Patents by Inventor Yoshinori Takami

Yoshinori Takami 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: 20230317746
    Abstract: An imaging device including: a photoelectric converter that converts light into a charge; a first diffusion region of a first conductivity type to which the charge is input; a second diffusion region of the first conductivity type; a first plug that has a first surface directly connected to the first diffusion region; and a second plug that has a second surface directly connected to the second diffusion region, where an area of the second surface of the second plug is larger than an area of the first surface of the first plug in a plan view.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2023
    Publication date: October 5, 2023
    Inventors: Yoshihiro SATO, Yoshinori TAKAMI, Ryota SAKAIDA
  • Patent number: 11715748
    Abstract: An imaging device includes: a semiconductor substrate including a first diffusion region of a first conductivity type and a second diffusion region of the first conductivity type; a first plug that is connected to the first diffusion region and that contains a semiconductor; a second plug that is connected to the second diffusion region and that contains a semiconductor; and a photoelectric converter that is electrically connected to the first plug. An area of the second plug is larger than an area of the first plug in a plan view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Sato, Yoshinori Takami, Ryota Sakaida
  • Patent number: 11532653
    Abstract: An imaging device, including a photoelectric converter that generates a signal charge by photoelectric conversion of light; and a semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor substrate includes: a charge accumulation region that is an impurity region of a first conductivity type, and configured to accumulate the signal charge; a first impurity region of the first conductivity type, the first impurity region being one of a source or a drain of a first transistor and adjacent to the charge accumulation region; and a blocking structure located between the charge accumulation region and the first impurity region. The blocking structure includes a second impurity region of a second conductivity type different from the first conductivity type, a part of the second impurity region located on a surface of the semiconductor substrate, and the second impurity region is not in contact with the first impurity region on the surface of the semiconductor substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Junji Hirase, Yoshinori Takami, Yoshihiro Sato
  • Publication number: 20220208816
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus comprises a semiconductor substrate, a photoelectric converter, a charge storage region, and an amplification transistor. The photoelectric converter includes a pixel electrode, a counter electrode, and a photoelectric conversion layer. The photoelectric conversion layer is positioned above the semiconductor substrate and is disposed between the pixel electrode and the counter electrode. Charge generated by the photoelectric converter is stored in the charge storage region. The amplification transistor includes a source, a drain, and a gate electrode. The gate electrode is electrically connected to the charge storage region. In a plan view, the width of the drain of the amplification transistor is less than the width of the source of the amplification transistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2022
    Publication date: June 30, 2022
    Inventors: Junji HIRASE, Masaaki YANAGIDA, Kazuko NISHIMURA, Yoshinori TAKAMI
  • Publication number: 20220059584
    Abstract: An imaging device, including a photoelectric converter that generates a signal charge by photoelectric conversion of light; and a semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor substrate includes: a charge accumulation region that is an impurity region of a first conductivity type, and configured to accumulate the signal charge; a first impurity region of the first conductivity type, the first impurity region being one of a source or a drain of a first transistor and adjacent to the charge accumulation region; and a blocking structure located between the charge accumulation region and the first impurity region. The blocking structure includes a second impurity region of a second conductivity type different from the first conductivity type, a part of the second impurity region located on a surface of the semiconductor substrate, and the second impurity region is not in contact with the first impurity region on the surface of the semiconductor substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2021
    Publication date: February 24, 2022
    Inventors: Junji HIRASE, Yoshinori TAKAMI, Yoshihiro SATO
  • Patent number: 11251216
    Abstract: An imaging device includes: a semiconductor layer including a first region of a first conductivity, a second region of a second conductivity opposite to the first conductivity, and a third region of the second conductivity; a photoelectric converter electrically connected to the first region and converting light into charge; a first transistor including a first source, a first drain, and a first gate above the second region, the first region corresponding to the first source or drain; and a second transistor including a second source, a second drain, and a second gate of the second conductivity above the third region, the first region corresponding to the second source or drain, and the second gate being electrically connected to the first region. The concentration of an impurity of the second conductivity in the third region is higher than that of an impurity of the second conductivity in the second region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Junji Hirase, Yoshinori Takami, Yoshihiro Sato
  • Patent number: 11195865
    Abstract: An imaging device including: a photoelectric converter that generates a signal charge by photoelectric conversion of light; a semiconductor substrate that includes a first semiconductor layer containing an impurity of a first conductivity type and an impurity of a second conductivity type different from the first conductivity type; and a first transistor that includes, as a source or a drain, a first impurity region of the second conductivity type in the first semiconductor layer. The first semiconductor layer includes: a charge accumulation region that is an impurity region of the second conductivity type, the charge accumulation region being configured to accumulate the signal charge; and a blocking structure that is located between the charge accumulation region and the first transistor, and the blocking structure includes a second impurity region of the second conductivity type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Junji Hirase, Yoshinori Takami, Yoshihiro Sato
