Patents by Inventor Atsushi Toda

Atsushi Toda 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: 10236318
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a solid-state imaging device, a driving method for the same, and an electronic appliance, and an object is to provide a solid-state imaging device that can achieve the pixel miniaturization and the global shutter function with higher sensitivity and saturated charge amount. Another object is to provide an electronic appliance including the solid-state imaging device. In a solid-state imaging device 1 having the global shutter function, a first charge accumulation unit 18 and a second charge accumulation unit 25 are stacked in the depth direction of a substrate 12, and the transfer of the signal charges from the first charge accumulation unit 12 to the second charge accumulation unit 25 is conducted by a vertical first transfer transistor Tr1. Thus, the pixel miniaturization can be achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Atsushi Toda
  • Patent number: 10228635
    Abstract: A developer container includes: a housing chamber 147 which includes an opening 145 and which houses developer; a stirring member 160 which includes a sheet-like stirring portion 160b and a rotary shaft 160a to which the stirring portion 160b is attached; and a first electrode 143 and a second electrode 144 which are used to detect an amount of the developer and which are arranged with an interval therebetween, wherein an area X1 between the first electrode 143 and the second electrode 144 in the housing chamber 147 is positioned below the rotary shaft 160a of the stirring member 160, and the sheet-like stirring portion 160b comes into contact with the area X1 due to rotation of the stirring member 160.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masahito Kato, Kenta Shibukawa, Kazumi Yamauchi, Katsuichi Abe, Naoya Asanuma, Atsushi Toda, Yosuke Kishi, Naoki Fukushima
  • Patent number: 10220764
    Abstract: A vehicular head-lighting system includes: an identification unit that from a plurality of zones defined in front of a driver's vehicle identifies a zone in which a frontward vehicle is located; and a selection unit that in accordance with the zone identified by the identification unit selects from the plurality of light distribution patterns a light distribution pattern that is to be formed. The selection unit selects the low beam light distribution pattern when the identification unit identifies the frontward vehicle as being located in the first zone, selects the adaptive high beam light distribution pattern when the identification unit identifies the frontward vehicle as being located in the second zone, and maintains the currently selected light distribution pattern when the identification unit identifies the frontward vehicle as being located in the transitional zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Atsushi Toda, Yutaka Nakanishi
  • Publication number: 20180367746
    Abstract: There is provided an imaging device, an electronic apparatus including an imaging device, and an automotive vehicle including an electronic apparatus including an imaging device, including: a first substrate including a first set of photoelectric conversion units; a second substrate including a second set of photoelectric conversion units; and an insulating layer between the first substrate and the second substrate; where the insulating layer has a capability to reflect a first wavelength range of light and transmit a second wavelength range of light that is longer than the first wavelength range of light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2016
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Atsushi TODA
  • Publication number: 20180337216
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a solid-state imaging device that can achieve a high S/N ratio at a high sensitivity level without any decrease in resolution, and to an electronic apparatus. In the upper layer, the respective pixels of a photoelectric conversion unit that absorbs light of a first wavelength are tilted at approximately 45 degrees with respect to a square pixel array, and are two-dimensionally arranged in horizontal directions and vertical directions in an oblique array. The respective pixels of a photoelectric conversion unit that is sensitive to light of a second or third wavelength are arranged under the first photoelectric conversion unit. That is, pixels that are ?2 times as large in size (twice as large in area) and are rotated 45 degrees are arranged in an oblique array. The present disclosure can be applied to solid-state imaging devices that are used in imaging apparatuses, for example.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2015
    Publication date: November 22, 2018
    Inventor: Atsushi TODA
  • Patent number: 10119806
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes: a light emitting unit configured to emit light; an optical unit configured to induce an optical influence to the light from the light emitting unit, the optical unit having an astigmatic lens configured to generate astigmatism with a plurality of focal lengths; a detecting unit configured to detect the light emitted in the light emitting unit, radiated outside through the optical unit, and reflected by an object; and a measuring unit configured to measure a distance to the object based on astigmatism generated in the reflection light detected in the detecting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Atsushi Toda
  • Patent number: 10096657
    Abstract: A solid-state image pickup device includes at least two stacked first and second photoelectric conversion sections in each of a plurality of pixels. Sensitivity of the first photoelectric conversion section to a light incident angle is equivalent to sensitivity of the second photoelectric conversion section to a light incident angle, for each of the pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keisuke Hatano, Atsushi Toda
