Patents by Inventor Kazuyoshi Yamashita

Kazuyoshi Yamashita 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: 9530815
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a solid-state imaging apparatus including: a semiconductor base; a photodiode created on the semiconductor base and used for carrying out photoelectric conversion; a pixel section provided with pixels each having the photodiode; a first wire created by being electrically connected to the semiconductor base for the pixel section through a contact section and being extended in a first direction to the outside of the pixel section; a second wire made from a wiring layer different from the first wire and created by being extended in a second direction different from the first direction to the outside of the pixel section; and a contact section for electrically connecting the first and second wires to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Mikiko Kobayashi, Kazuyoshi Yamashita
  • Publication number: 20160372503
    Abstract: The present technology relates to a solid-state imaging device and a driving method thereof, and an electronic apparatus that make it possible to improve the precision of phase difference detection while suppressing deterioration of resolution in a solid-state imaging device having a global shutter function and a phase difference AF function. Provided is a solid-state imaging device including: a pixel array unit including, as pixels including an on-chip lens, a photoelectric conversion unit, and a charge accumulation unit, imaging pixels for generating a captured image and phase difference detection pixels for performing phase difference detection arrayed therein; and a driving control unit configured to control driving of the pixels. The imaging pixel is formed with the charge accumulation unit shielded from light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2014
    Publication date: December 22, 2016
    Inventors: JUN OKUNO, KAZUYOSHI YAMASHITA
  • Publication number: 20160353040
    Abstract: A solid-state image sensor including a pixel array portion formed from a two-dimensional array of ordinary imaging pixels each having a photoelectric conversion unit and configured to output an electric signal obtained through photoelectric conversion as a pixel signal, and focus detection pixels for detecting focus. The focus detection pixels include at least a first focus detection pixel and a second focus detection pixel each having a photoelectric conversion unit and configured to transfer and output an electric signal obtained through photoelectric conversion to an output node. The first focus detection pixel and the second focus detection pixel share the output node. The first focus detection pixel includes a first photoelectric conversion unit, and a first transfer gate for reading out an electron generated through photoelectric conversion in the first photoelectric conversion unit to the shared output node.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2016
    Publication date: December 1, 2016
    Inventor: Kazuyoshi Yamashita
  • Patent number: 9491351
    Abstract: There is provided a solid-state imaging device which includes a focus detection pixel that has a light shielding film, which is formed on a light receiving surface of a photoelectric conversion portion and shields light in a part of the light receiving surface, performs pupil division and photoelectric conversion of a received light flux and acquires a phase difference detection signal, where the light shielding film is formed avoiding a gate electrode of a reading gate portion to read a signal charge from the photoelectric conversion portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hitoshi Moriya, Kazuyoshi Yamashita, Hiroyuki Mori, Hiroaki Ishiwata
  • Patent number: 9484371
    Abstract: An image sensor comprising a semiconductor substrate with a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements and a charge-voltage conversion element. The plurality of photoelectric conversion elements further includes at least a first photoelectric conversion element and a second photoelectric conversion element. The charge-voltage conversion element is shared by the first and second photoelectric conversion elements. The image sensor further includes a first charge accumulation element adjacent to the first photoelectric conversion element and at least a portion of the first charge accumulation element overlaps a charge accumulation region of the first photoelectric conversion element. The image sensor also includes a second charge accumulation element adjacent to the second photoelectric conversion element and at least a portion of the second charge accumulation element overlaps a charge accumulation region of the second photoelectric conversion element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kazuyoshi Yamashita
  • Publication number: 20160307955
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a solid-state imaging apparatus including: a semiconductor base; a photodiode created on the semiconductor base and used for carrying out photoelectric conversion; a pixel section provided with pixels each having the photodiode; a first wire created by being electrically connected to the semiconductor base for the pixel section through a contact section and being extended in a first direction to the outside of the pixel section; a second wire made from a wiring layer different from the first wire and created by being extended in a second direction different from the first direction to the outside of the pixel section; and a contact section for electrically connecting the first and second wires to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2016
    Publication date: October 20, 2016
    Inventors: Mikiko Kobayashi, Kazuyoshi Yamashita
  • Patent number: 9445024
