Patents by Inventor Go Asayama

Go Asayama 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: 9882574
    Abstract: A DA converter includes a first DA conversion section for obtaining an analog output signal in accordance with a digital input signal value, and a second DA conversion section for obtaining an analog gain control output signal in accordance with a digital gain control input signal value. In the DA converter, the gain control of the analog output signal generated by the first DA conversion section is performed on the basis of the gain control output signal generated by the second DA conversion section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Go Asayama, Noriyuki Fukushima, Yoshikazu Nitta, Yoshinori Muramatsu, Kiyotaka Amano
  • Publication number: 20170318252
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes: a pixel unit in which pixels are arranged in a matrix pattern; and a pixel signal read-out unit including an AD conversion unit performing analog-to-digital (AD) conversion of a pixel signal read out from the pixel unit, wherein each pixel included in the pixel unit includes division pixels divided into regions in which photosensitivity levels or electric charge accumulating amounts are different from one another, the pixel signal reading unit includes a normal read-out mode and a multiple read-out mode, and includes a function of changing a configuration of a frame in accordance with a change of the read-out mode, and wherein the AD conversion unit acquires a pixel signal of one pixel by adding the division pixel signals while performing AD conversion for the division pixel signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2017
    Publication date: November 2, 2017
    Inventors: Yusuke Minagawa, Go Asayama
  • Patent number: 9769409
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes: a pixel unit in which pixels are arranged in a matrix pattern; and a pixel signal read-out unit including an AD conversion unit performing analog-to-digital (AD) conversion of a pixel signal read out from the pixel unit, wherein each pixel included in the pixel unit includes division pixels divided into regions in which photosensitivity levels or electric charge accumulating amounts are different from one another, the pixel signal reading unit includes a normal read-out mode and a multiple read-out mode, and includes a function of changing a configuration of a frame in accordance with a change of the read-out mode, and wherein the AD conversion unit acquires a pixel signal of one pixel by adding the division pixel signals while performing AD conversion for the division pixel signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yusuke Minagawa, Go Asayama
  • Patent number: 9607971
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first substrate that has a sensing portion that detects predetermined information, a second substrate that has a first processing portion that processes data supplied thereto from the sensing portion, and a third substrate having a second processing portion that processes data supplied thereto either from the first substrate or from the second substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Go Asayama, Anup Sharma
  • Publication number: 20160218731
    Abstract: A DA converter includes a first DA conversion section for obtaining an analog output signal in accordance with a digital input signal value, and a second DA conversion section for obtaining an analog gain control output signal in accordance with a digital gain control input signal value. In the DA converter, the gain control of the analog output signal generated by the first DA conversion section is performed on the basis of the gain control output signal generated by the second DA conversion section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2015
    Publication date: July 28, 2016
    Inventors: Go Asayama, Noriyuki Fukushima, Yoshikazu Nitta, Yoshinori Muramatsu, Kiyotaka Amano
  • Patent number: 9344637
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method that can efficiently generate a wide dynamic range image to which each piece of pixel information of a high sensitivity pixel and a low sensitivity pixel is applied are realized. High sensitivity pixel information obtained by adding pixel values of a plurality of high sensitivity pixels and low sensitivity pixel information obtained by adding pixel values of a plurality of low sensitivity pixels are output as output pixel signals from pixels of different sensitivities from a pixel unit, these pixel information are combined in a pixel information combining unit, an output pixel value is determined, and an output image of a wide dynamic range is output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Masanori Kasai, Go Asayama
  • Patent number: 9264057
    Abstract: A DA converter includes a first DA conversion section for obtaining an analog output signal in accordance with a digital input signal value, and a second DA conversion section for obtaining an analog gain control output signal in accordance with a digital gain control input signal value. In the DA converter, the gain control of the analog output signal generated by the first DA conversion section is performed on the basis of the gain control output signal generated by the second DA conversion section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Go Asayama, Noriyuki Fukushima, Yoshikazu Nitta, Yoshinori Muramatsu, Kiyotaka Amano
  • Publication number: 20150288905
