Patents by Inventor Satoshi Sakurai

Satoshi Sakurai 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: 12294804
    Abstract: An arithmetic logic unit (ALU) includes a front end latch stage coupled to a Gray code (GC) generator to latch GC outputs, a signal latch stage coupled to latch outputs of the front end latch stage, a GC to binary stage coupled to generate a binary representation of the GC outputs, an adder stage including first inputs coupled to receive outputs of the GC to binary stage, a pre-latch stage coupled to latch outputs of the adder stage, and a feedback latch stage coupled to latch outputs of the pre-latch stage in response to a feedback latch enable signal. The feedback latch enable signal is one of a correlated multiple sampling (CMS) feedback enable signal and a non-CMS feedback enable signal. The ALU is configured to perform CMS calculations in response to the CMS feedback enable signal and perform non-CMS calculations in response to the non-CMS feedback enable signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2025
    Assignee: OMNIVISION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Jiayu Guo, Hiroaki Ebihara, Liang Zuo, Lihang Fan, Satoshi Sakurai
  • Publication number: 20250047995
    Abstract: An imaging system comprises a pixel array and readout circuitry coupled to the pixel array. The readout circuitry includes a ramp generator and a plurality of column unit cells, each comprising a column ramp buffer and a column comparator, and each column ramp buffer comprising an input node coupled to receive a ramp signal from the ramp generator, a transistor having a gate terminal coupled to the input node and a drain terminal coupled to a power line, an output node coupled between a source terminal of the transistor and the column comparator, and an alternating current (AC) coupling unit coupled between the input node and the transistor. The AC coupling unit comprises a capacitor coupled between the input node and the gate terminal of the transistor, and a reset switch coupled between the input node and the gate terminal of the transistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2023
    Publication date: February 6, 2025
    Inventors: Liang Zuo, Hiroaki Ebihara, Jing Jun Yi, Rui Wang, Satoshi Sakurai
  • Publication number: 20250048002
    Abstract: An imaging system comprises a pixel array configured to generate a plurality of image charge voltage signals in response to incident light, and readout circuitry coupled to the pixel array, the readout circuitry including a plurality of column unit cells. Each column unit cell comprises at least one of a plurality of comparators, wherein each comparator is coupled to receive the ramp signal from the ramp generator through a ramp signal line. Each column unit cell also comprises a compensation current unit coupled to the ramp signal line, each compensation current unit comprising a compensation current source and a compensation current switch coupled to the compensation current source, wherein the compensation current source and the compensation current switch are coupled between a first node on the ramp signal line and a second node.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2023
    Publication date: February 6, 2025
    Inventors: Hiroaki Ebihara, Nobuhiro Yanagisawa, Satoshi Sakurai, Tomoyasu Tate, Naoki Kitazawa, Kohei Harada
  • Patent number: 12199632
    Abstract: A tail current source of a comparator includes a first transistor and a second transistor configured to operate as current sources, wherein the first and second transistors are coupled between a tail node of the comparator and a voltage node, and wherein the tail comprises a node coupled to first and second inputs of the comparator. The tail current source also includes a switch configured to selectively couple the second transistor between the tail and the voltage node, and a bias voltage source coupled to gates of the first and second transistors. The switch is configured to be on during an analog-to-digital conversion (ADC) reset signal period and an ADC image signal period, and the switch is configured to be off during an auto-zero period, a period between the ADC reset signal and image signal periods, and a period after the ADC image signal period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: OMNIVISION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Ebihara, Chengcheng Xu, Satoshi Sakurai, Kenny Geng
  • Publication number: 20240397226
    Abstract: An arithmetic logic unit (ALU) includes a front end latch stage coupled to a Gray code (GC) generator to latch GC outputs, a signal latch stage coupled to latch outputs of the front end latch stage, a GC to binary stage coupled to generate a binary representation of the GC outputs, an adder stage including first inputs coupled to receive outputs of the GC to binary stage, a pre-latch stage coupled to latch outputs of the adder stage, and a feedback latch stage coupled to latch outputs of the pre-latch stage in response to a feedback latch enable signal. The feedback latch enable signal is one of a correlated multiple sampling (CMS) feedback enable signal and a non-CMS feedback enable signal. The ALU is configured to perform CMS calculations in response to the CMS feedback enable signal and perform non-CMS calculations in response to the non-CMS feedback enable signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2023
    Publication date: November 28, 2024
    Inventors: Jiayu Guo, Hiroaki Ebihara, Liang Zuo, Lihang Fan, Satoshi Sakurai
  • Publication number: 20240291499
    Abstract: A tail current source of a comparator includes a first transistor and a second transistor configured to operate as current sources, wherein the first and second transistors are coupled between a tail node of the comparator and a voltage node, and wherein the tail comprises a node coupled to first and second inputs of the comparator. The tail current source also includes a switch configured to selectively couple the second transistor between the tail and the voltage node, and a bias voltage source coupled to gates of the first and second transistors. The switch is configured to be on during an analog-to-digital conversion (ADC) reset signal period and an ADC image signal period, and the switch is configured to be off during an auto-zero period, a period between the ADC reset signal and image signal periods, and a period after the ADC image signal period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2023
