Patents by Inventor Akimitsu Sato

Akimitsu Sato 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: 12022217
    Abstract: Provided is an imaging element that includes a pixel array unit, an individual on-chip lens, a common on-chip lens, and an adjacent on-chip lens. The individual on-chip lens is arranged for each of pixels and individually condenses incident light components on corresponding one of the pixels. The common on-chip lens is commonly arranged in the plurality of phase difference pixels and commonly condenses the incident light components. The adjacent on-chip lens is arranged for each of a phase difference pixel adjacent pixels, individually condenses the incident light components on corresponding one of the phase difference pixel adjacent pixels, and is formed to have a size different from the individual on-chip lens to adjust a shape of the common on-chip lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Assignee: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sachio Nishi, Hironobu Fukagawa, Hideaki Kato, Akimitsu Sato
  • Publication number: 20230362509
    Abstract: A step of forming an on-chip lens of a phase difference pixel is simplified. An imaging element includes a pixel array unit, an individual on-chip lens, a common on-chip lens, and an adjacent on-chip lens. In the pixel array unit, pixels that performs photoelectric conversion according to incident light components, a plurality of phase difference pixels that is included in the pixels, is arranged adjacent to each other, and detects a phase difference, and phase difference pixel adjacent pixels that are included in the pixels and are adjacent to the phase difference pixels are arranged two-dimensionally. The individual on-chip lens is arranged for each of the pixels and individually condenses the incident light components on corresponding one of the pixels. The common on-chip lens is commonly arranged in the plurality of phase difference pixels and commonly condenses the incident light component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2023
    Publication date: November 9, 2023
    Inventors: SACHIO NISHI, HIRONOBU FUKAGAWA, HIDEAKI KATO, AKIMITSU SATO
  • Patent number: 11765476
    Abstract: A step of forming an on-chip lens of a phase difference pixel is simplified. An imaging element includes a pixel array unit, an individual on-chip lens, a common on-chip lens, and an adjacent on-chip lens. In the pixel array unit, pixels that performs photoelectric conversion according to incident light components, a plurality of phase difference pixels that is included in the pixels, is arranged adjacent to each other, and detects a phase difference, and phase difference pixel adjacent pixels that are included in the pixels and are adjacent to the phase difference pixels are arranged two-dimensionally. The individual on-chip lens is arranged for each of the pixels and individually condenses the incident light components on corresponding one of the pixels. The common on-chip lens is commonly arranged in the plurality of phase difference pixels and commonly condenses the incident light component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sachio Nishi, Hironobu Fukagawa, Hideaki Kato, Akimitsu Sato
  • Publication number: 20230007199
    Abstract: A step of forming an on-chip lens of a phase difference pixel is simplified. An imaging element includes a pixel array unit, an individual on-chip lens, a common on-chip lens, and an adjacent on-chip lens. In the pixel array unit, pixels that performs photoelectric conversion according to incident light components, a plurality of phase difference pixels that is included in the pixels, is arranged adjacent to each other, and detects a phase difference, and phase difference pixel adjacent pixels that are included in the pixels and are adjacent to the phase difference pixels are arranged two-dimensionally. The individual on-chip lens is arranged for each of the pixels and individually condenses the incident light components on corresponding one of the pixels. The common on-chip lens is commonly arranged in the plurality of phase difference pixels and commonly condenses the incident light component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2022
    Publication date: January 5, 2023
    Inventors: SACHIO NISHI, HIRONOBU FUKAGAWA, HIDEAKI KATO, AKIMITSU SATO
  • Patent number: 11477403
    Abstract: A step of forming an on-chip lens of a phase difference pixel is simplified. An imaging element includes a pixel array unit, an individual on-chip lens, a common on-chip lens, and an adjacent on-chip lens. In the pixel array unit, pixels that performs photoelectric conversion according to incident light components, a plurality of phase difference pixels that is included in the pixels, is arranged adjacent to each other, and detects a phase difference, and phase difference pixel adjacent pixels that are included in the pixels and are adjacent to the phase difference pixels are arranged two-dimensionally. The individual on-chip lens is arranged for each of the pixels and individually condenses the incident light components on corresponding one of the pixels. The common on-chip lens is commonly arranged in the plurality of phase difference pixels and commonly condenses the incident light component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sachio Nishi, Hironobu Fukagawa, Hideaki Kato, Akimitsu Sato
  • Patent number: 11432725
