Patents by Inventor Akira Kotabe

Akira Kotabe 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: 9572491
    Abstract: A vital signal measurement system including a plurality of terminals aims to facilitate synchronization of each terminal with respect to other terminals. Each of the plurality of terminals (102) is provided with a first vital signal sensor (201) for measuring a vital signal, a first memory (205) for storing a first data which is based on the vital signal, and a first radio communication unit (206) for communicating with other terminals by radio. The first data is applied with a sequence number corresponding to the first data and the number indicates an order in which the first data is acquired. A first terminal (102b) included in the plurality of terminals performs resetting of the sequence number triggered by the synchronous signal which is received by the first radio communication unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsuo Nakagawa, Tomoyuki Ishii, Akira Kotabe
  • Patent number: 9361978
    Abstract: The invention is provided to suppress a current supplied to a storage element so as not to vary for each layer in a semiconductor memory device obtained by connecting a plurality of memory cells in series. A semiconductor memory device according to the invention includes a plurality of memory cells connected in series between a first signal line and a second signal line, and supplies a different gate voltage to at least two of selection transistors included in the memory cells, respectively (refer to FIG. 2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuhiro Shiramizu, Satoru Hanzawa, Akira Kotabe
  • Publication number: 20150230706
    Abstract: A vital signal measurement system including a plurality of terminals aims to facilitate synchronization of each terminal with respect to other terminals. Each of the plurality of terminals (102) is provided with a first vital signal sensor (201) for measuring a vital signal, a first memory (205) for storing a first data which is based on the vital signal, and a first radio communication unit (206) for communicating with other terminals by radio. The first data is applied with a sequence number corresponding to the first data and the number indicates an order in which the first data is acquired. A first terminal (102b) included in the plurality of terminals performs resetting of the sequence number triggered by the synchronous signal which is received by the first radio communication unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2012
    Publication date: August 20, 2015
    Inventors: Tatsuo Nakagawa, Tomoyuki Ishii, Akira Kotabe
  • Publication number: 20150221367
    Abstract: The invention is provided to suppress a current supplied to a storage element so as not to vary for each layer in a semiconductor memory device obtained by connecting a plurality of memory cells in series. A semiconductor memory device according to the invention includes a plurality of memory cells connected in series between a first signal line and a second signal line, and supplies a different gate voltage to at least two of selection transistors included in the memory cells, respectively (refer to FIG. 2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2012
    Publication date: August 6, 2015
    Inventors: Nobuhiro Shiramizu, Satoru Hanzawa, Akira Kotabe
  • Patent number: 9099177
    Abstract: With the aim of providing a semiconductor memory device being suitable for miniaturization and allowing a contact resistance to lower, the wiring structure of a memory array (MA) is formed as follows. That is, word lines (2) and bit lines (3) are extended in parallel to each other, each of the word lines is bundled with another word line, each of the bit lines is bundled with another bit line, and two bit lines formed vertically over respective bundled two word lines are separated electrically. Such a configuration makes it possible to: form a larger contact at a bundling section (MLC) of wires; and lower a contact resistance in the memory array suitable for miniaturization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Sasago, Masaharu Kinoshita, Akira Kotabe, Takashi Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20150137386
    Abstract: There is provided a semiconductor device which includes a plurality of first through-substrate vias that are used to supply power from a first power supply and that penetrate through a substrate structure, and a plurality of second through-substrate vias that are used to supply power from a second power supply different from the first power supply and that penetrate through a substrate structure. The semiconductor device also includes a through-substrate via string composed by the first and second through-substrate vias, in which the first through-substrate vias are located adjacent to one another and the second through-substrate vias are also located adjacent to one another. The through-substrate via string is disposed in the substrate structure for extending in a first direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2014
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Applicant: PS4 Luxco S.a.r.l.
