Patents by Inventor Mahito Shinohara

Mahito Shinohara 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: 20150263062
    Abstract: A solid-state image capturing apparatus, comprising a semiconductor substrate including a first region of a first conductivity type, charge accumulation regions of a second conductivity type, transistors each outputting a signal based on charges accumulated in the charge accumulation region, a second region of the first conductivity type formed in a position deeper than the charge accumulation regions and shallower than the first region so as to be electrically conducted to the first region, whose impurity concentration is higher than that of the first region, and a third region of the second conductivity type formed between the second region and the first region, wherein the second region is formed across a region including two or more transistors in a planar view and supplies a current to each of the two or more transistors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2015
    Publication date: September 17, 2015
    Inventor: Mahito Shinohara
  • Publication number: 20150179698
    Abstract: A junction type field effect transistor (JFET) in a substrate includes channel and source regions of a first conductivity type and first through fourth gate regions of a second conductivity type. The first and second gate regions are disposed in a direction along a surface of the substrate. The third and fourth gate regions are disposed in the direction. The first and third gate regions are disposed in a depth direction. The first gate region is disposed between the surface and the third gate region. The second and fourth gate regions are disposed in the depth direction. The second gate region is disposed between the surface and the fourth gate region. The channel region includes a first region disposed between the first and third gate regions and a second region disposed between the second and fourth gate regions. The source region is disposed between the first and second gate regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Publication date: June 25, 2015
    Inventors: Mahito Shinohara, Hideomi Kumano
  • Publication number: 20150179688
    Abstract: One embodiment according to the present disclosure is an imaging apparatus including pixels. The pixel includes a junction type field effect transistor (JFET) provided in a semiconductor substrate. The JFET includes a gate region and a channel region. An orthogonal projection of the gate region onto a plane parallel to a surface of the semiconductor substrate intersects an orthogonal projection of the channel region onto the plane. Each of a source-side portion of the orthogonal projection of the channel region and a drain-side portion of the orthogonal projection of the channel region protrudes out of the orthogonal projection of the gate region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Publication date: June 25, 2015
    Inventors: Mahito Shinohara, Masahiro Kobayashi, Masatsugu Itahashi
  • Publication number: 20150179699
    Abstract: One embodiment provides an imaging apparatus including a photoelectric conversion unit; and a junction type field effect transistor configured to output a signal based on a carrier generated by the photoelectric conversion unit. The junction type field effect transistor includes a semiconductor region of a first conductivity type that forms a channel and a gate region of a second conductivity type. The semiconductor region of the first conductivity type includes a first region and a second region. The first region and the second region are disposed in this order toward a direction to which a carrier in the channel drifts. An impurity density of the second region is lower than an impurity density of the first region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2014
    Publication date: June 25, 2015
    Inventor: Mahito Shinohara
  • Patent number: 8970769
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging apparatus comprising a substrate having a first face and a second face opposing each other, and in which photoelectric conversion portions are formed, an optical system including microlenses provided on a side of the first face, and light absorbing portions provided on a side of the second face, wherein the apparatus has pixels of first type for detecting light of a first wavelength and second type for detecting light of a second wavelength shorter than the first wavelength, and the apparatus further comprises a first portion between the substrate and the light absorbing portion for each first type pixel, and a second portion between the substrate and the light absorbing portion for each second type pixel, and the first portion has a reflectance higher than that of the second portion for the light of the first wavelength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mahito Shinohara, Masatsugu Itahashi, Hideomi Kumano
  • Patent number: 8896734
    Abstract: A solid-state image sensor includes a first semiconductor region of a first conductivity type, a second semiconductor region of a second conductivity type that is arranged to contact a lower face of the first semiconductor region and functions as a charge accumulation region, a third semiconductor region including side faces surrounded by the second semiconductor region, a fourth semiconductor region of the second conductivity type that is arranged apart from the second semiconductor region, and a transfer gate that forms a channel to transfer charges accumulated in the second semiconductor region to the fourth semiconductor region. The third semiconductor region is one of a semiconductor region of the first conductivity type and a semiconductor region of the second conductivity type whose impurity concentration is lower than that in the second semiconductor region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Mahito Shinohara
  • Patent number: 8878115