    Abstract: An optical probe includes a lens combination, an optical fiber assembly, and a cover. The lens combination includes a first lens and a second lens. The first lens has a generally planar first lens surface defining an oval edge. The second lens has a generally planar second lens surface operatively coupled to the first lens surface. The second lens has four primary edges and at least two secondary edges connecting pairs of the primary edges. Each primary edge extends in substantially a straight line between two spaced-apart points at the oval edge of the first lens. The optical fiber and the lens combination are configured such that a light beam exiting the optical fiber enters the lens combination at an entering surface of the first lens, passes through the first lens and exits the first lens at the first lens surface. The cover circumferentially surrounds the optical fiber assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Go!Foton Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenichiro Takeuchi, Akimitsu Sato
  • Publication number: 20210368117
    Abstract: A step of forming an on-chip lens of a phase difference pixel is simplified. An imaging element includes a pixel array unit, an individual on-chip lens, a common on-chip lens, and an adjacent on-chip lens. In the pixel array unit, pixels that performs photoelectric conversion according to incident light components, a plurality of phase difference pixels that is included in the pixels, is arranged adjacent to each other, and detects a phase difference, and phase difference pixel adjacent pixels that are included in the pixels and are adjacent to the phase difference pixels are arranged two-dimensionally. The individual on-chip lens is arranged for each of the pixels and individually condenses the incident light components on corresponding one of the pixels. The common on-chip lens is commonly arranged in the plurality of phase difference pixels and commonly condenses the incident light component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2019
    Publication date: November 25, 2021
    Inventors: SACHIO NISHI, HIRONOBU FUKAGAWA, HIDEAKI KATO, AKIMITSU SATO
  • Publication number: 20200187781
    Abstract: An optical probe includes a lens combination, an optical fiber assembly, and a cover. The lens combination includes a first lens and a second lens. The first lens has a generally planar first lens surface defining an oval edge. The second lens has a generally planar second lens surface operatively coupled to the first lens surface. The second lens has four primary edges and at least two secondary edges connecting pairs of the primary edges. Each primary edge extends in substantially a straight line between two spaced-apart points at the oval edge of the first lens. The optical fiber and the lens combination are configured such that a light beam exiting the optical fiber enters the lens combination at an entering surface of the first lens, passes through the first lens and exits the first lens at the first lens surface. The cover circumferentially surrounds the optical fiber assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2020
    Publication date: June 18, 2020
    Applicant: Go!Foton Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenichiro Takeuchi, Akimitsu Sato
  • Patent number: 10631733
    Abstract: An optical probe includes a lens combination, an optical fiber assembly, and a cover. The lens combination includes a first lens and a second lens. The first lens has a generally planar first lens surface defining an oval edge. The second lens has a generally planar second lens surface operatively coupled to the first lens surface. The second lens has four primary edges and at least two secondary edges connecting pairs of the primary edges. Each primary edge extends in substantially a straight line between two spaced-apart points at the oval edge of the first lens. The optical fiber and the lens combination are configured such that a light beam exiting the optical fiber enters the lens combination at an entering surface of the first lens, passes through the first lens and exits the first lens at the first lens surface. The cover circumferentially surrounds the optical fiber assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Go!Foton Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenichiro Takeuchi, Akimitsu Sato
  • Publication number: 20180256032
    Abstract: An optical probe includes a lens combination, an optical fiber assembly, and a cover. The lens combination includes a first lens and a second lens. The first lens has a generally planar first lens surface defining an oval edge. The second lens has a generally planar second lens surface operatively coupled to the first lens surface. The second lens has four primary edges and at least two secondary edges connecting pairs of the primary edges. Each primary edge extends in substantially a straight line between two spaced-apart points at the oval edge of the first lens. The optical fiber and the lens combination are configured such that a light beam exiting the optical fiber enters the lens combination at an entering surface of the first lens, passes through the first lens and exits the first lens at the first lens surface. The cover circumferentially surrounds the optical fiber assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2018
    Publication date: September 13, 2018
    Applicant: Go!Foton Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenichiro Takeuchi, Akimitsu Sato
  • Patent number: 9664851
