Patents by Inventor Hirofumi Sumi
Hirofumi Sumi 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: 20160216381Abstract: An imaging device and an imaging method are described herein. By way of example, the imaging devices includes a scintillator plate configured to convert incident radiation into scintillation light and an imaging element configured to convert the scintillation light to an electric signal. The scintillator plate includes a first scintillator partitioned from a second scintillator by a divider in a direction perpendicular to a propagation direction of the incident radiation. The divider prevents first scintillation light generated in the first scintillator from diffusing into the second scintillator and second scintillation light generated in the first scintillator from diffusing into the first scintillator.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 25, 2013Publication date: July 28, 2016Applicant: SONY CORPORATIONInventors: Toshiyuki NISHIHARA, Hirofumi SUMI
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Publication number: 20160191830Abstract: Provided are an image pickup device and a camera system that are capable of detecting an extremely small signal from a pixel or one photon signal with low noise and high precision at high speed, and are capable of performing various kinds of high-performance shooting by increasing a frame rate with use of this. Each sense circuit includes a comparator configured to compare an output signal from a pixel with a reference signal, and when signal detection is performed, a charge allowing a first pixel signal output from a selected pixel to be cancelled out is held in one or both of input sections of the comparator, an independent offset bias for each comparator is applied to one of the input sections of the comparator to cancel out an offset of the comparator, and a digital decision on intensity of light incident on the pixel is performed by comparing a reference signal changing in steps with a second pixel signal output from the selected pixel.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 13, 2015Publication date: June 30, 2016Inventors: Toshiyuki Nishihara, Hirofumi Sumi
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Patent number: 9344656Abstract: A pixel includes an embedded photo diode (PD), an amplification transistor forming a source follower circuit having a gate for input and a source for output, and a transfer transistor that transfers a charge to the gate of the amplification transistor, the charge being photoelectrically converted by the PD. The amplification transistor is formed in a semiconductor substrate electrically isolated from a substrate on which the embedded PD and the transfer transistor are formed and the substrate of the amplification transistor is in a floating state. The reading unit includes a ?? modulator that inputs/outputs the image signal per pixel unit and the output of the ?? modulator is given, as feedback, to a capacitative unit functioning as a capacity to integrate the pixel.Type: GrantFiled: April 3, 2012Date of Patent: May 17, 2016Assignee: SONY CORPORATIONInventor: Hirofumi Sumi
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Patent number: 9294700Abstract: To improve the speed of AD conversion. An amplifier amplifies, by a magnification larger than 1, signals of a pixel that outputs a signal in which there is no accumulation of a charge by a photon as a reset signal, and outputs a signal in which there is accumulation of a charge by a photon as an accumulation signal. A calculation unit generates an offset amount signal corresponding to an amount of own offset component using the amplified signal, and calculates a digital value corresponding to the own offset component using the generated offset amount signal and accuracy set for AD conversion of the amplified accumulated signal.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2012Date of Patent: March 22, 2016Assignee: SONY CORPORATIONInventors: Toshiyuki Nishihara, Hirofumi Sumi
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Patent number: 9202830Abstract: An imaging element includes an amplifying transistor. A signal charge from the photodiode is transferable to the gate of amplifying transistor, the photodiode being within a semiconductor substrate. The source and drain of the amplifying transistor are electrically isolated from a semiconductor substrate, wherein the source is within a well or the source and drain are within a silicon-on-insulator layer.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 2010Date of Patent: December 1, 2015Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Toshiyuki Nishihara, Hirofumi Sumi
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Publication number: 20150226865Abstract: To improve a temporal resolution. An image-capturing device includes a pixel array unit and a control unit. The pixel array unit includes a plurality of pixels classified into two or more groups, wherein pixels which belong to a same group are driven at a same timing. The control unit controls driving of the pixel array unit so that a number of groups in a period of time of read-out of electrical charge is a same number in any given timing in image-capturing operation, and that a number of groups in a period of time of exposure and accumulation of electrical charge is a same number in any given timing in the image-capturing operation.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 15, 2013Publication date: August 13, 2015Applicant: Sony CorporationInventors: Toshiyuki Nishihara, Hirofumi Sumi
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Patent number: 9100601Abstract: Provided are an image pickup device and a camera system that are capable of performing high-precision image pickup with less noise both at low illuminance and high illuminance without increasing the speed of a sense circuit and power consumption. The image pickup device includes a pixel array section including a plurality of pixels arranged in an array, each of the pixels including a photoelectric conversion device, a storage section, and an amplifier device configured to output an accumulated charge as an electrical signal, each of the pixels configured to output an electrical signal to an output signal line in response to photon incidence; and a sense circuit section including a sense circuit, the sense circuit configured to perform decision as to whether or not a photon is incident on the pixel in a predetermined period, in which the sense circuit includes an AD conversion device connected to the output signal line, the AD conversion device is allowed to operate by at least two modes, i.e.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2012Date of Patent: August 4, 2015Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Toshiyuki Nishihara, Hirofumi Sumi
