Patents by Inventor Kazutoshi Kodama

Kazutoshi Kodama 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: 12356090
    Abstract: There is no possibility of causing a useless event. An imaging device includes: a photoelectric conversion unit including a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements that performs photoelectric conversion to generate an electrical signal; a setting unit that sets a threshold value according to a noise level of a predetermined area of the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements; and a first detection unit that detects a detection signal in a case where a change amount of the electrical signal generated by the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements exceeds the threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2025
    Assignee: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kazutoshi Kodama
  • Patent number: 12289547
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an imaging device capable of outputting a signal other than an event detection signal, such as a pixel signal at a gradation level. The imaging device has a stacked chip structure formed by stacking at least two semiconductor chips including a first-layer semiconductor chip and a second-layer semiconductor chip. The first-layer semiconductor chip has a pixel array unit in which an event pixel that outputs an event detection signal, and a distance measurement pixel are mixed. The second-layer semiconductor chip is provided with an analog front-end unit for an event pixel that processes the event detection signal and with an analog front-end unit for a distance measurement pixel that processes the signal from the light-receiving element, corresponding to each of the event pixel and the distance measurement pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2025
    Assignee: Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation
    Inventor: Kazutoshi Kodama
  • Patent number: 12262131
    Abstract: An imaging device capable of reducing a useless region on a substrate is provided. An imaging device including a plurality of substrates to be stacked includes a readout-only circuit disposed on a substrate different from a substrate having a pixel array unit including a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements disposed thereon, and performing an operation of reading out electrical signals obtained through photoelectric conversion in the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements, and a circuit disposed on a substrate different from the substrate having the readout-only circuit disposed thereon and performing an operation other than an operation of the readout-only circuit on the basis of the electrical signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignee: Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation
    Inventor: Kazutoshi Kodama
  • Publication number: 20240397220
    Abstract: [Object] High-speed output is made possible in response to firing of imaging elements that detect events. [Solving Means] A sensor apparatus includes a pixel array, a control circuit, a read circuit, and a signal processing circuit. In the pixel array, a plurality of pixels each having a detection element for detecting an event are arranged in at least a plurality of columns and at least one line constituting an array pattern. The control circuit controls scanning of the pixels in units of frames. The read circuit reads an event detected by the detection element with a timing controlled by the control circuit. The signal processing circuit processes and outputs a signal read by the read circuit. In the sensor apparatus, with the plurality of columns divided into groups at least one of which includes a plurality of columns, the control circuit controls the group to be accessed, and the read circuit acquires the signal from the pixel accessed by the control circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 4, 2022
    Publication date: November 28, 2024
    Inventor: KAZUTOSHI KODAMA
  • Patent number: 12047685
    Abstract: To improve the frame rate in an imaging apparatus that carries out still image recording and moving image display simultaneously. A pixel array includes an arrangement of a plurality of pixels. The plurality of pixels each include an internal memory. An exposure control unit carries out first exposure control in which captured data obtained by performing exposure to all the plurality of pixels together is retained in the internal memories of the pixels. The exposure control unit also carries out second exposure control in which captured data obtained by performing exposure to specific pixels of the plurality of pixels together is retained in the internal memories of the pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kazutoshi Kodama
  • Publication number: 20240236519
    Abstract: [Problem] To provide an imaging device by which data about a luminance change of incident light can be outputted at high speeds. [Solution] The imaging device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes: a pixel array including a plurality of pixel circuits arranged in rows and columns, the pixel circuits photoelectrically converting incident light; a timing control circuit that specifies a detection pixel row or a detection pixel column including the pixel circuit having detected a luminance change of the incident light among the plurality of pixel circuits, on the basis of a first signal outputted for each row or each column from the pixel array; and a reading circuit that reads the first signal of the detection pixel row or the detection pixel column from the pixel array.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2022
    Publication date: July 11, 2024
    Inventor: Kazutoshi Kodama
  • Patent number: 12032353
    Abstract: To easily perform examination of at least one facility based on detection signals of a plurality of sensors installed in the facility. Provided are an examining apparatus, an examining method and a recording medium, including: a group designation acquiring unit to acquire designation of a targeted group including a plurality of targeted sensors to be analyzed among a plurality of sensors installed in at least one facility; a sensor data acquiring unit to acquire sensor data from each targeted sensor included in the targeted group; a learning unit to learn an analysis model by using the sensor data from each targeted sensor included in the targeted group; and an examining unit to examine the facility by using the learned analysis model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: Yokogawa Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Hirotsugu Gotou, Kazutoshi Kodama, Go Takami
