Patents by Inventor Masakazu Morishita

Masakazu Morishita 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: 20070145285
    Abstract: A radiographic imaging apparatus, comprising: a photoelectric conversion substrate including a pixel area where there are arranged a plurality of pixels each formed of a photoelectric conversion element and a switching element connected to the photoelectric conversion element in a matrix formed on an insulating substrate, a bias line for applying a bias to the photoelectric conversion element, a gate line for supplying a driving signal to the switching element, and a signal line for reading electric charges converted in the photoelectric conversion element; a wavelength conversion element for converting radiation to light that can be detected by the photoelectric conversion element, the wavelength conversion element being disposed according to a region including the pixel area; and connection wiring having a photoelectric conversion layer connected to at least a plurality of lines of an identical type of the bias line, the signal line, and the gate line, wherein at least a part of the connection wiring is arr
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2007
    Publication date: June 28, 2007
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: TAKAMASA ISHII, Masakazu Morishita, Chiori Mochizuki, Minoru Watanabe, Keiichi Nomura
  • Patent number: 7235789
    Abstract: This invention has as its object to realize a radiation image sensing apparatus which can adjust (AEC-controls) the amount of incoming light or dose without requiring high-speed driving. Since a second photoelectric conversion element (108) which is used to detect the total dose of radiation that enters a conversion unit is formed independently of pixels having first conversion elements (101) that are formed in the conversion unit on a single substrate, the need for reading out the outputs from the first conversion elements (101) at high speed for the purpose of adjustment of the dose of incoming radiation can be obviated, and another sensor used to adjust the dose need not be added, thus simplifying the structure of a radiation image sensing apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Isao Kobayashi, Masakazu Morishita, Chiori Mochizuki, Osamu Tsujii
  • Patent number: 7231018
    Abstract: According to a radiation imaging apparatus, any separate AEC sensor need not be prepared. Additionally, the apparatus main body can be made compact. To accomplish this, the radiation imaging apparatus has a first optical conversion element that converts incident radiation into an electrical signal, and generates image information on the basis of the electrical signal output from the first optical conversion element. Below a portion that is aligned to the gap between the first optical conversion elements, a plurality of second optical conversion elements which detect the incident amount of the radiation from the gap are formed. Exposure control for the radiation or control of the optical conversion elements is executed on the basis of the detection result by the second optical conversion element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshiko Morii, Masakazu Morishita, Osamu Tsujii, Minoru Watanabe, Takamasa Ishii
  • Publication number: 20070115379
    Abstract: In order to provide a photoelectric conversion apparatus, which is an apparatus excellent in reading speed, high S/N, high tone level, and low cost, the photoelectric conversion apparatus has a photoelectric conversion circuit section comprising a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements, switching elements, matrix signal wires, and gate drive wires arranged on a same substrate in order to output parallel signals, a driving circuit section for applying a driving signal to the gate drive wire, and a reading circuit section for converting the parallel signals transferred through the matrix signal wires to serial signals to output them, wherein the reading circuit section comprises at least one analog operational amplifier connected with each of the matrix signal wires, transfer switches for transferring output signals from the respective matrix signal wires, output through each amplifier, reading capacitors, and reading switches for successively reading the signals out of the reading capacitors in the for
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2007
    Publication date: May 24, 2007
    Applicant: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tadao ENDO, Noriyuki Kaifu, Toshiaki Sato, Masakazu Morishita
  • Patent number: 7214945
    Abstract: A radiation detecting apparatus having a radiation conversion element arranged on a switch TFT is provided. The apparatus includes a gate electrode of the switch TFT; a first insulating layer, a first semiconductor layer, and an ohmic contact layer, which are arranged on the gate electrode in order; and a source/drain electrode of the switch TFT arranged on the ohmic contact layer, which all constitute the switch TFT. The apparatus also includes a lower electrode of the radiation conversion element formed from the same layer as the source/drain electrode, a second insulating layer, a second semiconductor layer, and a second ohmic contact layer, which are arranged on the lower electrode in order, and a bias wiring for applying a bias voltage to the radiation conversion element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Keiichi Nomura, Masakazu Morishita, Chiori Mochizuki