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Patent number: 9100603Abstract: Provided are an image pickup device and a camera system that are capable of detecting an extremely small signal from a pixel or one photon signal with low noise and high precision at high speed, and are capable of performing various kinds of high-performance shooting by increasing a frame rate with use of this. Each sense circuit includes a comparator configured to compare an output signal from a pixel with a reference signal, and when signal detection is performed, a charge allowing a first pixel signal output from a selected pixel to be cancelled out is held in one or both of input sections of the comparator, an independent offset bias for each comparator is applied to one of the input sections of the comparator to cancel out an offset of the comparator, and a digital decision on intensity of light incident on the pixel is performed by comparing a reference signal changing in steps with a second pixel signal output from the selected pixel.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 2012Date of Patent: August 4, 2015Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Toshiyuki Nishihara, Hirofumi Sumi
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Patent number: 9088741Abstract: A pre-amplifier (column region unit) of a solid-state imaging device including a pixel-signal controller. The pixel-signal controller, for each vertical signal line, detects the level of each pixel signal independently by a pixel-signal detector on the output side of a pixel-signal amplifier, and sets a gain independently to the pixel-signal amplifier according to the level of the signal. At a subsequent stage of the solid-state imaging device, an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter and a signal extending unit are provided. The A/D converter digitizes a pixel signal, and the digitized pixel signal is corrected by a gain set to the pixel-signal amplifier with reference to a classification signal from the pixel-signal detector, so that the dynamic range of signals of one screen is extended.Type: GrantFiled: January 5, 2012Date of Patent: July 21, 2015Assignee: SONY CORPORATIONInventors: Hirofumi Sumi, Nobuo Nakamura, Shoji Kawahito
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Publication number: 20150115163Abstract: Provided is a radiation detector including a scintillator which generates, when a radial ray enters, scintillation light having light intensity according to energy of the radial ray, and then supplies a photon of the scintillation light to each of a plurality of pixels, a radial ray detection unit which detects whether or not the radial ray is made to enter based on a number of the photons supplied in an exposure period whenever the plurality of pixels are exposed by the scintillation light over the exposure period, and an exposure period adjusting unit which adjusts the exposure period based on an incident frequency of the detected radial ray.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 9, 2013Publication date: April 30, 2015Applicant: Sony CorporationInventors: Toshiyuki Nishihara, Hirofumi Sumi
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Publication number: 20150021461Abstract: There is provided an image sensor including pixels each configured to include a transfer transistor configured as an embedded channel type MOS transistor and to output a pixel signal based on a charge transferred to a floating diffusion from a photodiode by the transfer transistor in an on state, and a determination unit configured to convert the output pixel signal to a digital value, then compare the converted digital value to a threshold value, and thereby make a binary determination on presence or absence of incidence of a photon on the pixel that has generated the pixel signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 28, 2013Publication date: January 22, 2015Applicant: SONY CORPORATIONInventors: Toshiyuki Nishihara, Hirofumi Sumi
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Publication number: 20140375855Abstract: To improve the speed of AD conversion. An amplifier amplifies, by a magnification larger than 1, signals of a pixel that outputs a signal in which there is no accumulation of a charge by a photon as a reset signal, and outputs a signal in which there is accumulation of a charge by a photon as an accumulation signal. A calculation unit generates an offset amount signal corresponding to an amount of own offset component using the amplified signal, and calculates a digital value corresponding to the own offset component using the generated offset amount signal and accuracy set for AD conversion of the amplified accumulated signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2012Publication date: December 25, 2014Applicant: SONY CORPORATIONInventors: Toshiyuki Nishihara, Hirofumi Sumi
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Publication number: 20140332668Abstract: An object is to improve accuracy of photon counting in an imaging apparatus. The imaging apparatus includes a light uniformizing unit. The light uniformizing unit included in the imaging apparatus substantially uniformizes distribution of photons in an orthogonal direction toward an optical axis of incident light, which is incident to an imaging element in the imaging apparatus and the number of photons of which is to be detected, a plurality of pixels being arranged to the imaging element. The light uniformizing unit supplies the uniformized light to the imaging element to which a plurality of pixels are arranged in the imaging apparatus.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 3, 2012Publication date: November 13, 2014Applicant: SONY CORPORATIONInventors: Toshiyuki Nishihara, Hirofumi Sumi
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Publication number: 20140293107Abstract: Provided are an image pickup device and a camera system that are capable of detecting an extremely small signal from a pixel or one photon signal with low noise and high precision at high speed, and are capable of performing various kinds of high-performance shooting by increasing a frame rate with use of this. Each sense circuit includes a comparator configured to compare an output signal from a pixel with a reference signal, and when signal detection is performed, a charge allowing a first pixel signal output from a selected pixel to be cancelled out is held in one or both of input sections of the comparator, an independent offset bias for each comparator is applied to one of the input sections of the comparator to cancel out an offset of the comparator, and a digital decision on intensity of light incident on the pixel is performed by comparing a reference signal changing in steps with a second pixel signal output from the selected pixel.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 15, 2012Publication date: October 2, 2014Applicant: SONY CORPORATIONInventors: Toshiyuki Nishihara, Hirofumi Sumi