  • Patent number: 11953463
    Abstract: There is provided a method of producing a gas sensor element capable of detecting a concentration of specific ions based on a limiting current passing between a first electrode and a second electrode according to a concentration difference of the specific ions. The method includes a temperature raising step, a current measuring step and a control step. In the temperature raising step, a heater is energized to raise temperature of a solid electrolyte. In the current measuring step, a voltage is applied across the first and second electrodes and to measure a limiting current. In the control step, a part of a diffusion resistance layer is removed from the gas sensor element by using an ultrashort pulsed laser to control a diffusion length that is a length of an introduction path to maintain the limiting current to be within a final standard range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kazutoshi Kodama
  • Publication number: 20230412936
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a solid-state imaging element, an electronic device, and an imaging method capable of obtaining information regarding an object regardless of a motion state of the object. According to the present disclosure, the solid-state imaging element includes: a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements that performs photoelectric conversion to generate a photoelectric conversion signal; and a generation unit that generates a first signal in a case where an amount of change of a photoelectric conversion signal output from a single photoelectric conversion element among the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements exceeds a predetermined value, and generates a second signal in a case where a difference value between photoelectric conversion signals output from two photoelectric conversion elements among the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements exceeds a predetermined value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2021
    Publication date: December 21, 2023
    Inventor: Kazutoshi Kodama
  • Publication number: 20230276141
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an imaging device and an imaging method capable of generating a DVS image and a gradation image at a higher speed. An imaging device includes: a pixel array unit including a plurality of DVS pixels that outputs a first luminance signal corresponding to a light amount and a plurality of gradation pixels that outputs a second luminance signal corresponding to the light amount; a detection circuit that outputs a detection signal indicating occurrence of an address event in a case where a first luminance signal of each of the plurality of DVS pixels exceeds a predetermined threshold; a first reading unit that reads the first luminance signal from the plurality of DVS pixels and converts the first luminance signal into digital data; a second reading unit that reads the second luminance signal from the plurality of gradation pixels and converts the second luminance signal into digital data; and a control circuit that controls the first reading unit and the second reading unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2021
    Publication date: August 31, 2023
    Inventor: KAZUTOSHI KODAMA
  • Publication number: 20230224605
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an imaging device capable of outputting a signal other than an event detection signal, such as a pixel signal at a gradation level. The imaging device has a stacked chip structure formed by stacking at least two semiconductor chips including a first-layer semiconductor chip and a second-layer semiconductor chip. The first-layer semiconductor chip has a pixel array unit in which an event pixel that outputs an event detection signal, and a distance measurement pixel are mixed. The second-layer semiconductor chip is provided with an analog front-end unit for an event pixel that processes the event detection signal and with an analog front-end unit for a distance measurement pixel that processes the signal from the light-receiving element, corresponding to each of the event pixel and the distance measurement pixel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2021
    Publication date: July 13, 2023
    Applicant: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kazutoshi KODAMA
  • Publication number: 20230217127
    Abstract: There is no risk of generating unnecessary events. This imaging device comprises: a photoelectric conversion unit that has a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements for performing photoelectric conversion to generate an electric signal; a setting unit that sets a threshold value according to a noise level in a predetermined region among the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements; and a first detection unit that detects a detection signal in a case where the amount of change in the electric signal generated by the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements exceeds the threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2021
    Publication date: July 6, 2023
    Inventor: KAZUTOSHI KODAMA
  • Publication number: 20230179879
    Abstract: There is no possibility of causing a useless event. An imaging device includes: a photoelectric conversion unit including a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements that performs photoelectric conversion to generate an electrical signal; a setting unit that sets a threshold value according to a noise level of a predetermined area of the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements; and a first detection unit that detects a detection signal in a case where a change amount of the electrical signal generated by the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements exceeds the threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2021
    Publication date: June 8, 2023
    Inventor: KAZUTOSHI KODAMA
  • Publication number: 20230119596
