Patents by Inventor Minoru Watanabe

Minoru Watanabe 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).

  • Patent number: 7858947
    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: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Chiori Mochizuki, Masakazu Morishita, Keiichi Nomura, Minoru Watanabe, Takamasa Ishii
  • Publication number: 20100294942
    Abstract: A radiation detecting apparatus capable of obtaining good images including decreased noises includes a plurality of pixels, each having a photoelectric conversion element for converting an incident radiation into an electric signal and a a first switch element connected to the photoelectric conversion element and a second switch element being not connected to the conversion element; a first signal line; a second signal line; and a drive line, wherein the first switch element has a first main electrode connected electrically to the first signal line, a second main electrode connected electrically to the photoelectric conversion element, and a gate electrode connected electrically to the drive line, the second switch element has a first main electrode connected to the second signal line and a gate electrode connected electrically to the drive wiring common to the first switch element, and a differential means for outputting a signal corresponding to a difference between outputs from the first and second switch
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2008
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Chiori Mochizuki, Minoru Watanabe, Takamasa Ishii
  • Patent number: 7829858
    Abstract: In a radiation detecting apparatus of the invention, plural pixels are arranged, and the pixel has a conversion element converting a radiation into an electric signal and a switching element connected to the conversion element. The conversion element includes a first electrode disposed on a first surface of an insulating substrate, a second electrode disposed on the first electrode, and a semiconductor layer disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. The first electrode is made of a light-transmitting conductive material which transmits light emitted from a light source, and the first electrode is formed form a light transmitting electroconductive material transmitting light emitted form a light source disposed on a second surface of the insulating substrate opposite to the first surface. The switching element has a light shielding member which prevents incidence of the light from the light source to the switching element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Chiori Mochizuki, Minoru Watanabe, Takamasa Ishii
  • Publication number: 20100277630
    Abstract: Pixels including a photoelectric conversion element 1, a signal transfer TFT (thin film transistor) 2 electrically connected to the photoelectric conversion element, and a reset TFT 3 electrically connected to the photoelectric conversion element and for applying a bias to the photoelectric conversion element are two-dimensionally disposed on the insulating substrate, and the photoelectric conversion element 1, signal transfer TFT 2, and reset TFT 3 are electrically connected through a common contact hole 9. A source or drain electrode of the signal transfer TFT 2 and the source or drain electrode of the reset TFT 3 are formed from a common electroconductive layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2007
    Publication date: November 4, 2010
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takamasa Ishii, Chiori Mochizuki, Minoru Watanabe
  • Patent number: 7812317
    Abstract: A radiation detecting apparatus according to the present invention includes: pixels including switching elements arranged on an insulating substrate and conversion elements arranged on the switching elements to convert a radiation into electric carriers, the switching elements and the conversion elements are connected with each other, the pixels two-dimensionally arranged on the insulating substrate in a matrix; gate wiring commonly connected with a plurality of switching elements arranged in a row direction on the insulating substrate; signal wiring commonly connected with a plurality of switching elements arranged in a column direction; and a plurality of insulating films arranged between the switching elements and the conversion elements, wherein at least one of the gate wiring and the signal wiring is arranged to be put between the plurality of insulating films.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Minoru Watanabe, Chiori Mochizuki, Keiichi Nomura, Takamasa Ishii
  • Patent number: 7812313
    Abstract: A conversion apparatus of the present invention includes a pixel region in which a plurality of pixels are arranged. The pixels are including the switching elements and the conversion elements. The pixel region includes a switching element region in which the plurality of switching elements are arranged in row and column directions, and a conversion element region in which the plurality of conversion elements are arranged in row and column directions. A plurality of signal wirings are including a second metal layer, and connected to the plurality of switching elements of the column direction. Bias wirings are including a fourth metal layer, and connected to the plurality of conversion elements. An external signal wiring is including the first metal layer outside the pixel region, and connected to the signal wirings. The external signal wiring and the bias wiring intersect each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Chiori Mochizuki, Minoru Watanabe, Takamasa Ishii, Masayoshi Tokumoto
  • Publication number: 20100193691
