Patents by Inventor Junichiro Azami
Junichiro Azami 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: 11902681Abstract: An imaging system according to the present disclosure includes: an imaging device that is mounted in a vehicle, and captures and generates an image of a peripheral region of the vehicle; and a processing device that is mounted in the vehicle, and executes processing related to a function of controlling the vehicle on the basis of the image. The imaging device includes: a first control line, a first voltage generator that applies a first voltage to the first control line, a first signal line, a plurality of pixels that applies a pixel voltage to the first signal line, a first dummy pixel that applies a voltage corresponding to the first voltage of the first control line to the first signal line in a first period, a converter including a first converter that performs AD conversion on the basis of a voltage of the first signal line in the first period to generate a first digital code, and a diagnosis section that performs diagnosis processing on the basis of the first digital code.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2020Date of Patent: February 13, 2024Assignee: Sony Semiconductor Solutions CorporationInventors: Naoki Kawazu, Atsushi Suzuki, Junichiro Azami, Yuichi Motohashi
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Patent number: 11722799Abstract: An imaging device having first and second pixels is described. The first pixel includes a first transfer transistor, a first reset transistor, a first amplifier transistor and a first select transistor. The second pixel includes a first photoelectric conversion element, a second transfer transistor, a second reset transistor, a second amplifier transistor and a second select transistor.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2022Date of Patent: August 8, 2023Assignee: Sony Semiconductor Solutions CorporationInventors: Naoki Kawazu, Motonobu Torii, Yuichi Motohashi, Atsushi Suzuki, Junichiro Azami
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Patent number: 11706538Abstract: An imaging system according to the present disclosure includes: an imaging device that is mounted in a vehicle, and captures and generates an image of a peripheral region of the vehicle; and a processing device that is mounted in the vehicle, and executes processing related to a function of controlling the vehicle on the basis of the image. The imaging device includes: a first control line, a first voltage generator that applies a first voltage to the first control line, a first signal line, a plurality of pixels that applies a pixel voltage to the first signal line, a first dummy pixel that applies a voltage corresponding to the first voltage of the first control line to the first signal line in a first period, a converter including a first converter that performs AD conversion on the basis of a voltage of the first signal line in the first period to generate a first digital code, and a diagnosis section that performs diagnosis processing on the basis of the first digital code.Type: GrantFiled: January 15, 2018Date of Patent: July 18, 2023Assignee: Sony Semiconductor Solutions CorporationInventors: Naoki Kawazu, Atsushi Suzuki, Junichiro Azami, Motohashi Yuichi
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Publication number: 20230112723Abstract: An imaging device having first and second pixels is described. The first pixel includes a first transfer transistor, a first reset transistor, a first amplifier transistor and a first select transistor. The second pixel includes a first photoelectric conversion element, a second transfer transistor, a second reset transistor, a second amplifier transistor and a second select transistor.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 12, 2022Publication date: April 13, 2023Applicant: Sony Semiconductor Solutions CorporationInventors: Naoki Kawazu, Motonobu Torii, Yuichi Motohashi, Atsushi Suzuki, Junichiro Azami
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Patent number: 11558568Abstract: An imaging device having first and second pixels is described. The first pixel includes a first transfer transistor, a first reset transistor, a first amplifier transistor and a first select transistor. The second pixel includes a first photoelectric conversion element, a second transfer transistor, a second reset transistor, a second amplifier transistor and a second select transistor.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2022Date of Patent: January 17, 2023Assignee: Sony Semiconductor Solutions CorporationInventors: Naoki Kawazu, Motonobu Torii, Motohashi Yuichi, Atsushi Suzuki, Junichiro Azami
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Publication number: 20220191414Abstract: An imaging device having first and second pixels is described. The first pixel includes a first transfer transistor, a first reset transistor, a first amplifier transistor and a first select transistor. The second pixel includes a first photoelectric conversion element, a second transfer transistor, a second reset transistor, a second amplifier transistor and a second select transistor.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 28, 2022Publication date: June 16, 2022Applicant: Sony Semiconductor Solutions CorporationInventors: Naoki Kawazu, Motonobu Torii, Motohashi Yuichi, Atsushi Suzuki, Junichiro Azami
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Patent number: 11303833Abstract: An imaging device having first and second pixels is described. The first pixel includes a first transfer transistor, a first reset transistor, a first amplifier transistor and a first select transistor. The second pixel includes a first photoelectric conversion element, a second transfer transistor, a second reset transistor, a second amplifier transistor and a second select transistor.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2021Date of Patent: April 12, 2022Assignee: Sony Semiconductor Solutions CorporationInventors: Naoki Kawazu, Motonobu Torii, Motohashi Yuichi, Atsushi Suzuki, Junichiro Azami