    Abstract: To improve the frame rate in an imaging apparatus that carries out still image recording and moving image display simultaneously. A pixel array includes an arrangement of a plurality of pixels. The plurality of pixels each include an internal memory. An exposure control unit carries out first exposure control in which captured data obtained by performing exposure to all the plurality of pixels together is retained in the internal memories of the pixels. The exposure control unit also carries out second exposure control in which captured data obtained by performing exposure to specific pixels of the plurality of pixels together is retained in the internal memories of the pixels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2021
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Inventor: KAZUTOSHI KODAMA
  • Publication number: 20230047180
    Abstract: An imaging device capable of reducing a useless region on a substrate is provided. An imaging device including a plurality of substrates to be stacked includes a readout-only circuit disposed on a substrate different from a substrate having a pixel array unit including a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements disposed thereon, and performing an operation of reading out electrical signals obtained through photoelectric conversion in the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements, and a circuit disposed on a substrate different from the substrate having the readout-only circuit disposed thereon and performing an operation other than an operation of the readout-only circuit on the basis of the electrical signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2021
    Publication date: February 16, 2023
    Applicant: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kazutoshi KODAMA
  • Patent number: 11392737
    Abstract: In a detection apparatus that detects an anomaly of equipment, in a case where a plurality of types of anomalies occur, it is desired to detect which type of anomaly has occurred. Provided is a detection apparatus that includes a sensor data obtaining unit configured to obtain sensor data of a sensor installed in equipment, a model storage unit configured to store detection models that are individually trained for each anomaly using the sensor data in an anomaly period in which the anomaly has occurred, for a plurality of types of respective anomalies of the equipment, and a detection unit configured to detect presence or absence of the plurality of types of respective anomalies from the sensor data that has been newly obtained, by using the detection models corresponding to the plurality of types of respective anomalies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: Yokogawa Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Hirotsugu Gotou, Kazutoshi Kodama
  • Publication number: 20210404985
    Abstract: In a gas sensor, a housing is formed into a cylindrical shape. A holding portion is arranged inside the housing and is formed into a cylindrical shape that has a through hole that passes through in an axial direction, when a direction in which an axis of the housing extends is the axial direction. A sensor element is formed to extend in the axial direction in a state where the sensor element passes through the through hole in the holding portion and detects a gas to be measured on one side in the axial direction. A glass seal is arranged inside the holding portion, is made of a glass material, and seals between the sensor element and the holding portion. A shock mitigating portion that mitigates shock being transferred from outside the housing through the holding portion to the glass seal is housed between the housing and the holding portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2021
    Publication date: December 30, 2021
    Inventors: Kazutoshi KODAMA, Masato OZAWA, Shota HAGINO
  • Publication number: 20210025845
    Abstract: There is provided a method of producing a gas sensor element capable of detecting a concentration of specific ions based on a limiting current passing between a first electrode and a second electrode according to a concentration difference of the specific ions. The method includes a temperature raising step, a current measuring step and a control step. In the temperature raising step, a heater is energized to raise temperature of a solid electrolyte. In the current measuring step, a voltage is applied across the first and second electrodes and to measure a limiting current. In the control step, a part of a diffusion resistance layer is removed from the gas sensor element by using an ultrashort pulsed laser to control a diffusion length that is a length of an introduction path to maintain the limiting current to be within a final standard range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2020
    Publication date: January 28, 2021
    Inventor: Kazutoshi KODAMA
  • Patent number: 10809239
    Abstract: A gas sensor is provided which includes a hollow metallic housing, a sensor device installed in the housing, and a seal disposed in the housing to hermetically isolate between the housing and the sensor device. The housing has an inner shoulder formed on an inner periphery thereof. The seal is retained on the inner shoulder. The seal is made up of a powder body and a glass body. The powder body is made of inorganic powder and mounted on the inner shoulder. The glass body is arranged on the powder body and has a varying coefficient of thermal expansion which alleviates a difference in thermal expansion between the sensor device and the housing, thereby ensuring the stability of hermetic sealing ability of the seal in high-temperature environments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazutoshi Kodama, Hirofumi Noda
  • Publication number: 20200193076
    Abstract: In a detection apparatus that detects an anomaly of equipment, in a case where a plurality of types of anomalies occur, it is desired to detect which type of anomaly has occurred. Provided is a detection apparatus that includes a sensor data obtaining unit configured to obtain sensor data of a sensor installed in equipment, a model storage unit configured to store detection models that are individually trained for each anomaly using the sensor data in an anomaly period in which the anomaly has occurred, for a plurality of types of respective anomalies of the equipment, and a detection unit configured to detect presence or absence of the plurality of types of respective anomalies from the sensor data that has been newly obtained, by using the detection models corresponding to the plurality of types of respective anomalies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2019
    Publication date: June 18, 2020
    Inventors: Hirotsugu GOTOU, Kazutoshi KODAMA