    Abstract: Provided is a solid-state image sensor including a pixel array portion formed from a two-dimensional array of ordinary imaging pixels each having a photoelectric conversion unit and configured to output an electric signal obtained through photoelectric conversion as a pixel signal, and focus detection pixels for detecting focus. The focus detection pixels include at least a first focus detection pixel and a second focus detection pixel each having a photoelectric conversion unit and configured to transfer and output an electric signal obtained through photoelectric conversion to an output node. The first focus detection pixel and the second focus detection pixel share the output node. The first focus detection pixel includes a first photoelectric conversion unit, and a first transfer gate for reading out an electron generated through photoelectric conversion in the first photoelectric conversion unit to the shared output node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kazuyoshi Yamashita
  • Publication number: 20160260759
    Abstract: An image sensor comprising a semiconductor substrate with a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements and a charge-voltage conversion element. The plurality of photoelectric conversion elements further includes at least a first photoelectric conversion element and a second photoelectric conversion element. The charge-voltage conversion element is shared by the first and second photoelectric conversion elements. The image sensor further includes a first charge accumulation element adjacent to the first photoelectric conversion element and at least a portion of the first charge accumulation element overlaps a charge accumulation region of the first photoelectric conversion element. The image sensor also includes a second charge accumulation element adjacent to the second photoelectric conversion element and at least a portion of the second charge accumulation element overlaps a charge accumulation region of the second photoelectric conversion element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2016
    Publication date: September 8, 2016
    Inventor: KAZUYOSHI YAMASHITA
  • Patent number: 9419042
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a solid-state imaging apparatus including: a semiconductor base; a photodiode created on the semiconductor base and used for carrying out photoelectric conversion; a pixel section provided with pixels each having the photodiode; a first wire created by being electrically connected to the semiconductor base for the pixel section through a contact section and being extended in a first direction to the outside of the pixel section; a second wire made from a wiring layer different from the first wire and created by being extended in a second direction different from the first direction to the outside of the pixel section; and a contact section for electrically connecting the first and second wires to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mikiko Kobayashi, Kazuyoshi Yamashita
  • Patent number: 9379149
    Abstract: Imaging sensors, imaging apparatuses, and methods of driving an image sensor are provided. An image sensor can include a semiconductor substrate with a photoelectric conversion element and a charge-conversion element. The sensor can further include a capacitance switch. A charge accumulation element is located adjacent the photoelectric conversion element. At least a portion of the charge accumulation element overlaps a charge accumulation region of the photoelectric conversion element. The charge accumulation element is selectively connected to the charge-voltage conversion element by the capacitance switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuyoshi Yamashita
  • Publication number: 20160172409
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a solid-state imaging apparatus including: a semiconductor base; a photodiode created on the semiconductor base and used for carrying out photoelectric conversion; a pixel section provided with pixels each having the photodiode; a first wire created by being electrically connected to the semiconductor base for the pixel section through a contact section and being extended in a first direction to the outside of the pixel section; a second wire made from a wiring layer different from the first wire and created by being extended in a second direction different from the first direction to the outside of the pixel section; and a contact section for electrically connecting the first and second wires to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2016
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Inventors: Mikiko Kobayashi, Kazuyoshi Yamashita
  • Patent number: 9356057
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a solid-state imaging apparatus including: a semiconductor base; a photodiode created on the semiconductor base and used for carrying out photoelectric conversion; a pixel section provided with pixels each having the photodiode; a first wire created by being electrically connected to the semiconductor base for the pixel section through a contact section and being extended in a first direction to the outside of the pixel section; a second wire made from a wiring layer different from the first wire and created by being extended in a second direction different from the first direction to the outside of the pixel section; and a contact section for electrically connecting the first and second wires to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Mikiko Kobayashi, Kazuyoshi Yamashita
  • Publication number: 20160037054
    Abstract: There is provided a solid-state imaging device which includes a focus detection pixel that has a light shielding film, which is formed on a light receiving surface of a photoelectric conversion portion and shields light in a part of the light receiving surface, performs pupil division and photoelectric conversion of a received light flux and acquires a phase difference detection signal, where the light shielding film is formed avoiding a gate electrode of a reading gate portion to read a signal charge from the photoelectric conversion portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2015
    Publication date: February 4, 2016
    Inventors: HITOSHI MORIYA, KAZUYOSHI YAMASHITA, HIROYUKI MORI, HIROAKI ISHIWATA
