Patents by Inventor Masahiro Joei

Masahiro Joei 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: 20240145517
    Abstract: Provided is a solid-state image capturing element including a semiconductor substrate and first and second photoelectric conversion parts configured to convert light into electric charge. The first and the second photoelectric conversion parts each have a laminated structure including an upper electrode, a lower electrode, a photoelectric conversion film sandwiched between the upper electrode and the lower electrode, and an accumulation electrode facing the upper electrode through the photoelectric conversion film and an insulating film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2023
    Publication date: May 2, 2024
    Applicants: SONY GROUP CORPORATION, SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenichi MURATA, Masahiro JOEI, Fumihiko KOGA, Iwao YAGI, Shintarou HIRATA, Hideaki TOGASHI, Yosuke SAITO, Shingo TAKAHASHI
  • Patent number: 11974444
    Abstract: There is provided a solid-state image sensor, a solid-state imaging device, an electronic apparatus, and a method of manufacturing a solid-state image sensor capable of improving characteristics. There is provided a solid-state image sensor including a stacked structure that includes a semiconductor substrate, a first photoelectric converter provided above the semiconductor substrate and converting light into charges, and a second photoelectric converter provided above the first photoelectric converter and converting light into charges, where the first photoelectric converter and the second photoelectric converter include a photoelectric conversion stacked structure in which a common electrode, a photoelectric conversion film, and a readout electrode are stacked so that the first photoelectric converter and the second photoelectric converter are in a line-symmetrical relationship with each other with a vertical plane perpendicular to a stacking direction of the stacked structure as an axis of symmetry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignees: SONY CORPORATION, SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hideaki Togashi, Iwao Yagi, Masahiro Joei, Fumihiko Koga, Kenichi Murata, Shintarou Hirata, Yosuke Saito, Akira Furukawa
  • Publication number: 20240055465
    Abstract: A highly functional photoelectric conversion element is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2021
    Publication date: February 15, 2024
    Inventors: Kenichi MURATA, Masahiro JOEI, Shintarou HIRATA, Shingo TAKAHASHI, Yoshiyuki OHBA, Takashi KOJIMA, Tomiyuki YUKAWA, Yoshifumi ZAIZEN, Tomohiro SUGIYAMA, Masaki OKAMOTO, Takuya MASUNAGA, Yuki KAWAHARA
  • Publication number: 20240053447
    Abstract: A highly functional photoelectric conversion element is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2021
    Publication date: February 15, 2024
    Inventors: Tomohiro OHKUBO, Hitoshi TSUNO, Hideaki TOGASHI, Masayuki KURITA, Syuto TAMURA, Tetsuro TAKADA, Nobuhiro KAWAI, Tomoki HIRAMATSU, Masahiro JOEI, Kenichi MURATA, Hideki TSUJIAI
  • Patent number: 11888012
    Abstract: Provided is a solid-state image capturing element including a semiconductor substrate and first and second photoelectric conversion parts configured to convert light into electric charge. The first and the second photoelectric conversion parts each have a laminated structure including an upper electrode, a lower electrode, a photoelectric conversion film sandwiched between the upper electrode and the lower electrode, and an accumulation electrode facing the upper electrode through the photoelectric conversion film and an insulating film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignees: SONY CORPORATION, SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenichi Murata, Masahiro Joei, Fumihiko Koga, Iwao Yagi, Shintarou Hirata, Hideaki Togashi, Yosuke Saito, Shingo Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20240032316
    Abstract: Light reduction in a wiring part connected to an optical device of an electronic device including the optical device is prevented. The electronic device includes an insulating layer, an interlayer connection wiring, and an upper layer wiring. The insulating layer is disposed adjacent to the lower layer wiring and includes a through hole. The interlayer connection wiring is a transparent wiring that is connected to the lower layer wiring in the through hole and is formed into a shape extending to a surface side of the insulating layer. The upper layer wiring is a transparent wiring that is stacked and connected to the interlayer connection wiring extending to the surface side of the insulating layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2021
    Publication date: January 25, 2024
    Inventors: HITOSHI TSUNO, HIDEAKI TOGASHI, TOMOHIRO OHKUBO, MASAYUKI KURITA, SYUTO TAMURA, NOBUHIRO KAWAI, TOMOKI HIRAMATSU, MASAHIRO JOEI, KENICHI MURATA, HIDEKI TSUJIAI, TETSURO TAKADA
  • Publication number: 20240006426
    Abstract: A highly functional photoelectric conversion element is provided. The photoelectric conversion element includes: a first photoelectric converter that detects light in a first wavelength range and photoelectrically converts the light; a second photoelectric converter that detects light in a second wavelength range and photoelectrically converts the light to obtain distance information of a subject; and an optical filter that is disposed between the first photoelectric converter and the second photoelectric converter, and allows the light in the second wavelength range to pass therethrough more easily than the light in the first wavelength range. The first photoelectric converter includes a stacked structure and an electric charge accumulation electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2023
    Publication date: January 4, 2024
    Applicant: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hideaki TOGASHI, Tetsuji YAMAGUCHI, Nobuhiro KAWAI, Koji SEKIGUCHI, Masahiro JOEI, Kenichi MURATA, Shintarou HIRATA, Yuta HASEGAWA, Yoshito NAGASHIMA
  • Patent number: 11817466
