Patents by Inventor Masamoto Nakazawa

Masamoto Nakazawa 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: 20160295138
    Abstract: An imaging sensor includes multiple light-receiving elements, which are for multiple colors, configured to conduct photoelectric conversion and multiple power supply lines configured to supply a power supply voltage from a power supply source to the light-receiving elements. The light-receiving elements of each of the colors are aligned in one direction. Portions extending between the power supply source and the respective light-receiving elements of the multiple power supply lines are substantially identical in shape on at least a per-color basis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2016
    Publication date: October 6, 2016
    Inventors: Naoki ASABA, Yoshio KONNO, Masamoto NAKAZAWA
  • Publication number: 20160268330
    Abstract: A photoelectric conversion element comprises: a plurality of photodetectors that perform photoelectric conversion per pixel to output an analog image signal, and that are arranged on a straight line; and wirings that are formed on a wiring layer, and that are enabled to be used as at least one of a signal line used in a peripheral circuit of the photodetector, a power source, and a ground, wherein the photodetector is formed to have a first shaded region and a second shaded region in which light is shaded by the wirings that are positioned on the straight line sandwiching an opening, respectively, when light that has passed through the opening that opens being sandwiched by the wirings positioned on the straight line is incident perpendicularly on a light receiving surface of the photodetector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2016
    Publication date: September 15, 2016
    Inventors: Masamoto NAKAZAWA, Tohru KANNO
  • Patent number: 9444967
    Abstract: A solid-state image sensing device includes: a photoelectric conversion unit that converts light into electrical signals for respective pixels and outputs the electrical signals; a signal separation unit that separates an offset signal, which is generated due to dark current, from each of the electrical signals outputted by the photoelectric conversion unit and outputs image signals which are electrical signals converted from light for the respective pixels; and a signal adding unit that adds the image signals, which is outputted from the signal separation unit, for each group of a plurality of pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshio Konno, Masamoto Nakazawa
  • Patent number: 9429470
    Abstract: An opto-electronic converter includes a plurality of light-receiving elements configured to convert light of different colors into analog signals, each of the analog signals representing a pixel, an amplifier unit configured to amplify the analog signals, into which the light is converted by the light-receiving elements, in each pixel group, the pixel group including a plurality of the light-receiving elements, the plurality of light-receiving elements converting light of different colors, and a gain switch unit configured to switch, for each of the light-receiving elements included in the pixel group, a gain of the amplifier unit to a gain determined in advance depending on a color of the light converted by the light-receiving element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Hideki Hashimoto, Masamoto Nakazawa
  • Patent number: 9426324
    Abstract: A photoelectric conversion element includes: a plurality of light receiving elements that are arranged in a main-scanning direction, are arranged in a sub-scanning direction according to colors of light to be received, and accumulates electric charge due to light exposure; and a plurality of AD conversion units that convert analog signals that indicate quantities of electric charge accumulated in the light receiving elements into digital signals are provide for each of groups each consisting of a predetermined number of pixels corresponding to the light receiving elements arranged in the sub-scanning direction. The AD conversion units convert the analog signals into the digital signals in an order in which the light receiving elements in the group are exposed to light. The light receiving elements constitute a correction unit that performs correction so as to reduce a difference relating to the timings in the sub-scanning direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Masamoto Nakazawa, Masaki Nagase
  • Patent number: 9392142
    Abstract: An imaging sensor includes multiple light-receiving elements, which are for multiple colors, configured to conduct photoelectric conversion and multiple power supply lines configured to supply a power supply voltage from a power supply source to the light-receiving elements. The light-receiving elements of each of the colors are aligned in one direction. Portions extending between the power supply source and the respective light-receiving elements of the multiple power supply lines are substantially identical in shape on at least a per-color basis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Naoki Asaba, Yoshio Konno, Masamoto Nakazawa
  • Publication number: 20160173719
    Abstract: Multiple photodetectors that photoelectric convert incident light to output a pixel signal; multiple analog/digital (A/D) convertors that A/D convert a plurality of pixel signals that are output by the photodetectors in parallel in a plurality of systems; a retaining unit that retains the pixel signals A/D converted in parallel by the A/D convertors in an aligned manner in one direction, to be arranged in reading order from a first pixel signal to a final pixel signal; and multiple transfer units that transfer the pixel signals arranged and retained by the retaining unit, sequentially from the first pixel signal from a first-pixel-signal retaining position toward a final-pixel signal retaining position of the retaining unit are included.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2015