    Publication date: August 29, 2024
    Inventors: Hiroaki Ebihara, Chengcheng Xu, Satoshi Sakurai, Kenny Geng
  • Publication number: 20240243765
    Abstract: A radio-frequency circuit is capable of performing either uplink MIMO or uplink non-MIMO of a first band. The radio-frequency circuit includes a first power amplifier capable of amplifying a signal in the first band, a first circuit capable of adjusting linearity of output power with respect to input power into the first power amplifier, a second power amplifier capable of amplifying a signal in the first band, and a second circuit capable of adjusting linearity of output power with respect to input power into the second power amplifier. Assuming the uplink MIMO is performed using a first transmission signal output from the first power amplifier and a second transmission signal output from the second power amplifier, saturated output powers of the first power amplifier and the second power amplifier are increased due to the first circuit and the second circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2024
    Publication date: July 18, 2024
    Applicant: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi TANAKA, Satoshi SAKURAI, Hirotsugu MORI
  • Patent number: 12005890
    Abstract: A failure detection circuit for an image sensor includes a first input node, an array of second input nodes, and an output stage. The first input node is coupled to a reference voltage. The array of second input nodes has each input node coupled to receive a signal from a bitline of a bitline array in an image sensor that includes an array of pixels with each pixel is coupled to at least one bitline of the bitline array. The output stage is coupled to generate an output voltage indicative of any of the second input nodes being lower than the reference voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Assignee: OmniVision Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Zhenfu Tian, Liang Zuo, Yan Li, Wen He, Satoshi Sakurai
  • Patent number: 11968468
    Abstract: A ramp buffer circuit includes a ramp buffer input device having an input coupled to receive a ramp signal. A current monitor is circuit coupled to a power line and the ramp buffer input device to generate a current monitor signal in response to an input current conducted through the ramp buffer input device. A corner bias circuit is coupled to the current monitor circuit to generate an assist bias voltage in response to the current monitor signal. A bias current source is coupled to an output of the ramp buffer input device. An assist current source is coupled to the corner bias circuit and coupled between the output of the ramp buffer input device and ground to conduct an assist current from the output of the ramp buffer input device to ground in response to the assist bias voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: OMNIVISION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Ebihara, Zhenfu Tian, Peter Bartkovjak, Satoshi Sakurai
  • Patent number: 11916520
    Abstract: A Doherty amplifier including a main amplifier and a peak amplifier is mounted on a package substrate. A low noise amplifier is further mounted on the package substrate. A transmit/receive switch switches in terms of time between a transmission connection state in which an output signal of the Doherty amplifier is supplied to an antenna and a reception connection state in which a signal received by the antenna is inputted to the low noise amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Satoshi Tanaka, Kiichiro Takenaka, Satoshi Arayashiki, Satoshi Sakurai
  • Publication number: 20240056040
    Abstract: A radio-frequency module includes a power amplifier, a first bias circuit connected to the power amplifier, and a second bias circuit connected to the power amplifier. The first bias circuit includes a register that receives a first digital control signal corresponding to a power mode of the power amplifier and a current generation circuit that generates, based on information in the register, a first bias current, and the second bias circuit includes another register that receives a second digital control signal corresponding to the power mode and a current generation circuit that generates, based on information in the other register, a second bias current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2023
    Publication date: February 15, 2024
    Applicant: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi SAKURAI, Toshiki MATSUI, Yasunobu YOSHIZAKI, Fuminori MORISAWA
  • Publication number: 20230353107
    Abstract: Examples of input stages of circuits are configured to reduce both negative-bias temperature instability (NBTI) and positive-bias temperature instability (PBTI) in PMOS transistors therein. Current-switched PMOS source follower transistors and a low-side NMOS differential pair is used to process a lower range of a rail-to-rail input signal range of a circuit. A PMOS source follower is disposed between the positive input of the circuit and the positive input of the low-side NMOS differential pair. Another PMOS source follower is disposed between the negative input of the circuit and the negative input of the low-side NMOS differential pair. Various arrangements are provided for generating and maintaining the bias currents of the two PMOS source followers to be approximately the same through the entire lower input signal range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2022
    Publication date: November 2, 2023
    Inventor: Satoshi Sakurai
  • Publication number: 20230336891
    Abstract: A ramp buffer circuit includes a ramp buffer input device having an input coupled to receive a ramp signal. A current monitor is circuit coupled to a power line and the ramp buffer input device to generate a current monitor signal in response to an input current conducted through the ramp buffer input device. A corner bias circuit is coupled to the current monitor circuit to generate an assist bias voltage in response to the current monitor signal. A bias current source is coupled to an output of the ramp buffer input device. An assist current source is coupled to the corner bias circuit and coupled between the output of the ramp buffer input device and ground to conduct an assist current from the output of the ramp buffer input device to ground in response to the assist bias voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2022
