Patents by Inventor Rei Yoshikawa

Rei Yoshikawa 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: 10840283
    Abstract: An imaging element comprises a photoelectric conversion unit formed in a pixel region and configured to convert light into electrical charge. Further, the imaging element includes a transistor formed in the pixel region and configured to transfer electric charge from the photoelectric conversion unit. The photoelectric conversion unit of the imaging element may be connected to a well of the pixel region, where the well of the pixel region has a negative potential.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yosuke Ueno, Yusuke Ikeda, Shizunori Matsumoto, Tsutomu Haruta, Rei Yoshikawa
  • Publication number: 20200098805
    Abstract: An imaging element comprises a photoelectric conversion unit formed in a pixel region and configured to convert light into electrical charge. Further, the imaging element includes a transistor formed in the pixel region and configured to transfer electric charge from the photoelectric conversion unit. The photoelectric conversion unit of the imaging element may be connected to a well of the pixel region, where the well of the pixel region has a negative potential.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2019
    Publication date: March 26, 2020
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yosuke UENO, Yusuke IKEDA, Shizunori MATSUMOTO, Tsutomu HARUTA, Rei YOSHIKAWA
  • Patent number: 10529756
    Abstract: An imaging element comprises a photoelectric conversion unit formed in a pixel region and configured to convert light into electrical charge. Further, the imaging element includes a transistor formed in the pixel region and configured to transfer electric charge from the photoelectric conversion unit. The photoelectric conversion unit of the imaging element may be connected to a well of the pixel region, where the well of the pixel region has a negative potential.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yosuke Ueno, Yusuke Ikeda, Shizunori Matsumoto, Tsutomu Haruta, Rei Yoshikawa
  • Patent number: 10348987
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a solid-state imaging device, an AD converter, and an electronic apparatus that improve a crosstalk characteristic. The AD converter includes a comparator that compares the pixel signal with the reference signal, a pixel signal side capacitor, and a reference signal side capacitor. The pixel signal side capacitor and the reference signal side capacitor are formed such that a first parasitic capacity and a second parasitic capacity are substantially the same. The present technology is applicable to a CMOS image sensor, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yusuke Ikeda, Daijiro Anai, Rei Yoshikawa
  • Publication number: 20180295304
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a solid-state imaging device, an AD converter, and an electronic apparatus that improve a crosstalk characteristic. The AD converter includes a comparator that compares the pixel signal with the reference signal, a pixel signal side capacitor, and a reference signal side capacitor. The pixel signal side capacitor and the reference signal side capacitor are formed such that a first parasitic capacity, and a second parasitic capacity are substantially the same. The present technology is applicable to a CMOS image sensor, for example.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2018
    Publication date: October 11, 2018
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yusuke IKEDA, Daijiro ANAI, Rei YOSHIKAWA
  • Publication number: 20180269243
    Abstract: An imaging element comprises a photoelectric conversion unit formed in a pixel region and configured to convert light into electrical charge. Further, the imaging element includes a transistor formed in the pixel region and configured to transfer electric charge from the photoelectric conversion unit. The photoelectric conversion unit of the imaging element may be connected to a well of the pixel region, where the well of the pixel region has a negative potential.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2018
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Inventors: Yosuke UENO, Yusuke IKEDA, Shizunori MATSUMOTO, Tsutomu HARUTA, Rei YOSHIKAWA
  • Patent number: 10051212
    Abstract: There is provided a solid state imaging apparatus including a pixel array in which a plurality of unit pixels are arranged two-dimensionally. Each pixel includes a photoelectric conversion element, a transfer transistor which transfers a charge accumulated in the photoelectric conversion element to floating diffusion, a reset transistor which resets the charge of the floating diffusion, and an output transistor which outputs the charge of the floating diffusion. The floating diffusion of at least one of the plurality of unit pixels is electrically connected via the output transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takayuki Goto, Hiroaki Ebihara, Rei Yoshikawa, Koichi Okamoto
  • Patent number: 10044954
