Patents by Inventor Hidenari Honda

Hidenari Honda 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: 9749554
    Abstract: An imaging system may have a pixel array that includes a first group of pixels and a second group of pixels that generate image signals in response to light received from a scene. Image signals generated by the first group of pixels may be read out using a first skipping pattern and/or binning factor and image signals generated by the second group of pixels may be read out using a second skipping pattern and/or binning factor. The first and second skipping patterns and/or binning may be different and may be weighted based on the amount of image data that is available for different portions of the scene. An image may be generated based on the image signals that are read out from the first and second groups. Perspective correction operations may be used to correct for perspective distortion in the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventor: Hidenari Honda
  • Publication number: 20170054925
    Abstract: An imaging system may have a pixel array that includes a first group of pixels and a second group of pixels that generate image signals in response to light received from a scene. Image signals generated by the first group of pixels may be read out using a first skipping pattern and/or binning factor and image signals generated by the second group of pixels may be read out using a second skipping pattern and/or binning factor. The first and second skipping patterns and/or binning may be different and may be weighted based on the amount of image data that is available for different portions of the scene. An image may be generated based on the image signals that are read out from the first and second groups. Perspective correction operations may be used to correct for perspective distortion in the image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2015
    Publication date: February 23, 2017
    Applicant: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventor: Hidenari HONDA
  • Patent number: 9445027
    Abstract: An image sensor may include an array of image pixels arranged in rows and columns. Each image pixel arranged along a column may be coupled to a pixel column line. Each pixel column line may be coupled to column memory circuitry via a respective analog-to-digital converter circuit. The column memory circuitry may include multiple column memory circuits, including a spare column memory circuit. If none of the column memory circuits are defective, the spare column memory circuit is idle. If one of the column memory circuits is defective, the spare column memory circuit is engaged to bypass the defective column memory circuit. Configured in this way, the column memory circuitry is provided with column-wise memory repair capabilities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventors: Hidenari Honda, Shinichiro Matsuo, Shusuke Iwata
  • Publication number: 20150237277
    Abstract: An image sensor may include an array of image pixels arranged in rows and columns. Each image pixel arranged along a column may be coupled to a pixel column line. Each pixel column line may be coupled to column memory circuitry via a respective analog-to-digital converter circuit. The column memory circuitry may include multiple column memory circuits, including a spare column memory circuit. If none of the column memory circuits are defective, the spare column memory circuit is idle. If one of the column memory circuits is defective, the spare column memory circuit is engaged to bypass the defective column memory circuit. Configured in this way, the column memory circuitry is provided with column-wise memory repair capabilities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2014
    Publication date: August 20, 2015
    Inventors: Hidenari Honda, Shinichiro Matsuo, Shusuke Iwata
  • Patent number: 8462240
    Abstract: An imaging system may include an image sensor array and column randomizing multiplexers. The imaging system may include a data output circuit and image readout circuitry such as analog amplifiers, analog-to-digital converters, and memory circuits. The column randomizing multiplexers may include a first column randomizing multiplexer between the image sensor array and at least some of the image readout circuitry. The first column randomizing multiplexer may randomly connect columns of the image sensor array to the image readout circuitry. The connections made by the first column randomizing multiplexer may be randomized as each row of the image sensor array is read out. The column randomizing multiplexers may include a second column randomizing multiplexer between at least some of the image readout circuitry and the data output circuit. The second column randomizing multiplexer may reorder image data for the image readout circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Aptina Imaging Corporation
    Inventors: Shinji Osawa, Isao Takayanagi, Katsuyuki Kawamura, Toshiaki Sato, Norio Yoshimura, Shinichiro Matsuo, Hidenari Honda
  • Patent number: 8249368
    Abstract: In this image processing device, an image processing portion 102 performs a predetermined pre-processing on first image data and outputs it as second image data. A judging portion 104 that judges the degree of importance of the first image data on the basis of the characteristics of a subject that is included in the first image data. A reducing portion 105 reduces the data amount of the second image data in accordance with that degree of importance and outputs it as third image data. According to this image processing device, by reducing the data amount of the second image data in accordance with the degree of importance of the first image data, it is possible to achieve greater reductions in the data amount as the degree of importance decreases. As a result, it is possible to more efficiently reduce the power consumption and time required when transferring image data after data reduction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventor: Hidenari Honda
  • Publication number: 20120062772
    Abstract: An imaging system may include an image sensor array and column randomizing multiplexers. The imaging system may include a data output circuit and image readout circuitry such as analog amplifiers, analog-to-digital converters, and memory circuits. The column randomizing multiplexers may include a first column randomizing multiplexer between the image sensor array and at least some of the image readout circuitry. The first column randomizing multiplexer may randomly connect columns of the image sensor array to the image readout circuitry. The connections made by the first column randomizing multiplexer may be randomized as each row of the image sensor array is read out. The column randomizing multiplexers may include a second column randomizing multiplexer between at least some of the image readout circuitry and the data output circuit. The second column randomizing multiplexer may reorder image data for the image readout circuitry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2010
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Inventors: Shinji Osawa, Isao Takayanagi, Katsuyuki Kawamura, Toshiaki Sato, Norio Yoshimura, Shinichiro Matsuo, Hidenari Honda
  • Publication number: 20090141989
    Abstract: In this image processing device, an image processing portion 102 performs a predetermined pre-processing on first image data and outputs it as second image data. A judging portion 104 that judges the degree of importance of the first image data on the basis of the characteristics of a subject that is included in the first image data. A reducing portion 105 reduces the data amount of the second image data in accordance with that degree of importance and outputs it as third image data. According to this image processing device, by reducing the data amount of the second image data in accordance with the degree of importance of the first image data, it is possible to achieve greater reductions in the data amount as the degree of importance decreases. As a result, it is possible to more efficiently reduce the power consumption and time required when transferring image data after data reduction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2008
    Publication date: June 4, 2009
    Applicant: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hidenari HONDA