Patents by Inventor Kentaro Maeta

Kentaro Maeta 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: 8520111
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device according to one embodiment is a multi-port solid-state imaging device, and includes an imaging region and a plurality of units. The imaging region includes a plurality of pixel columns. The units generate signals based on charges from the imaging region. Each of the units has an output register, a plurality of multiplication registers, and an amplifier. The output register transfers a charge from one or more corresponding pixel columns out of the plurality of pixel columns. The multiplication registers are provided in parallel, and receive the charge from the output register to generate multiplied charges individually. The amplifier generates a signal based on the multiplied charges from the multiplication registers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Hamamatsu Photonics K.K.
    Inventors: Hisanori Suzuki, Yasuhito Yoneta, Shin-ichiro Takagi, Kentaro Maeta, Masaharu Muramatsu
  • Patent number: 8466498
    Abstract: In a solid state imaging device with an electron multiplying function, in a section normal to an electron transfer direction of a multiplication register EM, an insulating layer 2 is thicker at both side portions than in a central region. A pair of overflow drains 1N is formed at a boundary between a central region and both side portions of an N-type semiconductor region 1C. Each overflow drain 1N extends along the electron transfer direction of the multiplication register EM. Overflow gate electrodes G extend from the thin portion to the thick portion of the insulating layer 2. The overflow gate electrodes G are disposed between both ends of each transfer electrode 8 in a longitudinal direction and the insulating layer 2, and they also function as shield electrodes for each electrode 8 (8A and 8B).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Hamamatsu Photonics K.K.
    Inventors: Hisanori Suzuki, Yasuhito Yoneta, Shin-ichiro Takagi, Kentaro Maeta, Masaharu Muramatsu
  • Patent number: 8367999
    Abstract: A multi-port solid-state imaging device of one embodiment includes an imaging region and a plurality of units. The imaging region contains a plurality of pixel columns. The units are arrayed in a direction in which the pixel columns are arrayed, and generate signals based on charges from the imaging region. Each unit has an output register, a multiplication register, and an amplifier. The output register transfers a charge from one or more corresponding pixel columns. The multiplication register receives the charge from the output register to generate a multiplied charge. The amplifier generates a signal based on the multiplied charge from the multiplication register. The solid-state imaging device contains a region where the units are provided, and a first dummy region and a second dummy region located on both sides in the above-mentioned direction of the region. In each of the first dummy region and the second dummy region, a multiplication register and an amplifier are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Hamamatsu Photonics K.K.
    Inventors: Hisanori Suzuki, Yasuhito Yoneta, Shin-ichiro Takagi, Kentaro Maeta, Masaharu Muramatsu
  • Patent number: 8345135
    Abstract: A solid state imaging device with an electron multiplying function includes an imaging region VR formed of a plurality of vertical shift registers, a horizontal shift register HR that transfers electrons from the imaging region VR, a multiplication register EM that multiplies the electrons from the horizontal shift register HR, and an electron injecting electrode 11A provided at an end portion of a starting side of the imaging region VR in an electron transfer direction. A specific vertical shift register (channel CH1) into which the electrons are injected by the electron injecting electrode 11A is disposed in a thick part of a semiconductor substrate, and is set in such a way as to be blocked from incident light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Hamamatsu Photonics K.K.
    Inventors: Hisanori Suzuki, Yasuhito Yoneta, Shin-ichiro Takagi, Kentaro Maeta, Masaharu Muramatsu
  • Publication number: 20120007149
    Abstract: In a solid-state imaging device 1, an overflow gate (OFG) 5 has a predetermined electric resistance value, while voltage application units 161 to 165 are electrically connected to the OFG 5 at connecting parts 171 to 175. Therefore, when voltage values V1 to V5 applied to the connecting parts 171 to 175 by the voltage application units 161 to 165 are adjusted, the OFG 5 can yield higher and lower voltage values in its earlier and later stage parts, respectively. As a result, the barrier level (potential) becomes lower and higher in the earlier and later stage parts, so that all the electric charges generated in an earlier stage side region of photoelectric conversion units 2 can be caused to flow out to an overflow drain (OFD) 4, whereby only the electric charges generated in a later stage side region of the photoelectric conversion units 2 can be TDI-transferred.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2010
    Publication date: January 12, 2012
    Applicant: HAMAMATSU PHOTONICS K.K.
    Inventors: Hisanori Suzuki, Yasuhito Yoneta, Kentaro Maeta, Masaharu Muramatsu
  • Publication number: 20110298958
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device according to one embodiment is a multi-port solid-state imaging device, and includes an imaging region and a plurality of units. The imaging region includes a plurality of pixel columns. The units generate signals based on charges from the imaging region. Each of the units has an output register, a plurality of multiplication registers, and an amplifier. The output register transfers a charge from one or more corresponding pixel columns out of the plurality of pixel columns. The multiplication registers are provided in parallel, and receive the charge from the output register to generate multiplied charges individually. The amplifier generates a signal based on the multiplied charges from the multiplication registers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2010
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Applicant: Hamamatsu Photonics K.K.
    Inventors: Hisanori Suzuki, Yasuhito Yoneta, Shin-ichiro Takagi, Kentaro Maeta, Masaharu Muramatsu
  • Publication number: 20110273603
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention is a charge multiplying solid-state imaging device, and includes an imaging area 10 that generates a charge according to the amount of incident light, an output register unit 20 that receives the charge from the imaging area 10, and a multiplication register unit 28 that multiplies the charge from the output register 20, and performs feed-forward control of the multiplication factor of the multiplication register unit 28 according to the charge amount from the imaging area 10.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2010
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Applicant: HAMAMATSU PHOTONICS K.K.
