Patents by Inventor MAKOTO SHOUHO
MAKOTO SHOUHO 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).
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Publication number: 20240259708Abstract: An imaging device includes unit pixel cells arranged in rows and columns and a voltage supply circuit. Each of the unit pixel cells includes a pixel electrode, a counter electrode, a photoelectric conversion layer converting light into signal charge, and a charge accumulation region electrically connected to the pixel electrode to accumulate signal charge. The unit pixel cells form pixel blocks each including one or more rows. The counter electrode is continuous between pixels in each pixel block and is separated between different pixel blocks. The voltage supply circuit sequentially performs a shutter operation on the pixel blocks at different timings. The shutter operation forms an exposure period by applying a first voltage to the counter electrode and forms a non-exposure period by applying a second voltage to the counter electrode.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 12, 2024Publication date: August 1, 2024Inventor: MAKOTO SHOUHO
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Publication number: 20240089621Abstract: An imaging device includes a first pixel, a second pixel, and a correction circuit. First signals respectively corresponding to the first pixel and the second pixel are input to the correction circuit. The correction circuit outputs second signals in response to the first signals. Each of the first pixel and the second pixel includes a photoelectric converter, a charge storage region, and a capacitance circuit. The photoelectric converter converts light into signal charges. The charge storage region stores the signal charges. The capacitance circuit varies a capacitance value of the charge storage region in response to a potential of the charge storage region. The correction circuit corrects the first signal of at least one of the first pixel or the second pixel to the second signal in a case where the same amount of light is incident on the first pixel and the second pixel.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 14, 2023Publication date: March 14, 2024Inventors: YASUO MIYAKE, MAKOTO SHOUHO
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Publication number: 20230336886Abstract: An imaging device includes a charge accumulator, a first transistor, and a first capacitive element. The first transistor has a first source, a first drain, and a first gate electrode electrically connected to one of the first source and the first drain. The first capacitive element holds the charges and has a first terminal. A fixed potential is supplied to the other of the first source and the first drain. One of the first source and the first drain is always electrically connected to the first terminal of the first capacitive element from start to end of an exposure period.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 26, 2023Publication date: October 19, 2023Inventors: MASASHI MURAKAMI, MAKOTO SHOUHO, YOSHIHIRO SATO, KAZUKO NISHIMURA, JUNJI HIRASE
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Publication number: 20230292017Abstract: An imaging device includes a photoelectric conversion layer, a counter electrode, a first electrode, a second electrode, a first transfer gate, a second transfer gate, a first amplification transistor, and a second amplification transistor. The first transistor outputs a signal corresponding to the potential of the first gate in a first readout period in which the first transfer gate suppresses transfer of signal charges. The first readout period includes a first period in which the second transfer gate allows transfer of signal charges. The second transistor outputs a signal corresponding to the potential of the second gate in a second readout period in which the second transfer gate suppresses transfer of signal charges. The second readout period includes a second period in which the first transfer gate allows transfer of signal charges.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 15, 2023Publication date: September 14, 2023Inventors: MAKOTO SHOUHO, SHINICHI MACHIDA
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Patent number: 11019289Abstract: An imaging device includes: a pixel including a photoelectric converter that generates signal charge by photoelectric conversion, and a charge accumulation region that accumulates the signal charge, the pixel being configured to output a signal corresponding to a voltage of the charge accumulation region; a signal line electrically connected to the pixel, the signal being transmitted through the signal line; a first switch that is electrically connected to the signal line and that has input-output characteristics in which an output is linear with respect to an input up to a clipping voltage and the output is clipped at the clipping voltage with respect to the input exceeding the clipping voltage; and a second switch that is electrically connected to the signal line and that has input-output characteristics in which an output is linear with respect to an input.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2019Date of Patent: May 25, 2021Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.Inventors: Makoto Shouho, Masaaki Yanagida
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Patent number: 10701295Abstract: An imaging device provided with: a pixel including a photoelectric converter that converts light into charges, the pixel outputting a first signal corresponding to an amount of the charges; an output signal line coupled to the pixel, the first signal being transmitted through the output signal line; a load transistor having a source, a drain, and a gate, one of the source and the drain being coupled to the output signal line; and a voltage supply circuit coupled to the gate of the load transistor, the voltage supply circuit selectively supplying either a first voltage or a second voltage to the gate.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2018Date of Patent: June 30, 2020Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.Inventors: Makoto Shouho, Masashi Murakami