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Publication number: 20140211058Abstract: Provided are an image pickup device and a camera system that are capable of performing high-precision image pickup with less noise both at low illuminance and high illuminance without increasing the speed of a sense circuit and power consumption. The image pickup device includes a pixel array section including a plurality of pixels arranged in an array, each of the pixels including a photoelectric conversion device, a storage section, and an amplifier device configured to output an accumulated charge as an electrical signal, each of the pixels configured to output an electrical signal to an output signal line in response to photon incidence; and a sense circuit section including a sense circuit, the sense circuit configured to perform decision as to whether or not a photon is incident on the pixel in a predetermined period, in which the sense circuit includes an AD conversion device connected to the output signal line, the AD conversion device is allowed to operate by at least two modes, i.e.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 10, 2012Publication date: July 31, 2014Applicant: SONY CORPORATIONInventors: Toshiyuki Nishihara, Hirofumi Sumi
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Publication number: 20140160332Abstract: A pixel includes an embedded photo diode (PD), an amplification transistor forming a source follower circuit having a gate for input and a source for output, and a transfer transistor that transfers a charge to the gate of the amplification transistor, the charge being photoelectrically converted by the PD. The amplification transistor is formed in a semiconductor substrate electrically isolated from a substrate on which the embedded PD and the transfer transistor are formed and the substrate of the amplification transistor is in a floating state. The reading unit includes a ?? modulator that inputs/outputs the image signal per pixel unit and the output of the ?? modulator is given, as feedback, to a capacitative unit functioning as a capacity to integrate the pixel.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 3, 2012Publication date: June 12, 2014Applicant: SONY CORPORATIONInventor: Hirofumi Sumi
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Patent number: 8711261Abstract: A pre-amplifier (column region unit) of a solid-state imaging device including a pixel-signal controller. The pixel-signal controller, for each vertical signal line, detects the level of each pixel signal independently by a pixel-signal detector on the output side of a pixel-signal amplifier, and sets a gain independently to the pixel-signal amplifier according to the level of the signal. At a subsequent stage of the solid-state imaging device, an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter and a signal extending unit are provided. The A/D converter digitizes a pixel signal, and the digitized pixel signal is corrected by a gain set to the pixel-signal amplifier with reference to a classification signal from the pixel-signal detector, so that the dynamic range of signals of one screen is extended.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2010Date of Patent: April 29, 2014Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Hirofumi Sumi, Nobuo Nakamura, Shoji Kawahito
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Patent number: 8488030Abstract: To enable an imaging apparatus to achieve high resolution and sufficient color reproducibility. A diffraction grating 1 is provided on the incident light side of a spectral image sensor 10, the diffraction grating 1 including scatterers such as scatterers 3, slits 5, and scatterers 7 which are disposed in that order. An electromagnetic wave is scattered by the scatterers to produce diffracted waves, and by using the fact that interference patterns between the diffracted waves change with wavelengths, signals are detected for respective wavelengths by photoelectric conversion elements 12B, 12G, and 12R in each photodiode group 12.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 2005Date of Patent: July 16, 2013Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Atsushi Toda, Hirofumi Sumi
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Patent number: 8409907Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device for detecting a physical amount distribution, the semiconductor device comprising unit components arrayed in a predetermined order, the unit components each including a unit signal generation portion for detecting an electromagnetic wave and outputting the corresponding unit signal. A diffraction grating is provided on the incident light side of a spectral image sensor, the diffraction grating including scatterers, slits, and scatterers disposed in that order. An electromagnetic wave is scattered by the scatterers to produce diffracted waves, and by using the fact that interference patterns between the diffracted waves change with wavelengths, signals are detected for respective wavelengths by photoelectric conversion elements in each photodiode group.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2009Date of Patent: April 2, 2013Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Atsushi Toda, Hirofumi Sumi
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Publication number: 20120104235Abstract: A pre-amplifier (column region unit) of a solid-state imaging device including a pixel-signal controller. The pixel-signal controller, for each vertical signal line, detects the level of each pixel signal independently by a pixel-signal detector on the output side of a pixel-signal amplifier, and sets a gain independently to the pixel-signal amplifier according to the level of the signal. At a subsequent stage of the solid-state imaging device, an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter and a signal extending unit are provided. The A/D converter digitizes a pixel signal, and the digitized pixel signal is corrected by a gain set to the pixel-signal amplifier with reference to a classification signal from the pixel-signal detector, so that the dynamic range of signals of one screen is extended.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 5, 2012Publication date: May 3, 2012Applicant: SONY CORPORATIONInventors: Hirofumi Sumi, Nobuo Nakamura, Shoji Kawahito