Patents by Inventor Naoyuki Sato

Naoyuki Sato 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: 11004877
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device, for reduction of reflection of incident light at a sidewall surface of a light blocking layer of each phase difference detection pixel, includes: a normal pixel for generating a pixel signal; and a phase difference detection pixel for generating a phase difference signal for image plane phase difference AF. In this solid-state imaging device, the normal pixel and the phase difference detection pixel each include a photoelectric conversion layer and a lens for gathering incident light onto the photoelectric conversion layer, the phase difference detection pixel includes a light blocking layer having an apertural portion with an aperture deviating from the optical axis of the lens, and an antireflection portion that prevents reflection of the incident light gathered by the lens unit is formed on the light blocking layer. The present disclosure can be applied to back-illuminated CISs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Masuda, Naoyuki Sato
  • Publication number: 20210118443
    Abstract: An information processing device includes: an input signal acquisition unit configured to acquire an input signal about an operation of an apparatus; an information acquisition unit configured to acquire information obtained by performing person having authority selection processing to select a person having authority who has permission authority about the operation instructed by the input signal acquired by the input signal acquisition unit, permission input apparatus selection processing to select a permission input apparatus according to a situation of the selected person having authority, and reception processing to receive a signal regarding operation permission from the selected permission input apparatus; and an apparatus control unit configured to perform control according to the operation instructed by the input signal acquired by the input signal acquisition unit on the basis of the information acquired by the information acquisition unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2019
    Publication date: April 22, 2021
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Taichi YUKI, Mari IKENAGA, Kazunori YAMAMOTO, Kuniaki TORII, Naoyuki SATO
  • Patent number: 10950646
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a solid-state imaging device capable of further decreasing reflectivity, a method of manufacturing the same, and an electronic device. The solid-state imaging device includes a semiconductor substrate on which a photoelectric converting unit is formed for each of a plurality of pixels, and an antireflection structure provided on a light incident surface side from which light is incident on the semiconductor substrate in which a plurality of types of projections of different heights is formed. The antireflection structure is formed by performing processing of digging a light incident surface of the semiconductor substrate in a plurality of stages with different processing conditions. The antireflection structure is the structure in which a second projection lower than a first projection is formed between the first projections of predetermined height. The present technology may be applied to a CMOS image sensor, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation
    Inventor: Naoyuki Sato
  • Patent number: 10951601
    Abstract: Provided is an information processing apparatus that includes a control authority managing unit configured to change a control authority for a device by a first user on a basis of whether or not a status is a monitored status. The monitored status is a status in which the device or the first user is under supervision of a second user having a management authority for the device, and the first user does not have the management authority for the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naoyuki Sato, Hirotake Ichikawa, Seiji Suzuki, Masato Shimakawa
  • Patent number: 10950643
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an imaging device, a method for manufacturing an imaging device, and an electronic device capable of reducing light entering an electric-charge holding unit in a back-illuminated imaging device. An imaging device includes: a photoelectric conversion unit; an electric-charge holding unit; a semiconductor substrate; a wiring layer; an insulation film layer; a first light-shielding film; and a second light-shielding film. The insulation film layer, the first light-shielding film, and the wiring layer are stacked on a second surface of the semiconductor substrate. The second light-shielding film includes: a first light-shielding portion extending from the first surface of the semiconductor substrate to a middle of the semiconductor substrate; a second light-shielding portion penetrating the semiconductor substrate; and a third light-shielding portion covering a part of the first surface of the semiconductor substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Inventors: Naoyuki Sato, Eriko Ohtsu
  • Patent number: 10921963
    Abstract: There is provided an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and a program that provide a mechanism with which the display location of the operation object is able to be operated with a sensation of displacing an actual object. The information processing apparatus includes: a display control unit that controls display of an operation object for a device to be operated; and a reference control unit that controls a reference of a location at which the operation object is displayed such that the operation object is able to be visually recognized, on the basis of a predetermined operation performed to the operation object by an operation subject of the device to be operated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Seiji Suzuki, Kentaro Ida, Yousuke Kawana, Osamu Shigeta, Maki Imoto, Takuya Ikeda, Naoyuki Sato, Hirotake Ichikawa, Masato Shimakawa
  • Publication number: 20210005177