    Inventors: Kazuo ONO, Riichiro TAKEMURA, Takamasa SUZUKI, Kazuhiko KAJIGAYA, Akira KOTABE, Yoshimitsu YANAGAWA
  • Patent number: 8976608
    Abstract: A semiconductor integrated circuit device that detects an operation error of an SRAM caused by a device variation fluctuating with time is provided. In the SRAM, a memory cell has a transfer MOS transistor whose gate is connected to a word line. At the time of a write test of the memory cell, a control circuit including a test/normal operation selection circuit and a word line driver circuit applies a third voltage to the word line in a preparation period before writing test data, thereafter a first voltage to the word line, and a second voltage to the word line at the end of writing. Due to this, the threshold voltage of the transfer MOS transistor, which fluctuates with time, can be controlled. Therefore, it is possible to enhance detection efficiency for a malfunctioning cell of the SRAM due to a temporal variation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Goichi Ono, Yusuke Kanno, Akira Kotabe
  • Patent number: 8964478
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a sense amplifier circuit. The sense amplifier circuit includes a cross-coupled first transistor and second transistor that perform amplification. The sources of the cross-coupled transistors are respectively connected in series with a third transistor and a fourth transistor, and electrical current supply capability of the third and fourth transistors is controlled by a control voltage given to control electrodes of the third and fourth transistors. In a data retaining period, a minimum sub-threshold current necessary for retaining the data is flowed to the third and fourth transistors according to the control voltage, and bit line potential is maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: PS4 Luxco S.a.r.l.
    Inventors: Shinichi Takayama, Akira Kotabe, Kiyoo Itoh, Tomonori Sekiguchi
  • Publication number: 20150041885
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes: a sense amplifier; a plurality of memory cell arrays; a shared MOS transistor that connects/disconnects the sense amplifier and a bit line included in the memory cell arrays; and a control circuit that controls operation of the shared MOS transistor. A part or whole of an in-sense-amplifier bit line that is a bit line connecting the sense amplifier and the shared MOS transistor is embedded in a semiconductor substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2014
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Inventors: Soichiro Yoshida, Yoshimitsu Yanagawa, Tomonori Sekiguchi, Akira Kotabe
  • Patent number: 8922025
    Abstract: There is provided a semiconductor device which includes a plurality of first through-substrate vias that are used to supply power from a first power supply and that penetrate through a substrate structure, and a plurality of second through-substrate vias that are used to supply power from a second power supply different from the first power supply and that penetrate through a substrate structure. The semiconductor device also includes a through-substrate via string composed by the first and second through-substrate vias, in which the first through-substrate vias are located adjacent to one another and the second through-substrate vias are also located adjacent to one another. The through-substrate via string is disposed in the substrate structure for extending in a first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: PS4 Luxco S.a.r.l.
    Inventors: Kazuo Ono, Riichiro Takemura, Takamasa Suzuki, Kazuhiko Kajigaya, Akira Kotabe, Yoshimitsu Yanagawa
  • Patent number: 8901712
    Abstract: The technical problem to be solved is to achieve high density with simple manufacturing process to decrease bit costs of memory. A semiconductor memory device according to a first aspect of the present invention includes a variable resistance material layer and a channel layer that are connected in series between a first diffusion layer and a metal wire, thereby separating the metal wire and a channel semiconductor layer. A semiconductor memory device according to a second aspect of the present invention includes a variable resistance material layer electrically connecting channel semiconductor layers opposed to each other in a first direction and electrically connecting channel semiconductor layers adjacent to each other in a second direction, wherein a plurality of the channel semiconductor layers is disposed in the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Sasago, Akira Kotabe
  • Patent number: 8872258
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes: a sense amplifier; a plurality of memory cell arrays; a shared MOS transistor that connects/disconnects the sense amplifier and a bit line included in the memory cell arrays; and a control circuit that controls operation of the shared MOS transistor. A part or whole of an in-sense-amplifier bit line that is a bit line connecting the sense amplifier and the shared MOS transistor is embedded in a semiconductor substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: PS4 Luxco S.A.R.L.
    Inventors: Soichiro Yoshida, Yoshimitsu Yanagawa, Tomonori Sekiguchi, Akira Kotabe
  • Patent number: 8860476
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a device that includes a delay line that includes n delay circuits cascade-connected and delays an input clock signal by k cycles, and a routing circuit that generates multi-phase clock signals having different phases based on at least a part of n output clock signals output from the n delay circuits, respectively. The n and the k are both integers more than 1 and a greatest common divisor thereof is 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: PS4 Luxco S.A.R.L.
