Hirotaka Kitami
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Patent number: 8786746Abstract: A system and method for driving a solid-state image pickup device including a pixel array unit including unit pixels. Each unit pixel includes a photoelectric converter, column signal lines and a number of analog-digital converting units. The unit pixels are selectively controlled in units of rows. Analog signals output from the unit pixels in a row selected by the selective control though the column signal lines are converted to digital signals via the analog-digital converting units. The digital signals are added among a number of unit pixels via the analog-digital converting units. The added digital signals from the analog-digital converting units are read. Each unit pixel in the pixel array unit is selectively controlled in units of arbitrary rows, the analog-distal converting units being operable to performing the converting in a (a) normal-frame-rate mode and a (b) high-frame-rate mode in response to control signals.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2013Date of Patent: July 22, 2014Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Yoshikazu Nitta, Noriyuki Fukushima, Yoshinori Muramatsu, Yukihiko Yasui
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Patent number: 8773557Abstract: Provided is a solid-state imaging element including pixel signal read lines, and a pixel signal reading unit for reading pixel signals from a pixel unit via the pixel signal read line. The pixel unit includes a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix form, each pixel including a photoelectric conversion element. In the pixel unit, a shared pixel in which an output node is shared among a plurality of pixels is formed, and a pixel signal of each pixel in the shared pixel is capable of being selectively output from the shared output node to a corresponding one of the pixel signal read lines.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 2009Date of Patent: July 8, 2014Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Yuichi Kato, Yoshikazu Nitta, Noriyuki Fukushima, Takashi Suenaga, Toshiyuki Sugita
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Publication number: 20140168489Abstract: An image pickup apparatus for photographing an image, includes: a photoelectric converter to convert incident light an electric charge and accumulate the electric charge, a transfer element to transfer the electric charge accumulated in the photoelectric converter, a converter to convert the electric charge in the photoelectric converter transferred via the transfer element into a voltage, a reset element to reset potentials of the converter, and an amplifier to amplify a voltage converted by the converter to generate a pixel signal and output the pixel signal to a read signal line for reading the pixel signal. A plurality of the photoelectric converter and the transfer element are disposed at least in a horizontal direction share the amplifier and the read signal line.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 20, 2014Publication date: June 19, 2014Applicant: Sony CorporationInventors: Koji Mishina, Yoshikazu Nitta
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Patent number: 8698928Abstract: An image pickup apparatus for photographing an image, includes: a photoelectric converter to convert incident light an electric charge and accumulate the electric charge, a transfer element to transfer the electric charge accumulated in the photoelectric converter, a converter to convert the electric charge in the photoelectric converter transferred via the transfer element into a voltage, a reset element to reset potentials of the converter, and an amplifier to amplify a voltage converted by the converter to generate a pixel signal and output the pixel signal to a read signal line for reading the pixel signal. A plurality of the photoelectric converter and the transfer element are disposed at least in a horizontal direction share the amplifier and the read signal line.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 2008Date of Patent: April 15, 2014Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Koji Mishina, Yoshikazu Nitta
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Patent number: 8687101Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes pixel cells that are formed on a substrate having a first substrate surface side, on which light is irradiated, and a second substrate surface side, on which elements are formed, and separated by an adjacent cell group and an element separation layer for each of the pixel cells or with plural pixel cells as a unit. Each of the pixel cells has a first conductive well formed on the first substrate surface side and a second conductive well formed on the second substrate surface side. The first conductive well receives light from the first substrate surface side and has a photoelectric conversion function and a charge accumulation function for the received light. A transistor that detects accumulated charges in the first conductive well and has a threshold modulation function is formed in the second conductive well.Type: GrantFiled: January 12, 2012Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Isao Hirota, Kouichi Harada, Nobuhiro Karasawa, Yasushi Maruyama, Yoshikazu Nitta, Hiroyuki Terakago, Hajime Takashima, Hideo Nomura
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Patent number: 8674865Abstract: A DA converter includes a first DA conversion section for obtaining an analog output signal in accordance with a digital input signal value, and a second DA conversion section for obtaining an analog gain control output signal in accordance with a digital gain control input signal value. In the DA converter, the gain control of the analog output signal generated by the first DA conversion section is performed on the basis of the gain control output signal generated by the second DA conversion section.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 2011Date of Patent: March 18, 2014Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Go Asayama, Noriyuki Fukushima, Yoshikazu Nitta, Yoshinori Muramatsu, Kiyotaka Amano
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Publication number: 20140016011Abstract: A system and method for driving a solid-state image pickup device including a pixel array unit including unit pixels. Each unit pixel includes a photoelectric converter, column signal lines and a number of analog-digital converting units. The unit pixels are selectively controlled in units of rows. Analog signals output from the unit pixels in a row selected by the selective control though the column signal lines are converted to digital signals via the analog-digital converting units. The digital signals are added among a number of unit pixels via the analog-digital converting units. The added digital signals from the analog-digital converting units are read. Each unit pixel in the pixel array unit is selectively controlled in units of arbitrary rows, the analog-distal converting units being operable to performing the converting in a (a) normal-frame-rate mode and a (b) high-frame-rate mode in response to control signals.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 10, 2013Publication date: January 16, 2014Applicant: Sony CorporationInventors: Yoshikazu Nitta, Noriyuki Fukushima, Yoshinori Muramatsu, Yukihiko Yasui