    Abstract: Implemented are an apparatus and a method for detecting misrecognition of a user speech on the basis of a subsequent interaction. The apparatus includes a voice recognition section that executes a voice recognition process on a user speech and a learning processing section that executes a process of updating a degree of confidence on the basis of an interaction made between a user and the information processing apparatus after the user speech. The degree of confidence is an evaluation value indicating the reliability of a voice recognition result of the user speech. The voice recognition section generates data on degrees of confidence in recognition of the user speech in which data plural user speech candidates based on the voice recognition result of the user speech are associated with the degrees of confidence which are evaluation values each indicating reliability of the corresponding user speech candidate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2018
    Publication date: January 7, 2021
    Inventors: HIDENORI AOKI, FUJIO ARAI, YUSUKE KUDO, GEN HAMADA, NAOYUKI SATO
  • Publication number: 20200387758
    Abstract: There is provided an information processing apparatus, information processing method, and program, capable of estimating the reliability of an evaluator to improve the accuracy of an evaluation value. The information processing apparatus includes a control unit configured to perform processing of acquiring evaluation information for an evaluation target person by an evaluator and sensing data of the evaluation target person, and processing of estimating reliability of evaluation by the evaluator on the basis of the evaluation information for the evaluation target person by the evaluator and the sensing data of the evaluation target person.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2018
    Publication date: December 10, 2020
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki KOBAYASHI, Shigeru SUGAYA, Masakazu UKITA, Naoyuki SATO, Yoshihiro WAKITA, Takahiro TSUJII
  • Publication number: 20200368488
    Abstract: The present technology relates to information processing apparatus and method, and a program that make a stress level controllable depending on circumstances. A stress level measuring unit measures a stress level of a user on the basis of a result of detection by various types of sensors included in an input unit. A stress factor specifying unit specifies a factor causing an increase or decrease in the stress level on the basis of an action of the user in a period in which the stress level is increased or decreased. The present technology is applicable to a stress control system, for example.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2018
    Publication date: November 26, 2020
    Inventors: NAOYUKI SATO, ATSUSHI IWAMURA, RYOJI MIYAZAKI, SHIGERU SUGAYA, MASAKAZU UKITA, YOSHIYUKI KOBAYASHI
  • Patent number: 10847661
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging element including: a sensor substrate in which a photoelectric conversion section is arranged and formed; a circuit substrate in which a circuit for driving the photoelectric conversion section is formed, the circuit substrate being laminated to the sensor substrate; a sensor side electrode drawn out to a surface of the sensor substrate on a side of the circuit substrate and formed as one of a projection electrode and a depression electrode; and a circuit side electrode drawn out to a surface of the circuit substrate on a side of the sensor substrate, formed as one of the depression electrode and the projection electrode, and joined to the sensor side electrode in a state of the circuit side electrode and the sensor side electrode being fitted together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: Sony Corproation
    Inventor: Naoyuki Sato
  • Patent number: 10841636
    Abstract: The present technology relates to an information processing apparatus, mobile terminal, information processing method, program, and information processing system that can make it possible to easily link information output by a certain device to information output by another device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: Saturn Licensing LLC
    Inventors: Yoshiharu Dewa, Naohisa Kitazato, Naoyuki Sato, Tetsuo Yutani
  • Publication number: 20200357283
    Abstract: The present technology relates to an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, a program, and a moving object that enable suitable data sharing between moving objects. An information processing apparatus includes: a data selection unit that selects shared data to be shared between a first moving object and a second moving object on the basis of at least one of a distance between moving objects or a situation of the first moving object, the distance between moving objects being a distance between the first and second moving objects; and a data acquisition unit that acquires the shared data from the second moving object. For example, the present technology can be applied to a vehicle that drives automatically.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2018
    Publication date: November 12, 2020
    Inventors: NAOYUKI SATO, KUNIAKI TORII
  • Publication number: 20200357503
    Abstract: There is provided an information processing apparatus, information processing method, and program, capable of accurately performing the future prediction of a user-specific physical condition and giving advice accordingly. The information processing apparatus includes a prediction unit configured to predict a future physical condition of a user on the basis of a sensor information history including information relating to the user acquired from a sensor around the user, and a generation unit configured to generate advice for bringing the physical condition closer to an ideal physical body specified by the user on the basis of the predicted physical condition, and lifestyle information and preference information of the user obtained from the sensor information history.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Publication date: November 12, 2020
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shigeru SUGAYA, Yoshiyuki KOBAYASHI, Atsushi IWAMURA, Masakazu UKITA, Naoyuki SATO, Ryoji MIYAZAKI
  • Patent number: 10789476
