Patents by Inventor Shigetoshi Sugawa

Shigetoshi Sugawa 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: 11662328
    Abstract: A capacitive sensor includes a sensing electrode, a first electrode pad, a substrate, and a second electrode pad. The sensing electrode outputs a signal corresponding to a capacitance between the sensing electrode and a detection target. The first electrode pad is coupled to the sensing electrode. The substrate includes a substrate surface portion and a step portion. On the substrate surface portion are the sensing electrode and the first electrode pad mounted. The step portion is provided at a position in the substrate lower than the substrate surface portion. The second electrode pad is mounted on the step portion and coupled to an external line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignees: OHT Inc., TOHOKU UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Toshiro Yasuda, Kazutoshi Kamibayashi, Shigetoshi Sugawa, Rihito Kuroda, Tetsuya Goto
  • Patent number: 11567114
    Abstract: A capacitance detection area sensor includes capacitance sensor elements arranged in a two-dimensional array, is shaped into an appropriate shape, and capacitively coupled to an external electrode. To the external electrode, a sensing signal having a potential difference is supplied. The first and second sensor output signals are acquired from a capacitance sensor element capacitively coupled to the external electrode, at the timing of the sensing signal being a first signal and being a second signal, respectively. A differential signal is generated from a difference between the acquired first and second sensor output signals, and an image indicating the shape of the external electrode is generated based on the level of the differential signal, in different colors or different tones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignees: TOHOKU UNIVERSITY, OHT, INC.
    Inventors: Shigetoshi Sugawa, Rihito Kuroda, Tetsuya Goto, Hiroshi Hamori, Shinichi Murakami, Toshiro Yasuda
  • Patent number: 11343458
    Abstract: A light-receiving device that achieves both high saturation performance and high sensitivity performance includes a light-receiving pixel including a light-receiving element, a first capacitive element that accumulates a photoelectric charge produced by light received by the light-receiving element, a second capacitive element that accumulates a transferred portion of an amount of the photoelectric charge accumulated in the capacitive element, a switch means for turning on and off a photoelectric charge transfer operation from the capacitive element to the capacitive element, a resetting switch means for resetting the capacitive element and the capacitive element, a pixel selecting switch means, and a source follower switch means. An effective saturation capacity of the capacitive element is 10 to 5,000 times an effective saturation capacity of the capacitive element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: TOHOKU UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Shigetoshi Sugawa, Rihito Kuroda
  • Publication number: 20220011255
    Abstract: A capacitive sensor includes a sensing electrode, a first electrode pad, a substrate, and a second electrode pad. The sensing electrode outputs a signal corresponding to a capacitance between the sensing electrode and a detection target. The first electrode pad is coupled to the sensing electrode. The substrate includes a substrate surface portion and a step portion. On the substrate surface portion are the sensing electrode and the first electrode pad mounted. The step portion is provided at a position in the substrate lower than the substrate surface portion. The second electrode pad is mounted on the step portion and coupled to an external line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2021
    Publication date: January 13, 2022
    Applicants: OHT Inc., TOHOKU UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Toshiro YASUDA, Kazutoshi KAMIBAYASHI, Shigetoshi SUGAWA, Rihito KURODA, Tetsuya GOTO
  • Publication number: 20210293866
    Abstract: A capacitance detection area sensor includes capacitance sensor elements arranged in a two-dimensional array, is shaped into an appropriate shape, and capacitively coupled to an external electrode. To the external electrode, a sensing signal having a potential difference is supplied. The first and second sensor output signals are acquired from a capacitance sensor element capacitively coupled to the external electrode, at the timing of the sensing signal being a first signal and being a second signal, respectively. A differential signal is generated from a difference between the acquired first and second sensor output signals, and an image indicating the shape of the external electrode is generated based on the level of the differential signal, in different colors or different tones.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2021
    Publication date: September 23, 2021
    Applicants: TOHOKU UNIVERSITY, OHT Inc.
