Patents by Inventor Shin Kitano
Shin Kitano 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).
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Publication number: 20240422453Abstract: [Object] To prevent a defect that pixel data transfer is not completed in time. [Solving Means] A physical quantity detection device includes at least two pixel groups that each detect a physical quantity, a storage section that stores data corresponding to the physical quantity detected by a pixel in each of the pixel groups, and a storage control section that performs control to cause the storage section to store the data, and controls, for each of the pixel groups, whether or not to update the data stored in the storage section.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 20, 2022Publication date: December 19, 2024Inventors: MASAKI SAKAKIBARA, SHIN KITANO
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Publication number: 20240367903Abstract: It is the purpose of the present invention to provide an article conveying system that can efficiently proceed conveying work even when the number of articles placed at each shelf position is different in a situation where a plurality of the articles is placed side by side along the depth direction of a shelf. An article conveying system 100 according to the present invention comprises a conveying device 400, a distance measuring device 690, and a management unit 900. The conveying device is capable of conveying an article BL, BS. The distance measuring device measures a distance from a predetermined position to an object in a predetermined direction. The management unit manages presence or absence of the article based on information about the distance to the object measured by the distance measuring device located at the predetermined position.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 9, 2022Publication date: November 7, 2024Inventors: Takashi UEDA, Yoshiaki UEMIZO, Tomonori KITANO, Shin IOSE, Kazuyoshi NAKATANI, Yoshimi EZAWA
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Patent number: 12134316Abstract: A state of a driver is detected more quickly. A state detection device according to an embodiment is provided with a first solid-state imaging device provided with a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix, the first solid-state imaging device that detects, according to a light amount incident on each of the pixels, occurrence of an event in the pixel, and a state detection unit that detects a state of a driver on the basis of the occurrence of the event detected by the first solid-state imaging device.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2020Date of Patent: November 5, 2024Assignee: SONY GROUP CORPORATIONInventors: Kei Nakagawa, Shin Kitano
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Patent number: 12126926Abstract: A solid-state imaging element according to the present disclosure includes a plurality of first photoelectric conversion elements, a plurality of second photoelectric conversion elements, a plurality of current-voltage conversion circuits, and a plurality of address event detection circuits. The first photoelectric conversion elements are arranged side by side in a first region. The second photoelectric conversion elements are arranged side by side in a second region adjacent to the first region. The current-voltage conversion circuits each convert currents output from the first photoelectric conversion elements or the second photoelectric conversion elements into voltages. The address event detection circuits each detect a change in the voltages output from the current-voltage conversion circuits.Type: GrantFiled: January 15, 2021Date of Patent: October 22, 2024Assignee: Sony Semiconductor Solutions CorporationInventors: Yusuke Murakawa, Shin Kitano, Makoto Nakamura, Takuya Hanada, Koya Tsuchimoto, Yuki Noda
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Patent number: 12126924Abstract: Please replace the currently pending Abstract with the following amended A solid-state imaging device is provided with a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements, a plurality of current-voltage conversion circuits, a plurality of address event detection circuits, first ground wiring, and second ground wiring. The plurality of photoelectric conversion elements is arranged side by side in a first region. The plurality of current-voltage conversion circuits converts currents output from the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements into voltages, respectively. The plurality of address event detection circuits detects changes in voltages output from the plurality of current-voltage conversion circuits, respectively. The first ground wiring is provided in a second region located outside the first region, and supplies first ground potential to the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 2021Date of Patent: October 22, 2024Assignee: Sony Semiconductor Solutions CorporationInventors: Takuya Hanada, Koya Tsuchimoto, Makoto Nakamura, Yuki Noda, Yusuke Murakawa, Shin Kitano
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Patent number: 12088934Abstract: To suppress occurrence of a delay in detection of a valid address event to be originally detected. An image pickup element includes a plurality of pixels (100), a pixel address event detection unit (120), a region address event detection unit (320), and a pixel selection unit (310). The pixel (100) includes a photoelectric conversion unit (110) that performs photoelectric conversion of incident light. The pixel address event detection unit (120) is arranged in each pixel and detects a pixel address event that is an address event of a pixel itself. The pixel address event is detected based on a change amount of charge generated by the photoelectric conversion. The region address event detection unit (320) detects a region address event that is an address event in a predetermined region. The region address event is detected based on a change in a charge amount generated by the photoelectric conversion in a plurality of pixels in the predetermined region among the plurality of pixels.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 2021Date of Patent: September 10, 2024Assignee: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATIONInventor: Shin Kitano