    Abstract: The object of the invention is to realize a light radiation-detecting apparatus including a step of preparing a matrix array including a substrate, an insulating layer arranged on the substrate, a plurality of pixels arranged on the insulating layer, wherein the pixel includes a conversion element converting an incident radiation into an electric signal, and connection electrode arranged at a periphery of the plurality of pixels, fixing a flexible supporting member for covering the plurality of pixels to the matrix array at a side opposite to the substrate, and releasing the substrate from the matrix array.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2008
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takamasa Ishii, Chiori Mochizuki, Minoru Watanabe
  • Patent number: 7750422
    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: March 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Minoru Watanabe, Masakazu Morishita, Chiori Mochizuki, Takamasa Ishii, Keiichi Nomura
  • Patent number: 7723136
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus is provided in which a plurality of pixels, each having a conversion element and a thin-film transistor, are arranged in a two-dimensional fashion on an insulating substrate; the photoelectric conversion element is arranged over the thin-film transistor, with an insulating film, which serves as an interlayer insulating film, inserted between the conversion element and the thin-film transistor; and by way of a contact hole portion provided in the insulating film, the source electrode or the drain electrode of the thin-film transistor and the photoelectric conversion element are connected with each other. The imaging apparatus has a pixel in which the contact hole portion is removed through a laser-beam irradiation so that the connection portion between the conversion element and a conductive layer, which serves as the source electrode or the drain electrode of the thin-film transistor, is discontinued.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Minoru Watanabe, Chiori Mochizuki, Takamasa Ishii
  • Patent number: 7723695
    Abstract: This imaging apparatus has pixels arranged in a matrix shape on a substrate, each of which has a conversion element and the first TFT, wherein the first TFT is connected to the first gate wiring and signal wiring, and the conversion element is connected to bias wiring. The imaging apparatus has the second TFT 6 that is arranged outside a region in which the pixels are arranged. The signal wirings are mutually connected through the second TFT 6 outside a region in which the pixels are arranged. When the apparatus is driven, the second TFT is turned off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Minoru Watanabe, Chiori Mochizuki, Takamasa Ishii
  • Patent number: 7705541
    Abstract: An illuminance sensor is formed as a current output type sensor that outputs a current which increases or decreases in an analog manner corresponding to an increasing or decreasing change of the illuminance. A light-emitting device is connected with a detection resistor that detects a current flowing through a light-emitting device. A driving control circuit has a light-emitting device driver that outputs to the light-emitting device a voltage for holding a voltage, which is obtained when a current flowing through the light-emitting device and a current detected by the illuminance sensor flows through the detection resistor, in a predetermined value all the time. The light-emitting device emits a large amount of light in a dark place and emits a small amount of light in a bright place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Minoru Watanabe, Mitsuru Kano, Minoru Fujiwara
  • Publication number: 20100072381
    Abstract: A radiation imaging apparatus has a pixel region arranged on a substrate. Arranged in a matrix pattern in the pixel region are pixels, each pixel including a conversion element which converts radiation to electrical charges, and a switching element which is connected to the conversion element therein. The radiation imaging apparatus has, in a region outside the pixel region of the substrate, an intersection at which a signal line connected to the switching element and a bias line connected to the conversion element intersects. At the intersection, a semiconductor layer is arranged between the signal line and the bias line, and a carrier blocking portion is arranged between the semiconductor layer and the signal line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2009
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takamasa Ishii, Chiori Mochizuki, Minoru Watanabe
  • Patent number: 7655920
    Abstract: A conversion apparatus includes pixels including switching elements provided on an insulating substrate and conversion elements disposed over the switching elements and connected to the switching elements. Conductive lines are coupled to the pixels and have terminal elements for providing a connection to an external circuit. The terminal elements are disposed in a metal layer that is formed over the conversion elements. The conversion apparatus further includes a transparent conductive layer covering surfaces of the terminal elements, and a protective layer covering edges of the terminal elements and having openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Chiori Mochizuki, Keiichi Nomura, Minoru Watanabe, Takamasa Ishii
  • Patent number: 7645976
    Abstract: A radiation detecting apparatus includes plural pixels each provided with a switching element disposed on an insulating substrate and a conversion element disposed on the switching element, and plural signal wirings arranged in one direction and connected with the plural switching elements, wherein the conversion elements have electrodes separated respectively for the pixels, the switching element is connected with the electrode for each pixel, and both ends of the signal wiring, opposed to each other in a width direction, and both ends of the control wiring, opposed to each other in a width direction are disposed inside of an area of the electrode when seen from above the conversion element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Minoru Watanabe, Chiori Mochizuki, Takamasa Ishii
