Patents by Inventor Fumihiro Inui
Fumihiro Inui 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).
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Publication number: 20230343798Abstract: Provided is a photoelectric conversion device including: a first substrate having a first face; photodiodes arranged in the first substrate and each having a first region that generates signal charges by photoelectrically converting an incident light and a second region that receives the signal charges moving from the first region; a first isolation region arranged in the first substrate at a first depth and including a first portion extending in a first direction so as to isolate the second regions from each other; and a second isolation region arranged in the first substrate at a second depth deeper than the first depth from the first face, and including a second portion extending in a second direction intersecting the first direction in plan view so as to isolate the first regions from each other, and the first and second portions are partially overlapped with each other in plan view.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 30, 2023Publication date: October 26, 2023Inventors: Fumihiro Inui, Junji Iwata, Hajime Ikeda, Koichi Fukuda, Kohei Okamoto
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Patent number: 11784195Abstract: An apparatus includes a photodiode including an anode and a cathode, a switch connected to a node of one of the anode and the cathode and to a power supply line via which a driving voltage is supplied, and functioning to switch a resistance value between the node and the power supply line, and a generation unit configured to generate a pulse signal for controlling switching of the switch. The apparatus is operable in one of two modes including a first mode and a second mode, the second mode being usable in a lower luminance condition than a luminance condition in the first mode. In an exposure period for acquiring one frame of signals, the number of pulse signals in the second mode is smaller than in the first mode.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2021Date of Patent: October 10, 2023Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kazuhiro Morimoto, Wataru Endo, Fumihiro Inui
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Patent number: 11742364Abstract: Provided is a photoelectric conversion device including: a first substrate having a first face; photodiodes arranged in the first substrate and each having a first region that generates signal charges by photoelectrically converting an incident light and a second region that receives the signal charges moving from the first region; a first isolation region arranged in the first substrate at a first depth and including a first portion extending in a first direction so as to isolate the second regions from each other; and a second isolation region arranged in the first substrate at a second depth deeper than the first depth from the first face, and including a second portion extending in a second direction intersecting the first direction in plan view so as to isolate the first regions from each other, and the first and second portions are partially overlapped with each other in plan view.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2021Date of Patent: August 29, 2023Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Fumihiro Inui, Junji Iwata, Hajime Ikeda, Koichi Fukuda, Kohei Okamoto
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Patent number: 11528445Abstract: A semiconductor apparatus includes a stack of first and second chips each having a plurality of pixel circuits arranged in a matrix form. The pixel circuit of the a-th row and the e1-th column is connected to the electric circuit of the p-th row and the v-th column. The pixel circuit of the a-th row and the f1-th column is connected to the electric circuit of the q-th row and the v-th column. The pixel circuit of the a-th row and the g1-th column is connected to the electric circuit of the r-th row and the v-th column. The pixel circuit of the a-th row and the h1-th column is connected to the electric circuit of the s-th row and the v-th column.Type: GrantFiled: August 4, 2021Date of Patent: December 13, 2022Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Katsuhito Sakurai, Yoshiaki Takada, Takahiro Shirai, Hideo Kobayashi, Kohichi Nakamura, Daisuke Yoshida, Fumihiro Inui
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Patent number: 11502118Abstract: An imaging device is provided in which a shield wiring is arranged between signal lines of a first set out of a plurality of signal lines, and, in which signal lines of a second set out of a plurality of signal lines are adjacent to each other.Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 2020Date of Patent: November 15, 2022Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Yoichi Wada, Daisuke Yoshida, Fumihiro Inui
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Patent number: 11431929Abstract: Photoelectric conversion device includes stacked first and second substrates. The first substrate includes pixel array, first joint portion arranged in the pixel array and connected to pixels in the pixel array, and power supply pad connected to the first joint portion. The second substrate includes readout circuit to read signal from the pixel array via signal line, and second joint portion jointed to the first joint portion. The readout circuit includes limiter circuit to limit amplitude of potential of the signal line. Power supply terminal of the limiter circuit is connected to the second joint portion, and power supply potential applied to the power supply pad is supplied to the pixels and supplied to the power supply terminal of the limiter circuit via the first and second joint portions.Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 2020Date of Patent: August 30, 2022Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hideo Kobayashi, Daisuke Yoshida, Fumihiro Inui
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Patent number: 11393870Abstract: Provided is a photoelectric conversion device including: a pixel including a plurality of photoelectric conversion units; and a select unit configured to control each of the plurality of photoelectric conversion units to be in an active state or an inactive state. The plurality of photoelectric conversion units has a first group including a first avalanche diode and a second group including a second avalanche diode. The select unit controls the second group to be in the inactive state in a first case of controlling the first group to be in the active state, and the select unit controls the first group to be in the inactive state in a second case of controlling the second group to be in the active state. The pixel has no photoelectric conversion unit which is in the active state in both the first case and the second case.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2019Date of Patent: July 19, 2022Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Fumihiro Inui, Junji Iwata