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Publication number: 20210250533Abstract: An imaging device having first and second pixels is described. The first pixel comprises a first transfer transistor, a first reset transistor, a first amplifier transistor and a first select transistor. The first transfer transistor has a first terminal coupled to a reference signal generation circuit. The first reset transistor has a first terminal coupled to the reference signal generation circuit. The first amplifier transistor has a gate coupled to a second terminal of the first reset transistor and a second terminal of the first transfer transistor. The first select transistor is coupled to the first amplifier transistor. The second pixel comprises a first photoelectric conversion element, a second transfer transistor, a second reset transistor, a second amplifier transistor and a second select transistor. The second transfer transistor is coupled to the first photoelectric conversion element. The second reset transistor is configured to receive a first predetermined voltage.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 10, 2021Publication date: August 12, 2021Applicant: Sony Semiconductor Solutions CorporationInventors: Naoki Kawazu, Motonobu Torii, Motohashi Yuichi, Atsushi Suzuki, Junichiro Azami
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Patent number: 11050955Abstract: The present technology relates to a solid-state imaging device, a method for driving the solid-state imaging device, and an electronic apparatus, the solid-state imaging device being capable of expanding the dynamic range without deteriorating the image quality. The solid-state imaging device includes a pixel array section having a plurality of unit pixels and a drive section. Each of the unit pixels includes a first photoelectric conversion section, a second photoelectric conversion section which is less sensitive than the first photoelectric conversion section, a charge storage section configured to store charges generated by the second photoelectric conversion section, a charge-voltage conversion section, a first transfer gate section configured to transfer charges from the first photoelectric conversion section, and a second transfer gate section configured to combine the potential of the charge-voltage conversion section with the potential of the charge storage section.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2019Date of Patent: June 29, 2021Assignee: SONY CORPORATIONInventors: Yorito Sakano, Isao Hirota, Motonobu Torii, Masaaki Takizawa, Junichiro Azami, Motohashi Yuichi, Atsushi Suzuki
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Patent number: 11025846Abstract: [Object] To make it possible to detect, in the case where abnormality has occurred in at least a part of the pixels, the abnormality for each of the pixels.Type: GrantFiled: November 7, 2017Date of Patent: June 1, 2021Assignee: Sony Semiconductor Solutions CorporationInventors: Naoki Kawazu, Atsushi Suzuki, Junichiro Azami, Motohashi Yuichi
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Publication number: 20210152768Abstract: An imaging system according to the present disclosure includes: an imaging device that is mounted in a vehicle, and captures and generates an image of a peripheral region of the vehicle; and a processing device that is mounted in the vehicle, and executes processing related to a function of controlling the vehicle on the basis of the image. The imaging device includes: a first control line, a first voltage generator that applies a first voltage to the first control line, a first signal line, a plurality of pixels that applies a pixel voltage to the first signal line, a first dummy pixel that applies a voltage corresponding to the first voltage of the first control line to the first signal line in a first period, a converter including a first converter that performs AD conversion on the basis of a voltage of the first signal line in the first period to generate a first digital code, and a diagnosis section that performs diagnosis processing on the basis of the first digital code.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 2, 2020Publication date: May 20, 2021Applicant: Sony Semiconductor Solutions CorporationInventors: Naoki Kawazu, Atsushi Suzuki, Junichiro Azami, Yuichi Motohashi
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Patent number: 10992889Abstract: A first pixel comprises a first transfer transistor, a first reset transistor, a first amplifier transistor and a first select transistor. The first transfer transistor has a first terminal coupled to a reference signal generation circuit. The first reset transistor has a first terminal coupled to the reference signal generation circuit. The first amplifier transistor has a gate coupled to a second terminal of the first reset transistor and a second terminal of the first transfer transistor. The first select transistor is coupled to the first amplifier transistor. A second pixel comprises a first photoelectric conversion element, a second transfer transistor coupled to the first photoelectric conversion element, a second reset transistor configured to receive a first predetermined voltage, a second amplifier transistor coupled to the second transfer transistor and the second reset transistor, and a second select transistor coupled to the second amplifier transistor.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 2017Date of Patent: April 27, 2021Assignee: Sony Semiconductor Solutions CorporationInventors: Naoki Kawazu, Motonobu Torii, Motohashi Yuichi, Atsushi Suzuki, Junichiro Azami
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Patent number: 10819928Abstract: An imaging system includes an imaging apparatus that is mounted on a vehicle and generates an image by imaging an area around the vehicle, and a processing apparatus that is mounted on the vehicle. The imaging apparatus includes a plurality of pixels. A control unit controls exposure by each of the plurality of pixels, and a processing unit executes a predetermined test. The control unit controls exposure so that reading of a pixel signal is started in a second period after the completion of reading of a pixel signal in a first period. The processing unit executes a predetermined test in a third period, the third period is between the reading of the pixel signal in the first period and the reading of the pixel signal in the second period. The processing apparatus restricts a function of controlling the vehicle based on a result of the predetermined test.Type: GrantFiled: November 7, 2017Date of Patent: October 27, 2020Assignee: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATIONInventors: Naoki Kawazu, Atsushi Suzuki, Junichiro Azami, Motohashi Yuichi