  • Publication number: 20100002551
    Abstract: To provide a reconfiguration controller of an optically reconfigurable gate array for correctly and reliably writing various types of logical operation circuits of an optically reconfigurable gate array and performing high-speed logical operation by quickly starting up the circuits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2007
    Publication date: January 7, 2010
    Inventors: Minoru Watanabe, Fuminori Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20100001194
    Abstract: A radiation detection apparatus comprises a plurality of pixels each including a conversion element which converts incident radiation into a charge, a switching element which transfers the charge, and an interlayer insulation film disposed between the conversion element and the switching element, a gate line to drive the switching element, and a signal line located to intersect with the gate line and configured to read out the charge transferred from the switching element, wherein Ca??0×?×S/d and 7d?P/2 is satisfied, where P is a pixel pitch, Ca is a sum total of coupling capacitances between the signal line and the gate line, S is an overlapping area of the signal line and the conversion element, d is a thickness of the interlayer insulation film, ? is a relative dielectric constant of the interlayer insulation film, and ?0 is a vacuum dielectric constant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2009
    Publication date: January 7, 2010
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takamasa Ishii, Chiori Mochizuki, Minoru Watanabe
  • Patent number: 7642517
    Abstract: A radiation imaging apparatus has a pixel region arranged on a substrate. Arranged in a matrix pattern in the pixel region are pixels, each pixel including a conversion element which converts radiation to electrical charges, and a switching element which is connected to the conversion element therein. The radiation imaging apparatus has, in a region outside the pixel region of the substrate, an intersection at which a signal line connected to the switching element and a bias line connected to the conversion element intersects. At the intersection, a semiconductor layer is arranged between the signal line and the bias line, and a carrier blocking portion is arranged between the semiconductor layer and the signal line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takamasa Ishii, Chiori Mochizuki, Minoru Watanabe
  • Patent number: 7638772
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a plurality of pixels disposed on an insulation substrate. Each of the pixels includes a plurality of thin-film transistors, a conversion element disposed above the TFTs, and a plurality of insulating layers disposed between the conversion element and the plurality of TFTs. The plurality of TFTs includes a reading TFT having a gate electrode electrically connected to the conversion element and a first selecting TFT electrically connected to a source electrode or a drain electrode of the reading TFT. At least one of a signal wiring, to which a signal corresponding to an electric charge obtained by conversion of incident light or radiation performed by the conversion element is transferred, and a gate wiring that supplies a driving signal to a gate electrode of the first selecting thin-film transistor, is disposed between the plurality of insulating layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Minoru Watanabe, Chiori Mochizuki, Takamasa Ishii
  • Publication number: 20090302229
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a plurality of pixels disposed on an insulation substrate. Each of the pixels includes a plurality of thin-film transistors, a conversion element disposed above the TFTs, and a plurality of insulating layers disposed between the conversion element and the plurality of TFTs. The plurality of TFTs includes a reading TFT having a gate electrode electrically connected to the conversion element and a first selecting TFT electrically connected to a source electrode or a drain electrode of the reading TFT. At least one of a signal wiring, to which a signal corresponding to an electric charge obtained by conversion of incident light or radiation performed by the conversion element is transferred, and a gate wiring that supplies a driving signal to a gate electrode of the first selecting thin-film transistor, is disposed between the plurality of insulating layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2009
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Applicant: CANON KABSUHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Minoru Watanabe, Chiori Mochizuki, Takamasa Ishii
  • Patent number: 7629564
    Abstract: A conversion apparatus of the present invention includes a plurality of pixels including switching elements and conversion elements. The pixels are arranged in a pixel region including a switching element region in which switching elements are arranged in row and column directions and a conversion element region in which conversion elements are arranged in row and column directions. A plurality of wirings are including a second metal layer are connected to the plurality of switching elements of the column direction. Plural bias wirings of a fourth metal layer are connected to plural conversion elements. An external signal wiring of the fourth metal layer outside the pixel region is connected to the signal wirings. An external bias wiring of a first metal layer outside the pixel region is connected to the plurality of bias wirings. The external signal wiring and the external bias wiring intersect each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Chiori Mochizuki, Keiichi Nomura, Minoru Watanabe, Takamasa Ishii