Patents by Inventor Akihide Sai

Akihide Sai 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: 11876519
    Abstract: An oscillation circuit has a first oscillator having output nodes of n stages, where n is an integer of 3 or more, a second oscillator having output nodes of n stages, and a third oscillator having output nodes of n stages. An output node at an a-th stage of the first oscillator and an output node at an a-th stage of the second oscillator are connected with each other, where a is an integer of 1 or more and n or less and an output node at a b-th stage of the second oscillator and an output node at a b-th stage of the third oscillator are connected with each other, where b is an integer of 1 or more and n or less different from a.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Yosuke Toyama, Tuan Thanh Ta, Satoshi Kondo, Akihide Sai, Toshiki Sugimoto, Kentaro Yoshioka
  • Patent number: 11828874
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus capable of determining a distance to an object based on reflected light provided by a reflection of pulsed light on the object has detectors configured to detect reception light to measure times from an emission of the pulsed light to detections of the reception light; and processing circuitry configured to determine a duration in which the reflected light is received based on the times, determine, based on one of the times in the duration, a reception timing of the reflected light included in the reception light, and determine the distance from the electronic apparatus to the object according to the reception timing of the reflected light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Hidenori Okuni, Tuan Thanh Ta, Satoshi Kondo, Akihide Sai
  • Publication number: 20230296773
    Abstract: A distance measuring device has a plurality of light receiving elements each of which receives a reflected optical signal reflected by an object, and an image processor that generates a distance image in accordance with distances to the object, based on signal intensities and light reception timings of the reflected optical signal received by the plurality of light receiving elements, wherein the image processor detects a direction of the object, based on at least either the signal intensities of the reflected optical signal received by the light receiving elements or the distances to the object measured based on the reflected optical signal, and divides at least one or some of pixels included in the distance image, based on the direction of the detected object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2022
    Publication date: September 21, 2023
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Satoshi KONDO, Akihide SAI, Tuan Thanh TA, Toshiki SUGIMOTO, Hisaaki KATAGIRI, Yutaka OTA
  • Publication number: 20230281771
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus has a light source that emits a light signal at a predetermined time interval, a scanner capable of changing at least one of a scanning range or a scanning timing of the light signal for each of frames, a light receiver that receives a reflected light signal reflected on an object by irradiating the object with the light signal, processing circuitry that generates a distance image for each of the frames based on the reflected light signal received by the light receiver, and synthesizes the distance images of a plurality of the frames to generate a high-resolution distance image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2022
    Publication date: September 7, 2023
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Toshiki SUGIMOTO, Tuan Thanh TA, Akihide SAI, Hisaaki KATAGIRI, Yutaka OTA, Satoshi KONDO
  • Publication number: 20230253972
    Abstract: A resonance frequency detector has an adder that adds a correction term to an oscillation frequency of an output signal of an oscillator, and detects a predetermined resonance frequency of a resonance element. The correction term is generated based on a phase error in a phase locked loop and a degree of change in phase at the resonance frequency, and the phase locked loop generates a control signal based on the phase error between an output signal of the resonance element that resonates at the resonance frequency and the output signal of the oscillator that varies the oscillation frequency according to the control signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2022
    Publication date: August 10, 2023
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Tetsuro ITAKURA, Ryunosuke GANDO, Daiki ONO, Kei MASUNISHI, Akihide SAI
  • Patent number: 11652116
    Abstract: A light detection apparatus has an array of first light detectors arranged at a first interval and configured to convert reception light into first signals, second light detectors having a first crosstalk rate and configured to convert reception light into second signals, wherein surfaces of the second light detectors are shielded from light, third light detectors having a second crosstalk rate different from the first crosstalk rate and configured to convert reception light into third signals, wherein surfaces of the third light detectors are shielded from light, and control circuitry configured to control an operation point of the array based on the second signals and the third signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Tuan Thanh Ta, Akihide Sai, Hidenori Okuni, Toshiki Sugimoto
  • Publication number: 20230146289
    Abstract: A light projecting apparatus has a plurality of light projectors, each being capable of switching an emission direction and an emission timing of an optical signal, and a plurality of first controllers, each controlling an emission direction and an emission timing of an optical signal emitted from a corresponding light projector among the plurality of light projectors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2022
    Publication date: May 11, 2023
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Tuan Thanh TA, Akihide SAI, Yosuke TOYAMA
  • Publication number: 20230125664
