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: 20180098016
    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: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2017
    Publication date: April 5, 2018
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hironobu MURATA
  • Patent number: 9905604
    Abstract: An imaging device having a first surface on which light is incident and a second surface on an opposite side of the first surface, includes a photoelectric conversion section including semiconductors having a same conductivity type, in which an impurity concentration on the second surface side is higher than an impurity concentration on the first surface side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hironobu Murata
  • Publication number: 20180051271
    Abstract: An enzyme-polymer conjugate shows increased activity and molecular dissolution in non-aqueous solvents enabling enzyme mediated catalysis in non-aqueous solutions. The inventions described in this specification relate to enzyme-polymer conjugates, organic solutions comprising enzyme-polymer conjugates, methods of dissolving enzyme-polymer conjugates in organic solvents, and methods of using enzyme-polymer conjugates, for example, in catalysis applications. The inventions described in this specification address the problems of insolubility and decreased activity of enzymes in non-aqueous solutions comprising, for example, organic solvents or ionic liquids.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2016
    Publication date: February 22, 2018
    Inventors: Alan J. Russell, Hironobu Murata
  • Publication number: 20180048842
    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: October 25, 2017
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shiro TSUNAI, Hironobu MURATA
  • Publication number: 20180048837
    Abstract: An image-capturing device includes an image sensor. The image sensor includes an upper layer pixel group and a lower layer pixel group that receives the light fluxes from the subject that have passed through each pixel in the upper layer pixel group. The lower layer pixel group includes fourth, fifth and sixth pixels having fourth, fifth and sixth spectral sensitivities, respectively, that are complementary to first, second, and third spectral sensitivities, respectively, of the upper layer pixel group, being arranged in a two-dimensional pattern. Positions of first, second and third pixels in the upper layer pixel group and positions of the fourth, fifth and sixth pixels in the lower layer pixel group are determined such that the fourth, fifth and sixth pixels receive light fluxes that pass through the first, second and third pixels, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2017
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hironobu MURATA
  • Patent number: 9894305
    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: February 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hironobu Murata
  • Patent number: 9832408
    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: December 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hironobu Murata
  • Patent number: 9826183
    Abstract: An image-capturing device includes an image sensor. The image sensor includes an upper layer pixel group and a lower layer pixel group that receives the light fluxes from the subject that have passed through each pixel in the upper layer pixel group. The lower layer pixel group includes fourth, fifth and sixth pixels having fourth, fifth and sixth spectral sensitivities, respectively, that are complementary to first, second, and third spectral sensitivities, respectively, of the upper layer pixel group, being arranged in a two-dimensional pattern. Positions of first, second and third pixels in the upper layer pixel group and positions of the fourth, fifth and sixth pixels in the lower layer pixel group are determined such that the fourth, fifth and sixth pixels receive light fluxes that pass through the first, second and third pixels, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hironobu Murata
  • Publication number: 20170302846
    Abstract: An image sensor includes: a plurality of light receiving units arranged along a first direction and along a second direction different from the first direction in a two-dimensional array; and a light receiving unit arranged at a central position among four light receiving units set next to each other along the first direction and the second direction among the plurality of light receiving units, which includes a light shielding member arranged over part thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2017
    Publication date: October 19, 2017
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hironobu MURATA
  • Publication number: 20170223293
    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: April 12, 2017
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hironobu MURATA
  • Publication number: 20170163923
    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: February 22, 2017
    Publication date: June 8, 2017
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hironobu MURATA
  • Patent number: 9654709
    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 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hironobu Murata
  • Patent number: 9609248
    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 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hironobu Murata
  • Patent number: 9539338
    Abstract: Using a novel water-soluble, active ester amide-containing functionalized controlled radical polymerization initiator, stimuli responsive polymers have been grown from the surface of a protein, exemplified by chymotrypsin or any protein having surface amino acids that will covalently bind to the active ester amide-containing functionalized initiator. It is shown that changes in temperature or pH can change the conformation of the polymer surrounding the enzyme, which in turn enabled the rational tailoring of enzyme activity and stability. This method has afforded an increase in the activity and stability of the enzyme by an order of magnitude at pH's where the enzyme is usually inactive or unstable. Multimodal temperature responsive protein-block copolymer conjugates are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignees: Carnegie Mellon University, University of Pittsburgh
    Inventors: Alan J. Russell, Richard R. Koepsel, Chad Cummings, Hironobu Murata
  • Publication number: 20160381313
    Abstract: An image sensor is provided, the image sensor including: an imaging unit that has a first imaging region and a second imaging region, and outputs: a first pixel signal generated according to light incident on the first imaging region; and a second pixel signal generated according to light incident on the second imaging region; a first ramp generating unit that generates a first ramp signal; a second ramp generating unit that generates a second ramp signal; a first signal converting unit that converts the first pixel signal into a first digital image signal based on a result of comparison between the first pixel signal and the first ramp signal; and a second signal converting unit that converts the second pixel signal into a second digital image signal based on a result of comparison between the second pixel signal and the second ramp signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2016
    Publication date: December 29, 2016
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hironobu MURATA, Shiro TSUNAI, Takashi KURIYAMA
  • Publication number: 20160286104
    Abstract: To provide an imaging element comprising: two first pixels that are arranged serially in a first direction and detect light of a first color; two second pixels that are arranged serially in a second direction intersecting the first direction, are adjacent to the two first pixels, and detect light of a second color; a plurality of first light-receiving regions that are arranged in the first pixels, receive light of the first color, and are divided in the first direction; and a plurality of second light-receiving regions that are arranged in the second pixels, receive light of the second color, and are divided in the second direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2016
    Publication date: September 29, 2016
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hironobu MURATA
  • Publication number: 20160244741
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide at least one polymer covalently conjugated to an esterase. The at least one polymer includes a plurality of oxime functional groups.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2014
    Publication date: August 25, 2016
    Inventors: Alan J. Russell, Hironobu Murata, Chad Cummings, Richard R. Koepsel
  • Publication number: 20160219232
    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: March 31, 2016
    Publication date: July 28, 2016
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hironobu MURATA
  • Publication number: 20160219233
    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: April 1, 2016
    Publication date: July 28, 2016
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hironobu MURATA
  • Patent number: 9385148
    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: January 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hironobu Murata