  • Patent number: 10074682
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a solid-state imaging device that can perform phase difference detection at a high sensitivity even in fine pixels, and an electronic apparatus. Pixels of the solid-state imaging device share one on-chip lens, and the pixels each have an in-layer lens below the on-chip lens. The present disclosure can be applied to various kinds of electronic apparatuses, such as solid-state imaging devices, imaging apparatuses like digital still cameras and digital video cameras, portable telephone devices having imaging functions, and audio players having imaging functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Atsushi Toda
  • Publication number: 20180239276
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a developer container including a frame configured to define a developer containing portion, a first electrode, and a second electrode arranged on a surface of the frame and having a surface opposed to the first electrode, a developer amount in the developer containing portion being detected based on a capacitance between the first electrode and the second electrode, the method including: holding a conductive resin member constituting the second electrode on a mold configured to mold the frame, a surface of the conductive resin member being in contact with a surface of the mold configured to mold a surface of the frame on a side of the developer containing portion; injecting a resin to be formed into the frame, into the mold on which the conductive resin member is held; and curing the resin to form the frame to which the second electrode is fixed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2018
    Publication date: August 23, 2018
    Inventors: Taku Watanabe, Masahito Kato, Go Shindo, Atsushi Toda, Katsuichi Abe, Motonari Ito, Akira Suzuki, Junichi Matsumura, Naoki Matsumaru
  • Publication number: 20180211990
    Abstract: To improve detection efficiency in a solid-state imaging element including a SPAD in which an electrode and wiring are placed in a central portion. A solid-state imaging element includes a photodiode and a light collecting section. The photodiode includes a light receiving surface and an electrode placed on the light receiving surface, and that outputs an electrical signal in accordance with light incident on the light receiving surface in a state where a voltage exceeding a breakdown voltage is applied to the electrode. The light collecting section causes light from a subject to be collected in the light receiving surface other than a region where the electrode is placed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2016
    Publication date: July 26, 2018
    Inventors: Yuhi YORIKADO, Atsushi TODA, Susumu INOUE
  • Publication number: 20180182789
    Abstract: The present technology relates to a solid-state image sensing device for preventing a reduction in light receiving sensitivity of an avalanche photodiode, an electronic device, and a method for manufacturing the solid-state image sensing device. A solid-state image sensing device includes an avalanche photodiode having a first region of a first conductive type, a second region of a second conductive type different from the first conductive type, and an avalanche region sandwiched between the first region and the second region, which extend in a thickness direction of a semiconductor substrate, and a film formed on at least one side of the semiconductor substrate and including a metal oxide film, a metal nitride film, or a mix crystal-based film of metal oxide film and metal nitride film. The present technology can be applied to CMOS image sensors, for example.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2016
    Publication date: June 28, 2018
    Inventors: SUSUMU INOUE, YUHI YORIKADO, ATSUSHI TODA
  • Patent number: 9989888
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a developer container including a frame configured to define a developer containing portion, a first electrode, and a second electrode arranged on a surface of the frame and having a surface opposed to the first electrode, a developer amount in the developer containing portion being detected based on a capacitance between the first electrode and the second electrode, the method including: holding a conductive resin member constituting the second electrode on a mold configured to mold the frame, a surface of the conductive resin member being in contact with a surface of the mold configured to mold a surface of the frame on a side of the developer containing portion; injecting a resin to be formed into the frame, into the mold on which the conductive resin member is held; and curing the resin to form the frame to which the second electrode is fixed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Taku Watanabe, Masahito Kato, Go Shindo, Atsushi Toda, Katsuichi Abe, Motonari Ito, Akira Suzuki, Junichi Matsumura, Naoki Matsumaru
  • Patent number: 9947703
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a solid-state imaging device that can be made smaller in size, a method of manufacturing the solid-state imaging device, and an electronic apparatus. The solid-state imaging device includes a photoelectric conversion film that performs photoelectric conversion of light emitted from the back surface side of the semiconductor substrate. Also, in each pixel, a charge accumulation layer is formed to be in contact with the photoelectric conversion film on the back surface of the semiconductor substrate, a transfer path unit is formed to extend from the charge accumulation layer to a point near the front surface of the semiconductor substrate, and a memory unit is disposed near the back surface side of the semiconductor substrate, with a charge transfer gate being interposed between the memory unit and the transfer path unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenji Azami, Yusuke Otake, Yuko Ohgishi, Toshifumi Wakano, Atsushi Toda