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Patent number: 10659704Abstract: There is provided an imaging device including: a pixel that outputs a pixel signal corresponding to an amount of incident light; an output signal line that is connected to the pixel to allow the pixel signal from the pixel to be output to the output signal line; a first transistor that has a first gate, a first source, and a first drain, one of the first source and the first drain being connected to the output signal line; and a first circuit that is connected to the first gate, the first circuit being configured to generate a third voltage that is a voltage between a first voltage and a second voltage, the first voltage being a voltage for turning on the first transistor, the second voltage being a voltage for turning off the first transistor.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 2019Date of Patent: May 19, 2020Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.Inventors: Masaaki Yanagida, Makoto Shouho
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Publication number: 20200014867Abstract: An imaging device includes: a pixel including a photoelectric converter that generates signal charge by photoelectric conversion, and a charge accumulation region that accumulates the signal charge, the pixel being configured to output a signal corresponding to a voltage of the charge accumulation region; a signal line electrically connected to the pixel, the signal being transmitted through the signal line; a first switch that is electrically connected to the signal line and that has input-output characteristics in which an output is linear with respect to an input up to a clipping voltage and the output is clipped at the clipping voltage with respect to the input exceeding the clipping voltage; and a second switch that is electrically connected to the signal line and that has input-output characteristics in which an output is linear with respect to an input.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 18, 2019Publication date: January 9, 2020Inventors: Makoto SHOUHO, Masaaki YANAGIDA
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Publication number: 20190364234Abstract: There is provided an imaging device including: a pixel that outputs a pixel signal corresponding to an amount of incident light; an output signal line that is connected to the pixel to allow the pixel signal from the pixel to be output to the output signal line; a first transistor that has a first gate, a first source, and a first drain, one of the first source and the first drain being connected to the output signal line; and a first circuit that is connected to the first gate, the first circuit being configured to generate a third voltage that is a voltage between a first voltage and a second voltage, the first voltage being a voltage for turning on the first transistor, the second voltage being a voltage for turning off the first transistor.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 10, 2019Publication date: November 28, 2019Inventors: MASAAKI YANAGIDA, MAKOTO SHOUHO
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Patent number: 10462396Abstract: An imaging device includes: a pixel; a signal line electrically connected to the pixel; and a first and second sample-and-hold circuits electrically connected to the signal line. The pixel includes: a photoelectric converter that generates signal charge; a charge accumulation region that accumulates the signal charge; a reset transistor that resets a voltage of the charge accumulation region; and an amplifier transistor that amplifies a signal voltage. The first sample-and-hold circuit includes: a first switch that is electrically connected to the signal line and has input-output characteristics in which an output is clipped at a clipping voltage with respect to an input exceeding the clipping voltage; and a first capacitor electrically connected to the signal line through the first switch. The second sample-and-hold circuit includes: a second switch electrically connected to the signal line; and a second capacitor electrically connected to the signal line through the second switch.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 2018Date of Patent: October 29, 2019Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.Inventors: Makoto Shouho, Masaaki Yanagida
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Publication number: 20190116327Abstract: An imaging device provided with: a pixel including a photoelectric converter that converts light into charges, the pixel outputting a first signal corresponding to an amount of the charges; an output signal line coupled to the pixel, the first signal being transmitted through the output signal line; a load transistor having a source, a drain, and a gate, one of the source and the drain being coupled to the output signal line; and a voltage supply circuit coupled to the gate of the load transistor, the voltage supply circuit selectively supplying either a first voltage or a second voltage to the gate.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 27, 2018Publication date: April 18, 2019Inventors: MAKOTO SHOUHO, MASASHI MURAKAMI
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Publication number: 20180352179Abstract: An imaging device includes: a pixel; a signal line electrically connected to the pixel; and a first and second sample-and-hold circuits electrically connected to the signal line. The pixel includes: a photoelectric converter that generates signal charge; a charge accumulation region that accumulates the signal charge; a reset transistor that resets a voltage of the charge accumulation region; and an amplifier transistor that amplifies a signal voltage. The first sample-and-hold circuit includes: a first switch that is electrically connected to the signal line and has input-output characteristics in which an output is clipped at a clipping voltage with respect to an input exceeding the clipping voltage; and a first capacitor electrically connected to the signal line through the first switch. The second sample-and-hold circuit includes: a second switch electrically connected to the signal line; and a second capacitor electrically connected to the signal line through the second switch.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 22, 2018Publication date: December 6, 2018Inventors: MAKOTO SHOUHO, MASAAKI YANAGIDA