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).

  • Publication number: 20130057743
    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: August 24, 2012
    Publication date: March 7, 2013
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yusuke Minagawa, Go Asayama
  • Patent number: 8339300
    Abstract: A DA conversion device includes the following elements. A higher-bit current source cell portion includes uniformly weighted higher-bit current source cells to generate an identical constant current. A lower-bit current source cell portion includes a lower-bit current source cells that are weighted to generate 1/two-to-the-power-of-certain-numbers constant currents. A constant current source selection controller includes a lower-bit controller having a scaler that uses clocks scaled down to 1/two-to-the-power-of-certain-numbers to select the lower-bit current source cells, and a higher-bit controller having shift registers and using a signal indicating a carry bit or a borrow bit used in the lower-bit controller to sequentially activate shift outputs of the shift registers, and uses the shift outputs to select the higher-bit current source cells. Constant current outputs of the selected current source cells are added and output so that an output current corresponding to the digital input signal is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Go Asayama, Noriyuki Fukushima, Yoshikazu Nitta, Yoshinori Muramatsu, Kiyotaka Amano
  • Publication number: 20110221619
    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: May 23, 2011
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Go ASAYAMA, Noriyuki FUKUSHIMA, Yoshikazu NITTA, Yoshinori MURAMATSU, Kiyotaka AMANO
  • Publication number: 20110205097
    Abstract: A DA conversion device includes the following elements. A higher-bit current source cell portion includes uniformly weighted higher-bit current source cells to generate an identical constant current. A lower-bit current source cell portion includes a lower-bit current source cells that are weighted to generate 1/two-to-the-power-of-certain-numbers constant currents. A constant current source selection controller includes a lower-bit controller having a scaler that uses clocks scaled down to 1/two-to-the-power-of-certain-numbers to select the lower-bit current source cells, and a higher-bit controller having shift registers and using a signal indicating a carry bit or a borrow bit used in the lower-bit controller to sequentially activate shift outputs of the shift registers, and uses the shift outputs to select the higher-bit current source cells. Constant current outputs of the selected current source cells are added and output so that an output current corresponding to the digital input signal is obtained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2011
    Publication date: August 25, 2011
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Go ASAYAMA, Noriyuki FUKUSHIMA, Yoshikazu NITTA, Yoshinori MURAMATSU, Kiyotaka AMANO
  • Patent number: 7948415
    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: September 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Go Asayama, Noriyuki Fukushima, Yoshikazu Nitta, Yoshinori Muramatsu, Kiyotaka Amano
  • Patent number: 7936294
    Abstract: A DA conversion device includes the following elements. A higher-bit current source cell portion includes uniformly weighted higher-bit current source cells to generate an identical constant current. A lower-bit current source cell portion includes a lower-bit current source cells that are weighted to generate 1/two-to-the-power-of-certain-numbers constant currents. A constant current source selection controller includes a lower-bit controller having a scaler that uses clocks scaled down to 1/two-to-the-power-of-certain-numbers to select the lower-bit current source cells, and a higher-bit controller having shift registers and using a signal indicating a carry bit or a borrow bit used in the lower-bit controller to sequentially activate shift outputs of the shift registers, and uses the shift outputs to select the higher-bit current source cells. Constant current outputs of the selected current source cells are added and output so that an output current corresponding to the digital input signal is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Go Asayama, Noriyuki Fukushima, Yoshikazu Nitta, Yoshinori Muramatsu, Kiyotaka Amano
  • Publication number: 20090201187
    Abstract: A DA conversion device includes the following elements. A higher-bit current source cell portion includes uniformly weighted higher-bit current source cells to generate an identical constant current. A lower-bit current source cell portion includes a lower-bit current source cells that are weighted to generate 1/two-to-the-power-of-certain-numbers constant currents. A constant current source selection controller includes a lower-bit controller having a scaler that uses clocks scaled down to 1/two-to-the-power-of-certain-numbers to select the lower-bit current source cells, and a higher-bit controller having shift registers and using a signal indicating a carry bit or a borrow bit used in the lower-bit controller to sequentially activate shift outputs of the shift registers, and uses the shift outputs to select the higher-bit current source cells. Constant current outputs of the selected current source cells are added and output so that an output current corresponding to the digital input signal is obtained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2009
    Publication date: August 13, 2009
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Go ASAYAMA, Noriyuki Fukushima, Yoshikazu Nitta, Yoshinori Muramatsu, Kiyotaka Amano