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a solid-state imaging device, an AD converter, and an electronic apparatus that improve a crosstalk characteristic. The AD converter includes a comparator that compares the pixel signal with the reference signal, a pixel signal side capacitor, and a reference signal side capacitor. The pixel signal side capacitor and the reference signal side capacitor are formed such that a first parasitic capacity, and a second parasitic capacity are substantially the same. The present technology is applicable to a CMOS image sensor, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yusuke Ikeda, Daijiro Anai, Rei Yoshikawa
  • Patent number: 10008525
    Abstract: An imaging element comprises a photoelectric conversion unit formed in a pixel region and configured to convert light into electrical charge. Further, the imaging element includes a transistor formed in the pixel region and configured to transfer electric charge from the photoelectric conversion unit. The photoelectric conversion unit of the imaging element may be connected to a well of the pixel region, where the well of the pixel region has a negative potential.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yosuke Ueno, Yusuke Ikeda, Shizunori Matsumoto, Tsutomu Haruta, Rei Yoshikawa
  • Publication number: 20170230592
    Abstract: There is provided a solid state imaging apparatus including a pixel array in which a plurality of unit pixels are arranged two-dimensionally. Each pixel includes a photoelectric conversion element, a transfer transistor which transfers a charge accumulated in the photoelectric conversion element to floating diffusion, a reset transistor which resets the charge of the floating diffusion, and an output transistor which outputs the charge of the floating diffusion. The floating diffusion of at least one of the plurality of unit pixels is electrically connected via the output transistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2017
    Publication date: August 10, 2017
    Inventors: Takayuki GOTO, Hiroaki EBIHARA, Rei YOSHIKAWA, Koichi OKAMOTO
  • Publication number: 20170223292
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a solid-state imaging device, an AD converter, and an electronic apparatus that improve a crosstalk characteristic. The AD converter includes a comparator that compares the pixel signal with the reference signal, a pixel signal side capacitor, and a reference signal side capacitor. The pixel signal side capacitor and the reference signal side capacitor are formed such that a first parasitic capacity, and a second parasitic capacity are substantially the same. The present technology is applicable to a CMOS image sensor, for example.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2015
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Inventors: Yusuke IKEDA, Daijiro ANAI, Rei YOSHIKAWA
  • Patent number: 9712766
    Abstract: A signal processing device includes a control unit that suspends supplying of a signal to an A/D conversion unit which performs A/D conversion, during an A/D conversion period in which the A/D conversion is performed on the signal that depends on an electric charge read from a pixel; and a maintenance unit that maintains a signal value of the signal in a state where the signal is supplied by the control unit to the A/D conversion unit and that supplies the maintained signal value to the A/D conversion unit in a state where the supplying of the signal to the A/D conversion unit is suspended by the control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Ogata, Rei Yoshikawa, Hiroaki Ebihara
  • Patent number: 9661242
    Abstract: There is provided a solid state imaging apparatus including a pixel array in which a plurality of unit pixels are arranged two-dimensionally. Each pixel includes a photoelectric conversion element, a transfer transistor which transfers a charge accumulated in the photoelectric conversion element to floating diffusion, a reset transistor which resets the charge of the floating diffusion, and an output transistor which outputs the charge of the floating diffusion. The floating diffusion of at least one of the plurality of unit pixels is electrically connected via the output transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takayuki Goto, Hiroaki Ebihara, Rei Yoshikawa, Koichi Okamoto
  • Patent number: 9648267
    Abstract: The present technology relates to an image sensor and a control method for an image sensor which are capable of measuring illuminance of each color in an image sensor. Each of a plurality of pixel units includes a pixel and a reset transistor, and the pixel includes a photoelectric converting unit that performs photoelectric conversion on light of a certain color incident through a color filter and a transfer transistor that transfers charges obtained by the photoelectric conversion of the photoelectric converting unit and is controllable for each color. According to control of the transfer transistor, the charges are read from the photoelectric converting unit through the transfer transistor and the reset transistor, and a voltage corresponding to the charges is supplied to an AD converting unit connected to the reset transistor. The present technology can be applied to, for example, an image sensor that photographs an image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation
    Inventors: Koichi Okamoto, Rei Yoshikawa, Hiroaki Ebihara
  • Patent number: 9602749