  • Publication number: 20210351212
    Abstract: An imaging device includes a photoelectric conversion layer, a counter electrode provided above the photoelectric conversion layer, a pixel electrode that faces the counter electrode with the photoelectric conversion layer disposed between the counter electrode and the pixel electrode, and a contact plug covered with the pixel electrode and connected to the pixel electrode. The pixel electrode includes a first layer and a second layer provided on the first layer in contact with the first layer. A surface of the first layer that is in contact with the second layer has a protrusion that protrudes upward.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2021
    Publication date: November 11, 2021
    Inventors: MORIKAZU TSUNO, TAKANORI DOI, YOSHINORI TAKAMI
  • Publication number: 20210273011
    Abstract: An imaging device includes a semiconductor substrate, a photoelectric converter that converts incident light into a charge, a first impurity region located in the semiconductor substrate, where the first impurity region accumulates the charge and contains impurities of a first conductivity type, a second impurity region located in the semiconductor substrate, where the second impurity region contains impurities of the first conductivity type and is different from the first impurity region, a third impurity region located in the semiconductor substrate, between the first impurity region and the second impurity region in plan view, where the third impurity region contains impurities of a second conductivity type that differs from the first conductivity type, and a first contact located on the semiconductor substrate and electrically connected to the third impurity region. The first contact includes a semiconductor containing impurities of the second conductivity type.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2021
    Publication date: September 2, 2021
    Inventors: YOSHIHIRO SATO, YOSHINORI TAKAMI
  • Patent number: 11094734
    Abstract: An imaging device including a semiconductor substrate having a first surface, the semiconductor substrate including: a first layer containing an impurity of a first conductivity type; a second layer containing an impurity of a second conductivity type different from the first conductivity type, the second layer being closer to the first surface than the first layer is; and a pixel. The pixel includes a photoelectric converter configured to convert light into charge; and a first diffusion region containing an impurity of the first conductivity type, the first diffusion region facing the first layer via the second layer, configured to store at least a part of the charge. The first layer having a second surface adjacent to the second layer, the second surface including a convex portion toward the first surface, and the convex portion facing the first diffusion region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Junji Hirase, Yoshinori Takami, Shota Yamada, Yoshihiro Sato, Yoshiaki Satou
  • Publication number: 20210193714
    Abstract: An imaging device includes: a semiconductor substrate including a first diffusion region of a first conductivity type and a second diffusion region of the first conductivity type; a first plug that is connected to the first diffusion region and that contains a semiconductor; a second plug that is connected to the second diffusion region and that contains a semiconductor; and a photoelectric converter that is electrically connected to the first plug. An area of the second plug is larger than an area of the first plug in a plan view.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2021
    Publication date: June 24, 2021
    Inventors: Yoshihiro SATO, Yoshinori TAKAMI, Ryota SAKAIDA
  • Patent number: 10985197
    Abstract: An imaging device includes: a semiconductor substrate including a first diffusion region of a first conductivity type and a second diffusion region of the first conductivity type; a first plug that is connected to the first diffusion region and that contains a semiconductor; a second plug that is connected to the second diffusion region and that contains a semiconductor; and a photoelectric converter that is electrically connected to the first plug. An area of the second plug is larger than an area of the first plug in a plan view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Sato, Yoshinori Takami, Ryota Sakaida
  • Patent number: 10931900
    Abstract: An imaging device includes a semiconductor layer including an impurity region of a first conductivity type, a photoelectric converter electrically connected to the impurity region, and a transistor having a gate of a second conductivity type different from the first conductivity type, a source and a drain, the transistor including the impurity region as one of the source and the drain, the gate being electrically connected to the impurity region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Junji Hirase, Yoshihiro Sato, Yoshinori Takami, Masayuki Takase, Masashi Murakami
  • Publication number: 20200321385
    Abstract: An imaging device including a semiconductor substrate having a first surface, the semiconductor substrate including: a first layer containing an impurity of a first conductivity type; a second layer containing an impurity of a second conductivity type different from the first conductivity type, the second layer being closer to the first surface than the first layer is; and a pixel. The pixel includes a photoelectric converter configured to convert light into charge; and a first diffusion region containing an impurity of the first conductivity type, the first diffusion region facing the first layer via the second layer, configured to store at least a part of the charge. The first layer having a second surface adjacent to the second layer, the second surface including a convex portion toward the first surface, and the convex portion facing the first diffusion region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2020
