Patents by Inventor Jun Kawanabe

Jun Kawanabe 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: 20230384464
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a plurality of pixels each including a conversion element, and a shielding layer covering the conversion element, wherein the shielding layer is provided to cover at least a part of an aperture of the conversion element so that an aperture modulated transfer function (MTF) at a predetermined frequency of a signal obtained from the conversion element becomes less than or equal to a predetermined value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2023
    Publication date: November 30, 2023
    Inventors: TSUYOSHI KOBAYASHI, TAKANORI TAYA, JUN KAWANABE
  • Patent number: 11831813
    Abstract: In a period between an operation for acquiring signals for an image via an amplification unit and an operation for acquiring offset signals for correcting the image via the amplification unit, a current supply capability of the amplification unit is made equal to a current supply capability in a period immediately before the image is acquired, thereby the potential state of a signal line when the signals for the image are acquired and the potential state when the offset signals for correcting the image are acquired are matched, and an artifact when the correction is made is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Jun Kawanabe, Ryosuke Miura
  • Patent number: 11789165
    Abstract: A difference in wiring capacitance between bias lines is reduced by equalizing, for pixels A connected to a signal line from a first direction and pixels B connected to the signal line from a second direction, the numbers of the pixels A and the pixels B where the pixels A and the pixels B are each connected to the corresponding bias line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Jun Kawanabe, Masato Ofuji, Kentaro Fujiyoshi
  • Patent number: 11693131
    Abstract: A radiation imaging apparatus comprising a first scintillator, a second scintillator which receives radiation transmitted through the first scintillator, conversion elements and a controller is provided. The conversion elements include first conversion elements and second conversion elements with different sensitivities for detecting light emitted from at least one of the first scintillator or the second scintillator. During radiation irradiation, the controller obtains, from a signal output from one or more measuring element configured to measure a dose of incident radiation, a first signal corresponding to light converted from radiation by the second scintillator, and outputs, based on the first signal, a stop signal configured to stop the radiation irradiation, and after the radiation irradiation, the controller causes the first conversion elements and the second conversion elements to output signals configured to generate an energy subtraction image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Jun Kawanabe, Kentaro Fujiyoshi
  • Publication number: 20220196857
    Abstract: A difference in wiring capacitance between bias lines is reduced by equalizing, for pixels A connected to a signal line from a first direction and pixels B connected to the signal line from a second direction, the numbers of the pixels A and the pixels B where the pixels A and the pixels B are each connected to the corresponding bias line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2021
    Publication date: June 23, 2022
    Inventors: Jun Kawanabe, Masato Ofuji, Kentaro Fujiyoshi
  • Patent number: 11368640
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a pixel region including a plurality of pixels, and bias wiring laid on a light incident side of pixels to supply a bias from a power supply to the pixels in the pixel region via a second side defining the pixel region. The bias wiring includes first wiring portions and second wiring portions laid around the pixels. The first wiring portions are laid in a Y direction away from the second side, and the second wiring portions are laid in an X direction orthogonal to the Y direction. The first wiring portions include a light non-transmissive member. A resistance of the first wiring portion per pixel is smaller than that of the second wiring portion per pixel. A loss of light due to the second wiring portion is smaller than that of the light incident due to the first wiring portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masato Ofuji, Jun Kawanabe, Kentaro Fujiyoshi, Sho Sato
  • Publication number: 20220174227
    Abstract: In a period between an operation for acquiring signals for an image via an amplification unit and an operation for acquiring offset signals for correcting the image via the amplification unit, a current supply capability of the amplification unit is made equal to a current supply capability in a period immediately before the image is acquired, thereby the potential state of a signal line when the signals for the image are acquired and the potential state when the offset signals for correcting the image are acquired are matched, and an artifact when the correction is made is reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2021
    Publication date: June 2, 2022
    Inventors: Jun Kawanabe, Ryosuke Miura
  • Publication number: 20220075085
    Abstract: A radiation imaging apparatus comprising a first scintillator, a second scintillator which receives radiation transmitted through the first scintillator, conversion elements and a controller is provided. The conversion elements include first conversion elements and second conversion elements with different sensitivities for detecting light emitted from at least one of the first scintillator or the second scintillator. During radiation irradiation, the controller obtains, from a signal output from one or more measuring element configured to measure a dose of incident radiation, a first signal corresponding to light converted from radiation by the second scintillator, and outputs, based on the first signal, a stop signal configured to stop the radiation irradiation, and after the radiation irradiation, the controller causes the first conversion elements and the second conversion elements to output signals configured to generate an energy subtraction image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2021
