Patents by Inventor Seiji Hashimoto

Seiji Hashimoto 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: 9602751
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus comprises: a pixel generating a photoelectric conversion signal; a comparator configured to compare a base signal based on the pixel at a reset state with a time-changing first reference signal, and for comparing an effective signal based on the pixel at a non-reset state with a time-changing second reference signal, wherein the second reference signal has a larger time-changing ratio than that of the second reference signal; a counter configured to count a first count value until an inversion of a magnitude relation between the base signal and the first reference signal, and configured to count a second count value until an inversion of a magnitude relation between the effective signal and the second reference signal; a correcting unit configured to correct a difference of resolutions of the first and second count values, and configured to correct a difference between the first and second count values corrected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Seiji Hashimoto, Yasushi Matsuno
  • Patent number: 9571758
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus, driving method of the imaging apparatus, and an imaging system, are provided, wherein pixels output at least two image signals with different viable signal ranges, and the pixel signal with a larger signal range is converted to a digital signal during a first period, and the pixel signal with a smaller signal range is converted to a digital signal during a second period shorter than the first period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Seiji Hashimoto, Takeru Suzuki, Daisuke Yoshida, Atsushi Furubayashi
  • Patent number: 9549139
    Abstract: The imaging apparatus has a plurality of pixels each of which has a plurality of photoelectric conversion units; generates a plurality of first combined signals obtained by combining signals based on electric charges of photoelectric conversion units in one side with each other, and a plurality of second signals obtained by combining signals based on electric charges of the plurality of photoelectric conversion units with each other; and outputs a part of the first combined signals out of the plurality of first combined signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuji Ikeda, Hiroki Hiyama, Yu Arishima, Seiji Hashimoto
  • Publication number: 20170006247
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus and a method of driving the same that can generate a digital data of a high resolution pixel signal are provided. The imaging apparatus includes: a pixel (10-1) for generating a signal by photoelectric conversion; a comparing circuit (30-1) for comparing a signal based on the pixel with a time-dependent reference signal; a counter circuit (40-1) performing a counting operating until an inversion of a magnitude relation between the signal based on the pixel and the time-dependent reference signal; and a selecting circuit (30-2) for setting a time-dependent change rate of the reference signal, according to a signal level of the signal based on the pixel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2016
    Publication date: January 5, 2017
    Inventors: Seiji HASHIMOTO, Yasushi MATSUNO
  • Patent number: 9525836
    Abstract: Provided is an AD conversion apparatus including: a reference signal generating circuit configured to output a first reference signal and a second reference signal, whose voltages change with time; a comparison circuit configured to perform a comparison between a voltage of the analog signal and the voltage of the first reference signal; a control circuit configured to generate and output digital data based on the comparison; a digital-to-analog converter configured to generate, using the second reference signal, a signal whose voltage changes with time from a comparison base voltage, the comparison base voltage being based on the digital data, and configured to output the signal to the comparison circuit; and a counter configured to generate a count value by measuring an elapsed time. The comparison circuit is further configured to perform a comparison between the voltage of the analog signal and the signal output from the digital-to-analog converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Seiji Hashimoto, Hirofumi Totsuka, Takeru Suzuki
  • Patent number: 9502451
    Abstract: An imaging device includes a plurality of pixels arranged in a pixel region, each of the plurality of pixels including a photoelectric conversion element including a first electrode provided above a substrate, a second electrode provided above the first electrode and a photoelectric conversion layer provided between the first electrode and the second electrode, an interconnection layer provided between the substrate and the first electrode, the interconnection layer including a first conductive member extending in a first direction, and a second conductive member arranged at a level lower than the first conductive member and extending in a second direction intersecting the first direction, a first contact portion provided in the pixel region, the first contact portion electrically connecting the second electrode and the first conductive member, and a second contact portion electrically connecting the first conductive member and the second conductive member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takanori Yamashita, Seiji Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 9485445
