Patents by Inventor Kouichi Yamauchi

Kouichi Yamauchi 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: 7719585
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging-device includes a base, frame-shaped ribs provided on the base and forming an internal space, a plurality of wiring members for electrically leading the internal space of a housing formed by the base and the ribs to an external portion, an imaging element fixed to the base inside the internal space, a transparent plate fixed to an upper surface of the ribs, and connecting members electrically connecting electrodes of the imaging element to the wiring members, wherein a plurality of protrusions are provided in a region of the base that faces the imaging element, and the imaging element is fixed by adhesive to the base while being supported by the protrusions. The protrusions enable the imaging element to avoid distortion caused by following the surface of the base, thereby suppressing the effect on electrical properties of the imaging element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Katsutoshi Shimizu, Masanori Minamio, Kouichi Yamauchi
  • Patent number: 7691678
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device comprises a housing in which a base and ribs forming a rectangular frame are formed in one piece by a resin; a plurality of metal lead pieces embedded in the housing, each of which has an internal terminal portion facing an internal space of the housing and an external terminal portion exposed at an outer portion of the housing; an imaging element arranged on the base in the internal space of the housing; connecting members connecting electrodes of the imaging element to the internal terminal portions of the metal lead pieces; and a transparent plate fastened to an upper face of the ribs. The upper face of the ribs is provided with a lower step portion that is lowered along an external periphery, and the transparent plate is fastened to the upper face of the ribs by an adhesive filled at least into the lower step portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Katsutoshi Shimizu, Masanori Minamio, Kouichi Yamauchi
  • Publication number: 20090290054
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging-device includes a base, frame-shaped ribs provided on the base and forming an internal space, a plurality of wiring members for electrically leading the internal space of a housing formed by the base and the ribs to an external portion, an imaging element fixed to the base inside the internal space, a transparent plate fixed to an upper surface of the ribs, and connecting members electrically connecting electrodes of the imaging element to the wiring members, wherein a plurality of protrusions are provided in a region of the base that faces the imaging element, and the imaging element is fixed by adhesive to the base while being supported by the protrusions. The protrusions enable the imaging element to avoid distortion caused by following the surface of the base, thereby suppressing the effect on electrical properties of the imaging element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2009
    Publication date: November 26, 2009
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Katsutoshi SHIMIZU, Masanori MINAMIO, Kouichi YAMAUCHI
  • Patent number: 7586529
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging-device includes a base, frame-shaped ribs provided on the base and forming an internal space, a plurality of wiring members for electrically leading the internal space of a housing formed by the base and the ribs to an external portion, an imaging element fixed to the base inside the internal space, a transparent plate fixed to an upper surface of the ribs, and connecting members electrically connecting electrodes of the imaging element to the wiring members, wherein a plurality of protrusions are provided in a region of the base that faces the imaging element, and the imaging element is fixed by adhesive to the base while being supported by the protrusions. The protrusions enable the imaging element to avoid distortion caused by following the surface of the base, thereby suppressing the effect on electrical properties of the imaging element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Katsutoshi Shimizu, Masanori Minamio, Kouichi Yamauchi
  • Publication number: 20080194055
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device comprises a housing in which a base and ribs forming a rectangular frame are formed in one piece by a resin; a plurality of metal lead pieces embedded in the housing, each of which has an internal terminal portion facing an internal space of the housing and an external terminal portion exposed at an outer portion of the housing; an imaging element arranged on the base in the internal space of the housing; connecting members connecting electrodes of the imaging element to the internal terminal portions of the metal lead pieces; and a transparent plate fastened to an upper face of the ribs. The upper face of the ribs is provided with a lower step portion that is lowered along an external periphery, and the transparent plate is fastened to the upper face of the ribs by an adhesive filled at least into the lower step portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2008
    Publication date: August 14, 2008
    Applicant: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsutoshi Shimizu, Masanori Minamio, Kouichi Yamauchi
  • Patent number: 7378748
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device comprises a housing in which a base and ribs forming a rectangular frame are formed in one piece by a resin; a plurality of metal lead pieces embedded in the housing, each of which has an internal terminal portion facing an internal space of the housing and an external terminal portion exposed at an outer portion of the housing; an imaging element arranged on the base in the internal space of the housing; connecting members connecting electrodes of the imaging element to the internal terminal portions of the metal lead pieces; and a transparent plate fastened to an upper face of the ribs. The upper face of the ribs is provided with a lower step portion that is lowered along an external periphery, and the transparent plate is fastened to the upper face of the ribs by an adhesive filled at least into the lower step portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsutoshi Shimizu, Masanori Minamio, Kouichi Yamauchi
  • Patent number: 7367120
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a solid-state imaging device. An end portion on the aperture side of each of the plurality of wirings forms an internal terminal portion and an end portion on the outer peripheral side of each of the plurality of wirings forms an external terminal portion, the internal terminal portion of the wiring being connected electrically with an electrode of the imaging element. The wirings are made of thin metal plate leads, the base is made up of a resin molded member in which the thin metal plate leads are embedded, and at least a part of a side edge face of the thin metal plate leads is embedded in the base. The rigidity of the base is enhanced by the thin metal plate leads, thus reducing a curl and a warp of the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masanori Minamio, Mutsuo Tsuji, Kouichi Yamauchi