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Inventors: Hideki HASHIMOTO, Masamoto NAKAZAWA
  • Publication number: 20160119495
    Abstract: A processing device includes: a control-signal generating unit that generates a control signal by switching a predetermined potential and a second potential that is different from the predetermined potential; multiple processing units that, if a potential of the control signal is the predetermined potential, flow a predetermined current, process and outputs an input signal, and if a potential of the control signal is the second potential, do not flow the predetermined current and do not process a signal; and a control unit that controls the control-signal generating unit such that, in a case of an operating mode in which the processing units process a signal, the control signal is a voltage signal of the predetermined potential, and in a case of a standby mode in which the processing units do not process a signal, the control signal is a voltage signal of the second potential.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2015
    Publication date: April 28, 2016
    Inventors: Yoshio KONNO, Masamoto NAKAZAWA, Hiroki SHIRADO
  • Publication number: 20160112660
    Abstract: A photoelectric conversion element includes a light receiving element, a buffer unit, a current control circuit, and an elimination circuit. The light receiving element generates electrical charge according to an amount of light received. The buffer unit buffers and outputs a voltage signal according to the electrical charge generated by the light receiving element. When the buffer unit outputs the voltage signal, the current control circuit controls electric current flowing through the buffer unit so as to be a predetermined amount of electric current. The elimination circuit eliminates high-frequency components in a band equal to or higher than a predetermined band from the voltage signal output from the buffer unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2015
    Publication date: April 21, 2016
    Inventors: Masamoto Nakazawa, Tohru Kanno
  • Publication number: 20160088179
    Abstract: A photoelectric conversion element comprises: a plurality of photodetectors that perform photoelectric conversion per pixel to output an analog image signal, and that are arranged on a straight line; and wirings that are formed on a wiring layer, and that are enabled to be used as at least one of a signal line used in a peripheral circuit of the photodetector, a power source, and a ground, wherein the photodetector is formed to have a first shaded region and a second shaded region in which light is shaded by the wirings that are positioned on the straight line sandwiching an opening, respectively, when light that has passed through the opening that opens being sandwiched by the wirings positioned on the straight line is incident perpendicularly on a light receiving surface of the photodetector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2015
    Publication date: March 24, 2016
    Inventors: Masamoto NAKAZAWA, Tohru KANNO
  • Publication number: 20160006961
    Abstract: A photoelectric conversion element comprises: a plurality of pixels, each of which performs photoelectric conversion and outputs an analog signal; an analog processing unit that sequentially processes, on a pixel-to-pixel basis, the analog signals output from a pixel group including the pixels; and a signal supply unit that supplies a signal needed for preliminary operation to the analog processing unit so as to enable the analog processing unit to perform the preliminary operation before the analog processing unit starts to process the analog signals output from the pixel group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2015
    Publication date: January 7, 2016
    Inventors: Naoki Asaba, Masamoto Nakazawa
  • Publication number: 20160003673
    Abstract: An opto-electronic converter includes a plurality of light-receiving elements configured to convert light of different colors into analog signals, each of the analog signals representing a pixel, an amplifier unit configured to amplify the analog signals, into which the light is converted by the light-receiving elements, in each pixel group, the pixel group including a plurality of the light-receiving elements, the plurality of light-receiving elements converting light of different colors, and a gain switch unit configured to switch, for each of the light-receiving elements included in the pixel group, a gain of the amplifier unit to a gain determined in advance depending on a color of the light converted by the light-receiving element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2015
    Publication date: January 7, 2016
    Inventors: Hideki Hashimoto, Masamoto Nakazawa
  • Patent number: 9179083
    Abstract: A photoelectric conversion element comprises: a plurality of light-receiving elements that generates a charge for each pixel according to an amount of received light; and a plurality of pixel circuits that operates so as to derive the charge generated by the plurality of light-receiving elements from the plurality of light-receiving elements for each pixel. The plurality of light-receiving elements is arranged in a light-receiving area that receives light from outside, and the plurality of pixel circuits is provided in a non-light-receiving area that does not receive the light from outside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventor: Masamoto Nakazawa
  • Publication number: 20150304517