  • Publication number: 20180097026
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes a substrate and a photoelectric conversion region. The substrate has a charge accumulation region. The photoelectric conversion region is provided on the substrate. The photoelectric conversion region is configured to generate signal charges to be accumulated in the charge accumulation region. The photoelectric conversion region comprises a material that is not transparent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2017
    Publication date: April 5, 2018
    Inventors: Atsushi Toda, Teruo Hirayama
  • Patent number: 9927733
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a rotatable photosensitive drum including a photosensitive layer; a drum charging member contacted or disposed closely to the drum, to be supplied with a DC voltage; a developing device; a transfer member for transferring a toner image onto a toner image receiving member; a device for applying to the transfer member a transfer bias voltage; a light projecting portion for projecting light to the drum before the charging and after the image transfer; a controller for controlling a quantity of the projected light, on the basis of the transfer bias and a film thickness of the photosensitive layer, wherein under a condition that the transfer bias is the same, the light amount controlled by the controller is smaller when the film thickness is a fourth value than when it is a third value, the fourth value being smaller than the third value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yosuke Kishi, Atsushi Toda, Naoki Fukushima
  • Publication number: 20180081300
    Abstract: A developer container includes: a housing chamber 147 which includes an opening 145 and which houses developer; a stirring member 160 which includes a sheet-like stirring portion 160b and a rotary shaft 160a to which the stirring portion 160b is attached; and a first electrode 143 and a second electrode 144 which are used to detect an amount of the developer and which are arranged with an interval therebetween, wherein an area X1 between the first electrode 143 and the second electrode 144 in the housing chamber 147 is positioned below the rotary shaft 160a of the stirring member 160, and the sheet-like stirring portion 160b comes into contact with the area X1 due to rotation of the stirring member 160.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2017
    Publication date: March 22, 2018
    Inventors: Masahito Kato, Kenta Shibukawa, Kazumi Yamauchi, Katsuichi Abe, Naoya Asanuma, Atsushi Toda, Yosuke Kishi, Naoki Fukushima
  • Publication number: 20180081099
    Abstract: The present technology relates to a solid-state imaging device, a method of manufacturing the same, and an electronic device capable of improving sensitivity in a certain wavelength band and at the same time reducing color mixture of light of other wavelength bands in a photoelectric conversion unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2016
    Publication date: March 22, 2018
    Inventor: ATSUSHI TODA
  • Publication number: 20180040653
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a solid-state imaging element and an electronic apparatus capable of suppressing color mixing and sensitivity reduction in each of pixels of a solid-state imaging element having a vertical spectral structure. A solid-state imaging element according to a first aspect of the present disclosure is a solid-state imaging element including a vertical spectral structure pixel containing a plurality of photoelectric conversion units stacked in layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2016
    Publication date: February 8, 2018
    Inventor: ATSUSHI TODA
  • Publication number: 20180004124
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an agitating member, a first electrode, a second electrode disposed with a gap from the first electrode such that the gap has a smallest portion located below a rotation center of the agitating member and a remote portion wider than the smallest portion and located above the smallest portion, and a frame body having a first wall surface having the first electrode disposed thereon and a second wall surface having the second electrode disposed thereon, and a developer detecting unit configured to detect an amount of developer from an output value output in accordance with a capacitance formed between the first electrode and the second electrode. The image forming apparatus performs correction and detects the amount of developer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2017
    Publication date: January 4, 2018
    Inventors: Kenta Shibukawa, Masahito Kato, Atsushi Toda, Taku Watanabe
  • Patent number: 9857767
    Abstract: A process cartridge includes a drum unit configured to rotatably hold a photosensitive drum, a developing unit that is assembled in such a manner as to be rotatable relative to the drum unit and includes a developing roller, gap maintaining members provided to the photosensitive drum or the developing roller on both end portions of the photosensitive drum in an axial direction, and urging members configured to bias the developing unit toward the drum unit. The urging members are respectively disposed on outer sides of the gap maintaining members disposed at both end portions in the axial direction. The drum unit or the developing unit includes an electric contact portion configured to come into contact with an electric contact of an image forming apparatus when the process cartridge is attached to the image forming apparatus, the electric contact portion being disposed between the gap maintaining members in the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naoya Asanuma, Go Torii, Junichi Matsumura, Masahito Kato, Atsushi Toda