    Inventors: Shigetoshi SUGAWA, Rihito KURODA, Tetsuya GOTO, Hiroshi HAMORI, Shinichi MURAKAMI, Toshiro YASUDA
  • Publication number: 20210217801
    Abstract: [Problem] To provide an optical sensor which can read out faster and requires lower power consumption than conventional optical sensors while maintaining advantages and superiorities of conventional optical sensors in which a transfer switch is provided between a light receiving element (PD) and a floating diffusion (CFD). [Solution] A semiconductor junction of a light-receiving element is fully depleted and a potential curve of electrons has a negative slope toward the floating diffusion and connected to an uppermost position of an electronic potential well of the floating diffusion keeping its negative slope state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2018
    Publication date: July 15, 2021
    Applicant: TOHOKU UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Shigetoshi SUGAWA, Rihito KURODA
  • Patent number: 10794760
    Abstract: This optical sensor device includes a first light receiving portion having sensitivity to ultraviolet light, a first sealing portion covering the first light receiving portion, a second light receiving portion having sensitivity to ultraviolet light, and a second sealing portion which covers the second light receiving portion. At least one of the first sealing portion and the second sealing portion is configured to transmit at least part of a ultraviolet light wavelength band, the first sealing portion is formed from one or more resin layers and has transmission spectral characteristics that a first wavelength is set as a lower limit value of a transmission wavelength band, and the second sealing portion is formed from one or more resin layers and has transmission spectral characteristics that a second wavelength different from the first wavelength is set as a lower limit value of the transmission wavelength band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignees: ABLIC INC., TOHOKU TECHNO ARCH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Koji Tsukagoshi, Shigetoshi Sugawa, Rihito Kuroda
  • Patent number: 10720467
    Abstract: One of the problems addressed by the present invention is to provide an optical sensor, a solid-state imaging device, and a signal readout method therefor that greatly contribute to a further development of industry and to the realization of a more secure and safe society. One of the solutions provided by the present invention is an optical sensor comprising a light reception element, a storage capacitor for storing charges, and a transfer switch for transferring, to the storage capacitor, a charge generated by light input into the light reception element. The storage capacitor includes a floating diffusion capacitor and a lateral overflow integration capacitor. The transfer switch is an LDD-MOS transistor of which a drain area has a specific impurity concentration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: Tohoku University
    Inventors: Shigetoshi Sugawa, Rihito Kuroda, Shunichi Wakashima
  • Publication number: 20200177831
    Abstract: A light-receiving device that achieves both high saturation performance and high sensitivity performance includes a light-receiving pixel including a light-receiving element, a first capacitive element that accumulates a photoelectric charge produced by light received by the light-receiving element, a second capacitive element that accumulates a transferred portion of an amount of the photoelectric charge accumulated in the capacitive element, a switch means for turning on and off a photoelectric charge transfer operation from the capacitive element to the capacitive element, a resetting switch means for resetting the capacitive element and the capacitive element, a pixel selecting switch means, and a source follower switch means. An effective saturation capacity of the capacitive element is 10 to 5,000 times an effective saturation capacity of the capacitive element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2018
    Publication date: June 4, 2020
    Applicant: TOHOKU UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Shigetoshi SUGAWA, Rihito KURODA
  • Publication number: 20200043971
    Abstract: One of the problems addressed by the present invention is to provide an optical sensor, a solid-state imaging device, and a signal readout method drive therefor that greatly contribute to a further development of industry and to the realization of a more secure and safe society. One of the solutions provided by the present invention is an optical sensor comprising a light reception element, a storage capacitor for storing charges, and a transfer switch for transferring, to the storage capacitor, a charge generated by light input into the light reception element. The storage capacitor includes a floating diffusion capacitor and a lateral overflow integration capacitor. The transfer switch is an LDD-MOS transistor of which a drain area has a specific impurity concentration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2016
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Applicant: TOHOKU UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Shigetoshi SUGAWA, Rihito KURODA, Shunichi WAKASHIMA
  • Patent number: 10553626