    Publication date: March 10, 2022
    Inventors: Jun Kawanabe, Kentaro Fujiyoshi
  • Patent number: 11083430
    Abstract: The present invention provides a technique advantageous in suitably determining the irradiation end timing in a radiation imaging apparatus that can perform AEC. The radiation imaging apparatus comprises a sensor configured to detect radiation and a control unit, wherein the control unit generates, after the start of radiation irradiation, an evaluation value indicating the stability of a radiation irradiation intensity based on a sensor signal from the sensor, and the control unit outputs, in response to the evaluation value satisfying a predetermined condition, a signal indicating that the radiation irradiation intensity has stabilized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Sho Sato, Minoru Watanabe, Keigo Yokoyama, Kentaro Fujiyoshi, Jun Kawanabe
  • Publication number: 20210141105
    Abstract: An apparatus comprises a plurality of pixels each including a conversion element and a switch, a driving circuit configured to control the switches via drive lines, a bias power supply unit configured to supply a bias potential to the conversion element via a bias line, column signal lines to which signals are output from the plurality of pixels, and a detection unit. The plurality of pixels include a first pixel and a second pixel, which are adjacent to each other in the row direction and are connected to a common column signal line. The switch of the first pixel and the switch of the second pixel are connected to drive lines different from each other. The detection unit determines presence/absence of radiation irradiation based on a current flowing to the bias line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2020
    Publication date: May 13, 2021
    Inventors: Masato Ofuji, Jun Kawanabe, Kentaro Fujiyoshi, Minoru Watanabe, Kai Suzuki, Hideyuki Okada
  • Patent number: 10921466
    Abstract: A radiation imaging apparatus includes a first detection pixel including a first switch element, a second detection pixel including a second switch element and having sensitivity which is different from that of the first detection pixel, a first signal line, a second signal line, a reading circuit which performs a first operation of reading first and second signals which appear in the first and second signal lines in a state in which the first and second switch elements are in a non-conductive state while the radiation imaging apparatus is irradiated with a radial ray and a second operation of reading third and fourth signals which appear in the first and second signal lines when the first and second switch elements are brought into a conductive state, and an information processing circuit which performs a process of generating information based on the first to fourth signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ryosuke Miura, Minoru Watanabe, Keigo Yokoyama, Masato Ofuji, Kentaro Fujiyoshi, Jun Kawanabe, Sho Sato, Kazuya Furumoto
  • Patent number: 10729393
    Abstract: A radiographic imaging apparatus includes a pixel, a readout unit, and a signal processing unit. The pixel includes a switch configured to connect a conversion element configured to convert radiation into an electric signal to a signal line. The readout unit is configured to perform a first operation of reading out a first signal appearing in the signal line when the switch is not in a conductive state and a second operation of reading out a second signal appearing in the signal line when the switch is in a conductive state. The read out unit is configured to perform the first operation before performing the second operation a plurality of times consecutively. The signal processing unit is configured to perform signal processing for outputting information indicating irradiation of the radiographic imaging apparatus by the radiation based on the first signal and the second signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kentaro Fujiyoshi, Minoru Watanabe, Keigo Yokoyama, Masato Ofuji, Jun Kawanabe, Sho Sato, Kazuya Furumoto, Ryosuke Miura
  • Publication number: 20200213543
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a pixel region including a plurality of pixels, and bias wiring laid on a light incident side of pixels to supply a bias from a power supply to the pixels in the pixel region via a second side defining the pixel region. The bias wiring includes first wiring portions and second wiring portions laid around the pixels. The first wiring portions are laid in a Y direction away from the second side, and the second wiring portions are laid in an X direction orthogonal to the Y direction. The first wiring portions include a light non-transmissive member. A resistance of the first wiring portion per pixel is smaller than that of the second wiring portion per pixel. A loss of light due to the second wiring portion is smaller than that of the light incident due to the first wiring portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2019
    Publication date: July 2, 2020
    Inventors: Masato Ofuji, Jun Kawanabe, Kentaro Fujiyoshi, Sho Sato
  • Patent number: 10634800
    Abstract: A radiation imaging apparatus comprises a sensor portion including a pixel array configured to acquire an image signal corresponding to radiation, and a plurality of detection elements arranged in the pixel array and configured to detect the radiation, and a readout circuit configured to read out the image signal from the sensor portion, wherein the readout circuit includes a signal processing circuit arranged to combine and process signals from the plurality of detection elements if determining the presence or absence of radiation irradiation, and to process a signal for each detection element or combine and process signals from a number of detection elements from among the plurality of detection elements, the number being less than the number of detection elements that include the plurality of detection elements, if determining a radiation dose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Keigo Yokoyama, Minoru Watanabe, Masato Ofuji, Jun Kawanabe, Kentaro Fujiyoshi, Hiroshi Wayama