    Abstract: A phase locked loop has an oscillator that varies a frequency according to a control signal, a resonance element that resonates at a predetermined resonance frequency and output a signal obtained by shifting a phase of an output signal of the oscillator by 90 degrees at the resonance frequency, a phase detector that detects a phase error between an output signal of the resonance element and an output signal of the oscillator, a feedback controller that controls a frequency of an output signal of the oscillator by proportional control and integral control according to the phase error, and a control signal corrector that corrects the control signal by adding a correction term corresponding to environment information to an output signal of the feedback controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2022
    Publication date: April 27, 2023
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Tetsuro ITAKURA, Ryunosuke GANDO, Daiki ONO, Akihide SAI
  • Publication number: 20230073292
    Abstract: Provided is a photodetector including: a photodetection element; a reset circuit that sets one end of the photodetection element to an initialization voltage after the photodetection element detects light, and that includes a variable current source capable of varying a current to be supplied to the one end of the photodetection element; and a control circuit that stepwise or continuously increases a current to be supplied to the one end of the photodetection element by using the variable current source until the one end of the photodetection element is set to the initialization voltage after the photodetection element detects light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2022
    Publication date: March 9, 2023
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Tuan Thanh TA, Akihide SAI, Toshiki SUGIMOTO
  • Patent number: 11598859
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus capable of determining a distance to an object based on at least first reflected light provided by a reflection of first pulsed light on the object and second reflected light provided by a reflection of a second pulsed light on the object has an input terminal to receive an electrical signal of intensity of reception light, and processing circuitry to specify, based on the electrical signal, a first duration from when the first pulsed light is emitted until when the first reflected light is received within a first measurement range, and determine, based on the first duration, a second measurement range of the second reflected light, specify, a second duration from when the second pulsed light is emitted until when the second reflected light is received within the second measurement range, and determine the distance from the electronic apparatus to the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Tuan Thanh Ta, Hidenori Okuni, Satoshi Kondo, Akihide Sai, Toshiki Sugimoto
  • Patent number: 11573321
    Abstract: A semiconductor circuitry includes an oscillator configured to output an oscillation signal whose frequency depends on a first input signal, a counter configured to count a number of cycles of the oscillation signal, first circuitry configured to output a first digital signal based on a first number of cycles counted by the counter within one of a clock cycle of a clock signal, wherein the first input signal is digitally converted into the first digital signal, and a second circuitry configured to output a second digital signal based on a second number of cycles counted by the counter in a period from a reference timing of the clock signal to an input timing of a second input signal within the one of the clock cycle of the clock signal, wherein the period is digitally converted into the second digital signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Electronic Devices & Storage Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Kondo, Hidenori Okuni, Tuan Thanh Ta, Akihide Sai
  • Patent number: 11569835
    Abstract: An analog-to-digital converter has a first digital signal generator that generates a first digital signal based on whether or not a sampling signal of an input signal is equal to or lower than a signal corresponding to a second reference signal higher than a first reference signal, a first slope generator to generate a first slope signal that changes with time from the sampled and held signal equal to or lower than the first reference signal, a second slope generator to generate a second slope signal that changes with time from the sampled and held signal to a signal level equal to or lower than the second reference signal, and a second digital signal generator that generates a second digital signal based on a time at which the first slope signal matches the first reference signal or a time at which the second slope signal matches the second reference signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Toshiki Sugimoto, Kentaro Yoshioka, Akihide Sai, Yosuke Toyama
  • Patent number: 11493612
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an electronic apparatus includes a light source, a detector, an equalizer and a processing circuitry. The light source is configured to emit a pulse having a first output value and a first frequency response. The detector is configured to detect a reflected wave of the pulse and convert the reflected wave to a first electric signal. The reflected wave of the pulse is received after the pulse is reflected by an object. The equalizer is configured to equalize the first electric signal using tap coefficients to generate a second electric signal. The tap coefficients are based on at least either one of the first output value and the first frequency response. The processing circuitry is configured to estimate a distance to the object based on the second electric signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Hidenori Okuni, Tuan Thanh Ta, Satoshi Kondo, Akihide Sai
  • Publication number: 20220252700