    Abstract: To provide a solid-state light-receiving device for ultraviolet light which can measure the amount of irradiation with ultraviolet light harmful to the human body using a simplified structure and properly and accurately, which can be readily integrated with a sensor of a peripheral circuit, which is small, light-weight, and low-cost, and which is suitable for mobile or wearable purposes. One solution is a solid-state light-receiving device for ultraviolet light which is provided with a first photodiode (1), a second photodiode (2), and a differential circuit which receives respective signals based on outputs from these photodiodes, wherein a position of the maximum concentration of a semiconductor impurity is provided in each of the photodiodes (1,2) and in a semiconductor layer region formed on each photodiode, and an optically transparent layer having a different wavelength selectivity is provided on a light-receiving surface of each photodiode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: TOHOKU UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Shigetoshi Sugawa, Rihito Kuroda
  • Publication number: 20200027910
    Abstract: One object of the present invention is to provide a solid-state imaging device, a method for fabricating a solid-state imaging device, and an electronic apparatus that implement both a wide dynamic range and a high sensitivity. A storage capacitor serving as a storage capacitance element includes a first electrode and a second electrode on a second substrate surface side. The first electrode is formed of a p+ region (the second conductivity type semiconductor region) formed in the surface of a second substrate surface of a substrate, and the second electrode is formed above the second substrate surface so as to be opposed at a distance to the first electrode in the direction perpendicular to the substrate surface. The first electrode and the second electrode are arranged so as to spatially overlap with a photoelectric conversion part in the direction perpendicular to the substrate surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2019
    Publication date: January 23, 2020
    Inventors: Shunsuke OKURA, Isao TAKAYANAGI, Kazuya MORI, Ken MIYAUCHI, Shigetoshi SUGAWA
  • Publication number: 20200028009
    Abstract: To provide a solar battery that is not affected or substantially not easily affected by an irradiation history of UV light, and thus does not or substantially does not suffer degradation of service life. The above-described problem is solved by a solar battery (100, 200, 200B) provided with a UV degradation preventing layer (109, 205, 205B) under specific conditions as a layer component. The UV deterioration preventing layer (109, 205, 205B) has a layer thickness (d1+d2) within a range of 2 to 60 nm, and contains semiconductor impurities contributing to a semiconductor polarity distributed in concentration in a layer thickness direction and having a maximum value (CDMax) of the concentration distribution in an interior thereof. The maximum value (CDMax) is within a range of 1×1019/cm3?Maximum value (CDMax)?4×1020/cm3 . . . Formula (1), and has a half value (b1) at a depth position (A1) from a surface on a light incident side of the UV deterioration preventing layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2017
    Publication date: January 23, 2020
    Applicant: TOHOKU UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Shigetoshi SUGAWA, Rihito KURODA
  • Patent number: 10408742
    Abstract: To provide a concentration measurement method with which the concentrations of predetermined chemical components can be measured non-destructively, accurately, and rapidly by a simple means, up to the concentrations in trace amount ranges, as well as a concentration measurement method with which the concentrations of chemical components in a measurement target can be accurately and rapidly measured in real time up to the concentrations in nano-order trace amount ranges, and which is endowed with a versatility that can be realized in a variety of embodiments and modes. In the present invention, a measurement target is irradiated, in a time sharing manner, with light of a first wavelength and light of a second wavelength that have different optical absorption rates with respect to the measurement target. The light of each wavelength, arriving optically via the measurement target as a result of irradiation with the light of each wavelength, is received at a shared light-receiving sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignees: FUJIKIN INCORPORATED, TOHOKU UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Masaaki Nagase, Kouji Nishino, Nobukazu Ikeda, Michio Yamaji, Shigetoshi Sugawa, Rihito Kuroda
  • Patent number: 10324028
    Abstract: To provide a concentration measuring method with which the concentration of a predetermined chemical component can be accurately, quickly, and nondestructively measured down to a concentration range of an extremely small amount with a simple means, and to provide a concentration measuring method with which the concentration of a chemical component in an object to be measured can be accurately and quickly measured down to a concentration range of a nano-order extremely small amount in real time, the method having universality, i.e., the ability to be embodied in various forms and modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: TOHOKU UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Shigetoshi Sugawa, Rihito Kuroda