  • Patent number: 7522082
    Abstract: A DA conversion device includes the following elements. A higher-bit current source cell portion includes uniformly weighted higher-bit current source cells to generate an identical constant current. A lower-bit current source cell portion includes a lower-bit current source cells that are weighted to generate 1/two-to-the-power-of-certain-numbers constant currents. A constant current source selection controller includes a lower-bit controller having a scaler that uses clocks scaled down to 1/two-to-the-power-of-certain-numbers to select the lower-bit current source cells, and a higher-bit controller having shift registers and using a signal indicating a carry bit or a borrow bit used in the lower-bit controller to sequentially activate shift outputs of the shift registers, and uses the shift outputs to select the higher-bit current source cells. Constant current outputs of the selected current source cells are added and output so that an output current corresponding to the digital input signal is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Go Asayama, Noriyuki Fukushima, Yoshikazu Nitta, Yoshinori Muramatsu, Kiyotaka Amano
  • Publication number: 20090009641
    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: September 9, 2008
    Publication date: January 8, 2009
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: GO ASAYAMA, Noriyuki Fukushima, Yoshikazu Nitta, Yoshinori Muramatsu, Kiyotaka Amano
  • Patent number: 7423570
    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: August 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2008
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Go Asayama, Noriyuki Fukushima, Yoshikazu Nitta, Yoshinori Muramatsu, Kiyotaka Amano
  • Publication number: 20080042048
    Abstract: A DA conversion device includes the following elements. A higher-bit current source cell portion includes uniformly weighted higher-bit current source cells to generate an identical constant current. A lower-bit current source cell portion includes a lower-bit current source cells that are weighted to generate 1/two-to-the-power-of-certain-numbers constant currents. A constant current source selection controller includes a lower-bit controller having a scaler that uses clocks scaled down to 1/two-to-the-power-of-certain-numbers to select the lower-bit current source cells, and a higher-bit controller having shift registers and using a signal indicating a carry bit or a borrow bit used in the lower-bit controller to sequentially activate shift outputs of the shift registers, and uses the shift outputs to select the higher-bit current source cells. Constant current outputs of the selected current source cells are added and output so that an output current corresponding to the digital input signal is obtained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2007
    Publication date: February 21, 2008
    Inventors: Go Asayama, Noriyuki Fukushima, Yoshikazu Nitta, Yoshinori Muramatsu, Kiyotaka Amano
  • Patent number: 7324033
    Abstract: A DA conversion device includes the following elements. A higher-bit current source cell portion includes uniformly weighted higher-bit current source cells to generate an identical constant current. A lower-bit current source cell portion includes a lower-bit current source cells that are weighted to generate 1/two-to-the-power-of-certain-numbers constant currents. A constant current source selection controller includes a lower-bit controller having a scaler that uses clocks scaled down to 1/two-to-the-power-of-certain-numbers to select the lower-bit current source cells, and a higher-bit controller having shift registers and using a signal indicating a carry bit or a borrow bit used in the lower-bit controller to sequentially activate shift outputs of the shift registers, and uses the shift outputs to select the higher-bit current source cells. Constant current outputs of the selected current source cells are added and output so that an output current corresponding to the digital input signal is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Go Asayama, Noriyuki Fukushima, Yoshikazu Nitta, Yoshinori Muramatsu, Kiyotaka Amano
  • Publication number: 20070194962
    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: August 18, 2006
    Publication date: August 23, 2007
    Inventors: Go Asayama, Noriyuki Fukushima, Yoshikazu Nitta, Yoshinori Muramatsu, Kiyotaka Amano
  • Publication number: 20070080838
    Abstract: A DA conversion device includes the following elements. A higher-bit current source cell portion includes uniformly weighted higher-bit current source cells to generate an identical constant current. A lower-bit current source cell portion includes a lower-bit current source cells that are weighted to generate 1/two-to-the-power-of-certain-numbers constant currents. A constant current source selection controller includes a lower-bit controller having a scaler that uses clocks scaled down to 1/two-to-the-power-of-certain-numbers to select the lower-bit current source cells, and a higher-bit controller having shift registers and using a signal indicating a carry bit or a borrow bit used in the lower-bit controller to sequentially activate shift outputs of the shift registers, and uses the shift outputs to select the higher-bit current source cells. Constant current outputs of the selected current source cells are added and output so that an output current corresponding to the digital input signal is obtained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2006
    Publication date: April 12, 2007
    Inventors: Go Asayama, Noriyuki Fukushima, Yoshikazu Nitta, Yoshinori Muramatsu, Kiyotaka Amano