    Abstract: A light detection device includes a light receiving element that photoelectrically converts incident light, and a plurality of transistors that controls a bias voltage applied to the light receiving element and controlling reading of an output signal of the light receiving element, wherein the plurality of transistors comprise at least one or more transistors having a first withstand voltage and one or more transistors having a second withstand voltage higher than the first withstand voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2021
    Publication date: August 11, 2022
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Tuan Thanh TA, Akihide SAI, Toshiki SUGIMOTO
  • Publication number: 20220190812
    Abstract: An oscillation circuit has a first oscillator having output nodes of n stages, where n is an integer of 3 or more, a second oscillator having output nodes of n stages, and a third oscillator having output nodes of n stages. An output node at an a-th stage of the first oscillator and an output node at an a-th stage of the second oscillator are connected with each other, where a is an integer of 1 or more and n or less and an output node at a b-th stage of the second oscillator and an output node at a b-th stage of the third oscillator are connected with each other, where b is an integer of 1 or more and n or less different from a.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2021
    Publication date: June 16, 2022
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Yosuke TOYAMA, Tuan Thanh TA, Satoshi KONDO, Akihide SAI, Toshiki SUGIMOTO, Kentaro YOSHIOKA
  • Publication number: 20220182067
    Abstract: An analog-to-digital converter has a first digital signal generator that generates a first digital signal based on whether or not a sampling signal of an input signal is equal to or lower than a signal corresponding to a second reference signal higher than a first reference signal, a first slope generator to generate a first slope signal that changes with time from the sampled and held signal equal to or lower than the first reference signal, a second slope generator to generate a second slope signal that changes with time from the sampled and held signal to a signal level equal to or lower than the second reference signal, and a second digital signal generator that generates a second digital signal based on a time at which the first slope signal matches the first reference signal or a time at which the second slope signal matches the second reference signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2021
    Publication date: June 9, 2022
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Toshiki SUGIMOTO, Kentaro YOSHIOKA, Akihide SAI, Yosuke TOYAMA
  • Patent number: 11265500
    Abstract: A photodetection apparatus according to one embodiment has a photodetection element, first reset circuitry configured to select whether to set on-resistance between a first voltage node and a terminal of the photodetection element to a first value, second reset circuitry configured to select whether to set the on-resistance to a second value smaller than the first value, and control circuitry configured to set the on-resistance to the first value by the first reset circuitry after the photodetection element detects light, and set the on-resistance to the second value by the second reset circuitry after the first reset circuitry select to set the on-resistance to the first value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Tuan Thanh Ta, Akihide Sai
  • Publication number: 20220057492
    Abstract: A light-receiving apparatus has M (M is greater than 2) light-receiving elements corresponding to one pixel, and controller circuitry configured to control a bias voltage of the M light-receiving elements in accordance with a condition that the number of light-receiving elements of the M light-receiving elements simultaneously detecting light within a first period is less than N (N is an integer equal to or greater than 2 and less than M).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2021
    Publication date: February 24, 2022
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Tuan Thanh TA, Akihide SAI, Toshiki SUGIMOTO
  • Publication number: 20210270600
    Abstract: A system includes a distance measurement apparatus to emit a first light in a first direction toward an object or a second light in a second direction different from the first direction toward a reflection member, and to measure a distance to the object in accordance with a first reflected light provided by a reflection of the first light on the object or a second reflected light provided by reflections of the second light, a position detector configured to detect a position of the object based on the distance; and a light direction controller to determine whether an obstacle exists on an optical path of the first direction, to control the distance measurement apparatus to emit the first light in the first direction, when the obstacle does not exist, and to control the distance measurement apparatus to emit the second light in the second direction, when the obstacle exists.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2020
    Publication date: September 2, 2021
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Kentaro YOSHIOKA, Hidenori Okuni, Akihide Sai
  • Patent number: 11002598
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an electronic apparatus includes a first avalanche photo diode, a second avalanche photo diode, a first pulse circuit, a second pulse circuit, a first waveform shaping circuit, a second waveform shaping circuit and an adder. The first pulse circuit is configured to shape a signal of the first avalanche photo diode to a first pulse. The second pulse circuit is configured to shape a signal of the second avalanche photo diode to a second pulse. The first waveform shaping circuit is configured to shape the first pulse to a third pulse having a narrower frequency bandwidth than that of the first pulse. The second waveform shaping circuit is configured to shape the second pulse to a fourth pulse having a narrower frequency bandwidth than that of the second pulse. The adder is configured to add the third pulse and the fourth pulse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Tuan Thanh Ta, Akihide Sai, Hidenori Okuni, Satoshi Kondo