    Abstract: An optical device has a first frame element and second frame element. At least portions of a plurality of optical fiber pairs of an array each including an exposed end are arranged between the two frame elements. A region is defined between opposing surfaces of the two frame elements to hold the optical fibers. When holding the fibers, the two frame elements cooperate to positionally align and orient the exposed ends of each of the optical fibers for at least one of transmitting and receiving light. An optical system with the device includes a TAP photodiode array such that a portion of light is transmitted from at least a pair of input optical fibers to a corresponding pair of photodiodes of the array, and a portion of light is reflected back from an optical filter to output optical fibers corresponding to the input optical fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Go!Foton Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenichiro Takeuchi, Akimitsu Sato, Hisao Nagata
  • Publication number: 20160266309
    Abstract: An optical device has a first frame element and second frame element. At least portions of a plurality of optical fiber pairs of an array each including an exposed end are arranged between the two frame elements. A region is defined between opposing surfaces of the two frame elements to hold the optical fibers. When holding the fibers, the two frame elements cooperate to positionally align and orient the exposed ends of each of the optical fibers for at least one of transmitting and receiving light. An optical system with the device includes a TAP photodiode array such that a portion of light is transmitted from at least a pair of input optical fibers to a corresponding pair of photodiodes of the array, and a portion of light is reflected back from an optical filter to output optical fibers corresponding to the input optical fibers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2016
    Publication date: September 15, 2016
    Inventors: Kenichiro Takeuchi, Akimitsu Sato, Hisao Nagata
  • Patent number: 9366831
    Abstract: An optical device has a first frame element and second frame element. At least portions of a plurality of optical fiber pairs of an array each including an exposed end are arranged between the two frame elements. A region is defined between opposing surfaces of the two frame elements to hold the optical fibers. When holding the fibers, the two frame elements cooperate to positionally align and orient the exposed ends of each of the optical fibers for at least one of transmitting and receiving light. An optical system with the device includes a TAP photodiode array such that a portion of light is transmitted from at least a pair of input optical fibers to a corresponding pair of photodiodes of the array, and a portion of light is reflected back from an optical filter to output optical fibers corresponding to the input optical fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: Go!Foton Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenichiro Takeuchi, Akimitsu Sato, Hisao Nagata
  • Publication number: 20160018609
    Abstract: An optical device has a first frame element and second frame element. At least portions of a plurality of optical fiber pairs of an array each including an exposed end are arranged between the two frame elements. A region is defined between opposing surfaces of the two frame elements to hold the optical fibers. When holding the fibers, the two frame elements cooperate to positionally align and orient the exposed ends of each of the optical fibers for at least one of transmitting and receiving light. An optical system with the device includes a TAP photodiode array such that a portion of light is transmitted from at least a pair of input optical fibers to a corresponding pair of photodiodes of the array, and a portion of light is reflected back from an optical filter to output optical fibers corresponding to the input optical fibers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2014
    Publication date: January 21, 2016
    Inventors: Kenichiro Takeuchi, Akimitsu Sato, Hisao Nagata
  • Patent number: 9151920
    Abstract: A cable support device having a first portion at a back side thereof and a second portion at a front side opposite the back side of the cable support device, the first portion adapted to couple to a front side of a housing, and the second portion adapted to support a length of at least one cable extending along a direction of the front side of the cable support device, wherein the cable support device is transitionable between a first state and a second state, wherein, in the first state, the second portion extends at a first angle with respect to the front side of the housing, and in the second state, the second portion extends at a second angle with respect to the front side of the housing, the second angle being different from the first angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: Go!Foton Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Haiguang Lu, Kenichiro Takeuchi, Mengjue Wang, Akimitsu Sato
  • Publication number: 20150253529
    Abstract: A cable support device having a first portion at a back side thereof and a second portion at a front side opposite the back side of the cable support device, the first portion adapted to couple to a front side of a housing, and the second portion adapted to support a length of at least one cable extending along a direction of the front side of the cable support device, wherein the cable support device is transitionable between a first state and a second state, wherein, in the first state, the second portion extends at a first angle with respect to the front side of the housing, and in the second state, the second portion extends at a second angle with respect to the front side of the housing, the second angle being different from the first angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2014
    Publication date: September 10, 2015
    Applicant: GO!FOTON HOLDINGS, INC.