    Publication date: October 8, 2020
    Inventors: Junji HIRASE, Yoshinori TAKAMI, Shota YAMADA, Yoshihiro SATO, Yoshiaki SATOU
  • Patent number: 10734432
    Abstract: An imaging device includes a semiconductor substrate having a surface, the semiconductor substrate including: a first layer of a first conductivity type; a second layer of a second conductivity type, the second layer being closer to the surface; and a pixel including: a photoelectric converter configured to convert light into charge; a first diffusion region of the first conductivity type, the first diffusion region facing the first layer via the second layer, configured to store at least a part of the charge; and a second diffusion region being a diffusion region closest to the first diffusion region among diffusion regions of the first conductivity type, the diffusion regions facing the first layer via the second layer. A distance between the second diffusion region and the first layer is equal to or less than 1.5 times a distance between the second diffusion region and the first diffusion region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Junji Hirase, Yoshinori Takami, Shota Yamada, Yoshihiro Sato, Yoshiaki Satou
  • Publication number: 20200194477
    Abstract: An imaging device including: a photoelectric converter that generates a signal charge by photoelectric conversion of light; a semiconductor substrate that includes a first semiconductor layer containing an impurity of a first conductivity type and an impurity of a second conductivity type different from the first conductivity type; and a first transistor that includes, as a source or a drain, a first impurity region of the second conductivity type in the first semiconductor layer. The first semiconductor layer includes: a charge accumulation region that is an impurity region of the second conductivity type, the charge accumulation region being configured to accumulate the signal charge; and a blocking structure that is located between the charge accumulation region and the first transistor, and the blocking structure includes a second impurity region of the second conductivity type.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2020
    Publication date: June 18, 2020
    Inventors: Junji HIRASE, Yoshinori TAKAMI, Yoshihiro SATO
  • Publication number: 20200119069
    Abstract: An imaging device includes: a semiconductor substrate including a first diffusion region of a first conductivity type and a second diffusion region of the first conductivity type; a first plug that is connected to the first diffusion region and that contains a semiconductor; a second plug that is connected to the second diffusion region and that contains a semiconductor; and a photoelectric converter that is electrically connected to the first plug. An area of the second plug is larger than an area of the first plug in a plan view.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Publication date: April 16, 2020
    Inventors: YOSHIHIRO SATO, YOSHINORI TAKAMI, RYOTA SAKAIDA
  • Patent number: 10615199
    Abstract: An imaging device according to the present disclosure includes: a photoelectric converter that generates signal charge; a semiconductor substrate including a first semiconductor layer containing an impurity of a first conductivity type and an impurity of a second conductivity type; and a first transistor including a first impurity region of the second conductivity type in the first semiconductor layer. The first semiconductor layer includes: a charge accumulation region of the second conductivity type, for accumulating the signal charge; and a blocking structure between the charge accumulation region and the first transistor. The blocking structure includes a second impurity region of the first conductivity type, a third impurity region of the second conductivity type, and a fourth impurity region of the first conductivity type, which are arranged in that order in a direction from the first impurity region toward the charge accumulation region, at the surface of the first semiconductor layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Junji Hirase, Yoshinori Takami, Yoshihiro Sato
  • Patent number: 10593714
    Abstract: An imaging device includes: a pixel that includes a semiconductor substrate including a first diffusion region containing a first impurity of a first conductivity type, and a second diffusion region containing a second impurity of the first conductivity type, a concentration of the first impurity in the first diffusion region being less than a concentration of the second impurity in the second diffusion region, an area of the first diffusion region being less than an area of the second diffusion region in a plan view, a photoelectric converter configured to convert light into charges, and a first transistor including a source and a drain, the first diffusion region functioning as one of the source and the drain, the second diffusion region functioning as the other of the source and the drain, the first diffusion region being configured to store at least a part of the charges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Sato, Junji Hirase, Yoshinori Takami
  • Publication number: 20200083274
    Abstract: An imaging device includes: a semiconductor layer including a first region of a first conductivity, a second region of a second conductivity opposite to the first conductivity, and a third region of the second conductivity; a photoelectric converter electrically connected to the first region and converting light into charge; a first transistor including a first source, a first drain, and a first gate above the second region, the first region corresponding to the first source or drain; and a second transistor including a second source, a second drain, and a second gate of the second conductivity above the third region, the first region corresponding to the second source or drain, and the second gate being electrically connected to the first region. The concentration of an impurity of the second conductivity in the third region is higher than that of an impurity of the second conductivity in the second region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2019
    Publication date: March 12, 2020
    Inventors: JUNJI HIRASE, YOSHINORI TAKAMI, YOSHIHIRO SATO