  • Patent number: 7294907
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes a housing having a resin-molded base and ribs; metal lead pieces embedded in the housing, the metal lead pieces each having an inner terminal portion facing an inner space of the housing, an outer terminal portion exposed at a bottom surface of the housing, and a lateral electrode portion exposed at an outer lateral surface of the housing; an imaging element fixed on the base in the inner space; connecting members connecting electrodes of the imaging element respectively to the inner terminal portions; and a transparent plate fixed to an upper surface of the ribs. The die pad having a through hole is embedded in a center portion of the base so that the die pad's upper and lower surfaces are exposed, and the imaging element is fixed on the die pad. A ventilation hole to the inner space of the housing that is formed in one piece with a resin can be formed easily with a simple configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masanori Minamio, Kouichi Yamauchi, Kenichi Nishiyama, Kiyokazu Itoi
  • Patent number: 7273765
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes: a planar substrate; an imaging element fixed onto the substrate; a rib provided on the substrate so as to surround the imaging element; a transparent plate fixed to a top face of the rib; a plurality of wirings for conducting electricity from inside of a package to outside of the same, the package being composed of the substrate, the rib and the transparent plate; and thin metal wires for connecting electrodes of the imaging element with the respective wirings. Each of the wirings includes: an internal electrode disposed on a surface with the imaging element mounted thereon; an external electrode disposed on a rear surface of the imaging-element mounted surface and at a position corresponding to the internal electrode and an end face electrode disposed on an end face of the substrate, for connecting the internal electrode and the external electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masanori Minamio, Kouichi Yamauchi
  • Patent number: 7247509
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device is manufactured according to the steps below. A lattice-shaped rib forming member, which is an aggregation of a plurality of frame-shaped ribs for configuring a plurality of solid-state imaging devices, is resin-molded. An aggregate wiring board is used, which has regions corresponding to a plurality of the wiring boards, and in which a plurality of the wiring members are provided in each of the regions, and the imaging element is fastened to each region of the aggregate wiring board and the electrodes of the imaging elements and the wiring members are connected by a thin metal wire. The rib forming member is placed on the wiring board face and joined to the wiring board face, so that the imaging element is disposed inside the lattice elements of the rib forming member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kouichi Yamauchi, Masanori Minamio, Katsutoshi Shimizu, Haruto Nagata
  • Patent number: 7202469
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes a wiring board composed of an insulating resin, frame-shaped ribs arranged on the wiring board, a transparent plate arranged on an upper surface of the ribs, a plurality of wiring members that electrically lead from an internal space of a case formed by the wiring board and the ribs to the outside, an imaging element fixed on the wiring board within the internal space, and connecting members which connect electrodes of the imaging element and the wiring members. The ribs are formed by resin molding directly onto a face of the transparent plate, and a lower surface of the ribs is fixed to the wiring board with an adhesive. The package is configured without adhesive interposed between the ribs and the transparent sealing plate, thereby reducing the effect on incident light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masanori Minamio, Kouichi Yamauchi, Katsutoshi Shimizu
  • Publication number: 20070069319
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes: a base made of an insulation material and having a frame form in planar shape with an aperture formed at an inner region; a plurality of wirings provided on one surface of the base and extending toward an outer periphery of the base from a region along the aperture; and an imaging element mounted on the surface of the base with wirings provided thereon so that a light-receptive region of the imaging element faces the aperture. An end portion on the aperture side of each of the plurality of wirings forms an internal terminal portion and an end portion on the outer peripheral side of each of the plurality of wirings forms an external terminal portion, the internal terminal portion of the wiring being connected electrically with an electrode of the imaging element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2006
    Publication date: March 29, 2007
    Applicant: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masanori Minamio, Mutsuo Tsuji, Kouichi Yamauchi
  • Patent number: 7154156
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes: a base made of an insulation material and having a frame form in planar shape with an aperture formed at an inner region; a plurality of wirings provided on one surface of the base and extending toward an outer periphery of the base from a region along the aperture; and an imaging element mounted on the surface of the base with wirings provided thereon so that a light-receptive region of the imaging element faces the aperture. An end portion on the aperture side of each of the plurality of wirings forms an internal terminal portion and an end portion on the outer peripheral side of each of the plurality of wirings forms an external terminal portion, the internal terminal portion of the wiring being connected electrically with an electrode of the imaging element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masanori Minamio, Mutsuo Tsuji, Kouichi Yamauchi
  • Patent number: 7138706
    Abstract: A semiconductor device with excellent heat dissipation characteristics that can achieve a high reliability when mounted in electronic equipment such as a cellular phone or the like and a method for manufacturing the same are provided. The semiconductor device includes a substrate, a plurality of semiconductor chips mounted on the substrate by stacking one on top of another, and an encapsulation resin layer made of encapsulation resin. Among the plurality of semiconductor chips, a first semiconductor chip as an uppermost semiconductor chip is mounted with a surface thereof on which a circuit is formed facing toward the substrate, and the encapsulation resin layer is formed so that at least a surface of the first semiconductor chip opposite to the surface on which the circuit is formed and a part of side surfaces of the first semiconductor chip are exposed to the outside of the encapsulation resin layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2006