    Abstract: A highly functional photoelectric conversion element is provided. The photoelectric conversion element includes: a first photoelectric converter that detects light in a first wavelength range and photoelectrically converts the light; a second photoelectric converter that detects light in a second wavelength range and photoelectrically converts the light to obtain distance information of a subject; and an optical filter that is disposed between the first photoelectric converter and the second photoelectric converter, and allows the light in the second wavelength range to pass therethrough more easily than the light in the first wavelength range. The first photoelectric converter includes a stacked structure and an electric charge accumulation electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation
    Inventors: Hideaki Togashi, Tetsuji Yamaguchi, Nobuhiro Kawai, Koji Sekiguchi, Masahiro Joei, Kenichi Murata, Shintarou Hirata, Yuta Hasegawa, Yoshito Nagashima
  • Publication number: 20230345742
    Abstract: To provide a solid-state imaging element capable of further improving reliability. Provided is a solid-state imaging element including at least a first photoelectric conversion section, and a semiconductor substrate in which a second photoelectric conversion section is formed, in this order from a light incidence side, in which the first photoelectric conversion section includes at least a first electrode, a photoelectric conversion layer, a first oxide semiconductor layer, a second oxide semiconductor layer, and a second electrode in this order, and a film density of the first oxide semiconductor layer is higher than a film density of the second oxide semiconductor layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2023
    Publication date: October 26, 2023
    Applicant: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toshihiko HAYASHI, Masahiro JOEI, Kenichi MURATA, Shintarou HIRATA
  • Patent number: 11778840
    Abstract: To provide a solid-state imaging element capable of further improving reliability. Provided is a solid-state imaging element including at least a first photoelectric conversion section, and a semiconductor substrate in which a second photoelectric conversion section is formed, in this order from a light incidence side, in which the first photoelectric conversion section includes at least a first electrode, a photoelectric conversion layer, a first oxide semiconductor layer, a second oxide semiconductor layer, and a second electrode in this order, and a film density of the first oxide semiconductor layer is higher than a film density of the second oxide semiconductor layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toshihiko Hayashi, Masahiro Joei, Kenichi Murata, Shintarou Hirata
  • Patent number: 11778841
    Abstract: To provide a photoelectric conversion element that can improve image quality. Provided is a photoelectric conversion element (100) including at least a first electrode (101), a work function control layer (108), a photoelectric conversion layer (102), an oxide semiconductor layer (104), and a second electrode (107) in this order, and further including a third electrode (105), in which the third electrode (105) is provided apart from the second electrode (107) and is provided facing the photoelectric conversion layer (102) via an insulating layer (106), and the work function control layer (108) contains a larger amount of oxygen than an amount of oxygen satisfying a stoichiometric composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignees: SONY CORPORATION, SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shintarou Hirata, Masahiro Joei, Kenichi Murata, Masashi Bando, Yosuke Saito, Ryosuke Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20230269953
    Abstract: An image pickup element includes a photoelectric conversion section including a first electrode, a photoelectric conversion layer including an organic material, and a second electrode stacked on one another. Between the first electrode and the photoelectric conversion layer, an oxide semiconductor layer and an oxide film are formed from the first electrode side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2023
    Publication date: August 24, 2023
    Applicant: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masahiro JOEI, Kenichi MURATA, Shintarou HIRATA, Toshihiko HAYASHI
  • Publication number: 20230215880
    Abstract: An imaging element according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes: a first electrode and a second electrode; a third electrode; a photoelectric conversion layer; and a semiconductor layer. The first electrode and the second electrode are disposed in parallel. The third electrode is disposed to be opposed to the first electrode and the second electrode. The photoelectric conversion layer is provided between the first electrode and second electrode and the third electrode. The semiconductor layer is provided between the first electrode and second electrode and the photoelectric conversion layer. The semiconductor layer has a first layer and a second layer stacked therein in order from the photoelectric conversion layer side. The second layer has an energy level at a lowest edge of a conduction band that is shallower than an energy level of the first layer at a lowest edge of a conduction band.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2021
    Publication date: July 6, 2023
    Inventors: Masahiro JOEI, Shintarou HIRATA, Tomiyuki YUKAWA, Ryosuke SUZUKI, Hiroshi NAKANO, Toshihiko HAYASHI, Ryotaro TAKAGUCHI, Iwao YAGI, Kenichi MURATA
  • Patent number: 11641750
    Abstract: An image pickup element includes a photoelectric conversion section including a first electrode, a photoelectric conversion layer including an organic material, and a second electrode stacked on one another. Between the first electrode and the photoelectric conversion layer, an oxide semiconductor layer and an oxide film are formed from the first electrode side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masahiro Joei, Kenichi Murata, Shintarou Hirata, Toshihiko Hayashi
