Patents by Inventor Naoki Masumitsu

Naoki Masumitsu 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: 11973314
    Abstract: An abnormality of output laser light is detected for enhancement in safety. A light-source drive device includes a light-source control unit, a light-receiving unit, and an abnormality detection unit. The light-source control unit included in the light-source drive device controls light emission of a light source. The light-receiving unit included in the light-source drive device receives light from the light source through an output part allowing outward output of light of the light source. The abnormality detection unit included in the light-source drive device detects an abnormality of the light output from the output part, on the basis of the received light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hayato Kamizuru, Katsuhisa Daio, Takeshi Yuwaki, Akihito Kamiegawa, Naoki Masumitsu
  • Patent number: 11901700
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a driving device, a driving method, and a light-emitting unit that make it possible to appropriately drive a light-emitting element. The driving device according to the present invention includes: a setting section (161) that sets at least one of a bias current of a light-emitting element (an LD 121) or a target current for setting output light from the light-emitting element (the LD 121) to desired intensity on the basis of a result of detection of an offset light amount when the light-emitting element (the LD 121) does not emit light; and an output controller (164) that controls an output of a driving current of the light-emitting element (the LD 121) on the basis of at least one of the set bias current or the set target current. The detection of the offset light amount is performed by a light-receiving element (a PD 122) that receives a portion of the output light. The present invention is applicable to a ranging module, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation
    Inventors: Naoki Masumitsu, Katsuhisa Daio, Akihito Kamiegawa, Takeshi Yuwaki, Shouichi Kuroki, Masatoshi Kitada, Hayato Kamizuru
  • Publication number: 20230129077
    Abstract: A driving device that includes a temperature monitoring circuit, a headroom voltage monitoring circuit, a power supply voltage monitoring circuit, and a control unit. The temperature monitoring circuit detects a temperature of a drive circuit that drives a light emitting element in a test light emission period of the light emitting element. The headroom voltage monitoring circuit detects a headroom voltage of the drive circuit in the test light emission period. The power supply voltage monitoring circuit detects a power supply voltage supplied to the light emitting element in the test light emission period. The control unit adjusts the power supply voltage in the test light emission period according to an input/output potential difference of the light emitting element varying depending on the temperature of drive circuit so as to obtain a headroom voltage necessary and sufficient for causing a prescribed drive current to flow through the light emitting element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2021
    Publication date: April 27, 2023
    Applicant: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naoki MASUMITSU, Hayato KAMIZURU
  • Publication number: 20210328404
    Abstract: An abnormality of output laser light is detected for enhancement in safety. A light-source drive device includes a light-source control unit, a light-receiving unit, and an abnormality detection unit. The light-source control unit included in the light-source drive device controls light emission of a light source. The light-receiving unit included in the light-source drive device receives light from the light source through an output part allowing outward output of light of the light source. The abnormality detection unit included in the light-source drive device detects an abnormality of the light output from the output part, on the basis of the received light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2019
    Publication date: October 21, 2021
    Inventors: HAYATO KAMIZURU, KATSUHISA DAIO, TAKESHI YUWAKI, AKIHITO KAMIEGAWA, NAOKI MASUMITSU
  • Publication number: 20200176951
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a driving device, a driving method, and a light-emitting unit that make it possible to appropriately drive a light-emitting element. The driving device according to the present invention includes: a setting section (161) that sets at least one of a bias current of a light-emitting element (an LD 121) or a target current for setting output light from the light-emitting element (the LD 121) to desired intensity on the basis of a result of detection of an offset light amount when the light-emitting element (the LD 121) does not emit light; and an output controller (164) that controls an output of a driving current of the light-emitting element (the LD 121) on the basis of at least one of the set bias current or the set target current. The detection of the offset light amount is performed by a light-receiving element (a PD 122) that receives a portion of the output light. The present invention is applicable to a ranging module, for example.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2017
    Publication date: June 4, 2020
    Inventors: Naoki Masumitsu, Katsuhisa Daio, Akihito Kamiegawa, Takeshi Yuwaki, Shouichi Kuroki