Patents by Inventor Kenichi Takamiya

Kenichi Takamiya 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: 20230247314
    Abstract: Suppressing a dead period at the time of mode switching. A solid-state imaging device includes: a plurality of pixels (300) that each outputs a luminance change of incident light; and a detection circuit (305) that outputs an event signal based on the luminance change output from each of the pixels, in which each of the pixels includes: a photoelectric conversion element (311) that generates a charge according to an incident light amount; a logarithmic conversion circuit (312, 313) that is connected to the photoelectric conversion element and converts a photocurrent flowing out of the photoelectric conversion element into a voltage signal corresponding to a logarithmic value of the photocurrent; and a first transistor (318) having a drain connected to a sense node of the logarithmic conversion circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2021
    Publication date: August 3, 2023
    Inventors: Tsutomu Imoto, Yusuke Ikeda, Atsumi Niwa, Atsushi Suzuki, Shinichirou Etou, Kenichi Takamiya, Takuya Maruyama, Ren Hiyoshi
  • Patent number: 10917602
    Abstract: An imaging device comprising a pixel substrate including pixel element circuitry, a logic substrate including read circuitry configured to receive an output signal voltage from the pixel element circuitry, and electrically-conductive material arranged between the pixel substrate and the logic substrate, wherein the electrically-conductive material is configured to transfer at least one reference voltage from the logic substrate to the pixel substrate, wherein the electrically-conductive material comprises a Cu—Cu bonding portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yasunori Tsukuda, Kenichi Takamiya
  • Patent number: 10674103
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a solid-state imaging device, an image pickup apparatus, and an electronic device capable of stably supplying high-speed control signals and clock signals. In the area AD method in which analog-digital conversion of a pixel signal is performed for each ADC area corresponding to a pixel group including a plurality of pixels, a repeater element is regularly arranged in each area group unit including one or more ADC areas, to re-drive control signals for controlling a plurality of the ADC areas. The present disclosure is applicable to a solid-state imaging device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenichi Takamiya, Yasunori Tsukuda
  • Patent number: 10313623
    Abstract: There is provided a solid-state imaging device including an imaging unit including a plurality of image sensors, and an analog to digital (AD) conversion unit including a plurality of AD converters arranged in a row direction, each AD converter performing AD conversion of an electrical signal output by the image sensor. Each of the AD converters includes a comparator having a differential pair at an input stage, the differential pair including a first transistor and a second transistor, the first and second transistors are each divided into an equal number of a plurality of division transistors, and an arrangement pattern of the plurality of division transistors constituting the comparator in a predetermined column and an arrangement pattern of the plurality of division transistors constituting the comparator in an adjacent column adjacent to the predetermined column are different from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yosuke Ueno, Natsuko Seino, Kenichi Takamiya
  • Publication number: 20190124287
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a solid-state imaging device, an image pickup apparatus, and an electronic device capable of stably supplying high-speed control signals and clock signals. In the area AD method in which analog-digital conversion of a pixel signal is performed for each ADC area corresponding to a pixel group including a plurality of pixels, a repeater element is regularly arranged in each area group unit including one or more ADC areas, to re-drive control signals for controlling a plurality of the ADC areas. The present disclosure is applicable to a solid-state imaging device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Publication date: April 25, 2019
    Inventors: KENICHI TAKAMIYA, YASUNORI TSUKUDA
  • Publication number: 20180376093
    Abstract: An imaging device comprising a pixel substrate including pixel element circuitry, a logic substrate including read circuitry configured to receive an output signal voltage from the pixel element circuitry, and electrically-conductive material arranged between the pixel substrate and the logic substrate, wherein the electrically-conductive material is configured to transfer at least one reference voltage from the logic substrate to the pixel substrate, wherein the electrically-conductive material comprises a Cu—Cu bonding portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2016
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yasunori Tsukuda, Kenichi Takamiya
  • Publication number: 20180109748
    Abstract: There is provided a solid-state imaging device including an imaging unit including a plurality of image sensors, and an analog to digital (AD) conversion unit including a plurality of AD converters arranged in a row direction, each AD converter performing AD conversion of an electrical signal output by the image sensor. Each of the AD converters includes a comparator having a differential pair at an input stage, the differential pair including a first transistor and a second transistor, the first and second transistors are each divided into an equal number of a plurality of division transistors, and an arrangement pattern of the plurality of division transistors constituting the comparator in a predetermined column and an arrangement pattern of the plurality of division transistors constituting the comparator in an adjacent column adjacent to the predetermined column are different from each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2017
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Inventors: Yosuke Ueno, Natsuko Seino, Kenichi Takamiya
  • Patent number: 9900540
