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).

  • Patent number: 9881961
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kobayashi, Takahiro Muroshima, Hiroshi Toya
  • Publication number: 20150357369
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2015
    Publication date: December 10, 2015
    Inventors: Hiroyuki KOBAYASHI, Takahiro MUROSHIMA, Hiroshi TOYA
  • Patent number: 8421892
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Endo, Hiroshi Toya
  • Patent number: 8319869
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Toya, Takashi Fujioka, Masayuki Masuyama, Makoto Inagaki
  • Patent number: 7999875
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: PANASONIC Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Toya, Hiroshi Kubo
  • Publication number: 20110169992
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2011
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasuyuki ENDO, Hiroshi TOYA
  • Patent number: 7969485
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Toya, Yasuyuki Endoh
  • Patent number: 7936386
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Toya, Takashi Fujioka, Masayuki Masuyama, Makoto Inagaki
  • Publication number: 20100245642
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2010
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroshi TOYA, Takashi FUJIOKA, Masayuki MASUYAMA, Makoto INAGAKI
  • Publication number: 20080284887
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2008
    Publication date: November 20, 2008
    Inventors: Hiroshi TOYA, Yasuyuki ENDOH
  • Publication number: 20080259193
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2008
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Applicant: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Toya, Hiroshi Kubo
  • Publication number: 20070165117
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2007
    Publication date: July 19, 2007
    Applicant: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi TOYA, Takashi FUJIOKA, Masayuki MASUYAMA, Makoto INAGAKI