Patents by Inventor Hiroshi Sakoh

Hiroshi Sakoh 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: 8395194
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device according to the present invention is of a MOS type and includes a plurality of pixels arranged in rows and columns, and includes: a semiconductor substrate; a photodiode which is formed in the semiconductor substrate and converts, into a signal charge, light that is incident from a first main surface of the semiconductor substrate; a transfer transistor which is formed in a second main surface of the semiconductor substrate and transfers the signal charge converted by the photodiode; a light shielding film which is conductive and formed on a boundary between the pixels, above the first main surface of the semiconductor substrate; an overflow drain region electrically connected to the light shielding film and formed in the first main surface of the semiconductor substrate; and an overflow barrier region formed between the overflow drain region and the photodiode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Haruhisa Yokoyama, Hiroshi Sakoh, Kazuhiro Yamashita, Mitsuo Yasuhira, Yuichi Hirofuji
  • Publication number: 20120037960
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device according to the present invention is of a MOS type and includes a plurality of pixels arranged in rows and columns, and includes: a semiconductor substrate; a photodiode which is formed in the semiconductor substrate and converts, into a signal charge, light that is incident from a first main surface of the semiconductor substrate; a transfer transistor which is formed in a second main surface of the semiconductor substrate and transfers the signal charge converted by the photodiode; a light shielding film which is conductive and formed on a boundary between the pixels, above the first main surface of the semiconductor substrate; an overflow drain region electrically connected to the light shielding film and formed in the first main surface of the semiconductor substrate; and an overflow barrier region formed between the overflow drain region and the photodiode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2011
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Haruhisa YOKOYAMA, Hiroshi SAKOH, Kazuhiro YAMASHITA, Mitsuo YASUHIRA, Yuichi HIROFUJI
  • Publication number: 20120012961
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device (101) includes an imaging area (1), an optical black area (2) provided at a periphery of the imaging area (1), and a light-absorption unit (21) provided above the optical black area (2). In the imaging area (1), a plurality of photoreceptors are arranged in a two-dimensional pattern, and in the optical black area (2), a plurality of photoreceptors are covered by a light-blocking film (15a). The light-absorption unit (21) includes a first filter (20b) and a second filter (20c) in an alternating arrangement, the first filter (20b) allowing visible light of a first type to pass through, and the second filter (20c) absorbing visible light of the first type that passes through the first filter (20b) and is reflected off the light-blocking film (15a).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2011
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Inventors: Masao KATAOKA, Hiroshi Sakoh
  • Publication number: 20110284980
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device according to an aspect of the present invention includes: a first photodiode and a second photodiode; a first optical waveguide formed above the first photodiode; a second optical waveguide formed above the second photodiode; a first color filter which is formed above the first optical waveguide and transmits mainly light having a first wavelength; a second color filter which is formed above the second optical waveguide and transmits mainly light having a second wavelength; a first microlens formed above the first color filter; and a second microlens formed above the second color filter, wherein the first wavelength is longer than the second wavelength, and the first optical waveguide has a first width smaller than a second width of the second optical waveguide, the first and second widths being in a direction parallel to the semiconductor substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2011
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroshi Sakoh, Masao KATAOKA, Motonari KATSUNO, Masayuki TAKASE, Jun HIRAI
  • Patent number: 8043883
    Abstract: Provided is a solid-state imaging device that realizes sensitivity improvement while maintaining flare prevention effect even when miniaturization of cell is advanced. The solid-state imaging device according to the present invention includes: light receiving units formed on a semiconductor substrate; an antireflection film arranged above the semiconductor substrate, except above the light receiving units; and microlenses arranged above the light receiving units, in which the antireflection film is formed at a position equal to or higher than a position of the microlenses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Sakoh, Yoshiaki Nishi, Yasuo Takeuchi
  • Publication number: 20110217808
    Abstract: Provided is a solid-state imaging device that realizes sensitivity improvement while maintaining flare prevention effect even when miniaturization of cell is advanced. The solid-state imaging device according to the present invention includes: light receiving units formed on a semiconductor substrate; an antireflection film arranged above the semiconductor substrate, except above the light receiving units; and microlenses arranged above the light receiving units, in which the antireflection film is formed at a position equal to or higher than a position of the microlenses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2011
