Patents by Inventor Masayuki Katakura

Masayuki Katakura 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: 20230261623
    Abstract: To improve stability of a reference current in a current source circuit that generates the reference current by using capacitors. The current source circuit includes a pair of capacitors, a switching circuit, an operational amplifier, and an output transistor. The switching circuit charges one of the pair of capacitors with a predetermined charging current, and transfers electric charge from the one of the pair of capacitors to the other of the pair of capacitors. The operational amplifier amplifies a difference between the terminal voltage of the other of the pair of capacitors and a predetermined reference voltage and outputs the difference that has been amplified as an output voltage. The output transistor outputs a current corresponding to the output voltage as a reference current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2021
    Publication date: August 17, 2023
    Inventors: MASAHIRO ICHIHASHI, MASAYUKI KATAKURA, KAZUMASA NISHIMURA, TETSUYA TASHIRO, NOBUHIKO SHIGYO
  • Patent number: 11502647
    Abstract: Provided is an amplifier that includes a first transistor including a gate terminal to which an applied input signal is input, where a current depending on the applied input signal flows through the first transistor. A gate terminal of a second transistor is connected to a load section, and a current depending on a change in a voltage of the drain terminal of the first transistor flows through the second transistor. A source terminal of the first transistor and a drain terminal of the second transistor are connected in common to a first resistance, and the current from the first transistor and the current from the second transistor flow through the first resistance. A third transistor supplies a current approximately equal to the current of the second transistor. The current supplied by the third transistor is output from an output end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazumasa Nishimura, Masahiro Ichihashi, Masayuki Katakura, Kenya Kondou, Tetsuya Tashiro, Boyang Hao, Kouzi Tsukamoto
  • Patent number: 11271476
    Abstract: A charge pump circuit by which fundamental issues involved in the voltage feedback type charge pump circuit have been solved is realized. A power supply circuit includes a charge pump circuit, a feedback circuit feeding an output of the charge pump circuit back to an input of the charge pump circuit, a first current source causing a constant current to flow through the feedback circuit, a MOS transistor element interposed in a middle of the feedback circuit, a resistor element interposed at a position closer to the output of the charge pump circuit than the MOS transistor element in the feedback circuit, a bias circuit applying a constant voltage to a control terminal of the MOS transistor element, and a control section controlling a value of the constant current which the first current source flows through the feedback circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masahiro Ichihashi, Kenya Kondou, Kazumasa Nishimura, Syou Mitsuishi, Toshio Suzuki, Nobuhiko Shigyo, Masayuki Katakura, Motoyasu Yano
  • Patent number: 11169563
    Abstract: A semiconductor circuit apparatus of the present disclosure includes a control circuit controlling a clock signal externally input, a drive circuit performing a switching operation according to a pulse signal provided by the control circuit, a series connection circuit including an inductor element, a switch element, and a capacitive element connected in series between a signal line and a fixed potential node, the series connection circuit forming an LC resonance circuit, and a level detection circuit having an input end connected to the signal line. An output from the level detection circuit is fed back to the control circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation
    Inventors: Takanori Saeki, Masayuki Katakura, Tatsuya Shirakawa, Yoshinori Tanaka
  • Patent number: 11165343
    Abstract: An object of the present technology is to stably operate a power supply circuit. A charge switch is connected to a first terminal of a capacitor and charges the capacitor with an input voltage on the basis of a control signal inputted to a control terminal. A discharge switch is complementary with the charge switch, is connected to the first terminal of the capacitor, and discharges on the basis of the control signal inputted to the control terminal the voltage charged to the capacitor, thereby generating an output voltage. A charge control signal converting section converts a charge control signal that controls the charge into a control signal referenced to the input voltage and inputs the resulting control signal to the control terminal of the charge switch. A discharge control signal converting section converts a discharge control signal that controls the discharge into a control signal referenced to the output voltage and inputs the resulting control signal to the control terminal of the discharge switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masahiro Ichihashi, Kenya Kondou, Kazumasa Nishimura, Syou Mitsuishi, Toshio Suzuki, Nobuhiko Shigyo, Masayuki Katakura, Motoyasu Yano
  • Publication number: 20210286400
    Abstract: A semiconductor circuit apparatus of the present disclosure includes a control circuit controlling a clock signal externally input, a drive circuit performing a switching operation according to a pulse signal provided by the control circuit, a series connection circuit including an inductor element, a switch element, and a capacitive element connected in series between a signal line and a fixed potential node, the series connection circuit forming an LC resonance circuit, and a level detection circuit having an input end connected to the signal line. An output from the level detection circuit is fed back to the control circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2019
