Patents by Inventor Hiroshi Toya
Hiroshi Toya 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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Patent number: 9881961Abstract: A solid-state imaging device according to an aspect of the present invention includes: an imaging area including a plurality of pixels arranged in rows and columns, each of the plurality of pixels converting incident light into a pixel signal; a column signal line provided for each of the columns, for reading out the pixel signal; and a current source connected to the column signal line, in which the current source includes: three transistors connected in series and provided between the column signal line and a GND line; and a transistor having a drain and a source each of which is connected to a different one of connection points connecting adjacent ones of the three transistors.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2015Date of Patent: January 30, 2018Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hiroyuki Kobayashi, Takahiro Muroshima, Hiroshi Toya
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Publication number: 20150357369Abstract: A solid-state imaging device according to an aspect of the present invention includes: an imaging area including a plurality of pixels arranged in rows and columns, each of the plurality of pixels converting incident light into a pixel signal; a column signal line provided for each of the columns, for reading out the pixel signal; and a current source connected to the column signal line, in which the current source includes: three transistors connected in series and provided between the column signal line and a GND line; and a transistor having a drain and a source each of which is connected to a different one of connection points connecting adjacent ones of the three transistors.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 17, 2015Publication date: December 10, 2015Inventors: Hiroyuki KOBAYASHI, Takahiro MUROSHIMA, Hiroshi TOYA
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Patent number: 8421892Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes: an image area including pixels arranged in a matrix; two row memories each of which alternatively (i) stores at a time pixel signals for each of rows, and (ii) sequentially provides each of the stored pixel signals; a reading control unit, during a horizontal period, sequentially reading the stored pixel signals one by one from a first line memory to cause the first line memory, the first line memory representing one of the two row memories; a holding control unit causing, during the horizontal period, a second line memory to hold pixel signals provided from one of the rows in the image area, the second line memory representing another one of the two row memories; and a reading suspending unit causing the reading control unit to suspend reading out the pixel signals from the first line memory during a noise occurrence predicted period.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2011Date of Patent: April 16, 2013Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Yasuyuki Endo, Hiroshi Toya
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Patent number: 8319869Abstract: A solid-state imaging device which can, in response to the problem of black-crush occurring in an image when strong light is enters the device, positively detect black-crush in a state in which a variance margin has been secured.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2010Date of Patent: November 27, 2012Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Hiroshi Toya, Takashi Fujioka, Masayuki Masuyama, Makoto Inagaki
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Patent number: 7999875Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes column amplifiers that are each provided for a different one of column signal lines. Each column amplifier includes: a constant current circuit that supplies a constant current; an amplifier circuit that is connected in series with the constant current circuit, and amplifies a pixel signal from a corresponding column signal line and outputs the amplified signal from a point of connection with the constant current circuit; and a resistor circuit that is connected in parallel with the amplifier circuit and has a constant resistance.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2008Date of Patent: August 16, 2011Assignee: PANASONIC CorporationInventors: Hiroshi Toya, Hiroshi Kubo
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Publication number: 20110169992Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes: an image area including pixels arranged in a matrix; two row memories each of which alternatively (i) stores at a time pixel signals for each of rows, and (ii) sequentially provides each of the stored pixel signals; a reading control unit, during a horizontal period, sequentially reading the stored pixel signals one by one from a first line memory to cause the first line memory, the first line memory representing one of the two row memories; a holding control unit causing, during the horizontal period, a second line memory to hold pixel signals provided from one of the rows in the image area, the second line memory representing another one of the two row memories; and a reading suspending unit causing the reading control unit to suspend reading out the pixel signals from the first line memory during a noise occurrence predicted period.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 23, 2011Publication date: July 14, 2011Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATIONInventors: Yasuyuki ENDO, Hiroshi TOYA
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Patent number: 7969485Abstract: A solid-state imaging device comprises a pixel array including a plurality of pixels arranged in rows and columns, and a readout unit operable to read out pixel signals of the pixels included in the pixel array row by row. The readout unit (i) reads out pixel signals of a row of pixels in column order of the pixel array during a horizontal readout period, except during a readout-standby period that is within the horizontal readout period, and (ii) suspends reading out the pixel signals of the row of pixels in the column order during the readout-standby period.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2008Date of Patent: June 28, 2011Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Hiroshi Toya, Yasuyuki Endoh
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Patent number: 7936386Abstract: A solid-state imaging device which can, in response to the problem of black-crush occurring in an image when strong light is enters the device, positively detect black-crush in a state in which a variance margin has been secured.Type: GrantFiled: January 10, 2007Date of Patent: May 3, 2011Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Hiroshi Toya, Takashi Fujioka, Masayuki Masuyama, Makoto Inagaki
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Publication number: 20100245642Abstract: A solid-state imaging device which can, in response to the problem of black-crush occurring in an image when strong light is enters the device, positively detect black-crush in a state in which a variance margin has been secured.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 9, 2010Publication date: September 30, 2010Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATIONInventors: Hiroshi TOYA, Takashi FUJIOKA, Masayuki MASUYAMA, Makoto INAGAKI
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Publication number: 20080284887Abstract: A solid-state imaging device comprises a pixel array including a plurality of pixels arranged in rows and columns, and a readout unit operable to read out pixel signals of the pixels included in the pixel array row by row. The readout unit (i) reads out pixel signals of a row of pixels in column order of the pixel array during a horizontal readout period, except during a readout-standby period that is within the horizontal readout period, and (ii) suspends reading out the pixel signals of the row of pixels in the column order during the readout-standby period.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 5, 2008Publication date: November 20, 2008Inventors: Hiroshi TOYA, Yasuyuki ENDOH
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Publication number: 20080259193Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes column amplifiers that are each provided for a different one of column signal lines. Each column amplifier includes: a constant current circuit that supplies a constant current; an amplifier circuit that is connected in series with the constant current circuit, and amplifies a pixel signal from a corresponding column signal line and outputs the amplified signal from a point of connection with the constant current circuit; and a resistor circuit that is connected in parallel with the amplifier circuit and has a constant resistance.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 14, 2008Publication date: October 23, 2008Applicant: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.Inventors: Hiroshi Toya, Hiroshi Kubo
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Publication number: 20070165117Abstract: A solid-state imaging device which can, in response to the problem of black-crush occurring in an image when strong light is enters the device, positively detect black-crush in a state in which a variance margin has been secured.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 10, 2007Publication date: July 19, 2007Applicant: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.Inventors: Hiroshi TOYA, Takashi FUJIOKA, Masayuki MASUYAMA, Makoto INAGAKI