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroshi SAKOH, Yoshiaki NISHI, Yasuo TAKEUCHI
  • Patent number: 7973378
    Abstract: Provided is a solid-state imaging device that realizes sensitivity improvement while maintaining flare prevention effect even when miniaturization of cell is advanced. The solid-state imaging device according to the present invention includes: light receiving units formed on a semiconductor substrate; an antireflection film arranged above the semiconductor substrate, except above the light receiving units; and microlenses arranged above the light receiving units, in which the antireflection film is formed at a position equal to or higher than a position of the microlenses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Sakoh, Yoshiaki Nishi, Yasuo Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 7919743
    Abstract: A solid-state image sensor includes a plurality of light-receiving elements arranged in a light-receiving area, and a plurality of micro-lenses corresponding to the light-receiving elements, and has a flattening film formed on the plurality of the micro-lenses. At a center of the light-receiving area, the micro-lenses are placed in positions directly above corresponding photodiodes, and placed in positions which are progressively offset from positions directly above the corresponding photodiodes, towards a center of the light receiving area, as micro-lenses are located farther from the center of the light-receiving area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Sakoh, Masato Kobayashi, Nobukazu Teranishi
  • Publication number: 20110074991
    Abstract: Light shielding films for preventing color mixture are disposed between Green filters 106 such that the light shielding films are located on the opposite corners of the Green filters 106 arranged in a checkered pattern, thereby preventing color mixture caused by light 111 diagonally incident from an invalid region between the Green filters 106 adjacent to each other in a diagonal direction of the Green filter 106. Since light shielding films for preventing color mixture are further disposed on the vertical and horizontal boundaries between adjacent pixels, it is possible to prevent the incident light 111 reflected on the light shielding film formed on a transfer electrode 102 from being incident on a light receiving portion 101 in the vertical and horizontal directions, thereby preventing color mixture from the adjacent pixels. Thus it is possible to suppress color mixture while keeping sensitivity characteristics, and prevent deterioration of image characteristics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2010
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hiroshi Sakoh
  • Patent number: 7659929
    Abstract: A solid-state image sensor having unit pixel cells arranged in a matrix form, each unit pixel cell having a photoelectric conversion element formed on a semiconductor substrate, a color filter formed on the photoelectric conversion element and a micro-lens formed on the color filter, where a thickness of the color filter is greater in the center than in the periphery. Further, the color filters adjoin in vertical and horizontal directions in the arrangement of the unit pixel cells. A cross-sectional shape of the color filter is, for example, triangular, trapezoidal, convex, lens-shaped or semielliptic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroshi Sakoh
  • Publication number: 20090197366
    Abstract: A solid-state image sensor includes a plurality of light-receiving elements arranged in a light-receiving area, and a plurality of micro-lenses corresponding to the light-receiving elements, and has a flattening film formed on the plurality of the micro-lenses. At a center of the light-receiving area, the micro-lenses are placed in positions directly above corresponding photodiodes, and placed in positions which are progressively offset from positions directly above the corresponding photodiodes, towards a center of the light receiving area, as micro-lenses are located farther from the center of the light-receiving area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2009
    Publication date: August 6, 2009
    Inventors: Hiroshi SAKOH, Masato KOBAYASHI, Nobukazu TERANISHI
  • Patent number: 7535043
    Abstract: A solid-state image sensor of the present invention is a solid-state image sensor in which pixel cells are arranged on a semiconductor substrate, wherein each of the pixel cells includes: a photoelectric conversion unit that performs photoelectric conversion of incident light; and a microlens formed above the photoelectric conversion unit, the microlens corresponding to the photoelectric conversion unit, wherein the microlens includes a transparent layer and a color filter layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroshi Sakoh
  • Patent number: 7531782
    Abstract: A solid-state image sensor includes a plurality of light-receiving elements arranged in a light-receiving area, and a plurality of micro-lenses corresponding to the light-receiving elements, and has a flattening film formed on the plurality of the micro-lenses. At a center of the light-receiving area, the micro-lenses are placed in positions directly above corresponding photodiodes, and placed in positions which are progressively offset from positions directly above the corresponding photodiodes, towards a center of the light receiving area, as micro-lenses are located farther from the center of the light-receiving area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Sakoh, Masato Kobayashi, Nobukazu Teranishi