    Inventors: Hisanori Suzuki, Yasuhito Yoneta, Shin-ichiro Takagi, Kentaro Maeta, Masaharu Muramatsu
  • Publication number: 20110272557
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention is a charge multiplying solid-state imaging device, and includes an imaging area 10 that generates a charge according to the amount of incident light, a plurality of output register units 21 to 24 that receive the charge from the imaging area 10, and a plurality of multiplication register units 31 to 34 that multiply charges from the output registers 21 to 24, respectively, and the multiplication register units 31 to 34 are different in the number of multiplication stages from each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2010
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Applicant: HAMAMATSU PHOTONICS K.K.
    Inventors: Hisanori Suzuki, Yasuhito Yoneta, Shin-ichiro Takagi, Kentaro Maeta, Masaharu Muramatsu
  • Publication number: 20110254989
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention is a charge multiplying solid-state imaging device, and includes an imaging area 10 that generates a charge according to the amount of incident light, an output register unit 20 that receives the charge from the imaging area 10, a multiplication register unit 40 that multiplies the charge from the output register 20, and at least one charge dispersion means 71 that disperses the charge input to the multiplication register unit 40 in a width direction perpendicular to a transfer direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2010
    Publication date: October 20, 2011
    Applicant: HAMAMATSU PHOTONICS K.K.
    Inventors: Hisanori Suzuki, Yasuhito Yoneta, Shin-ichiro Takagi, Kentaro Maeta, Masaharu Muramatsu
  • Publication number: 20110186913
    Abstract: In a solid state imaging device with an electron multiplying function, in a section normal to an electron transfer direction of a multiplication register EM, an insulating layer 2 is thicker at both side portions than in a central region. A pair of overflow drains 1N is formed at a boundary between a central region and both side portions of an N-type semiconductor region 1C. Each overflow drain 1N extends along the electron transfer direction of the multiplication register EM. Overflow gate electrodes G extend from the thin portion to the thick portion of the insulating layer 2. The overflow gate electrodes G are disposed between both ends of each transfer electrode 8 in a longitudinal direction and the insulating layer 2, and they also function as shield electrodes for each electrode 8 (8A and 8B).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2010
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Applicant: Hamamatsu Photonics K.K.
    Inventors: Hisanori Suzuki, Yasuhito Yoneta, Shin-ichiro Takagi, Kentaro Maeta, Masaharu Muramatsu
  • Publication number: 20110031377
    Abstract: A multi-port solid-state imaging device of one embodiment includes an imaging region and a plurality of units. The imaging region contains a plurality of pixel columns. The units are arrayed in a direction in which the pixel columns are arrayed, and generate signals based on charges from the imaging region. Each unit has an output register, a multiplication register, and an amplifier. The output register transfers a charge from one or more corresponding pixel columns. The multiplication register receives the charge from the output register to generate a multiplied charge. The amplifier generates a signal based on the multiplied charge from the multiplication register. The solid-state imaging device contains a region where the units are provided, and a first dummy region and a second dummy region located on both sides in the above-mentioned direction of the region. In each of the first dummy region and the second dummy region, a multiplication register and an amplifier are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2010
    Publication date: February 10, 2011
    Applicant: Hamamatsu Photonics K.K.
    Inventors: Hisanori Suzuki, Yasuhito Yoneta, Shin-ichiro Takagi, Kentaro Maeta, Masaharu Muramatsu
  • Publication number: 20110024606
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device of an embodiment includes an imaging region, an output register, a corner register, a multiplication register, a first amplifier, a second amplifier, and a valve gate electrode. The output register is a transfer register that receives a charge transferred from the imaging region to transfer the charge. The output register is capable of selectively transferring a charge in one direction and in the other direction opposite to the one direction. The corner register transfers a charge transferred in one direction from the output register. The multiplication register receives a charge from the corner register and generates and transfers a multiplied charge. The first amplifier generates a signal based on a multiplied charge from the multiplication register. The second amplifier generates a signal based on a charge transferred in the other direction by the output register.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2010
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Inventors: Hisanori Suzuki, Yasuhito Yoneta, Shin-ichiro Takagi, Kentaro Maeta, Masaharu Muramatsu
  • Publication number: 20110025897
    Abstract: A solid state imaging device with an electron multiplying function includes an imaging region VR formed of a plurality of vertical shift registers, a horizontal shift register HR that transfers electrons from the imaging region VR, a multiplication register EM that multiplies the electrons from the horizontal shift register HR, and an electron injecting electrode 11A provided at an end portion of a starting side of the imaging region VR in an electron transfer direction. A specific vertical shift register (channel CH1) into which the electrons are injected by the electron injecting electrode 11A is disposed in a thick part of a semiconductor substrate, and is set in such a way as to be blocked from incident light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2010
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Inventors: Hisanori Suzuki, Yasuhito Yoneta, Shin-ichiro Takagi, Kentaro Maeta, Masaharu Muramatsu
  • Publication number: 20110024854
    Abstract: A solid state imaging device includes a P-type semiconductor substrate 1A, a P-type epitaxial layer 1B grown on the semiconductor substrate 1A, an imaging region VR grown within the epitaxial layer 1B, and an N-type semiconductor region 1C grown within the epitaxial layer 1B. The solid state imaging device further includes a horizontal shift register HR that transmits a signal from the imaging region VR, and a P-type well region 1D formed within the epitaxial layer 1B. The N-type semiconductor region 1C extends in the well region 1D. A P-type impurity concentration in the well region 1D is higher than a P-type impurity concentration in the epitaxial layer 1B. A multiplication register EM that multiplies electrons from the horizontal shift register HR is formed in the well region 1D.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2010
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Inventors: Hisanori Suzuki, Yasuhito Yoneta, Shin-ihiro Takagi, Kentaro Maeta, Masaharu Muramatsu