Patents by Inventor Hironobu Murata

Hironobu Murata 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: 20240334086
    Abstract: An imaging element includes: an imaging unit in which a plurality of pixel groups including a plurality of pixels that output pixel signals according to incident light are formed, and on which incident light corresponding to mutually different pieces of image information is incident; a control unit that controls, for each of the pixel groups, a period of accumulating in the plurality of pixels included in the pixel group; and a readout unit that is provided to each of the pixel groups, and reads out the pixel signals from the plurality of pixels included in the pixel group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2024
    Publication date: October 3, 2024
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shiro TSUNAI, Hironobu MURATA
  • Patent number: 12088943
    Abstract: An imaging element includes: an imaging unit in which a plurality of pixel groups including a plurality of pixels that output pixel signals according to incident light are formed, and on which incident light corresponding to mutually different pieces of image information is incident; a control unit that controls, for each of the pixel groups, a period of accumulating in the plurality of pixels included in the pixel group; and a readout unit that is provided to each of the pixel groups, and reads out the pixel signals from the plurality of pixels included in the pixel group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shiro Tsunai, Hironobu Murata
  • Publication number: 20240267648
    Abstract: To provide a new arrangement configuration for optical black pixels, provided is an imaging element including a microlens; a pixel that is provided to correspond to the microlens and generates image data by photoelectrically converting light incident thereto via a filter having a predetermined spectral characteristic; and a correction pixel that is provided to correspond to the microlens and generates correction data used to eliminate noise included in the image data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2024
    Publication date: August 8, 2024
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hironobu MURATA
  • Patent number: 12053529
    Abstract: Provided herein are materials and methods that include utilizing atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) initiator molecules that maintain a positive charge during biomacro-initiator synthesis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2024
    Assignee: Carnegie Mellon University
    Inventors: Alan J. Russell, Hironobu Murata
  • Publication number: 20240163584
    Abstract: An image sensor includes a first photoelectric conversion unit that converts light incident through a first opening to an electric charge, a second photoelectric conversion unit that converts light incident through a second opening which is smaller than the first opening to an electric charge, and a signal output wiring that outputs a first signal generated by the electric charge converted by the first photoelectric conversion unit and a second signal generated by the electric charge converted by the second photoelectric conversion unit. The second photoelectric conversion unit is disposed between the second opening and the signal output wiring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2024
    Publication date: May 16, 2024
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hironobu MURATA
  • Patent number: 11910118
    Abstract: An image sensor includes a first photoelectric conversion unit that converts light incident through a first opening to an electric charge, a second photoelectric conversion unit that converts light incident through a second opening which is smaller than the first opening to an electric charge, and a signal output wiring that outputs a first signal generated by the electric charge converted by the first photoelectric conversion unit and a second signal generated by the electric charge converted by the second photoelectric conversion unit. The second photoelectric conversion unit is disposed between the second opening and the signal output wiring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hironobu Murata
  • Publication number: 20240031701
    Abstract: An imaging element comprising: an imaging unit that has: a plurality of groups each including at least one pixel; and a plurality of signal readout units that are each provided to each of the groups and read out a signal from the pixel; and a control unit that controls the signal readout unit in at least one group among the plurality of groups is provided. Each of the plurality of groups may include a plurality of the pixels. The control unit may select at least one group among the plurality of groups and control the signal readout unit by using a control parameter that is different from a control parameter that is used for another group among the plurality of groups.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2023
    Publication date: January 25, 2024
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takashi KURIYAMA, Hironobu MURATA, Shiro TSUNAI, Tetsuya KONISHI, Masahiro SUZUKI
  • Patent number: 11825225
    Abstract: An imaging element comprising: an imaging unit that has: a plurality of groups each including at least one pixel; and a plurality of signal readout units that are each provided to each of the groups and read out a signal from the pixel; and a control unit that controls the signal readout unit in at least one group among the plurality of groups is provided. Each of the plurality of groups may include a plurality of the pixels. The control unit may select at least one group among the plurality of groups and control the signal readout unit by using a control parameter that is different from a control parameter that is used for another group among the plurality of groups.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takashi Kuriyama, Hironobu Murata, Shiro Tsunai, Tetsuya Konishi, Masahiro Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20230362507
    Abstract: An image sensor includes: a plurality of microlenses arranged in a two-dimensional pattern; and a plurality of pixels that are provided in correspondence to each of the microlenses and receive lights of different color components, respectively. Pixels that are provided at adjacent microlenses among the microlenses and that receive lights of same color components, are adjacently arranged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2023
    Publication date: November 9, 2023
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hironobu MURATA
  • Publication number: 20230276148
    Abstract: An imaging element includes: an imaging unit in which a plurality of pixel groups including a plurality of pixels that output pixel signals according to incident light are formed, and on which incident light corresponding to mutually different pieces of image information is incident; a control unit that controls, for each of the pixel groups, a period of accumulating in the plurality of pixels included in the pixel group; and a readout unit that is provided to each of the pixel groups, and reads out the pixel signals from the plurality of pixels included in the pixel group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2023
    Publication date: August 31, 2023
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shiro TSUNAI, Hironobu MURATA
  • Publication number: 20230224610