    Abstract: A light condensing member focuses light, which is incident upon a first area of the light condensing member corresponding to an opening portion of an insulation film, in an upper portion region of a light path member arranged within the opening portion, the insulation film having an upper face extending from the opening portion, and the light path member having a lower face in a region corresponding to a light receiving face of an photoelectric conversion portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mineo Shimotsusa, Taro Kato, Yasuhiro Sekine, Mahito Shinohara, Takeshi Ichikawa, Genzo Momma
  • Patent number: 8872949
    Abstract: A solid-state image pickup device including a photoelectric conversion element, a floating diffusion, and an element isolation region that are disposed above a first semiconductor region has a second semiconductor region of a first conductivity type disposed on the first semiconductor region. An interface between the first semiconductor region and a portion of the second semiconductor region corresponding to the photoelectric conversion element is located at a first depth, whereas the interface between the first semiconductor region and a portion of the second semiconductor region disposed under the element isolation region and the floating diffusion is located at a second depth smaller than the first depth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Mahito Shinohara
  • Publication number: 20140306309
    Abstract: A photoelectric conversion apparatus includes a semiconductor substrate having a photoelectric conversion portion. An insulator is provided on the semiconductor substrate. The insulator has a hole corresponding to the photoelectric conversion portion. A waveguide member is provided in the hole. An in-layer lens is provided on a side of the waveguide member farther from the semiconductor substrate. A first intermediate member is provided between the waveguide member and the in-layer lens. The first intermediate member has a lower refractive index than the in-layer lens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2014
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Inventors: Taro Kato, Mineo Shimotsusa, Hiroaki Sano, Takeshi Ichikawa, Yasuhiro Sekine, Mahito Shinohara, Genzo Momma
  • Patent number: 8835269
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a solid-state image sensor having photoelectric conversion elements and one or more MOS transistors are formed on a semiconductor substrate is provided. The method includes forming a resist pattern having an opening and a shielding portion over the substrate; and implanting ions in the substrate through the opening. When the substrate is viewed from a direction, an isolation region that is positioned between accumulation regions adjacent to one another is exposed in the opening, and when viewed from a different direction, a channel region of the MOS transistors is exposed in the opening, and the isolation region is shielded by the shielding portion. Ions irradiated in the direction are implanted in the isolation region, and ions irradiated in the different direction are implanted in the channel region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mahito Shinohara, Junji Iwata
  • Patent number: 8817144
    Abstract: A photoelectric conversion apparatus includes a semiconductor substrate having a photoelectric conversion portion. An insulator is provided on the semiconductor substrate. The insulator has a hole corresponding to the photoelectric conversion portion. A waveguide member is provided in the hole. An in-layer lens is provided on a side of the waveguide member farther from the semiconductor substrate. A first intermediate member is provided between the waveguide member and the in-layer lens. The first intermediate member has a lower refractive index than the in-layer lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Taro Kato, Mineo Shimotsusa, Hiroaki Sano, Takeshi Ichikawa, Yasuhiro Sekine, Mahito Shinohara, Genzo Momma
  • Publication number: 20140118602
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging apparatus comprising a substrate having a first face and a second face opposing each other, and in which photoelectric conversion portions are formed, an optical system including microlenses provided on a side of the first face, and light absorbing portions provided on a side of the second face, wherein the apparatus has pixels of first type for detecting light of a first wavelength and second type for detecting light of a second wavelength shorter than the first wavelength, and the apparatus further comprises a first portion between the substrate and the light absorbing portion for each first type pixel, and a second portion between the substrate and the light absorbing portion for each second type pixel, and the first portion has a reflectance higher than that of the second portion for the light of the first wavelength.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2013
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Mahito Shinohara, Masatsugu Itahashi, Hideomi Kumano
  • Publication number: 20140042507
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes a pixel portion in which pixels are arranged, the pixels each including a first semiconductor region of first conductivity type having signal charges as majority carriers and a second semiconductor region of second conductivity type having signal charges as minority carriers, the second semiconductor region being contiguous to the first semiconductor region, the first semiconductor region being disposed between a surface of a semiconductor substrate. The pixel portion includes a class I pixel and a class II pixel located near a reference contact. A distance between the surface of the semiconductor substrate and the second semiconductor region of the class I pixel is smaller than a distance between the surface of the semiconductor substrate and the second semiconductor region of the class II pixel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2013
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Junji Iwata, Fumihiro Inui, Takanori Watanabe, Mahito Shinohara
  • Patent number: 8580595