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Patent number: 10785435Abstract: An imaging system includes: an imaging device and a processing device mounted in a vehicle. The imaging device includes: a first pixel coupled to a first signal line, a second pixel coupled to a second signal line, the second signal line is different from the first signal line, a first latch that is coupled to the first signal line, and stores a first digital code, a second latch that is coupled to the second signal line, is adjacent to the first latch, and stores a second digital code, a transfer section that transfers digital codes outputted from the first latch and the second latch, and a diagnosis section that performs diagnosis processing on the basis of the digital codes transferred from the first latch and the second latch. The processing device restricts the function of controlling the vehicle on the basis of a result of the diagnosis processing.Type: GrantFiled: January 17, 2018Date of Patent: September 22, 2020Assignee: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATIONInventors: Naoki Kawazu, Atsushi Suzuki, Junichiro Azami, Yuichi Motohashi
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Publication number: 20200059615Abstract: The present technology relates to a solid-state imaging device, a method for driving the solid-state imaging device, and an electronic apparatus, the solid-state imaging device being capable of expanding the dynamic range without deteriorating the image quality. The solid-state imaging device includes a pixel array section having a plurality of unit pixels and a drive section. Each of the unit pixels includes a first photoelectric conversion section, a second photoelectric conversion section which is less sensitive than the first photoelectric conversion section, a charge storage section configured to store charges generated by the second photoelectric conversion section, a charge-voltage conversion section, a first transfer gate section configured to transfer charges from the first photoelectric conversion section, and a second transfer gate section configured to combine the potential of the charge-voltage conversion section with the potential of the charge storage section.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 25, 2019Publication date: February 20, 2020Applicant: SONY CORPORATIONInventors: Yorito SAKANO, Isao HIROTA, Motonobu TORII, Masaaki TAKIZAWA, Junichiro AZAMI, Motohashi YUICHI, Atsushi SUZUKI
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Publication number: 20200014872Abstract: An imaging system according to the present disclosure includes: an imaging device that is mounted in a vehicle, and captures and generates an image of a peripheral region of the vehicle; and a processing device that is mounted in the vehicle, and executes processing related to a function of controlling the vehicle on the basis of the image. The imaging device includes: a first control line, a first voltage generator that applies a first voltage to the first control line, a first signal line, a plurality of pixels that applies a pixel voltage to the first signal line, a first dummy pixel that applies a voltage corresponding to the first voltage of the first control line to the first signal line in a first period, a converter including a first converter that performs AD conversion on the basis of a voltage of the first signal line in the first period to generate a first digital code, and a diagnosis section that performs diagnosis processing on the basis of the first digital code.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 15, 2018Publication date: January 9, 2020Applicant: Sony Semiconductor Solutions CorporationInventors: Naoki Kawazu, Atsushi Suzuki, Junichiro Azami, Motohashi Yuichi
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Publication number: 20190394414Abstract: [Object] To make it possible to more efficiently perform various tests for detecting abnormality.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 7, 2017Publication date: December 26, 2019Inventors: NAOKI KAWAZU, ATSUSHI SUZUKI, JUNICHIRO AZAMI, MOTOHASHI YUICHI
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Publication number: 20190387188Abstract: [Object] To make it possible to detect, in the case where abnormality has occurred in at least a part of the pixels, the abnormality for each of the pixels.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 7, 2017Publication date: December 19, 2019Applicant: Sony Semiconductor Solutions CorporationInventors: Naoki Kawazu, Atsushi Suzuki, Junichiro Azami, Yuichi Motohashi
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Publication number: 20190379853Abstract: An imaging system according to the present disclosure includes: an imaging device that is mounted in a vehicle, and captures and generates an image of a peripheral region of the vehicle; and a processing device that is mounted in the vehicle, and executes processing related to a function of controlling the vehicle on the basis of the image. The imaging device includes: a first pixel, a second pixel, a first signal line that is coupled to the first pixel, a second signal line that is coupled to the second pixel, and is different from the first signal line, a first latch that is coupled to the first signal line, and stores a first digital code, a second latch that is coupled to the second signal line, is adjacent to the first latch, and stores a second digital code, a transfer section that transfers digital codes outputted from the first latch and the second latch, and a diagnosis section that performs diagnosis processing on the basis of the digital codes transferred from the first latch and the second latch.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 17, 2018Publication date: December 12, 2019Inventors: NAOKI KAWAZU, ATSUSHI SUZUKI, JUNICHIRO AZAMI, YUICHI MOTOHASHI
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Publication number: 20190373190Abstract: A first pixel comprises a first transfer transistor, a first reset transistor, a first amplifier transistor and a first select transistor. The first transfer transistor has a first terminal coupled to a reference signal generation circuit. The first reset transistor has a first terminal coupled to the reference signal generation circuit. The first amplifier transistor has a gate coupled to a second terminal of the first reset transistor and a second terminal of the first transfer transistor. The first select transistor is coupled to the first amplifier transistor. A second pixel comprises a first photoelectric conversion element, a second transfer transistor coupled to the first photoelectric conversion element, a second reset transistor configured to receive a first predetermined voltage, a second amplifier transistor coupled to the second transfer transistor and the second reset transistor, and a second select transistor coupled to the second amplifier transistor.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 16, 2017Publication date: December 5, 2019Applicant: Sony Semiconductor Solutions CorporationInventors: Naoki Kawazu, Motonobu Torii, Yuichi Motohashi, Atsushi Suzuki, Junichiro Azami