  • Publication number: 20090014824
    Abstract: Provided is a solid-state imaging device that realizes sensitivity improvement while maintaining flare prevention effect even when miniaturization of cell is advanced. The solid-state imaging device according to the present invention includes: light receiving units formed on a semiconductor substrate; an antireflection film arranged above the semiconductor substrate, except above the light receiving units; and microlenses arranged above the light receiving units, in which the antireflection film is formed at a position equal to or higher than a position of the microlenses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2008
    Publication date: January 15, 2009
    Applicant: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi SAKOH, Yoshiaki NISHI, Yasuo TAKEUCHI
  • Patent number: 7466001
    Abstract: In a manufacturing method of an image sensor, a lightproof film (an antireflective film for avoiding flares) is formed over a wiring area; a transparent film is formed over an imaging area using a material capable of patterning; a transparent film, for forming micro lenses on top, is formed on the transparent film, wherein a height of the top surfaces of the transparent film and the lightproof film are evenly formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Sakoh, Hiroshi Okamoto, Ryoichi Nagayoshi
  • Patent number: 7459665
    Abstract: A solid-state image sensor includes a plurality of light-receiving elements arranged in a light-receiving area, and a plurality of micro-lenses corresponding to the light-receiving elements, and has a flattening film formed on the plurality of the micro-lenses. At a center of the light-receiving area, the micro-lenses are placed in positions directly above corresponding photodiodes, and placed in positions which are progressively offset from positions directly above the corresponding photodiodes, towards a center of the light receiving area, as micro-lenses are located farther from the center of the light-receiving area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Sakoh, Masato Kobayashi, Nobukazu Teranishi
  • Patent number: 7456381
    Abstract: A solid-state image sensor includes a plurality of light-receiving elements arranged in a light-receiving area, and a plurality of micro-lenses corresponding to the light-receiving elements, and has a flattening film formed on the plurality of the micro-lenses. At a center of the light-receiving area, the micro-lenses are placed in positions directly above corresponding photodiodes, and placed in positions which are progressively offset from positions directly above the corresponding photodiodes, towards a center of the light receiving area, as micro-lenses are located farther from the center of the light-receiving area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Sakoh, Masato Kobayashi, Nobukazu Teranishi
  • Patent number: 7417214
    Abstract: A solid-state image sensor includes a plurality of light-receiving elements arranged in a light-receiving area, and a plurality of micro-lenses corresponding to the light-receiving elements, and has a flattening film formed on the plurality of the micro-lenses. At a center of the light-receiving area, the micro-lenses are placed in positions directly above corresponding photodiodes, and placed in positions which are progressively offset from positions directly above the corresponding photodiodes, towards a center of the light receiving area, as micro-lenses are located farther from the center of the light-receiving area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2008
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Sakoh, Masato Kobayashi, Nobukazu Teranishi
  • Patent number: 7411180
    Abstract: A solid-state image sensor includes a plurality of light-receiving elements arranged in a light-receiving area, and a plurality of micro-lenses corresponding to the light-receiving elements, and has a flattening film formed on the plurality of the micro-lenses. At a center of the light-receiving area, the micro-lenses are placed in positions directly above corresponding photodiodes, and placed in positions which are progressively offset from positions directly above the corresponding photodiodes, towards a center of the light receiving area, as micro-lenses are located farther from the center of the light-receiving area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Sakoh, Masato Kobayashi, Nobukazu Teranishi
  • Publication number: 20070246640
    Abstract: A solid-state image sensor includes a plurality of light-receiving elements arranged in a light-receiving area, and a plurality of micro-lenses corresponding to the light-receiving elements, and has a flattening film formed on the plurality of the micro-lenses. At a center of the light-receiving area, the micro-lenses are placed in positions directly above corresponding photodiodes, and placed in positions which are progressively offset from positions directly above the corresponding photodiodes, towards a center of the light receiving area, as micro-lenses are located farther from the center of the light-receiving area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2007
    Publication date: October 25, 2007
    Inventors: Hiroshi Sakoh, Masato Kobayashi, Nobukazu Teranishi