  • Patent number: 7205547
    Abstract: A radiographic imaging apparatus, comprising: a photoelectric conversion substrate including a pixel area where there are arranged a plurality of pixels each formed of a photoelectric conversion element and a switching element connected to the photoelectric conversion element in a matrix formed on an insulating substrate, a bias line for applying a bias to the photoelectric conversion element, a gate line for supplying a driving signal to the switching element, and a signal line for reading electric charges converted in the photoelectric conversion element; a wavelength conversion element for converting radiation to light that can be detected by the photoelectric conversion element, the wavelength conversion element being disposed according to a region including the pixel area; and connection wiring having a photoelectric conversion layer connected to at least a plurality of lines of one type, that one type being, the bias lines, the signal lines, and the gate lines, wherein at least a part of the connection
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takamasa Ishii, Masakazu Morishita, Chiori Mochizuki, Minoru Watanabe, Keiichi Nomura
  • Patent number: 7205568
    Abstract: In a solid state image pickup apparatus with a photodetecting device and one or more thin film transistors connected to the photodetecting device formed in one pixel, a part of the photodetecting device is formed over at least a part of the thin film transistor, and the thin film transistor is constructed by a source electrode, a drain electrode, a first gate electrode, and a second gate electrode arranged on the side opposite to the first gate electrode with respect to the source electrode and the drain electrode, and the first gate electrode is connected to the second gate electrode every pixel, thereby, suppressing an adverse effect of the photodetecting device on the TFT, a leakage at turn-off TFT, variation in a threshold voltage of the TFT due to an external electric field, and accurately transferring photo carrier to a signal processing circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Minoru Watanabe, Masakazu Morishita, Chiori Mochizuki, Takamasa Ishii, Keiichi Nomura
  • Publication number: 20070069107
    Abstract: Sensitivity is freely changeable to another one in correspondence to a photographing mode, and both still image photographing and moving image photographing for example which are largely different from each other in dosage of exposure to radiation and which are also different from each other in required sensitivity are carried out so as to meet that request. A source or drain electrode of a TFT 21 is connected to a signal output circuit 3 through a signal line 14a and an IC 5. A source/drain of a TFT 23 is connected to the signal output circuit 3 through a signal line 14b and the IC 5. Thus, in each pixel 6, any one of the signal lines 14a and 14b is freely selectable when a signal is read out.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2004
    Publication date: March 29, 2007
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takamasa Ishii, Masakazu Morishita, Chiori Mochizuki, Minoru Watanabe, Keiichi Nomura
  • Publication number: 20060255239
    Abstract: In an image pick-up apparatus, a plurality of pixels, each pairing a semiconductor conversion element for converting an incident electromagnetic wave to an electric signal and a thin film transistor connected to the semiconductor conversion element, is arranged in a two-dimensional state on a substrate. The image pick-up apparatus includes gate wiring to which gate electrodes of thin film transistors of a plurality of pixels arranged in one direction are commonly connected, and signal wiring to which source electrodes or drain electrodes of thin film transistors of a plurality of pixels arranged in a direction different from the one direction are commonly connected on the substrate. Protection layers are arranged on the thin film transistors, the gate wiring and the signal wiring. The protection layers formed at least at the same time. Then, the protection layers are removed in at least a part or all of regions in which the semiconductor conversion elements are formed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2006
    Publication date: November 16, 2006
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Minoru Watanabe, Masakazu Morishita, Chiori Mochizuki, Keiichi Nomura, Takamasa Ishii
  • Publication number: 20060249763
    Abstract: In a radiation image pickup device including: a sensor element for converting radiation into an electrical signal; and a thin film transistor connected to the sensor element, an electrode of the sensor element connected to the thin film transistor is disposed above the thin film transistor, and that the thin film transistor has a top gate type structure in which a semiconductor layer, a gate insulating layer, and a gate electrode layer are laminated in this order on a substrate, so that a channel portion of the thin film transistor is protected by a gate electrode, thereby providing stable TFT characteristics without undesirable turning ON any of the TFT elements due to the back gate effect by the fluctuation in electric potentials corresponding to outputs from the sensor electrodes, and thereby greatly improving image quality.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2004