  • Patent number: 10241034
    Abstract: A concentration measurement method accurately, quickly, and non-destructively measures the concentration of a predetermined chemical component within an object to a nano-order trace concentration level in real time. A time sharing method irradiates the object light of a first wavelength and light of a second wavelength having different light absorption rates with respect to the object to be measured. Light of both wavelengths that arrives optically through the object is received by a shared light reception sensor, and signals respectively relating to light of the first and second wavelengths are output from the light reception sensor in accordance with the received light. A differential signal of these signals is formed, and the concentration of a chemical component in the object to be measured is derived on the basis of the differential signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: TOHOKU UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Shigetoshi Sugawa, Rihito Kuroda
  • Patent number: 10200641
    Abstract: One problem addressed by the present invention is to provide an optical sensor, a solid-state imaging device, and methods for reading the signals therefrom, which contribute greatly to the development of industry and the realization of a safer and more secure society. One solution according to the present invention is an optical sensor having a light-receiving element, storage capacitors that store a charge, and a transfer switch for transferring to the storage capacitors a charge generated by light input to the light-receiving element, wherein the storage capacitors are a floating diffusion capacitor and a lateral overflow integration capacitor, and the transfer switch is a non-LDD/MOS transistor, that is, a non-LDD/MOS transistor for which the impurity concentration of the drain region is reduced by 50%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: TOHOKU UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Shigetoshi Sugawa, Rihito Kuroda, Shunichi Wakashima
  • Patent number: 10154222
    Abstract: One problem addressed by the present invention is to provide an optical sensor, a solid-state imaging device, and methods for reading the signals therefrom, which contribute greatly to the development of industry and the realization of a safer and more secure society. One solution according to the present invention is an optical sensor having a light-receiving element, storage capacitors that store a charge, and a transfer switch for transferring to the storage capacitors a charge generated by light input to the light-receiving element, wherein the storage capacitors are a floating diffusion capacitor and a lateral overflow integration capacitor, and the transfer switch is a non-LDD/MOS transistor, that is, a non-LDD/MOS transistor for which the impurity concentration of the drain region is reduced by 50%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: TOHOKU UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Shigetoshi Sugawa, Rihito Kuroda, Shunichi Wakashima
  • Patent number: 10126166
    Abstract: Provided is a solid-state light-receiving device for ultraviolet light, which is capable of measuring an irradiation amount of UV-rays, which are harmful to a human body, accurately and appropriately with a simple structure, and of being formed easily and integrally with sensors of peripheral circuits, and which is small, lightweight, low cost, and suitable for mobile or wearable applications. The solid-state light-receiving device for ultraviolet light includes a first photodiode, a second photodiode, and a differential circuit to which signals based on outputs of those photodiodes are input. The solid-state light-receiving device for ultraviolet light also includes semiconductor layer regions, which are formed in and on the above-mentioned photodiodes, and each of which includes a highest concentration position of semiconductor impurities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: Tohoku University
    Inventors: Shigetoshi Sugawa, Rihito Kuroda
  • Publication number: 20180231414
    Abstract: This optical sensor device includes a first light receiving portion having sensitivity to ultraviolet light, a first sealing portion covering the first light receiving portion, a second light receiving portion having sensitivity to ultraviolet light, and a second sealing portion which covers the second light receiving portion. At least one of the first sealing portion and the second sealing portion is configured to transmit at least part of a ultraviolet light wavelength band, the first sealing portion is formed from one or more resin layers and has transmission spectral characteristics that a first wavelength is set as a lower limit value of a transmission wavelength band, and the second sealing portion is formed from one or more resin layers and has transmission spectral characteristics that a second wavelength different from the first wavelength is set as a lower limit value of the transmission wavelength band.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2018
    Publication date: August 16, 2018
    Inventors: Koji TSUKAGOSHI, Shigetoshi SUGAWA, Rihito KURODA