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus and a method of driving the same that can generate a digital data of a high resolution pixel signal are provided. The imaging apparatus includes: a pixel (10-1) for generating a signal by photoelectric conversion; a comparing circuit (30-1) for comparing a signal based on the pixel with a time-dependent reference signal; a counter circuit (40-1) performing a counting operating until an inversion of a magnitude relation between the signal based on the pixel and the time-dependent reference signal; and a selecting circuit (30-2) for setting a time-dependent change rate of the reference signal, according to a signal level of the signal based on the pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Seiji Hashimoto, Yasushi Matsuno
  • Publication number: 20160300878
    Abstract: An imaging device includes a plurality of pixels arranged in a pixel region, each of the plurality of pixels including a photoelectric conversion element including a first electrode provided above a substrate, a second electrode provided above the first electrode and a photoelectric conversion layer provided between the first electrode and the second electrode, an interconnection layer provided between the substrate and the first electrode, the interconnection layer including a first conductive member extending in a first direction, and a second conductive member arranged at a level lower than the first conductive member and extending in a second direction intersecting the first direction, a first contact portion provided in the pixel region, the first contact portion electrically connecting the second electrode and the first conductive member, and a second contact portion electrically connecting the first conductive member and the second conductive member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2016
    Publication date: October 13, 2016
    Inventors: Takanori Yamashita, Seiji Hashimoto
  • Publication number: 20160268895
    Abstract: A DC-to-DC converter includes an input terminal connected to a DC power source. An output terminal is connected to a load. A reactor is disposed between the input terminal and the output terminal. A blocking diode is connected in series to the reactor. A switching element has one end connected between the reactor and the blocking diode. A boost chopper circuit boosts an input voltage to generate an output voltage. A first reactor is disposed between the input terminal and the one end. A first capacitor is disposed between the first reactor and the switching element and connected in series to the first reactor. A first diode includes an anode terminal and a cathode terminal. The anode terminal is connected to a connection portion of the first reactor and the first capacitor. The cathode terminal is connected to the output terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2016
    Publication date: September 15, 2016
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA YASKAWA DENKI
    Inventors: Tadashi SADOHARA, Seiji HASHIMOTO
  • Patent number: 9300889
    Abstract: An AD converting unit compares an output signal from an amplifier circuit after reset of a pixel with a reference signal of time-variable, outputs a first digital value, when the output signal from the amplifier circuit in a non-reset state of the pixel is larger than a threshold, sets a gain of the amplifier circuit to a first gain, when the output signal is smaller than the threshold, sets the gain of the amplifier circuit to a second gain larger than the first gain, further after the gain of the amplifier circuit was set to the first or second gain, compares the output signal from the amplifier circuit in the non-reset state of the pixel with the reference signal of time-variable, and outputs a second digital value. When resolutions of the first and second digital values differ, a correcting unit corrects a difference between the resolutions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Seiji Hashimoto, Yasushi Matsuno, Takeru Suzuki, Kazuyuki Shigeta
  • Patent number: 9294699
    Abstract: There are provided a method for driving an image pickup device, a method for correcting a digital signal, an image pickup device, a method for driving an image capturing system, and an image capturing system. Digital signals are generated on the basis of a potential at an input node of a comparison unit by using a first reference signal whose potential changes by a first amount per unit time and a second reference signal whose potential changes by a second amount per unit time, the second amount being greater than the first amount. A correction value based on a difference in signal value between the digital signals is derived. A digital signal based on a pixel signal is corrected on the basis of the derived correction value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takashi Muto, Seiji Hashimoto, Daisuke Yoshida, Yasushi Matsuno
  • Publication number: 20160080678
    Abstract: Pixels output a first signal based on signal charge of a part of photoelectric conversion units of multiple photoelectric conversion units, and a second signal based on signal charge of multiple photoelectric conversion units. An imaging apparatus outputs signals based on the first signals and signals based on the second signals by reducing the number of signals based on the first signals as compared to the number of signals based on the second signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2015
    Publication date: March 17, 2016
    Inventors: Seiji Hashimoto, Atsushi Furubayashi, Takeru Suzuki, Kazuhiro Sonoda, Daisuke Yoshida, Hirofumi Totsuka, Takashi Muto, Yasushi Matsuno