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Publication number: 20240286289Abstract: Provided is an article conveyance processing system in which article(s) are efficiently taken out from a mobile cart and/or article(s) are placed on a mobile cart even when various types of mobile carts are used. Using the cart coordinate system obtained such that the horizontal, vertical and depth axes of the cart coordinate system substantially coincide with the horizontal, vertical and depth directions of the mobile cart, respectively, the article conveyance processing system performs the control of moving the robot hand and the attitude control of the robot hand; thus, the article conveyance processing system can efficiently take out an article from a mobile cart and/or place an article on a mobile cart regardless of in what orientation a wide variety of mobile carts are placed.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 9, 2022Publication date: August 29, 2024Inventors: Takashi UEDA, Yoshiaki UEMIZO, Tomonori KITANO, Shin IOSE, Kazuyoshi NAKATANI, Yoshimi EZAWA
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Publication number: 20240205557Abstract: An imaging device capable of reducing erroneous detection of a luminance change is provided. According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided an imaging device including: a photoelectric conversion element configured to generate an optical current acquired by photoelectrically converting incident light; a current-voltage conversion circuit configured to convert the optical current into a voltage signal; a threshold monitoring circuit configured to monitor the optical current; a plurality of capacitance elements including a variable capacitance element of which a capacitance value changes on the basis of a monitoring result of the threshold monitoring circuit; and an event detecting circuit configured to detect a luminance change of the incident light on the basis of a result of comparison between an amplified voltage acquired by amplifying the voltage signal on the basis of a capacitance ratio of the plurality of capacitance elements and a threshold voltage.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 28, 2022Publication date: June 20, 2024Inventors: Takehiro Otani, Yuki Ozawa, Takeru Matsuki, Shin Kitano
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Patent number: 11968463Abstract: An imaging device includes at least one floating diffusion region, and a set of photoelectric conversion regions sharing the at least one floating diffusion region and that convert incident light into electric charges. The imaging device includes a first readout circuit and a second readout circuit. The first readout circuit is coupled to the at least one floating diffusion region and located at a first side of the set of photoelectric conversion region, and the second readout circuit is coupled to the at least one floating diffusion region. The second readout circuit includes a portion located at a second side of the set of photoelectric conversion regions that is opposite the first side, and the second readout circuit is configured to control the first readout circuit.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 2019Date of Patent: April 23, 2024Assignees: Sony Group Corporation, Sony Semiconductor Solutions CorporationInventors: Shin Kitano, Koya Tsuchimoto, Kei Nakagawa
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Patent number: 11823466Abstract: A characteristic of a flicker component is detected to perform object detection at a higher speed and with higher accuracy. An object detection device according to an embodiment is provided with a solid-state imaging device (200) provided with a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix, the solid-state imaging device that detects, according to a light amount incident on each of the pixels, occurrence of an event in the pixel, a flicker detection unit (12) that generates flicker information on the basis of the occurrence of the event detected by the solid-state imaging device, and an object detection unit (15) that detects an object on the basis of the flicker information detected by the solid-state imaging device.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2020Date of Patent: November 21, 2023Assignees: SONY GROUP CORPORATION, SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATIONInventors: Kei Nakagawa, Shin Kitano
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Patent number: 11800256Abstract: In a solid-state image sensor that transfers electric charges to a floating diffusion layer, exposure is started before transferring the electric charges to the floating diffusion layer. A photodiode generates electric charges by photoelectric conversion. An electric charge accumulation unit accumulates electric charges. The floating diffusion layer converts electric charges into a signal level corresponding to the amount of the electric charges. An exposure end transfer transistor transfers the electric charges from the photodiode to the electric charge accumulation unit when a predetermined exposure period ends. A reset transistor initializes a voltage of the floating diffusion layer to a predetermined reset level when the exposure period ends. When a new exposure period is started after the electric charges are transferred to the electric charge accumulation unit, a discharge transistor discharges electric charges newly generated in the photodiode.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2022Date of Patent: October 24, 2023Assignee: Sony Semiconductor Solutions CorporationInventor: Shin Kitano
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Patent number: 11770629Abstract: The signal quality of a solid-state imaging element configured to detect address events is enhanced. The solid-state imaging element has open pixels and light-blocked pixels arrayed therein. In the solid-state imaging element, the open pixels each detect whether or not an amount of change in incident light amount exceeds a predetermined threshold, and output a detection signal indicating a result of the detection. On the other hand, in the solid-state imaging element, the light-blocked pixels each output a correction signal based on an amount of noise generated in the open pixels each configured to detect whether or not an amount of change in incident light amount exceeds the predetermined threshold and to output a detection signal indicating a result of the detection.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2022Date of Patent: September 26, 2023Assignee: Sony Semiconductor Solutions CorporationInventor: Shin Kitano