    Inventors: Yoshimitsu Yanagawa, Tomonori Sekiguchi, Akira Kotabe, Takamasa Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20140218999
    Abstract: With the aim of providing a semiconductor memory device being suitable for miniaturization and allowing a contact resistance to lower, the wiring structure of a memory array (MA) is formed as follows. That is, word lines (2) and bit lines (3) are extended in parallel to each other, each of the word lines is bundled with another word line, each of the bit lines is bundled with another bit line, and two bit lines formed vertically over respective bundled two word lines are separated electrically. Such a configuration makes it possible to: form a larger contact at a bundling section (MLC) of wires; and lower a contact resistance in the memory array suitable for miniaturization.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2011
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Sasago, Masaharu Kinoshita, Akira Kotabe, Takashi Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20140154790
    Abstract: Provided is a device that, on the basis of a measurement result of a current that has a low value and a wide distribution, identifies the composition of biological molecules passing through a nanoparticle path. This biomolecule information analysis device obtains a current value by applying an electrical field to biomolecules passing through a gap between a first electrode and a second electrode, and identifies the structure of the biomolecules by integrating the current value and making a comparison with a reference value (see FIG. 1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2011
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: HITACHI, LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuo Ono, Tatsuo Nakagawa, Yoshimitsu Yanagawa, Takayuki Kawahara, Akira Kotabe, Riichiro Takemura
  • Publication number: 20140132317
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a device that includes a delay line that includes n delay circuits cascade-connected and delays an input clock signal by k cycles, and a routing circuit that generates multi-phase clock signals having different phases based on at least a part of n output clock signals output from the n delay circuits, respectively. The n and the k are both integers more than 1 and a greatest common divisor thereof is 1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2014
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Inventors: Yoshimitsu YANAGAWA, Tomonori Sekiguchi, Akira Kotabe, Takamasa Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8643413
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a device that includes a delay line that includes n delay circuits cascade-connected and delays an input clock signal by k cycles, and a routing circuit that generates multi-phase clock signals having different phases based on at least a part of n output clock signals output from the n delay circuits, respectively. The n and the k are both integers more than 1 and a greatest common divisor thereof is 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Inventors: Yoshimitsu Yanagawa, Tomonori Sekiguchi, Akira Kotabe, Takamasa Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8638121
    Abstract: A device is disclosed herein, which may be used a level-shift circuit. The device includes first, second and third power supply lines supplied respectively with first, second and third power voltages that are different from one another, first and second input terminals and an output terminal, an output circuit coupled to the first power supply line, the first and second input terminals and the output terminal, a first inverter including an input node coupled to the first input terminal and an output node coupled to the second input terminal, a first transistor coupled in series to the first inverter between the second and third power supply lines, the first transistor being rendered non-conductive to deactivate the first inverter, and a control circuit configured to prevent the output terminal from being brought into an electrical floating state during deactivation of the first inverter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Inventors: Takamasa Suzuki, Akira Kotabe, Tomonori Sekiguchi, Riichiro Takemura
  • Publication number: 20140003116
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes first and second global bit lines; first, second, third and fourth sense node; a first sense switch coupled between the first sense node and the first global bit line; a second sense switch coupled between the second sense node and the second global bit line; a third sense switch coupled between the third sense node and the first global bit line; a fourth sense switch coupled between the fourth sense node and the second global bit line; a first sense amplifier including a first terminal coupled to the first sense node and a second terminal coupled to the second sense node; a second sense amplifier including a third terminal coupled to the third sense node and a fourth terminal coupled to the fourth sense node. The first, second, third and fourth terminals respectively have first, second, third and fourth parasitic capacitances substantially equal in capacitance value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2013
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Applicant: Elpida Memory, Inc.
    Inventors: Takenori SATO, Kazuhiko KAJIGAYA, Yoshimitsu YANAGAWA, Tomonori SEKIGUCHI, Akira KOTABE, Satoru AKIYAMA
  • Publication number: 20130328187
    Abstract: There is provided a semiconductor device which includes a plurality of first through-substrate vias that are used to supply power from a first power supply and that penetrate through a substrate structure, and a plurality of second through-substrate vias that are used to supply power from a second power supply different from the first power supply and that penetrate through a substrate structure. The semiconductor device also includes a through-substrate via string composed by the first and second through-substrate vias, in which the first through-substrate vias are located adjacent to one another and the second through-substrate vias are also located adjacent to one another. The through-substrate via string is disposed in the substrate structure for extending in a first direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2013
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Inventors: Kazuo ONO, Riichiro TAKEMURA, Takamasa SUZUKI, Kazuhiko KAJIGAYA, Akira KOTABE, Yoshimitsu YANAGAWA