    Abstract: An image sensor includes a first photoelectric conversion unit that converts light incident through a first opening to an electric charge, a second photoelectric conversion unit that converts light incident through a second opening which is smaller than the first opening to an electric charge, and a signal output wiring that outputs a first signal generated by the electric charge converted by the first photoelectric conversion unit and a second signal generated by the electric charge converted by the second photoelectric conversion unit. The second photoelectric conversion unit is disposed between the second opening and the signal output wiring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2023
    Publication date: July 13, 2023
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hironobu MURATA
  • Patent number: 11689832
    Abstract: An imaging element includes: an imaging unit in which a plurality of pixel groups including a plurality of pixels that output pixel signals according to incident light are formed, and on which incident light corresponding to mutually different pieces of image information is incident; a control unit that controls, for each of the pixel groups, a period of accumulating in the plurality of pixels included in the pixel group; and a readout unit that is provided to each of the pixel groups, and reads out the pixel signals from the plurality of pixels included in the pixel group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shiro Tsunai, Hironobu Murata
  • Publication number: 20230171517
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes a second image sensor having an organic photoelectric conversion film transmitting a specific light, and a first image sensor which is stacked in layers on a same semiconductor substrate as that of the second image sensor and which receives the specific light having transmitted the second image sensor, in which a pixel for focus detection is provided in the second image sensor or the first image sensor. Therefore, an AF method can be realized independently of a pixel for imaging.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2023
    Publication date: June 1, 2023
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hironobu MURATA
  • Patent number: 11632511
    Abstract: An image sensor includes a first photoelectric conversion unit that converts light incident through a first opening to an electric charge, a second photoelectric conversion unit that converts light incident through a second opening which is smaller than the first opening to an electric charge, and a signal output wiring that outputs a first signal generated by the electric charge converted by the first photoelectric conversion unit and a second signal generated by the electric charge converted by the second photoelectric conversion unit. The second photoelectric conversion unit is disposed between the second opening and the signal output wiring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hironobu Murata
  • Patent number: 11588991
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes a second image sensor having an organic photoelectric conversion film transmitting a specific light, and a first image sensor which is stacked in layers on a same semiconductor substrate as that of the second image sensor and which receives the specific light having transmitted the second image sensor, in which a pixel for focus detection is provided in the second image sensor or the first image sensor. Therefore, an AF method can be realized independently of a pixel for imaging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hironobu Murata
  • Patent number: 11418747
    Abstract: An imaging sensor comprising: an imaging chip in which a plurality of pixel are arranged in a matrix; and a signal processing chip that is each provided for one or more pixel columns or one or more pixel rows, has a device that performs signal processing on a pixel signal output from a pixel, and is stacked with the imaging chip is provided. For example, the device that performs signal processing is an A/D converter that converts a pixel signal output from the pixel into a digital signal, and when a pixel signal output from the pixel is converted into a digital signal, at least two or more A/D converters among the A/D converters are controlled in parallel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hironobu Murata
  • Publication number: 20220191421
    Abstract: An imaging element includes: an imaging unit in which a plurality of pixel groups including a plurality of pixels that output pixel signals according to incident light are formed, and on which incident light corresponding to mutually different pieces of image information is incident; a control unit that controls, for each of the pixel groups, a period of accumulating in the plurality of pixels included in the pixel group; and a readout unit that is provided to each of the pixel groups, and reads out the pixel signals from the plurality of pixels included in the pixel group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2022
    Publication date: June 16, 2022
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shiro TSUNAI, Hironobu MURATA
  • Publication number: 20220150436
    Abstract: An image sensor includes a first photoelectric conversion unit that converts light incident through a first opening to an electric charge, a second photoelectric conversion unit that converts light incident through a second opening which is smaller than the first opening to an electric charge, and a signal output wiring that outputs a first signal generated by the electric charge converted by the first photoelectric conversion unit and a second signal generated by the electric charge converted by the second photoelectric conversion unit. The second photoelectric conversion unit is disposed between the second opening and the signal output wiring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2022
    Publication date: May 12, 2022
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hironobu MURATA
  • Patent number: 11317046
    Abstract: An imaging element includes: an imaging unit in which a plurality of pixel groups including a plurality of pixels that output pixel signals according to incident light are formed, and on which incident light corresponding to mutually different pieces of image information is incident; a control unit that controls, for each of the pixel groups, a period of accumulating in the plurality of pixels included in the pixel group; and a readout unit that is provided to each of the pixel groups, and reads out the pixel signals from the plurality of pixels included in the pixel group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shiro Tsunai, Hironobu Murata
  • Patent number: 11272131
    Abstract: An image sensor includes a first photoelectric conversion unit that converts light incident through a first opening to an electric charge, a second photoelectric conversion unit that converts light incident through a second opening which is smaller than the first opening to an electric charge, and a signal output wiring that outputs a first signal generated by the electric charge converted by the first photoelectric conversion unit and a second signal generated by the electric charge converted by the second photoelectric conversion unit. The second photoelectric conversion unit is disposed between the second opening and the signal output wiring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hironobu Murata