    Inventors: Haiguang Lu, Kenichiro Takeuchi, Mengjue Wang, Akimitsu Sato
  • Patent number: 7333693
    Abstract: In an optical tap module, a first lens, a focusing lens, and a photodiode are arranged such that a center axis of a cylindrical case housing the first lens, the focusing lens, and the photodiode is substantially located on the same line. When light propagates through a second optical fiber and is emitted from an end surface facing the first lens so as to be incident on an optical filter, and light transmitted the optical filter is converged by the focusing lens, the photodiode and a chip mounting support are arranged such that a focal point of light is located spatially distant from the surfaces of the photodiode and the chip mounting support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Nippon Sheet Glass Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hisao Nagata, Hideki Hashizume, Akimitsu Sato
  • Publication number: 20070189670
    Abstract: In an optical tap module, a first lens, a focusing lens, and a photodiode are arranged such that a center axis of a cylindrical case housing the first lens, the focusing lens, and the photodiode is substantially located on the same line. When light propagates through a second optical fiber and is emitted from an end surface facing the first lens so as to be incident on an optical filter, and light transmitted the optical filter is converged by the focusing lens, the photodiode and a chip mounting support are arranged such that a focal point of light is located spatially distant from the surfaces of the photodiode and the chip mounting support.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2006
    Publication date: August 16, 2007
    Inventors: Hisao Nagata, Hideki Hashizume, Akimitsu Sato
  • Patent number: 7194160
    Abstract: A filter module includes a first optical fiber collimator, a second optical fiber collimator, and a filter located between the first and second optical fiber collimators. The first optical fiber collimator includes a first optical fiber, a first optical fiber chip for holding the first optical fiber, and a first lens. The second optical fiber collimator includes second optical fibers, a second optical fiber chip for holding the second optical fiber, and a second lens. The filter is located between and coaxial with the first and second lenses. The filter, the first lens, and the second lens form a center piece of the filter module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: Nippon Sheet Glass Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Tanaka, Akimitsu Sato, Takeshi Ishimaru, Takashi Fukuzawa
  • Patent number: 6888652
    Abstract: A method of aligning a fiber collimator in a short time. Light emitted from a collimator is reflected by a mirror. Reflected light passes through the collimator, and is measured by a light intensity measuring device. Rotating bodies rotatably support the mirror about an X-axis and a Y-axis orthogonal to the optical axis. An aligner simultaneously drives the rotating bodies to scan an optimal angle for the mirror. With the mirror fixed at the optimal angle, the distance between a collimation lens of the collimator and the optical fiber is changed. Subsequently, the optimal angle of the mirror is again scanned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2005
    Assignee: Nippon Sheet Glass Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Miyake, Akimitsu Sato, Takashi Fukuzawa