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes: a pixel unit in which pixels are arranged in a matrix pattern; and a pixel signal read-out unit including an AD conversion unit performing analog-to-digital (AD) conversion of a pixel signal read out from the pixel unit, wherein each pixel included in the pixel unit includes division pixels divided into regions in which photosensitivity levels or electric charge accumulating amounts are different from one another, the pixel signal reading unit includes a normal read-out mode and a multiple read-out mode, and includes a function of changing a configuration of a frame in accordance with a change of the read-out mode, and wherein the AD conversion unit acquires a pixel signal of one pixel by adding the division pixel signals while performing AD conversion for the division pixel signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2015
    Publication date: October 8, 2015
    Inventors: Yusuke Minagawa, Go Asayama
  • Patent number: 9137472
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes: a pixel unit in which pixels are arranged in a matrix pattern; and a pixel signal read-out unit including an AD conversion unit performing analog-to-digital (AD) conversion of a pixel signal read out from the pixel unit, wherein each pixel included in the pixel unit includes division pixels divided into regions in which photosensitivity levels or electric charge accumulating amounts are different from one another, the pixel signal reading unit includes a normal read-out mode and a multiple read-out mode, and includes a function of changing a configuration of a frame in accordance with a change of the read-out mode, and wherein the AD conversion unit acquires a pixel signal of one pixel by adding the division pixel signals while performing AD conversion for the division pixel signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yusuke Minagawa, Go Asayama
  • Publication number: 20150054996
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes: a pixel unit in which pixels are arranged in a matrix pattern; and a pixel signal read-out unit including an AD conversion unit performing analog-to-digital (AD) conversion of a pixel signal read out from the pixel unit, wherein each pixel included in the pixel unit includes division pixels divided into regions in which photosensitivity levels or electric charge accumulating amounts are different from one another, the pixel signal reading unit includes a normal read-out mode and a multiple read-out mode, and includes a function of changing a configuration of a frame in accordance with a change of the read-out mode, and wherein the AD conversion unit acquires a pixel signal of one pixel by adding the division pixel signals while performing AD conversion for the division pixel signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2014
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Inventors: Yusuke Minagawa, Go Asayama
  • Publication number: 20150042853
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes: a pixel unit in which a plurality of pixels are arranged in a matrix pattern; and a pixel signal read-out unit including an AD conversion unit performing AD conversion of a pixel signal read out from the pixel unit, wherein each pixel included in the pixel unit includes division pixels divided into regions in which photosensitivity levels or electric charge accumulating amounts are different from one another, wherein the pixel signal reading unit includes a normal read-out mode and a multiple read-out mode, and wherein the AD conversion unit acquires a pixel signal of one pixel by adding the division pixel signals read out in accordance with the read-out mode while performing AD conversion for the division pixel signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2014
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Inventors: Yusuke Minagawa, Go Asayama
  • Publication number: 20150014516
    Abstract: A DA converter includes a first DA conversion section for obtaining an analog output signal in accordance with a digital input signal value, and a second DA conversion section for obtaining an analog gain control output signal in accordance with a digital gain control input signal value. In the DA converter, the gain control of the analog output signal generated by the first DA conversion section is performed on the basis of the gain control output signal generated by the second DA conversion section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2014
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Go ASAYAMA, Noriyuki FUKUSHIMA, Yoshikazu NITTA, Yoshinori MURAMATSU, Kiyotaka AMANO
  • Patent number: 8908073
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes: a pixel unit in which pixels are arranged in a matrix pattern; and a pixel signal read-out unit including an AD conversion unit performing analog-to-digital (AD) conversion of a pixel signal read out from the pixel unit, wherein each pixel included in the pixel unit includes division pixels divided into regions in which photosensitivity levels or electric charge accumulating amounts are different from one another, the pixel signal reading unit includes a normal read-out mode and a multiple read-out mode, and includes a function of changing a configuration of a frame in accordance with a change of the read-out mode, and wherein the AD conversion unit acquires a pixel signal of one pixel by adding the division pixel signals while performing AD conversion for the division pixel signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yusuke Minagawa, Go Asayama
  • Patent number: 8896735