  • Publication number: 20230066710
    Abstract: An imaging device includes: a first electrode; a charge storage electrode disposed at a distance from the first electrode; a photoelectric conversion layer in contact with the first electrode and above the charge storage electrode, with an insulating layer between the charge storage electrode and the photoelectric conversion layer; and a second electrode on the photoelectric conversion layer. The portion of the insulating layer between the charge storage electrode and the photoelectric conversion layer includes a first region and a second region, the first region is formed with a first insulating layer, the second region is formed with a second insulating layer, and the absolute value of the fixed charge of the material forming the second insulating layer is smaller than the absolute value of the fixed charge of the material forming the first insulating layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2022
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Applicant: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masahiro JOEI, Kenichi MURATA
  • Publication number: 20230056769
    Abstract: A multilayer film according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes: semiconductor layers; and dielectric layers. In each of the semiconductor layers, a value of an optical constant k1 for light having a wavelength in a visible light region among optical constants k is larger than a value of an optical constant k2 for light having a wavelength in an infrared light region. The optical constants k each serves as an extinction coefficient that includes an imaginary part of a complex refractive index. The semiconductor layers and the dielectric layers are alternately stacked and the multilayer film has an optical distance of 0.3 ?m or more and 10 ?m or less in a stack direction and absorbs at least a portion of visible light and transmits infrared light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2021
    Publication date: February 23, 2023
    Inventors: KOJI SEKIGUCHI, KENICHI MURATA, TOMIYUKI YUKAWA, MASAHIRO JOEI, HIDEAKI TOGASHI
  • Publication number: 20230053000
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging element (100) includes a first photoelectric conversion unit and a second photoelectric conversion unit (600). The first and second photoelectric conversion units (500, 600) are joined at joint surfaces facing each other, and include an upper electrode (502, 602), a lower electrode (508A, 608), a photoelectric conversion film (504, 604), and a storage electrode (510, 610). The lower electrode (508A) of the first photoelectric conversion unit (500) is connected to a charge storage unit (314) via a first through electrode (460A, 460B) penetrating a semiconductor substrate (300).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2021
    Publication date: February 16, 2023
    Inventors: KENICHI MURATA, MASAHIRO JOEI, YUTA NAKAMURA
  • Publication number: 20230034528
    Abstract: A solid state image sensor includes a semiconductor substrate where photoelectric conversion regions for converting light into charges are arranged per pixel planarly arranged; an organic photoelectric conversion film laminated at a light irradiated side of the semiconductor substrate via an insulation film and formed at the regions where the pixels are formed; a lower electrode formed at and in contact with the organic photoelectric conversion film at a semiconductor substrate side; a first upper electrode laminated at a light irradiated side of the organic photoelectric conversion film and formed such that ends of the first upper electrode are substantially conform with ends of the organic photoelectric conversion film when the solid state image sensor is planarly viewed; and a film stress suppressor for suppressing an effect of a film stress on the organic photoelectric conversion film, the film stress being generated on the first upper electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2022
    Publication date: February 2, 2023
    Applicant: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masahiro Joei, Kaori Takimoto
  • Publication number: 20220416184
    Abstract: To provide a solid-state imaging element capable of further improving reliability. Provided is a solid-state imaging element including at least a first photoelectric conversion section, and a semiconductor substrate in which a second photoelectric conversion section is formed, in this order from a light incidence side, in which the first photoelectric conversion section includes at least a first electrode, a photoelectric conversion layer, a first oxide semiconductor layer, a second oxide semiconductor layer, and a second electrode in this order, and a film density of the first oxide semiconductor layer is higher than a film density of the second oxide semiconductor layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2022
    Publication date: December 29, 2022
    Applicant: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toshihiko HAYASHI, Masahiro JOEI, Kenichi MURATA, Shintarou HIRATA
  • Publication number: 20220415969
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes: a plurality of photoelectric converters that is stacked on a semiconductor substrate, and has wavelength selectivities different from each other; and a wiring line that is formed on the semiconductor substrate, and is electrically coupled to the plurality of photoelectric converters. Each of the photoelectric converters includes a photoelectric conversion film, and a first electrode and a second electrode that are disposed with the photoelectric conversion film interposed therebetween. The wiring line extends in a direction normal to the semiconductor substrate, and includes a vertical wiring line formed in contact with the second electrode of each of the photoelectric converters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2020
    Publication date: December 29, 2022
    Inventors: Masahiro JOEI, Kenichi MURATA, Fumihiko KOGA, Iwao YAGI, Shintarou HIRATA, Hideaki TOGASHI, Yosuke SAITO, Nobutoshi FUJII