Patents by Inventor Katsuya Sonoyama

Katsuya Sonoyama 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: 8299822
    Abstract: A driver circuit transmits a signal generated by a signal level generation circuit to a circuit to be measured by transmitting the signal to a output buffer circuit via a circuit (prebuffer circuit) that drives the output buffer circuit and causing the output buffer circuit to drive a transmission line. The driver circuit includes the prebuffer circuit and a replica buffer circuit formed by imitating the prebuffer circuit. The prebuffer circuit and the replica buffer circuit are disposed in parallel. The driver circuit temporarily increases input bias current to be supplied to output-stage transistors of the output buffer circuit on the basis of output current of the replica buffer circuit during transition of an input or output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuo Shima, Katsuya Sonoyama, Yoichiro Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20110234263
    Abstract: A driver circuit transmits a signal generated by a signal level generation circuit to a circuit to be measured by transmitting the signal to a output buffer circuit via a circuit (prebuffer circuit) that drives the output buffer circuit and causing the output buffer circuit to drive a transmission line. The driver circuit includes the prebuffer circuit and a replica buffer circuit formed by imitating the prebuffer circuit. The prebuffer circuit and the replica buffer circuit are disposed in parallel. The driver circuit temporarily increases input bias current to be supplied to output-stage transistors of the output buffer circuit on the basis of output current of the replica buffer circuit during transition of an input or output signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2011
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Inventors: Yasuo SHIMA, Katsuya Sonoyama, Yoichiro Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 6218903
    Abstract: A very-small-signal amplifier is capable of amplifying very small signals with high sensitivity up to high frequencies while simplifying the circuit, and a magnetic disk storage apparatus realizes a reading operation over a wide band up to high frequencies with high sensitivity. The signal amplifier is a modified differential circuit including a first transistor of a first conductivity type and a second transistor of a second conductivity type each having a control terminal, a terminal of the input side and a terminal of the output side. The terminals on the input side are connected in common, and a current corresponding to the voltage difference across the control terminals is allowed to flow. A very small voltage signal generated by an input signal source is applied to the control terminal of said first transistor. A bias voltage is applied to the control terminal of the second transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi ULSI Systems Co., Ltd., Hitachi Information Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Hashimoto, Yuji Nagaya, Masaki Yoshinaga, Noriaki Hatanaka, Tatsuo Mochizuki, Katsuya Sonoyama
  • Patent number: 6163218
    Abstract: A very-small-signal amplifier is capable of amplifying very small signals with high sensitivity up to high frequencies while simplifying the circuit, and a magnetic disk storage apparatus realizes a reading operation over a wide band up to high frequencies with high sensitivity. The signal amplifier is a modified differential circuit including a first transistor of a first conductivity type and a second transistor of a second conductivity type each having a control terminal, a terminal of the input side and a terminal of the output side. The terminals on the input side are connected in common, and a current corresponding to the voltage difference across the control terminals is allowed to flow. A very small voltage signal generated by an input signal source is applied to the control terminal of said first transistor. A bias voltage is applied to the control terminal of the second transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2000
    Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi ULSI Systems Co., Ltd., Hitachi Information Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Hashimoto, Yuji Nagaya, Masaki Yoshinaga, Noriaki Hatanaka, Tatsuo Mochizuki, Katsuya Sonoyama
  • Patent number: 6114905
    Abstract: A very-small-signal amplifier is capable of amplifying very small signals with high sensitivity up to high frequencies while simplifying the circuit, and a magnetic disk storage apparatus realizes a reading operation over a wide band up to high frequencies with high sensitivity. The signal amplifier is a modified differential circuit including a first transistor of a first conductivity type and a second transistor of a second conductivity type each having a control terminal, a terminal of the input side and a terminal of the output side. The terminals on the input side are connected in common, and a current corresponding to the voltage difference across the control terminals is allowed to flow. A very small voltage signal generated by an input signal source is applied to the control terminal of said first transistor. A bias voltage is applied to the control terminal of the second transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2000
    Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi ULSI Systems Co., Ltd., Hitachi Information Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Hashimoto, Yuji Nagaya, Masaki Yoshinaga, Noriaki Hatanaka, Tatsuo Mochizuki, Katsuya Sonoyama