    Abstract: A photoelectric conversion element includes: a plurality of light receiving elements that are arranged in a main-scanning direction, are arranged in a sub-scanning direction according to colors of light to be received, and accumulates electric charge due to light exposure; and a plurality of AD conversion units that convert analog signals that indicate quantities of electric charge accumulated in the light receiving elements into digital signals are provide for each of groups each consisting of a predetermined number of pixels corresponding to the light receiving elements arranged in the sub-scanning direction. The AD conversion units convert the analog signals into the digital signals in an order in which the light receiving elements in the group are exposed to light. The light receiving elements constitute a correction unit that performs correction so as to reduce a difference relating to the timings in the sub-scanning direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2015
    Publication date: October 22, 2015
    Inventors: Masamoto NAKAZAWA, Masaki NAGASE
  • Patent number: 9118873
    Abstract: An imaging device includes photoelectric conversion elements arranged unidirectionally for each color of light to be received, and performing photoelectric conversion of reflected light from an approximately same position of an object for the each color sequentially pixel by pixel; and a black correction unit that corrects a black level of the object with respect to a pixel group including some photoelectric conversion elements in a way that an output result of the photoelectric conversion of reflected light by a photoelectric conversion element for a pixel, independent of the reflected light, is subtracted from another output result of photoelectric conversion of reflected light by the photoelectric conversion element for the same pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventors: Kohei Marumoto, Masamoto Nakazawa, Masaki Nagase
  • Publication number: 20150222790
    Abstract: An imaging sensor includes multiple light-receiving elements, which are for multiple colors, configured to conduct photoelectric conversion and multiple power supply lines configured to supply a power supply voltage from a power supply source to the light-receiving elements. The light-receiving elements of each of the colors are aligned in one direction. Portions extending between the power supply source and the respective light-receiving elements of the multiple power supply lines are substantially identical in shape on at least a per-color basis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2015
    Publication date: August 6, 2015
    Inventors: Naoki ASABA, Yoshio KONNO, Masamoto NAKAZAWA
  • Patent number: 9100533
    Abstract: A photoelectric conversion element includes: a plurality of light receiving elements that are arranged in a main-scanning direction, are arranged in a sub-scanning direction according to colors of light to be received, and accumulates electric charge due to light exposure; and a plurality of AD conversion units that convert analog signals that indicate quantities of electric charge accumulated in the light receiving elements into digital signals are provide for each of groups each consisting of a predetermined number of pixels corresponding to the light receiving elements arranged in the sub-scanning direction. The AD conversion units convert the analog signals into the digital signals in an order in which the light receiving elements in the group are exposed to light. The light receiving elements constitute a correction unit that performs correction so as to reduce a difference relating to the timings in the sub-scanning direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventors: Masamoto Nakazawa, Masaki Nagase
  • Publication number: 20150163378
    Abstract: An image sensing device includes a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements arranged in one direction for each color of received light, and an analog-digital (AD) convertor that performs analog-digital conversion for each pixel group configured by a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements selected from the photoelectric conversion elements. The AD converter is disposed in a position adjacent to each of the photoelectric conversion elements configuring the pixel group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2014
    Publication date: June 11, 2015
    Inventors: Yoshio KONNO, Masamoto Nakazawa
  • Patent number: 9025216
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes: light-receiving elements arranged in a main-scanning direction to perform photoelectric conversion pixel by pixel; AD converter units that convert each piece of analog data photoelectric-converted by the light-receiving elements into parallel pieces of digital data; a storage unit that stores therein each of the digital data converted by the AD converter units; a converter unit that reads the digital data stored in the storage unit and converts the read digital data into serial data in the main-scanning direction; a readout control unit that changeably controls a readout start pixel and a readout end pixel of the serial data in the main-scanning direction; and a period change unit that changes a period in which the converter unit converts digital data into serial data in the main-scanning direction based on the readout start pixel and the readout end pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Hideki Hashimoto, Masamoto Nakazawa
  • Publication number: 20150116794
    Abstract: A photoelectric conversion element comprises: a plurality of light-receiving elements that generates a charge for each pixel according to an amount of received light; and a plurality of pixel circuits that operates so as to derive the charge generated by the plurality of light-receiving elements from the plurality of light-receiving elements for each pixel. The plurality of light-receiving elements is arranged in a light-receiving area that receives light from outside, and the plurality of pixel circuits is provided in a non-light-receiving area that does not receive the light from outside.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Inventor: Masamoto NAKAZAWA