    Publication date: November 9, 2006
    Inventors: Chiori Mochizuki, Masakazu Morishita, Minoru Watanabe, Takamasa Ishii, Keiichi Nomura
  • Patent number: 7126127
    Abstract: In an image pick-up apparatus, a plurality of pixels, each pairing a semiconductor conversion element for converting an incident electromagnetic wave to an electric signal and a thin film transistor connected to the semiconductor conversion element, is arranged in a two-dimensional state on a substrate. The image pick-up apparatus includes gate wiring to which gate electrodes of thin film transistors of a plurality of pixels arranged in one direction are commonly connected, and signal wiring to which source electrodes or drain electrodes of thin film transistors of a plurality of pixels arranged in a direction different from the one direction are commonly connected on the substrate. Protection layers are arranged on the thin film transistors, the gate wiring and the signal wiring. The protection layers formed at least at the same time. Then, the protection layers are removed in at least a part or all of regions in which the semiconductor conversion elements are formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Minoru Watanabe, Masakazu Morishita, Chiori Mochizuki, Keiichi Nomura, Takamasa Ishii
  • Patent number: 7126158
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus or a radiation image pickup apparatus according to the present invention includes: a plurality of pixels which are two-dimensionally arranged on a substrate, each of the plurality of pixels including a set of a semiconductor conversion element that converts an incident electromagnetic wave into an electrical signal and a switching element connected with the semiconductor conversion element; a drive wiring which is commonly connected with the plurality of switching elements arranged in a direction; and a signal wiring which is commonly connected with the plurality of switching elements arranged in a direction different from the direction, the switching element including a first semiconductor layer, the semiconductor conversion element being formed after the switching elements are formed and including the second semiconductor layer formed after the first semiconductor layer is formed, in which the semiconductor conversion element has an electrode formed outside a region in which two of
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshiko Morii, Masakazu Morishita, Minoru Watanabe
  • Patent number: 7078701
    Abstract: Image sensing radiation detection pixels of m (columns)×n (rows) are divided into, e.g., 72 pixel regions. Image sensing radiation detection pixels belonging to one pixel region are connected to the same read TCP and driving TCP. For example, three regions (AEC radiation detection regions) of the 72 pixel regions have a plurality of AEC radiation detection pixels. An AEC radiation detection pixel has a TFT sensor. Spare wiring lines for the AEC radiation detection pixels are arranged at two side portions of each read TCP. Each spare wiring line is connected to a predetermined circuit in a read device to connect the AEC radiation detection pixels to the predetermined circuit so that the AEC circuit is operated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takamasa Ishii, Masakazu Morishita, Tatsuya Yamazaki, Osamu Tsujii, Akira Hirai, Toshikazu Tamura, Hideki Nonaka
  • Publication number: 20060091390
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus or a radiation image pickup apparatus according to the present invention includes: a plurality of pixels which are two-dimensionally arranged on a substrate, each of the plurality of pixels including a set of a semiconductor conversion element that converts an incident electromagnetic wave into an electrical signal and a switching element connected with the semiconductor conversion element; a drive wiring which is commonly connected with the plurality of switching elements arranged in a direction; and a signal wiring which is commonly connected with the plurality of switching elements arranged in a direction different from the direction, the switching element including a first semiconductor layer, the semiconductor conversion element being formed after the switching elements are formed and including the second semiconductor layer formed after the first semiconductor layer is formed, in which the semiconductor conversion element has an electrode formed outside a region in which two of
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2005
    Publication date: May 4, 2006
    Applicant: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshiko Morii, Masakazu Morishita, Minoru Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20060077308
    Abstract: A reset method of a conversion element is improved, and the simplification of wiring and the improvement of an open area ratio of the conversion element by means of an image pickup apparatus including a plurality of pixels arranged on an insulating substrate, each of the pixels including a conversion element, a first switching element connected to the conversion element in order to transfer an electric signal obtained by the conversion element, and a second switching element connected to the conversion element in order to reset the conversion element by giving constant potential to the conversion element, wherein the second switching element includes a gate electrode, and a source electrode or a drain electrode, and one of the source electrode and the drain electrode is electrically connected to the gate electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2005