    Publication date: September 16, 2021
    Inventors: Takanori Saeki, Masayuki Katakura, Tatsuya Shirakawa, Yoshinori Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20210281169
    Abstract: A charge pump circuit by which fundamental issues involved in the voltage feedback type charge pump circuit have been solved is realized. A power supply circuit includes a charge pump circuit, a feedback circuit feeding an output of the charge pump circuit back to an input of the charge pump circuit, a first current source causing a constant current to flow through the feedback circuit, a MOS transistor element interposed in a middle of the feedback circuit, a resistor element interposed at a position closer to the output of the charge pump circuit than the MOS transistor element in the feedback circuit, a bias circuit applying a constant voltage to a control terminal of the MOS transistor element, and a control section controlling a value of the constant current which the first current source flows through the feedback circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2018
    Publication date: September 9, 2021
    Inventors: MASAHIRO ICHIHASHI, KENYA KONDOU, KAZUMASA NISHIMURA, SYOU MITSUISHI, TOSHIO SUZUKI, NOBUHIKO SHIGYO, MASAYUKI KATAKURA, MOTOYASU YANO
  • Publication number: 20210242838
    Abstract: To easily adjust a gain of an amplifier. An applied input signal is input to a gate terminal of a first transistor, and a current depending on the applied input signal flows through the first transistor. A load section is connected to a drain terminal of the first transistor. A gate terminal of a second transistor is connected to the load section, and a current depending on a change in a voltage of the drain terminal of the first transistor flows through the second transistor. A source terminal of the first transistor and a drain terminal of the second transistor are connected in common to a first resistance, and the current from the first transistor and the current from the second transistor flow through the first resistance. A third transistor supplies a current approximately equal to the current of the second transistor. The current supplied by the third transistor is output from an output end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2019
    Publication date: August 5, 2021
    Inventors: KAZUMASA NISHIMURA, MASAHIRO ICHIHASHI, MASAYUKI KATAKURA, KENYA KONDOU, TETSUYA TASHIRO, BOYANG HAO, KOUZI TSUKAMOTO
  • Publication number: 20210152083
    Abstract: An object of the present technology is to stably operate a power supply circuit. A charge switch is connected to a first terminal of a capacitor and charges the capacitor with an input voltage on the basis of a control signal inputted to a control terminal. A discharge switch is complementary with the charge switch, is connected to the first terminal of the capacitor, and discharges on the basis of the control signal inputted to the control terminal the voltage charged to the capacitor, thereby generating an output voltage. A charge control signal converting section converts a charge control signal that controls the charge into a control signal referenced to the input voltage and inputs the resulting control signal to the control terminal of the charge switch. A discharge control signal converting section converts a discharge control signal that controls the discharge into a control signal referenced to the output voltage and inputs the resulting control signal to the control terminal of the discharge switch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2018
    Publication date: May 20, 2021
    Inventors: MASAHIRO ICHIHASHI, KENYA KONDOU, KAZUMASA NISHIMURA, SYOU MITSUISHI, TOSHIO SUZUKI, NOBUHIKO SHIGYO, MASAYUKI KATAKURA, MOTOYASU YANO
  • Patent number: 9264096
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a receiver including: a first mixer adapted to mix satellite signals from first and second satellites and a first local oscillation signal so as to convert a carrier frequency of the satellite signals into a lower first intermediate frequency; a second mixer adapted to mix a satellite signal of the second satellite frequency-converted by the first mixer and a second local oscillation signal so as to convert the first intermediate frequency of the frequency-converted satellite signal from the second satellite into an even lower second intermediate frequency; and a first frequency divider adapted to generate the second local oscillation signal by dividing a frequency of the first local oscillation signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Daisuke Arima, Masayuki Katakura, Katsuyuki Tanaka
  • Patent number: 9200844
    Abstract: A rotary agitation type heat treatment apparatus includes: a cylindrical member for performing heat treatment on a material to be treated supplied inside the cylindrical member from one end thereof; a rotating unit for rotating the cylindrical member; a heating unit for heating the material supplied inside the cylindrical member; and agitation members arranged in the cylindrical member. Each agitation member has a shaft structure and two or more blades provided on the shaft structure. The cylindrical member and the agitation members are constituted of a ceramic material. The material inside the cylindrical member is heated and the cylindrical member is rotated, so that the material is heat treated while agitated by the agitation members in the cylindrical member, and discharged out from the other end thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: NISSHIN ENGINEERING INC.