  • Publication number: 20150357362
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a solid-state imaging apparatus including: a semiconductor base; a photodiode created on the semiconductor base and used for carrying out photoelectric conversion; a pixel section provided with pixels each having the photodiode; a first wire created by being electrically connected to the semiconductor base for the pixel section through a contact section and being extended in a first direction to the outside of the pixel section; a second wire made from a wiring layer different from the first wire and created by being extended in a second direction different from the first direction to the outside of the pixel section; and a contact section for electrically connecting the first and second wires to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2015
    Publication date: December 10, 2015
    Inventors: Mikiko Kobayashi, Kazuyoshi Yamashita
  • Publication number: 20150349434
    Abstract: An array antenna for satellite communications includes a first sub-array and a second sub-array, each including a plurality of antenna elements arrayed in a matrix with a regular pitch, the first sub-array and the second sub-array being shifted relative to each other in a satellite orbital direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2015
    Publication date: December 3, 2015
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuyoshi YAMASHITA, Tomohiro TAKAHASHI
  • Patent number: 9184208
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a solid-state imaging apparatus including: a semiconductor base; a photodiode created on the semiconductor base and used for carrying out photoelectric conversion; a pixel section provided with pixels each having the photodiode; a first wire created by being electrically connected to the semiconductor base for the pixel section through a contact section and being extended in a first direction to the outside of the pixel section; a second wire made from a wiring layer different from the first wire and created by being extended in a second direction different from the first direction to the outside of the pixel section; and a contact section for electrically connecting the first and second wires to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mikiko Kobayashi, Kazuyoshi Yamashita
  • Patent number: 9148591
    Abstract: There is provided a solid-state imaging device which includes a focus detection pixel that has a light shielding film, which is formed on a light receiving surface of a photoelectric conversion portion and shields light in a part of the light receiving surface, performs pupil division and photoelectric conversion of a received light flux and acquires a phase difference detection signal, where the light shielding film is formed avoiding a gate electrode of a reading gate portion to read a signal charge from the photoelectric conversion portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Hitoshi Moriya, Kazuyoshi Yamashita, Hiroyuki Mori, Hiroaki Ishiwata
  • Publication number: 20150109499
    Abstract: Provided is a solid-state image sensor including a pixel array portion formed from a two-dimensional array of ordinary imaging pixels each having a photoelectric conversion unit and configured to output an electric signal obtained through photoelectric conversion as a pixel signal, and focus detection pixels for detecting focus. The focus detection pixels include at least a first focus detection pixel and a second focus detection pixel each having a photoelectric conversion unit and configured to transfer and output an electric signal obtained through photoelectric conversion to an output node. The first focus detection pixel and the second focus detection pixel share the output node. The first focus detection pixel includes a first photoelectric conversion unit, and a first transfer gate for reading out an electron generated through photoelectric conversion in the first photoelectric conversion unit to the shared output node.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2014
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Inventor: Kazuyoshi Yamashita
  • Publication number: 20150077612
    Abstract: There is provided an imaging apparatus that includes a photoelectric conversion section, a retention section, and first and second gates. The photoelectric conversion section is configured to convert a received light into charge. The retention section is configured to retain the charge provided by the photoelectric conversion section. The first and second gates are provided between the photoelectric conversion section and the retention section, the first and second gates being turned ON for transferring the charge from the photoelectric conversion section to the retention section, and the second gate being turned OFF after the first gate is turned OFF.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2014
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Inventors: Yoshimichi Kumagai, Takashi Abe, Kazuyoshi Yamashita
  • Patent number: 8964084
    Abstract: Provided is a solid-state image sensor including a pixel array portion formed from a two-dimensional array of ordinary imaging pixels each having a photoelectric conversion unit and configured to output an electric signal obtained through photoelectric conversion as a pixel signal, and focus detection pixels for detecting focus. The focus detection pixels include at least a first focus detection pixel and a second focus detection pixel each having a photoelectric conversion unit and configured to transfer and output an electric signal obtained through photoelectric conversion to an output node. The first focus detection pixel and the second focus detection pixel share the output node. The first focus detection pixel includes a first photoelectric conversion unit, and a first transfer gate for reading out an electron generated through photoelectric conversion in the first photoelectric conversion unit to the shared output node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuyoshi Yamashita