    Publication date: October 19, 2023
    Inventors: Hiroaki Ebihara, Zhenfu Tian, Peter Bartkovjak, Satoshi Sakurai
  • Publication number: 20230311859
    Abstract: A failure detection circuit for an image sensor includes a first input node, an array of second input nodes, and an output stage. The first input node is coupled to a reference voltage. The array of second input nodes has each input node coupled to receive a signal from a bitline of a bitline array in an image sensor that includes an array of pixels with each pixel is coupled to at least one bitline of the bitline array. The output stage is coupled to generate an output voltage indicative of any of the second input nodes being lower than the reference voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2022
    Publication date: October 5, 2023
    Inventors: Zhenfu TIAN, Liang ZUO, Yan LI, Wen HE, Satoshi SAKURAI
  • Patent number: 11777553
    Abstract: A high-frequency module includes a transmission signal amplifier that outputs a transmission signal to an antenna terminal side; a reception signal amplifier that amplifies a reception signal supplied from an antenna terminal; a switch that selectively connects the antenna terminal to either an output of the transmission signal amplifier or an input of the reception signal amplifier; and a directional coupler that is provided on a transmission signal path and detects a signal level of the transmission signal. The transmission signal amplifier is controlled by a first control signal supplied from a first control circuit. The reception signal amplifier is controlled by a second control signal supplied from a second control circuit. The switch is controlled by a switch control signal supplied from the first control circuit. The directional coupler is controlled by a coupler control signal supplied from the first control circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Satoshi Sakurai, Satoshi Arayashiki, Satoshi Tanaka, Kyoichi Hirayama, Tomohito Ito, Kenta Kurahashi
  • Patent number: 11722801
    Abstract: A ramp buffer circuit includes an input device having an input coupled to receive a ramp signal. A bias current source is coupled to an output of the input device. The input device and the bias current source are coupled between a power line and ground. An assist current source is coupled between the output of the input device and ground. The assist current source is configured to conduct an assist current from the output of the input device to ground only during a ramp event generated in the ramp signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: OmniVision Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Ebihara, Zhenfu Tian, Tao Sun, Liang Zuo, Yu-Shen Yang, Satoshi Sakurai, Rui Wang
  • Patent number: 11679816
    Abstract: A vehicle body structure having a side roof rail, a B-pillar and a bracket. The side roof rail has an inboard surface. The B-pillar has an upper end portion that overlays a portion of the inboard surface of the roof rail. The B-pillar extends downward from the roof rail. The bracket has a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is fixedly attached to the upper end portion of the B-pillar. The bracket further has a first rib and a second rib spaced apart from the first rib. The first rib and the second rib extend from the first portion of the bracket upward toward the second portion of the bracket. The first portion of the bracket further defines a slot located between the first rib and the second rib.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Bobby Fuentes, Fumio Tejima, Satoshi Sakurai, Atsushi Adachi
  • Patent number: 11626899
    Abstract: A radio-frequency signal sending/receiving circuit includes a low-noise amplifier electrically connected to a first terminal, a first switch electrically connected to the input terminal of the low-noise amplifier, a band pass filter electrically connected at one end to the other end of the first switch and at the other end to a first antenna via a fourth terminal, a power amplifier electrically connected to a second terminal, a second switch electrically connected at one end to the output terminal of the power amplifier and at the other end to the band pass filter, a third switch electrically connected at one end to the output terminal of the power amplifier and at the other end to a fifth terminal, and a fourth switch electrically connected at one end to a third terminal and at the other end to the fifth terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hitoshi Akamine, Satoshi Sakurai
  • Patent number: 11496178
    Abstract: A high-frequency module includes a transmission signal amplifier that outputs a transmission signal to an antenna terminal side; a reception signal amplifier that amplifies a reception signal supplied from an antenna terminal; a switch that selectively connects the antenna terminal to either an output of the transmission signal amplifier or an input of the reception signal amplifier; and a directional coupler that is provided on a transmission signal path and detects a signal level of the transmission signal. The transmission signal amplifier is controlled by a first control signal supplied from a first control circuit. The reception signal amplifier is controlled by a second control signal supplied from a second control circuit. The switch is controlled by a switch control signal supplied from the first control circuit. The directional coupler is controlled by a coupler control signal supplied from the first control circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Satoshi Sakurai, Satoshi Arayashiki, Satoshi Tanaka, Kyoichi Hirayama, Tomohito Ito, Kenta Kurahashi
  • Patent number: 11455068
    Abstract: A touch panel including a first electrode plate having a first conductive film, a second electrode plate having a second conductive film facing the first conductive film, an insulating layer disposed between the first electrode plate and the second electrode plate and having an opening, and a touch plate having a pressing member disposed at a position corresponding to the opening. The pressing member transmits pressing force applied to the touch plate to the second electrode plate, to bring the second conductive film into contact with the first conductive film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: FUJITSU COMPONENT LIMITED
    Inventors: Yutaka Ueno, Satoshi Sakurai, Tatsuro Hamano, Masahiko Katayama