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Arai, Takashi Yui, Yoshiaki Takeoka, Fumito Itou, Kouichi Yamauchi, Yasutake Yaguchi
  • Publication number: 20050259174
    Abstract: There is provided a solid-state imaging device including: a base that has a through hole penetrating therethrough from a first principal face thereof to a second principal face thereof; a solid-state imaging element whose imaging surface faces an opening on the second principal face side of the through hole and that is fixed to a peripheral region of the opening with a sealing resin; and a translucent plate that is fixed to a peripheral region of an opening on the first principal face side of the through hole with a sealing resin, wherein the peripheral region of at least one of the opening on the first principal face side and the opening on the second principal face side is roughened more than other regions of the base. Thus, a solid-state imaging device that can reduce resin bleeding, while ensuring connection reliability, is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2005
    Publication date: November 24, 2005
    Applicant: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsushi Nishio, Kouichi Yamauchi
  • Publication number: 20050109926
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes a wiring board composed of an insulating resin, frame-shaped ribs arranged on the wiring board, a transparent plate arranged on an upper surface of the ribs, a plurality of wiring members that electrically lead from an internal space of a case formed by the wiring board and the ribs to the outside, an imaging element fixed on the wiring board within the internal space, and connecting members which connect electrodes of the imaging element and the wiring members. The ribs are formed by resin molding directly onto a face of the transparent plate, and a lower surface of the ribs is fixed to the wiring board with an adhesive. The package is configured without adhesive interposed between the ribs and the transparent sealing plate, thereby reducing the effect on incident light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2004
    Publication date: May 26, 2005
    Applicant: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masanori Minamio, Kouichi Yamauchi, Katsutoshi Shimizu
  • Patent number: 6889027
    Abstract: A junction/disjunction unit of a multicolored image forming apparatus joints/disjoints a transfer material holder with/from an image holder, to switch over between a monochromatic image forming mode which uses a specific image forming unit and a multicolored image forming mode which uses a plurality of image forming units. For switching the image forming mode, a driving unit for driving the junction/disjunction unit also drives an auger provided for conveying toner, which has been recovered by a transfer material holder cleaning unit for recovering toner remaining on the transfer material holder, into a recovery container. Accordingly, a driving force outputted from the driving unit can be effectively utilized, and thereby good cost performance can be realized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2005
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Tachiki, Toshio Yamanaka, Masashi Hirai, Kouichi Yamauchi, Fumio Shimazu
  • Publication number: 20050088565
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging-device includes a base, frame-shaped ribs provided on the base and forming an internal space, a plurality of wiring members for electrically leading the internal space of a housing formed by the base and the ribs to an external portion, an imaging element fixed to the base inside the internal space, a transparent plate fixed to an upper surface of the ribs, and connecting members electrically connecting electrodes of the imaging element to the wiring members, wherein a plurality of protrusions are provided in a region of the base that faces the imaging element, and the imaging element is fixed by adhesive to the base while being supported by the protrusions. The protrusions enable the imaging element to avoid distortion caused by following the surface of the base, thereby suppressing the effect on electrical properties of the imaging element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2004
    Publication date: April 28, 2005
    Applicant: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsutoshi Shimizu, Masanori Minamio, Kouichi Yamauchi
  • Publication number: 20050074912
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device is manufactured according to the steps below. A lattice-shaped rib forming member, which is an aggregation of a plurality of frame-shaped ribs for configuring a plurality of solid-state imaging devices, is resin-molded. An aggregate wiring board is used, which has regions corresponding to a plurality of the wiring boards, and in which a plurality of the wiring members are provided in each of the regions, and the imaging element is fastened to each region of the aggregate wiring board and the electrodes of the imaging elements and the wiring members are connected by a thin metal wire. The rib forming member is placed on the wiring board face and joined to the wiring board face, so that the imaging element is disposed inside the lattice elements of the rib forming member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2004
    Publication date: April 7, 2005
    Applicant: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kouichi Yamauchi, Masanori Minamio, Katsutoshi Shimizu, Haruto Nagata
  • Publication number: 20050044618
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device comprises a housing in which a base and ribs forming a rectangular frame are formed in one piece by a resin; a plurality of metal lead pieces embedded in the housing, each of which has an internal terminal portion facing an internal space of the housing and an external terminal portion exposed at an outer portion of the housing; an imaging element arranged on the base in the internal space of the housing; connecting members connecting electrodes of the imaging element to the internal terminal portions of the metal lead pieces; and a transparent plate fastened to an upper face of the ribs. The upper face of the ribs is provided with a lower step portion that is lowered along an external periphery, and the transparent plate is fastened to the upper face of the ribs by an adhesive filled at least into the lower step portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2004
    Publication date: March 3, 2005
    Applicant: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsutoshi Shimizu, Masanori Minamio, Kouichi Yamauchi