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Patent number: 8553122Abstract: A system and method for driving a solid-state image pickup device including a pixel array unit including unit pixels. Each unit pixel includes a photoelectric converter, column signal lines and a number of analog-digital converting units. The unit pixels are selectively controlled in units of rows. Analog signals output from the unit pixels in a row selected by the selective control though the column signal lines are converted to digital signals via the analog-digital converting units. The digital signals are added among a number of unit pixels via the analog-digital converting units. The added digital signals from the analog-digital converting units are read. Each unit pixel in the pixel array unit is selectively controlled in units of arbitrary rows, the analog-distal converting units being operable to performing the converting in a (a) normal-frame-rate mode and a (b) high-frame-rate mode in response to control signals.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2011Date of Patent: October 8, 2013Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Yoshikazu Nitta, Noriyuki Fukushima, Yoshinori Muramatsu, Yukihiko Yasui
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Patent number: 8427551Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes: a pixel unit in which unit pixels outputting processing target signals are arranged in a horizontal direction and scanning lines are wired such that the processing target signals can be read out in order in a vertical direction within a repetition unit of an array of the unit pixels in the horizontal direction; an AD conversion unit including comparing units that compare a reference signal supplied from a reference-signal generating unit and the processing target signals, and counter units that perform count operation, the AD conversion unit performing AD conversion processing based on output data of the counter units; and a driving control unit that performs control to read out the processing target signals in order in the vertical direction and controls the reference-signal generating unit and the AD conversion unit such that AD conversion gains are individually adjusted in order to correct an output amplitude characteristic difference within the repetition unit duringType: GrantFiled: September 30, 2009Date of Patent: April 23, 2013Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Atsushi Suzuki, Yoshikazu Nitta
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Publication number: 20130016238Abstract: There is provided an image pickup device which eliminates the need for image processing different from one frame to another, and is capable of eliminating centroid displacement without additionally performing a centroid correction process, thereby improving an S/N ratio and image quality. A controller 140 sequentially reads signals from all pixels when an operation mode control signal designates all-pixel readout mode, whereas, controls to read a signal from a different pixel while varying a readout position from one field to another when the operation mode control signal designates selective readout mode, and a signal processing section 150 performs signal processing on a set of field data of a single field to output resultant data as frame data when the operation mode control signal designates all-pixel readout mode, whereas, adds up plural sets of field data over a plurality of fields to output resultant data as frame data when the operation mode control signal designates selective readout mode.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 14, 2010Publication date: January 17, 2013Applicant: SONY CORPORATIONInventors: Hiroaki Ebihara, Yoshikazu Nitta, Hirotaka Kitami
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Patent number: 8339300Abstract: A DA conversion device includes the following elements. A higher-bit current source cell portion includes uniformly weighted higher-bit current source cells to generate an identical constant current. A lower-bit current source cell portion includes a lower-bit current source cells that are weighted to generate 1/two-to-the-power-of-certain-numbers constant currents. A constant current source selection controller includes a lower-bit controller having a scaler that uses clocks scaled down to 1/two-to-the-power-of-certain-numbers to select the lower-bit current source cells, and a higher-bit controller having shift registers and using a signal indicating a carry bit or a borrow bit used in the lower-bit controller to sequentially activate shift outputs of the shift registers, and uses the shift outputs to select the higher-bit current source cells. Constant current outputs of the selected current source cells are added and output so that an output current corresponding to the digital input signal is obtained.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 2011Date of Patent: December 25, 2012Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Go Asayama, Noriyuki Fukushima, Yoshikazu Nitta, Yoshinori Muramatsu, Kiyotaka Amano
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Publication number: 20120113292Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes pixel cells that are formed on a substrate having a first substrate surface side, on which light is irradiated, and a second substrate surface side, on which elements are formed, and separated by an adjacent cell group and an element separation layer for each of the pixel cells or with plural pixel cells as a unit. Each of the pixel cells has a first conductive well formed on the first substrate surface side and a second conductive well formed on the second substrate surface side. The first conductive well receives light from the first substrate surface side and has a photoelectric conversion function and a charge accumulation function for the received light. A transistor that detects accumulated charges in the first conductive well and has a threshold modulation function is formed in the second conductive well.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 12, 2012Publication date: May 10, 2012Applicant: SONY CORPORATIONInventors: Isao Hirota, Kouichi Harada, Nobuhiro Karasawa, Yasushi Maruyama, Yoshikazu Nitta, Hiroyuki Terakago, Hajime Takashima, Hideo Nomura