  • Patent number: 9282275
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an electronic apparatus includes a housing, a heat sink in the housing, a heat pipe including a curved portion toward the heat sink, and a fan including a cutout portion accommodating the curved portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Akifumi Yamaguchi, Tomohiro Hamada, Seiji Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 9282271
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging apparatus comprising a plurality of pixels generating a photoelectric conversion signal, a column amplifying unit corresponding to columns of the pixels, for outputting a first and second signals generated by amplifying the photoelectric conversion signal at a smaller first gain and larger second gain respectively, an analog to digital converter (21) for converting the first and second signals from an analog signal to a digital signal, a comparing unit (224) for inputting the digital signal from the analog to digital converter, level-shifting into the same gain level the first and second signals converted by the analog to digital converter, and thereafter detecting a gain error between the level-shifted first and second signals, and a correction unit (226) for correcting the first and second signals based on the gain error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Seiji Hashimoto, Kazuyuki Shigeta
  • Publication number: 20160065877
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus and a method of driving the same that can generate a digital data of a high resolution pixel signal are provided. The imaging apparatus includes: a pixel (10-1) for generating a signal by photoelectric conversion; a comparing circuit (30-1) for comparing a signal based on the pixel with a time-dependent reference signal; a counter circuit (40-1) performing a counting operating until an inversion of a magnitude relation between the signal based on the pixel and the time-dependent reference signal; and a selecting circuit (30-2) for setting a time-dependent change rate of the reference signal, according to a signal level of the signal based on the pixel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2015
    Publication date: March 3, 2016
    Inventors: Seiji Hashimoto, Yasushi Matsuno
  • Patent number: 9274557
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a stand for an electronic device, includes a first housing and a connector. The connector is configured to detachably connect to the electronic device and to be rotatably supported by the first housing. The electronic device includes a display face and a second housing. The second housing includes a first opening formed at an end thereof. The connector includes a support, a protrusion, and a base member. The support is configured to support the second housing from outside. The protrusion is spaced from the support and inserted into the first opening. The base member includes a first part configuring at least a portion of the support and a second part integrated with the first part and configuring at least a portion of the protrusion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Seiji Hashimoto, Hiromichi Suzuki, Ryosuke Saito
  • Patent number: 9271412
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an electronic apparatus includes a housing including a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. The first surface includes a protrusion. The second surface includes a first recess opposite the protrusion and a second recess adjacent to the first recess. The second recess has substantially the same shape as the first recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Seiji Hashimoto, Tomohiro Hamada
  • Patent number: 9264642
    Abstract: Conventionally, in order to obtain a difference signal between an A+N signal and an N signal and a difference signal between an A+B+N signal and the A+N signal, the A+N signal needs to be held in two different capacitors. Hence, there is a problem in that, due to variations in capacitance of the two capacitors, the difference signal between the A+N signal and the N signal and the difference signal between the A+B+N signal and the A+N signal may not accurately be obtained. An imaging device generates a signal obtained by subtracting the same digital N signal from each of the digital A+N signal and the digital A+B+N signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsuhito Sakurai, Seiji Hashimoto, Atsushi Furubayashi
  • Publication number: 20160044263
    Abstract: A time at which a potential magnitude relationship between a first electrode and a second electrode is changed from a first relationship to a second relationship in a part of the plurality of pixels and a time at which a potential magnitude relationship between the first electrode and the second electrode is changed from the second relationship to the first relationship in the other part of the plurality of pixels overlap each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2015
    Publication date: February 11, 2016
    Inventors: Seiji Hashimoto, Hidekazu Takahashi, Atsushi Furubayashi
  • Publication number: 20160037113
    Abstract: An output control unit configured to set an amplitude of a signal output to a signal line to be smaller as compared with a case where an amplification unit outputs a signal on the basis of a potential of the input node or put the amplification unit into a non-operating state is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2015
    Publication date: February 4, 2016
    Inventors: Seiji Hashimoto, Hidekazu Takahashi, Atsushi Furubayashi