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Publication number: 20220216251Abstract: An apparatus includes a photodiode including an anode and a cathode, a switch connected to a node of one of the anode and the cathode and to a power supply line via which a driving voltage is supplied, and functioning to switch a resistance value between the node and the power supply line, and a generation unit configured to generate a pulse signal for controlling switching of the switch. The apparatus is operable in one of two modes including a first mode and a second mode, the second mode being usable in a lower luminance condition than a luminance condition in the first mode. In an exposure period for acquiring one frame of signals, the number of pulse signals in the second mode is smaller than in the first mode.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 22, 2021Publication date: July 7, 2022Inventors: Kazuhiro Morimoto, Wataru Endo, Fumihiro Inui
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Publication number: 20220115430Abstract: A photoelectric conversion apparatus includes a semiconductor substrate, a floating diffusion, an amplifying transistor, first and second contact plugs, a wire, and a metal portion. The semiconductor substrate has a first plane and a second plane to be entered by light, and includes a photoelectric conversion element. The amplifying transistor includes a first gate electrode. The first contact plug is connected to the floating diffusion. The second contact plug is connected to the first gate electrode. The wire is configured to electrically connect the first gate electrode and the floating diffusion to each other. The metal portion, which is arranged between the first plane and a third plane, covers at least a part of the photoelectric conversion element in a planar view, and has an opening over which at least a part of the wire is superimposed in a planar view.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2021Publication date: April 14, 2022Inventors: Yusuke Onuki, Fumihiro Inui
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Patent number: 11268851Abstract: A photoelectric conversion apparatus includes a first substrate including a pixel array, a second substrate including a readout circuit configured to read out a signal from the pixel array, and a drive terminal to which a drive potential is externally applied. The readout circuit includes a first node to which the drive potential is supplied from the drive terminal via an electrically conductive line arranged in the pixel array, and a second node to which the drive potential is supplied from the drive terminal without going through the pixel array.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2020Date of Patent: March 8, 2022Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hideo Kobayashi, Fumihiro Inui, Daisuke Yoshida
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Patent number: 11239272Abstract: A photoelectric conversion apparatus includes a semiconductor substrate, a floating diffusion, an amplifying transistor, first and second contact plugs, a wire, and a metal portion. The semiconductor substrate has a first plane and a second plane to be entered by light, and includes a photoelectric conversion element. The amplifying transistor includes a first gate electrode. The first contact plug is connected to the floating diffusion. The second contact plug is connected to the first gate electrode. The wire is configured to electrically connect the first gate electrode and the floating diffusion to each other. The metal portion, which is arranged between the first plane and a third plane, covers at least a part of the photoelectric conversion element in a planar view, and has an opening over which at least a part of the wire is superimposed in a planar view.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 2019Date of Patent: February 1, 2022Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Yusuke Onuki, Fumihiro Inui
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Publication number: 20210368121Abstract: A semiconductor apparatus includes a stack of first and second chips each having a plurality of pixel circuits arranged in a matrix form. The pixel circuit of the a-th row and the e1-th column is connected to the electric circuit of the p-th row and the v-th column. The pixel circuit of the a-th row and the f1-th column is connected to the electric circuit of the q-th row and the v-th column. The pixel circuit of the a-th row and the g1-th column is connected to the electric circuit of the r-th row and the v-th column. The pixel circuit of the a-th row and the h1-th column is connected to the electric circuit of the s-th row and the v-th column.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 4, 2021Publication date: November 25, 2021Inventors: Katsuhito Sakurai, Yoshiaki Takada, Takahiro Shirai, Hideo Kobayashi, Kohichi Nakamura, Daisuke Yoshida, Fumihiro Inui
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Publication number: 20210368120Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes a first and second pixel regions. In the first pixel region, a photoelectric conversion unit, a floating diffusion region (FD), and a transferring transistor are provided. In the second pixel region, an amplifying transistor, and a resetting transistor are provided. A first element isolation portion is provided in the first pixel region, while a second element isolation portion is provided in the second pixel region. An amount of protrusion of an insulating film into a semiconductor substrate in the first element isolation portion is smaller, than that in the second element isolation portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 3, 2021Publication date: November 25, 2021Inventors: Mineo Shimotsusa, Fumihiro Inui