    Publication date: April 13, 2006
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Chiori Mochizuki, Masakazu Morishita, Keiichi Nomura, Minoru Watanabe, Takamasa Ishii
  • Patent number: 7026625
    Abstract: The invention is to provide a radiation detection apparatus adapted for taking a moving image. The radiation detection apparatus has a pixel including a phosphor for converting radiation into light, a photoelectric conversion unit for converting the light converted in the phosphor into an electrical signal, a thin film transistor (TFT 1) for transferring the electrical signal converted in the photoelectric conversion unit, a capacitance for accumulating the electrical signal transferred by the thin film transistor (TFT 1), and a thin film transistor (TFT 2) for reading the electrical signal accumulated in the capacitance. The photoelectric conversion unit, the thin film transistor (TFT 1), the capacitance and the thin film transistor (TFT 2) are formed by a same layer configuration, and is each formed at least by a lower electrode or a gate electrode, a gate insulation film and a semiconductor layer and separated by a protective layer from the phosphor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Keiichi Nomura, Masakazu Morishita
  • Publication number: 20060071251
    Abstract: In a solid state image pickup apparatus with a photodetecting device and one or more thin film transistors connected to the photodetecting device formed in one pixel, a part of the photodetecting device is formed over at least a part of the thin film transistor, and the thin film transistor is constructed by a source electrode, a drain electrode, a first gate electrode, and a second gate electrode arranged on the side opposite to the first gate electrode with respect to the source electrode and the drain electrode, and the first gate electrode is connected to the second gate electrode every pixel, thereby, suppressing an adverse effect of the photodetecting device on the TFT, a leakage at turn-off TFT, variation in a threshold voltage of the TFT due to an external electric field, and accurately transferring photo carrier to a signal processing circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2004
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Minoru Watanabe, Masakazu Morishita, Chiori Mochizuki, Takamasa Ishii, Keiichi Nomura
  • Publication number: 20060065944
    Abstract: To improve a sensor resetting method and thereby implement a high rate at which a moving image is read, the invention provides an image pickup apparatus and a radiation image pickup apparatus including: a plurality of pixels arranged on a substrate in row and column directions, each pixel having a conversion element and a transfer switching element; a drive wiring connected to a plurality of the transfer switching elements in the row direction; and a conversion element wiring connected to a plurality of the conversion elements in the row direction, wherein a reset switching element is disposed between the conversion element wiring and a reset wiring for supplying a reset voltage for resetting the conversion element, and a bias switching element is disposed between the conversion element wiring and a bias wiring for supplying a bias voltage for operating the conversion element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2005
    Publication date: March 30, 2006
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Chiori Mochizuki, Masakazu Morishita, Keiichi Nomura, Minoru Watanabe, Takamasa Ishii
  • Publication number: 20060062352
    Abstract: A solid-state image pickup device according to the present invention has a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements and a plurality of switching elements, characterized in that the photoelectric conversion element is formed above at least one switching element, and a shielding electrode layer is disposed between the switching elements and the photoelectric conversion elements. Further, a radiation image pickup device according to the present invention has a radiation conversion layer for directly converting radiation into electric charges, and a plurality of switching elements, and is characterized in that the radiation conversion layer is formed above one or more switching elements, and a shielding electrode layer is disposed between the switching elements and the radiation conversion layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2004
    Publication date: March 23, 2006
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Keiichi Nomura, Masakazu Morishita, Chiori Mochizuki, Minoru Watanabe, Takamasa Ishii
  • Patent number: 7005647
    Abstract: A photoelectric conversion apparatus having (i) a photoelectric conversion device for converting an incident light into an electric charge and (ii) a reading circuit including at least one thin film transistor for amplifying a signal from the photoelectric conversion device. At least a part of the photoelectric conversion device is formed on a part of the reading circuit. The photoelectric conversion device has a dynamic image reading mode for deriving a plurality of images within a second.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Isao Kobayashi, Masakazu Morishita