    Abstract: There is provided a solid-state imaging device including an imaging unit including a plurality of image sensors, and an analog to digital (AD) conversion unit including a plurality of AD converters arranged in a row direction, each AD converter performing AD conversion of an electrical signal output by the image sensor. Each of the AD converters includes a comparator having a differential pair at an input stage, the differential pair including a first transistor and a second transistor, the first and second transistors are each divided into an equal number of a plurality of division transistors, and an arrangement pattern of the plurality of division transistors constituting the comparator in a predetermined column and an arrangement pattern of the plurality of division transistors constituting the comparator in an adjacent column adjacent to the predetermined column are different from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yosuke Ueno, Natsuko Seino, Kenichi Takamiya
  • Publication number: 20170155864
    Abstract: There is provided a solid-state imaging device including an imaging unit including a plurality of image sensors, and an analog to digital (AD) conversion unit including a plurality of AD converters arranged in a row direction, each AD converter performing AD conversion of an electrical signal output by the image sensor. Each of the AD converters includes a comparator having a differential pair at an input stage, the differential pair including a first transistor and a second transistor, the first and second transistors are each divided into an equal number of a plurality of division transistors, and an arrangement pattern of the plurality of division transistors constituting the comparator in a predetermined column and an arrangement pattern of the plurality of division transistors constituting the comparator in an adjacent column adjacent to the predetermined column are different from each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2017
    Publication date: June 1, 2017
    Inventors: Yosuke Ueno, Natsuko Seino, Kenichi Takamiya
  • Patent number: 9602748
    Abstract: There is provided a solid-state imaging device including an imaging unit including a plurality of image sensors, and an analog to digital (AD) conversion unit including a plurality of AD converters arranged in a row direction, each AD converter performing AD conversion of an electrical signal output by the image sensor. Each of the AD converters includes a comparator having a differential pair at an input stage, the differential pair including a first transistor and a second transistor, the first and second transistors are each divided into an equal number of a plurality of division transistors, and an arrangement pattern of the plurality of division transistors constituting the comparator in a predetermined column and an arrangement pattern of the plurality of division transistors constituting the comparator in an adjacent column adjacent to the predetermined column are different from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yosuke Ueno, Natsuko Seino, Kenichi Takamiya
  • Patent number: 9549136
    Abstract: There is provided a solid-state imaging device including an imaging unit including a plurality of image sensors, and an analog to digital (AD) conversion unit including a plurality of AD converters arranged in a row direction, each AD converter performing AD conversion of an electrical signal output by the image sensor. Each of the AD converters includes a comparator having a differential pair at an input stage, the differential pair including a first transistor and a second transistor, the first and second transistors are each divided into an equal number of a plurality of division transistors, and an arrangement pattern of the plurality of division transistors constituting the comparator in a predetermined column and an arrangement pattern of the plurality of division transistors constituting the comparator in an adjacent column adjacent to the predetermined column are different from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yosuke Ueno, Natsuko Seino, Kenichi Takamiya
  • Publication number: 20160373681
    Abstract: There is provided a solid-state imaging device including an imaging unit including a plurality of image sensors, and an analog to digital (AD) conversion unit including a plurality of AD converters arranged in a row direction, each AD converter performing AD conversion of an electrical signal output by the image sensor. Each of the AD converters includes a comparator having a differential pair at an input stage, the differential pair including a first transistor and a second transistor, the first and second transistors are each divided into an equal number of a plurality of division transistors, and an arrangement pattern of the plurality of division transistors constituting the comparator in a predetermined column and an arrangement pattern of the plurality of division transistors constituting the comparator in an adjacent column adjacent to the predetermined column are different from each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2016
    Publication date: December 22, 2016
    Inventors: Yosuke Ueno, Natsuko Seino, Kenichi Takamiya
  • Patent number: 9307173
    Abstract: A signal processing circuit includes: a reference signal generating circuit that generates a reference signal of a ramp waveform of which a voltage value varies with the lapse of time by changing a current; and a signal processing unit including a plurality of processing sections that process the reference signal as a ramp wave and a potential of a supplied analog signal, wherein the reference signal processing circuit has a function of adjusting an offset of the reference signal by adjusting the current from the time of starting the generation of the reference signal or adjusting the level of the reference signal at least at the time of starting the generation of the reference signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenichi Takamiya, Yuji Gendai, Yasuaki Hisamatsu, Tadafumi Nagata
  • Publication number: 20150271430
    Abstract: There is provided a solid-state imaging device including an imaging unit including a plurality of image sensors, and an analog to digital (AD) conversion unit including a plurality of AD converters arranged in a row direction, each AD converter performing AD conversion of an electrical signal output by the image sensor. Each of the AD converters includes a comparator having a differential pair at an input stage, the differential pair including a first transistor and a second transistor, the first and second transistors are each divided into an equal number of a plurality of division transistors, and an arrangement pattern of the plurality of division transistors constituting the comparator in a predetermined column and an arrangement pattern of the plurality of division transistors constituting the comparator in an adjacent column adjacent to the predetermined column are different from each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2015
