Patents by Inventor Hajime Murai

Hajime Murai 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).

  • Imaging apparatus, imaging system, movable object, and method for driving imaging apparatus
    Patent number: 11418745
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus including a ramp voltage generation circuit having a first period for outputting an offset voltage that sets a reference voltage for the comparator circuit, and a second period for outputting a reference voltage having a slope-shaped voltage waveform that varies with time, wherein the generation circuit has a first drive state in which a voltage change amount per unit time of the reference voltage in the second period is a first voltage amount, and a second drive state in which the voltage change amount per unit time of the reference voltage in the second period is a second voltage amount that is less than the first voltage amount, and wherein the offset voltage in the second drive state is less than a value obtained by multiplying the offset voltage in the first drive state by a ratio of the second voltage amount to the first voltage amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takanori Yamashita, Hajime Murai
  • IMAGING APPARATUS, IMAGING SYSTEM, MOVABLE OBJECT, AND METHOD FOR DRIVING IMAGING APPARATUS
    Publication number: 20210377480
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus including a ramp voltage generation circuit having a first period for outputting an offset voltage that sets a reference voltage for the comparator circuit, and a second period for outputting a reference voltage having a slope-shaped voltage waveform that varies with time, wherein the generation circuit has a first drive state in which a voltage change amount per unit time of the reference voltage in the second period is a first voltage amount, and a second drive state in which the voltage change amount per unit time of the reference voltage in the second period is a second voltage amount that is less than the first voltage amount, and wherein the offset voltage in the second drive state is less than a value obtained by multiplying the offset voltage in the first drive state by a ratio of the second voltage amount to the first voltage amount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2021
    Publication date: December 2, 2021
    Inventors: Takanori Yamashita, Hajime Murai