    Inventors: Masayuki Katakura, Hiromitsu Suzuki, Takahiro Goto
  • Patent number: 9197824
    Abstract: An image pickup unit includes: a signal generating section generating a pulse signal that makes transitions between a first voltage and a low-noise second voltage; a voltage holding section holding a difference between a voltage of the pulse signal and a voltage of an output node; a voltage setting section that generates a pixel selection signal through setting the voltage of the output node to a third voltage in correspondence to a transition of the pulse signal from the second voltage to the first voltage, and outputs the pixel selection signal from the output node; and an image pickup section driven by the pixel selection signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yuichiro Minami, Michiru Senda, Tsutomu Harada, Masayuki Katakura
  • Patent number: 8970312
    Abstract: There is provided a differential ring oscillation circuit including a differential ring oscillation unit in which delay circuits, to which signals of 2 phases are input, and which delay and output the input signals of 2 phases, are connected at even stages in a ring form, first and second common-mode level detection units that detect that the input signals of 2 phases of one delay circuit at an even stage of the differential ring oscillation unit and the input signals of 2 phases of one delay circuit at an odd stage of the differential ring oscillation unit are at same predetermined levels, respectively, and first and second switches that set, to specific potentials, one of the output signals of 2 phases of the delay circuit delaying the input signals of 2 phases, when the first and second common-mode level detection units detect the same predetermined levels, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Kenichi Maruko, Masayuki Katakura
  • Publication number: 20140055204
    Abstract: There is provided a differential ring oscillation circuit including a differential ring oscillation unit in which delay circuits, to which signals of 2 phases are input, and which delay and output the input signals of 2 phases, are connected at even stages in a ring form, first and second common-mode level detection units that detect that the input signals of 2 phases of one delay circuit at an even stage of the differential ring oscillation unit and the input signals of 2 phases of one delay circuit at an odd stage of the differential ring oscillation unit are at same predetermined levels, respectively, and first and second switches that set, to specific potentials, one of the output signals of 2 phases of the delay circuit delaying the input signals of 2 phases, when the first and second common-mode level detection units detect the same predetermined levels, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2013
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenichi Maruko, Masayuki Katakura
  • Publication number: 20140022426
    Abstract: An image pickup unit includes: a signal generating section generating a pulse signal that makes transitions between a first voltage and a low-noise second voltage; a voltage holding section holding a difference between a voltage of the pulse signal and a voltage of an output node; a voltage setting section that generates a pixel selection signal through setting the voltage of the output node to a third voltage in correspondence to a transition of the pulse signal from the second voltage to the first voltage, and outputs the pixel selection signal from the output node; and an image pickup section driven by the pixel selection signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2013
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuichiro Minami, Michiru Senda, Tsutomu Harada, Masayuki Katakura
  • Publication number: 20130336368
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a receiver including: a first mixer adapted to mix satellite signals from first and second satellites and a first local oscillation signal so as to convert a carrier frequency of the satellite signals into a lower first intermediate frequency; a second mixer adapted to mix a satellite signal of the second satellite frequency-converted by the first mixer and a second local oscillation signal so as to convert the first intermediate frequency of the frequency-converted satellite signal from the second satellite into an even lower second intermediate frequency; and a first frequency divider adapted to generate the second local oscillation signal by dividing a frequency of the first local oscillation signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Inventors: Daisuke Arima, Masayuki Katakura, Katsuyuki Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20130329515
    Abstract: A rotary agitation type heat treatment apparatus includes: a cylindrical member for performing heat treatment on a material to be treated supplied inside the cylindrical member from one end thereof; a rotating unit for rotating the cylindrical member; a heating unit for heating the material supplied inside the cylindrical member; and agitation members arranged in the cylindrical member. Each agitation member has a shaft structure and two or more blades provided on the shaft structure. The cylindrical member and the agitation members are constituted of a ceramic material. The material inside the cylindrical member is heated and the cylindrical member is rotated, so that the material is heat treated while agitated by the agitation members in the cylindrical member, and discharged out from the other end thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2012
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Applicant: NISSHIN ENGINEERING INC.
    Inventors: Masayuki KATAKURA, Hiromitsu SUZUKI, Takahiro GOTO
  • Patent number: 7631030
    Abstract: A sine wave multiplication circuit multiplies an analog input signal by n (n is an integer equal to or greater than 2) weighting coefficients each having a unique value. The polarity of the analog input signal multiplied by one of the n weighting coefficients is changed over. Further, changeover among the n weighting coefficients and of the polarity is performed after every sampling period equal to ½k (k is an integer, and 2k is equal to or greater than 6 but equal to or smaller than 4n) of one period of the sine wave signal by which the analog input signal is multiplied. As a result, a staircase waveform having 2n positive and negative stairs is generated while unnecessary harmonic wave components in the proximity of the sine wave signal by which the analog input signal is multiplied can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Masayuki Katakura
  • Patent number: 7619473
    Abstract: A fully-differential amplifier able to operate at a low power supply voltage and provided with a common-mode signal suppression function is disclosed. This fully-differential amplifier is provided with a first fully-differential amplifier configured by a single-stage configuration inverting amplifier and canceling out the common-mode signal of the input side by a feedforward means and a second fully-differential amplifier configured by a single-stage configuration inverting amplifier and canceling out the common-mode signal of the output side by a feedback means, the output of the first fully-differential amplifier being connected to the input of the second fully-differential amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: Semiconductor Technology Academic Research Center
    Inventors: Hiroshi Tanimoto, Masayuki Katakura
  • Patent number: 7522691
    Abstract: A phase-locked circuit comprises a complex signal processor and a feedback portion wherein the complex signal processor: receives as an input a first complex signal composed of a real part component and an imaginary part component; generates a second complex signal composed of a first signal component and a second signal component and having a second frequency in accordance with a feedback control signal input from the feedback portion; and generates a signal in accordance with a declination of a third complex signal obtained by multiplying the first complex signal with the second complex signal and outputs to the feedback portion. The feedback portion generates the feedback control signal in accordance with a signal input from the complex signal processor, so that the declination converges to a constant value; and the complex signal processor synchronizes a phase of the second complex signal with the first complex signal and outputs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Masayuki Katakura