    Publication date: September 24, 2015
    Inventors: Yosuke Ueno, Natsuko Seino, Kenichi Takamiya
  • Patent number: 9111837
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an image sensor capable of obtaining a good-quality image with a simple configuration. A pixel accumulates a charge by performing photoelectric conversion on incident light, and outputs a pixel signal corresponding to the charge. A vertical scanning circuit controls the pixel to cause the pixel to perform a shutter process of discharging an unnecessary charge accumulated in the pixel, a charge accumulation process of accumulating a charge generated through photoelectric conversion in a predetermined exposure time in the pixel, and a read process of outputting a pixel signal corresponding to the charge accumulated in the pixel in the charge accumulation process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenichi Takamiya, Ken Koseki
  • Patent number: 9071783
    Abstract: There is provided a solid-state imaging device including an imaging unit including a plurality of image sensors, and an analog to digital (AD) conversion unit including a plurality of AD converters arranged in a row direction, each AD converter performing AD conversion of an electrical signal output by the image sensor. Each of the AD converters includes a comparator having a differential pair at an input stage, the differential pair including a first transistor and a second transistor, the first and second transistors are each divided into an equal number of a plurality of division transistors, and an arrangement pattern of the plurality of division transistors constituting the comparator in a predetermined column and an arrangement pattern of the plurality of division transistors constituting the comparator in an adjacent column adjacent to the predetermined column are different from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yosuke Ueno, Natsuko Seino, Kenichi Takamiya
  • Patent number: 8742313
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes: a pixel array unit that includes a plurality of pixels arranged two dimensionally and a plurality of read-out signal lines used for reading out pixel signals from the plurality of pixels; test voltage applying units that are disposed at the read-out signal lines and apply test voltages of various voltage levels to the read-out signal lines; a reference voltage generating circuit that includes a MOS transistor used for generating a reference voltage and can change an operating point of the MOS transistor; and an operating point control unit that controls a process of adjusting the operating point of the MOS transistor based on the test voltages and the reference voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Kenichi Takamiya, Junji Toyomura
  • Publication number: 20140022430
    Abstract: There is provided a solid-state imaging device including an imaging unit including a plurality of image sensors, and an analog to digital (AD) conversion unit including a plurality of AD converters arranged in a row direction, each AD converter performing AD conversion of an electrical signal output by the image sensor. Each of the AD converters includes a comparator having a differential pair at an input stage, the differential pair including a first transistor and a second transistor, the first and second transistors are each divided into an equal number of a plurality of division transistors, and an arrangement pattern of the plurality of division transistors constituting the comparator in a predetermined column and an arrangement pattern of the plurality of division transistors constituting the comparator in an adjacent column adjacent to the predetermined column are different from each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2013
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Inventors: Yosuke Ueno, Natsuko Seino, Kenichi Takamiya
  • Patent number: 8427566
    Abstract: A pixel drive circuit including a plurality of pixel circuits, each including a photoelectric converting unit for converting an incident light into an electric charge and accumulating the converted electric charge, the plurality of pixel circuits being arranged in a matrix shape, an address decoder for selecting the pixel circuits to be controlled which are arranged on an identical line, a storage circuit for storing operation information to be executed by the pixel circuits selected by the address decoder, and a control circuit for controlling an operation of the pixel circuits selected by the address decoder in accordance with a storage state of the storage circuit. The control circuit controls a charge discharging operation of discharging an electric charge remaining in the photoelectric converting unit of each of the pixel circuits. The storage circuit holds the storage state until the charge discharging operation is completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Noritaka Fujita, Kenichi Takamiya, Ken Koseki, Hiroki Ui
  • Patent number: 8314871
    Abstract: A pixel drive circuit includes a plurality of pixel circuits each including a photoelectric converting unit for converting an incident light into an electric charge and accumulating the converted electric charge, the plurality of pixel circuits being arranged in a matrix shape, an address decoder for selecting the pixel circuits to be controlled which are arranged on an identical line, a storage circuit for storing operation information to be executed by the pixel circuits selected by the address decoder, and a control circuit for controlling an operation of the pixel circuits selected by the address decoder in accordance with a storage state of the storage circuit. The control circuit controls a charge discharging operation of discharging an electric charge remaining in the photoelectric converting unit of each of the pixel circuits. The storage circuit holds the storage state until the charge discharging operation is completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Noritaka Fujita, Kenichi Takamiya, Ken Koseki, Hiroki Ui