  • Publication number: 20200060639
    Abstract: The present invention provides a technique advantageous in suitably determining the irradiation end timing in a radiation imaging apparatus that can perform AEC. The radiation imaging apparatus comprises a sensor configured to detect radiation and a control unit, wherein the control unit generates, after the start of radiation irradiation, an evaluation value indicating the stability of a radiation irradiation intensity based on a sensor signal from the sensor, and the control unit outputs, in response to the evaluation value satisfying a predetermined condition, a signal indicating that the radiation irradiation intensity has stabilized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2019
    Publication date: February 27, 2020
    Inventors: Sho Sato, Minoru Watanabe, Keigo Yokoyama, Kentaro Fujiyoshi, Jun Kawanabe
  • Patent number: 10537295
    Abstract: A radiation imaging apparatus is provided. The apparatus comprises pixels arranged in an image sensing region, a first and a second detecting elements configured to obtain radiation irradiation information, a first signal line to which a signal from the first detecting element is to be output and a second signal line to which a signal from the second detecting element is to be output, and a signal processing circuit configured to process the signals output from the first and the second detecting elements. The first the second signal lines are arranged in the image sensing region or arranged adjacent to the image sensing region, the first detecting element has a larger region to detect radiation than the second detecting element. The signal processing circuit generates the radiation irradiation information based on the signals from the first and the second signal lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Minoru Watanabe, Keigo Yokoyama, Masato Ofuji, Jun Kawanabe, Kentaro Fujiyoshi, Hiroshi Wayama, Kazuya Furumoto
  • Patent number: 10499872
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a plurality of detection pixels configured to generate a signal according to a radiation irradiation amount to obtain radiation irradiation information, a detection unit configured to correspond to a region of the plurality of detection pixels and detect one of light, pressure, capacitance, and temperature as two-dimensional information, and a control unit configured to determine a monitoring target detection pixel and a non-monitoring-target detection pixel among the plurality of detection pixels based on the two-dimensional information detected by the detection unit, read the signals of detection pixels of a row in which the monitoring target detection pixel is included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masato Ofuji, Minoru Watanabe, Keigo Yokoyama, Jun Kawanabe, Kazuya Furumoto
  • Patent number: 10473801
    Abstract: A radiation imaging apparatus including conversion elements acquiring a radiation image and detectors, a readout unit and a controller is provided. In a first operation, the controller causes the readout unit to output a composition signal obtained by composing signals from the detectors, detects irradiation with radiation based on the composition signal, and shifts to a second operation. In the second operation, the controller acquires first signals individually read out from the detectors, decides a signal component, of the composition signal, which is output from a selected detector of the detectors in accordance with a ratio of the first signal from the selected detector to a sum of the first signals, and acquires an integrated dose of radiation incident on the selected detector based on the signal component and the first signal of the selected detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Jun Kawanabe, Minoru Watanabe, Keigo Yokoyama, Sho Sato, Kentaro Fujiyoshi
  • Publication number: 20190324156
    Abstract: A radiation imaging apparatus includes a first detection pixel including a first switch element, a second detection pixel including a second switch element and having sensitivity which is different from that of the first detection pixel, a first signal line, a second signal line, a reading circuit which performs a first operation of reading first and second signals which appear in the first and second signal lines in a state in which the first and second switch elements are in a non-conductive state while the radiation imaging apparatus is irradiated with a radial ray and a second operation of reading third and fourth signals which appear in the first and second signal lines when the first and second switch elements are brought into a conductive state, and an information processing circuit which performs a process of generating information based on the first to fourth signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Publication date: October 24, 2019
    Inventors: Ryosuke Miura, Minoru Watanabe, Keigo Yokoyama, Masato Ofuji, Kentaro Fujiyoshi, Jun Kawanabe, Sho Sato, Kazuya Furumoto
  • Patent number: 10326948
    Abstract: A radiation imaging apparatus includes a plurality of pixels, each of which includes a conversion element and a transistor, a plurality of drive lines connected to gates of the transistors, a drive circuit unit configured to supply a voltage to the plurality of drive lines, and a control unit configured to control the drive circuit unit. The control unit performs control of causing the drive circuit unit to apply a different voltage that is between the OFF voltage and the ON voltage and is different from the OFF voltage and the ON voltage to the plurality of drive lines in a different period different from a period in which storage control is performed and a period in which read control is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroshi Wayama, Minoru Watanabe, Keigo Yokoyama, Masato Ofuji, Jun Kawanabe, Kentaro Fujiyoshi, Kazuya Furumoto