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus to link devices by recognizing the appearance of a device, such as an unknown application or a dynamically changing application. The information processing apparatus according to the present disclosure includes an appearance information acquisition unit configured to acquire appearance information indicating a feature of appearance of an own device; and a sending unit configured to send the appearance information to communicate with another device that has imaged the appearance of the own device. According to such a configuration, it is possible to link devices by recognizing the appearance of a device, such as an unknown application or a dynamically changing application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naoyuki Sato, Akihiko Izumi, Kuniaki Torii, Ryo Fukazawa, Katsuya Hyodo
  • Publication number: 20200295068
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging element includes an insulating film layer, a first light blocking film, and a wiring layer that are stacked on a second face, of a semiconductor substrate, on a side opposite to a first face on which light is incident. The first light blocking film covers at least a formation region of a charge retention section and has a protrusion section protruding on a side of the semiconductor substrate in a part corresponding to a formation position of the second light blocking film. The second light blocking film has a first light blocking section between a photoelectric conversion section and the charge retention section that extends partway through the semiconductor substrate, a second light blocking section between a photoelectric conversion section and the charge retention section, and a third light blocking section covering a part of the first face.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2018
    Publication date: September 17, 2020
    Applicant: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Naoyuki SATO
  • Publication number: 20200282549
    Abstract: There is provided a control device, a control method, and a control system that implement a robot that flexibly executes a task in cooperation with another robot, the control device including: an ability management unit that determines capability indicating ability that can be executed by a first robot at predetermined timing as of that timing; a help management unit that compares ability required for a task to be executed by the first robot with the capability of the first robot and generates a help list indicating ability required for execution of the task; and a cooperation management unit that instructs a second robot having the capability that satisfies the ability indicated in the help list to execute the task in cooperation with the first robot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2018
    Publication date: September 10, 2020
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kuniaki TORII, Naoyuki SATO
  • Patent number: 10732808
    Abstract: There is provided a display control device, an information processing device, an information processing method, and a program capable of presenting information in a suitable mode according to a positional relationship between a display region and a user, the display control device including: a calculation unit configured to specify a first region in which a user is a reference point; and a display control unit configured to control display of a display object on a display unit according to the specified first region and a second region occupied by the display unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ryo Fukazawa, Kuniaki Torii, Katsuya Hyodo, Naoyuki Sato, Akihiko Izumi, Koichi Kawasaki
  • Publication number: 20200234187
    Abstract: To cause a user to more naturally and intuitively perceive learning progress regarding information presentation. Provided is an information processing apparatus including an output control unit configured to control an output of response information to a user, in which the output control unit controls output expression of the response information on the basis of learning progress of learning regarding generation of the response information. Furthermore, provided is an information processing method including, by a processor, controlling an output of response information to a user, the controlling further including controlling output expression of the response information on the basis of learning progress of learning regarding generation of the response information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2018
    Publication date: July 23, 2020
    Inventors: KUNIAKI TORII, NORIFUMI KIKKAWA, NAOYUKI SATO
  • Patent number: 10684707
    Abstract: There is provided a display control device to provide a technique that enables a user to easily specify an application as an operation target, the display control device including: an output control unit configured to control an output unit so as to display a display object associated with one application or each of multiple applications; an action detection unit configured to detect a finger pointing direction of a user; and an application selection unit configured to select an application as an operation target based on the display object associated with the one application or each of the multiple applications and the finger pointing direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Katsuya Hyodo, Kuniaki Torii, Ryo Fukazawa, Naoyuki Sato, Koichi Kawasaki, Akihiko Izumi
  • Publication number: 20200127148
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging element including: a sensor substrate in which a photoelectric conversion section is arranged and formed; a circuit substrate in which a circuit for driving the photoelectric conversion section is formed, the circuit substrate being laminated to the sensor substrate; a sensor side electrode drawn out to a surface of the sensor substrate on a side of the circuit substrate and formed as one of a projection electrode and a depression electrode; and a circuit side electrode drawn out to a surface of the circuit substrate on a side of the sensor substrate, formed as one of the depression electrode and the projection electrode, and joined to the sensor side electrode in a state of the circuit side electrode and the sensor side electrode being fitted together.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2019
    Publication date: April 23, 2020
    Inventor: Naoyuki Sato