    Abstract: A solid-state image sensing device includes a plurality of pixels. Each pixel has a photodiode, a first transistor, and a second transistor. The photodiode is constituted by a first-conductivity-type semiconductor region and a second-conductivity-type semiconductor region. The first and second conductivity types are opposite to each other. The first transistor has a first-conductivity-type drain region formed in the second-conductivity-type semiconductor region to transfer signal charge to the drain region. The second transistor has a source region and a drain region which are formed in the second-conductivity-type semiconductor region and which have the first conductivity type. At least one second-conductivity-type potential barrier is provided under the drain region of the first transistor and the source region and/or the drain region of the second transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mahito Shinohara, Shunsuke Inoue
  • Patent number: 8476153
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device that includes a semiconductor substrate is provided. The method includes: exposing a photoresist coated on the semiconductor substrate using a photomask including a plurality of regions having different light transmittances; developing the photoresist to form a resist pattern including a plurality of regions having different thicknesses that depend on an exposure amount of the photoresist; and implanting impurity ions into the semiconductor substrate through the plurality of regions of the resist pattern having different thicknesses to form a plurality of impurity regions whose depths from a surface of the semiconductor substrate to peak positions are different from each other. The depths to the peak positions depend on the thickness of the resist pattern through which the implanted impurity ions pass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Tezuka, Mahito Shinohara, Yasuhiro Kawabata
  • Patent number: 8471942
    Abstract: A solid-state image pickup device includes a voltage supply circuit configured to supply a voltage to load MOS transistors provided to vertical output lines and columnar signal-processing circuits. The voltage supply circuit includes a first amplifier circuit configured to amplify a predetermined voltage supplied to an input part thereof from a voltage generator and to output an amplified voltage to a voltage supply wire, and a sample-and-hold circuit including a sampling switch provided on a path between the voltage generator and the input part and a hold capacitor configured to hold the voltage sampled by the sampling switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Mahito Shinohara
  • Patent number: 8436406
    Abstract: A solid-state image sensing device includes a plurality of pixels. Each pixel has a photodiode, a first transistor, and a second transistor. The photodiode is constituted by a first-conductivity-type semiconductor region and a second-conductivity-type semiconductor region. The first and second conductivity types are opposite to each other. The first transistor has a first-conductivity-type drain region formed in the second-conductivity-type semiconductor region to transfer signal charge to the drain region. The second transistor has a source region and a drain region which are formed in the second-conductivity-type semiconductor region and which have the first conductivity type. At least one second-conductivity-type potential barrier is provided under the drain region of the first transistor and the source region and/or the drain region of the second transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mahito Shinohara, Shunsuke Inoue
  • Publication number: 20130089945
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a solid-state image sensor having photoelectric conversion elements and one or more MOS transistors are formed on a semiconductor substrate is provided. The method includes forming a resist pattern having an opening and a shielding portion over the substrate; and implanting ions in the substrate through the opening. When the substrate is viewed from a direction, an isolation region that is positioned between accumulation regions adjacent to one another is exposed in the opening, and when viewed from a different direction, a channel region of the MOS transistors is exposed in the opening, and the isolation region is shielded by the shielding portion. Ions irradiated in the direction are implanted in the isolation region, and ions irradiated in the different direction are implanted in the channel region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Mahito Shinohara, Junji Iwata
  • Publication number: 20130056619
    Abstract: A solid-state image pickup apparatus of the present invention includes a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix. For the convenience sake, among the plurality of pixels, two pixels from which signals are not read in parallel are set to be a first pixel and a second pixel. A first reset transistor is disposed in an electrical path between a first reset power supply line and the control electrode of an amplifying transistor contained in the first pixel. A second reset transistor is disposed in an electrical path between the control electrode of the amplifying transistor contained in the first pixel and the control electrode of an amplifying transistor contained in the second pixel. A third reset transistor is disposed in an electrical path between the control electrode of the amplifying transistor contained in the second pixel and a second reset power supply line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2011
    Publication date: March 7, 2013
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Mahito Shinohara
  • Patent number: 8363141
    Abstract: A solid-state image pickup device including a photoelectric conversion element, a floating diffusion, and an element isolation region that are disposed above a first semiconductor region has a second semiconductor region of a first conductivity type disposed on the first semiconductor region. An interface between the first semiconductor region and a portion of the second semiconductor region corresponding to the photoelectric conversion element is located at a first depth, whereas the interface between the first semiconductor region and a portion of the second semiconductor region disposed under the element isolation region and the floating diffusion is located at a second depth smaller than the first depth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Mahito Shinohara