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes: a pixel unit in which a plurality of pixels are arranged in a matrix pattern; and a pixel signal read-out unit including an AD conversion unit performing AD conversion of a pixel signal read out from the pixel unit, wherein each pixel included in the pixel unit includes division pixels divided into regions in which photosensitivity levels or electric charge accumulating amounts are different from one another, wherein the pixel signal reading unit includes a normal read-out mode and a multiple read-out mode, and wherein the AD conversion unit acquires a pixel signal of one pixel by adding the division pixel signals read out in accordance with the read-out mode while performing AD conversion for the division pixel signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yusuke Minagawa, Go Asayama
  • Publication number: 20140267828
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method that can efficiently generate a wide dynamic range image to which each piece of pixel information of a high sensitivity pixel and a low sensitivity pixel is applied are realized. High sensitivity pixel information obtained by adding pixel values of a plurality of high sensitivity pixels and low sensitivity pixel information obtained by adding pixel values of a plurality of low sensitivity pixels are output as output pixel signals from pixels of different sensitivities from a pixel unit, these pixel information are combined in a pixel information combining unit, an output pixel value is determined, and an output image of a wide dynamic range is output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2012
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Masanori Kasai, Go Asayama
  • Patent number: 8773580
    Abstract: A solid-state image pickup device includes a pixel array unit that includes photoelectric conversion elements and in which a plurality of pixels are arranged in rows and columns that output, as pixel signals, electrical signals obtained by photoelectric conversion performed by amplifier elements to which pixel power supply voltage is supplied and that drive signal lines, a pixel power supply unit that generates the pixel power supply voltage from power supply voltage, the pixel power supply voltage being lower than the power supply voltage, and that supplies the pixel power supply voltage to the amplifier elements in the plurality of pixels, and a pixel signal read unit that reads pixel signals from the plurality of pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroaki Ebihara, Go Asayama
  • Patent number: 8674865
    Abstract: A DA converter includes a first DA conversion section for obtaining an analog output signal in accordance with a digital input signal value, and a second DA conversion section for obtaining an analog gain control output signal in accordance with a digital gain control input signal value. In the DA converter, the gain control of the analog output signal generated by the first DA conversion section is performed on the basis of the gain control output signal generated by the second DA conversion section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Go Asayama, Noriyuki Fukushima, Yoshikazu Nitta, Yoshinori Muramatsu, Kiyotaka Amano
  • Publication number: 20130320197
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first substrate that has a sensing portion that detects predetermined information, a second substrate that has a first processing portion that processes data supplied thereto from the sensing portion, and a third substrate having a second processing portion that processes data supplied thereto either from the first substrate or from the second substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2013
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Go Asayama, Anup Sharma
  • Publication number: 20130063637
    Abstract: A solid-state image pickup device includes a pixel array unit that includes photoelectric conversion elements and in which a plurality of pixels are arranged in rows and columns that output, as pixel signals, electrical signals obtained by photoelectric conversion performed by amplifier elements to which pixel power supply voltage is supplied and that drive signal lines, a pixel power supply unit that generates the pixel power supply voltage from power supply voltage, the pixel power supply voltage being lower than the power supply voltage, and that supplies the pixel power supply voltage to the amplifier elements in the plurality of pixels, and a pixel signal read unit that reads pixel signals from the plurality of pixels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2012
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroaki Ebihara, Go Asayama
  • Publication number: 20130057744
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes: a pixel unit in which pixels are arranged in a matrix pattern; and a pixel signal read-out unit including an AD conversion unit performing analog-to-digital (AD) conversion of a pixel signal read out from the pixel unit, wherein each pixel included in the pixel unit includes division pixels divided into regions in which photosensitivity levels or electric charge accumulating amounts are different from one another, the pixel signal reading unit includes a normal read-out mode and a multiple read-out mode, and includes a function of changing a configuration of a frame in accordance with a change of the read-out mode, and wherein the AD conversion unit acquires a pixel signal of one pixel by adding the division pixel signals while performing AD conversion for the division pixel signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2012
    Publication date: March 7, 2013
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yusuke Minagawa, Go Asayama