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Publication number: 20210296383Abstract: Provided is a photoelectric conversion device including: a first substrate having a first face; photodiodes arranged in the first substrate and each having a first region that generates signal charges by photoelectrically converting an incident light and a second region that receives the signal charges moving from the first region; a first isolation region arranged in the first substrate at a first depth and including a first portion extending in a first direction so as to isolate the second regions from each other; and a second isolation region arranged in the first substrate at a second depth deeper than the first depth from the first face, and including a second portion extending in a second direction intersecting the first direction in plan view so as to isolate the first regions from each other, and the first and second portions are partially overlapped with each other in plan view.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 4, 2021Publication date: September 23, 2021Inventors: Fumihiro Inui, Junji Iwata, Hajime Ikeda, Koichi Fukuda, Kohei Okamoto
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Patent number: 11108986Abstract: A semiconductor apparatus includes a stack of first and second chips each having a plurality of pixel circuits arranged in a matrix form. The pixel circuit of the a-th row and the e1-th column is connected to the electric circuit of the p-th row and the v-th column. The pixel circuit of the a-th row and the f1-th column is connected to the electric circuit of the q-th row and the v-th column. The pixel circuit of the a-th row and the g1-th column is connected to the electric circuit of the r-th row and the v-th column. The pixel circuit of the a-th row and the h1-th column is connected to the electric circuit of the s-th row and the v-th column.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 2020Date of Patent: August 31, 2021Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Katsuhito Sakurai, Yoshiaki Takada, Takahiro Shirai, Hideo Kobayashi, Kohichi Nakamura, Daisuke Yoshida, Fumihiro Inui
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Patent number: 11108982Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes a first and second pixel regions. In the first pixel region, a photoelectric conversion unit, a floating diffusion region (FD), and a transferring transistor are provided. In the second pixel region, an amplifying transistor, and a resetting transistor are provided. A first element isolation portion is provided in the first pixel region, while a second element isolation portion is provided in the second pixel region. An amount of protrusion of an insulating film into a semiconductor substrate in the first element isolation portion is smaller, than that in the second element isolation portion.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2019Date of Patent: August 31, 2021Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Mineo Shimotsusa, Fumihiro Inui
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Publication number: 20210258529Abstract: A unit circuit includes a photoelectric conversion element, an output transistor including an input node and configured to output a signal based on a charge from the photoelectric conversion element, a reset transistor, and a first transistor connected to the input node and configured to change a capacitance of the input node. A first control signal supplied to a gate electrode of the first transistor has at least three types of voltages.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 30, 2021Publication date: August 19, 2021Inventors: Yu Arishima, Masahiro Kobayashi, Koichiro Iwata, Fumihiro Inui
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Patent number: 11076117Abstract: A method of driving a solid-state imaging device includes: setting voltage of an input node of an amplifier unit to a first voltage by using logarithmic compression to convert current generated by charges overflowing from a photoelectric conversion unit to the input node into voltage corresponding to the current, transferring charges from the photoelectric conversion unit to the input node, setting voltage of the input node to a second voltage by converting the charges into voltage corresponding to the charges, at the amplifier unit, outputting a first signal based on the first voltage and a second signal based on the second voltage, performing the logarithmic compression by using a diode connected to the input node, and acquiring, as a reference signal, an output of the amplifier unit when the input node is set to a third voltage defined in accordance with a threshold voltage of the diode.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2019Date of Patent: July 27, 2021Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Fumihiro Inui
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Patent number: 11056519Abstract: Provided is a photoelectric conversion device including: a first substrate having a first face; photodiodes arranged in the first substrate and each having a first region that generates signal charges by photoelectrically converting an incident light and a second region that receives the signal charges moving from the first region; a first isolation region arranged in the first substrate at a first depth and including a first portion extending in a first direction so as to isolate the second regions from each other; and a second isolation region arranged in the first substrate at a second depth deeper than the first depth from the first face, and including a second portion extending in a second direction intersecting the first direction in plan view so as to isolate the first regions from each other, and the first and second portions are partially overlapped with each other in plan view.Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 2020Date of Patent: July 6, 2021Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Fumihiro Inui, Junji Iwata, Hajime Ikeda, Koichi Fukuda, Kohei Okamoto
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Patent number: 11025848Abstract: A unit circuit includes a photoelectric conversion element, an output transistor including an input node and configured to output a signal based on a charge from the photoelectric conversion element, a reset transistor, and a first transistor connected to the input node and configured to change a capacitance of the input node. A first control signal supplied to a gate electrode of the first transistor has at least three types of voltages.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 2019Date of Patent: June 1, 2021Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Yu Arishima, Masahiro Kobayashi, Koichiro Iwata, Fumihiro Inui