    Abstract: There is provided an image sensor that includes a pixel array section, a column processing section, and a row control section. The pixel array section is configured to include two or more shared pixel cells arranged in a two-dimensional array, the shared pixel cells each including a plurality of pixels that output electric signals by photoelectric conversion. The column processing section is configured to process the electric signals that are read at the same time from the shared pixel cells on a plurality of rows in the two-dimensional array. The row control section is configured to perform access control differently between one and another of the rows for reading the electric signals from the pixels in the shared pixel cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Kazunori Yamaguchi, Rei Yoshikawa, Koji Hizume, Daisuke Kawamata
  • Publication number: 20170053957
    Abstract: An imaging element comprises a photoelectric conversion unit formed in a pixel region and configured to convert light into electrical charge. Further, the imaging element includes a transistor formed in the pixel region and configured to transfer electric charge from the photoelectric conversion unit. The photoelectric conversion unit of the imaging element may be connected to a well of the pixel region, where the well of the pixel region has a negative potential.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2015
    Publication date: February 23, 2017
    Inventors: Yosuke UENO, Yusuke IKEDA, Shizunori MATSUMOTO, Tsutomu HARUTA, Rei YOSHIKAWA
  • Publication number: 20160150172
    Abstract: The present technology relates to an image sensor and a control method for an image sensor which are capable of measuring illuminance of each color in an image sensor. Each of a plurality of pixel units includes a pixel and a reset transistor, and the pixel includes a photoelectric converting unit that performs photoelectric conversion on light of a certain color incident through a color filter and a transfer transistor that transfers charges obtained by the photoelectric conversion of the photoelectric converting unit and is controllable for each color. According to control of the transfer transistor, the charges are read from the photoelectric converting unit through the transfer transistor and the reset transistor, and a voltage corresponding to the charges is supplied to an AD converting unit connected to the reset transistor. The present technology can be applied to, for example, an image sensor that photographs an image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2016
    Publication date: May 26, 2016
    Inventors: Koichi Okamoto, Rei Yoshikawa, Hiroaki Ebihara
  • Patent number: 9288411
    Abstract: The present technology relates to an image sensor and a control method for an image sensor which are capable of measuring illuminance of each color in an image sensor. Each of a plurality of pixel units includes a pixel and a reset transistor, and the pixel includes a photoelectric converting unit that performs photoelectric conversion on light of a certain color incident through a color filter and a transfer transistor that transfers charges obtained by the photoelectric conversion of the photoelectric converting unit and is controllable for each color. According to control of the transfer transistor, the charges are read from the photoelectric converting unit through the transfer transistor and the reset transistor, and a voltage corresponding to the charges is supplied to an AD converting unit connected to the reset transistor. The present technology can be applied to, for example, an image sensor that photographs an image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Koichi Okamoto, Rei Yoshikawa, Hiroaki Ebihara
  • Publication number: 20160014355
    Abstract: A signal processing device includes a control unit that suspends supplying of a signal to an A/D conversion unit which performs A/D conversion, during an A/D conversion period in which the A/D conversion is performed on the signal that depends on an electric charge read from a pixel; and a maintenance unit that maintains a signal value of the signal in a state where the signal is supplied by the control unit to the A/D conversion unit and that supplies the maintained signal value to the A/D conversion unit in a state where the supplying of the signal to the A/D conversion unit is suspended by the control unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2015
    Publication date: January 14, 2016
    Inventors: Satoshi Ogata, Rei Yoshikawa, Hiroaki Ebihara
  • Patent number: 9160940
    Abstract: A signal processing device includes a control unit that suspends supplying of a signal to an A/D conversion unit which performs A/D conversion, during an A/D conversion period in which the A/D conversion is performed on the signal that depends on an electric charge read from a pixel; and a maintenance unit that maintains a signal value of the signal in a state where the signal is supplied by the control unit to the A/D conversion unit and that supplies the maintained signal value to the A/D conversion unit in a state where the supplying of the signal to the A/D conversion unit is suspended by the control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Ogata, Rei Yoshikawa, Hiroaki Ebihara