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Publication number: 20230262362Abstract: The present disclosure is to improve characteristics in the dark without making a device structure complicated. An imaging apparatus includes a photoelectric converter that generates a charge according to a received light amount, a charge transfer region that is disposed at a place inside a substrate not exposed to a substrate surface and in contact with the photoelectric converter, and to which the charge generated by the photoelectric converter is transferred, a charge accumulation region that is disposed apart from the charge transfer region in a substrate surface direction and accumulates the charge transferred from the charge transfer region, a transistor that performs control to transfer the charge from the charge transfer region to the charge accumulation region, and a detector that outputs a detection signal indicating whether or not an absolute value of a change amount of an electrical signal according to an amount of the charge transferred by the transistor exceeds a predetermined threshold value.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 3, 2021Publication date: August 17, 2023Inventor: SHIN KITANO
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Publication number: 20230262349Abstract: To suppress occurrence of a delay in detection of a valid address event to be originally detected. An image pickup element includes a plurality of pixels (100), a pixel address event detection unit (120), a region address event detection unit (320), and a pixel selection unit (310). The pixel (100) includes a photoelectric conversion unit (110) that performs photoelectric conversion of incident light. The pixel address event detection unit (120) is arranged in each pixel and detects a pixel address event that is an address event of a pixel itself. The pixel address event is detected based on a change amount of charge generated by the photoelectric conversion. The region address event detection unit (320) detects a region address event that is an address event in a predetermined region. The region address event is detected based on a change in a charge amount generated by the photoelectric conversion in a plurality of pixels in the predetermined region among the plurality of pixels.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 2, 2021Publication date: August 17, 2023Inventor: SHIN KITANO
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Publication number: 20230247323Abstract: To output event information at high sensitivity and high speed with a simple configuration.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 22, 2021Publication date: August 3, 2023Inventor: SHIN KITANO
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Patent number: 11632505Abstract: In a solid-state image sensor that detects presence or absence of an address event, erroneous detection of the address event is suppressed. Each of a plurality of pixels executes detection processing for detecting whether or not a change amount of an incident light amount exceeds a predetermined threshold, and outputting a detection result. An abnormal pixel determination unit determines whether or not each of the plurality of pixels has an abnormality, and enables a pixel without an abnormality and disables a pixel with an abnormality. A control unit performs control for causing the enabled pixel to execute detection processing and control for fixing the detection result of the disabled pixel to a specific value.Type: GrantFiled: November 11, 2019Date of Patent: April 18, 2023Assignee: Sony Semiconductor Solutions CorporationInventors: Hongbo Zhu, Shin Kitano
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Publication number: 20230058009Abstract: A solid-state image sensor according to the present disclosure includes a photodiode, a conversion circuit (current-voltage conversion circuit), a luminance change detection circuit (comparator), and a light-shielding unit (light-shielding film). The photodiode photoelectrically converts incident light to generate a photocurrent. The conversion circuit (current-voltage conversion circuit) converts the photocurrent into a voltage signal. The luminance change detection circuit (comparator) detects a change in luminance of the incident light on the basis of the voltage signal. The light-shielding unit (light-shielding film) shields incidence of light on the impurity diffusion region included in a circuit that inputs the voltage signal to the luminance change detection circuit (comparator).Type: ApplicationFiled: January 18, 2021Publication date: February 23, 2023Applicant: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATIONInventors: Koya TSUCHIMOTO, Shin KITANO, Yusuke MURAKAWA, Makoto NAKAMURA, Takuya HANADA, Yuki NODA
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Publication number: 20230058625Abstract: A solid-state imaging element according to the present disclosure is provided with a first substrate (light reception chip) and a second substrate (detection chip). The first substrate (light reception chip) is provided with a photodiode that photoelectrically converts incident light to generate a photocurrent. The second substrate (detection chip) is provided with a luminance change detection circuit (current-voltage conversion circuit) that detects a change in luminance of the incident light on the basis of a voltage signal converted by a conversion circuit (current-voltage conversion circuit) that converts the photocurrent into the voltage signal, and is bonded to the first substrate (light reception chip). A light shielding unit (light shielding film) provided in at least any one of the first substrate (light reception chip) or the second substrate (detection chip) and shields light between an active element (transistor TR) provided in the second substrate (detection chip) and the photodiode is included.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 2, 2021Publication date: February 23, 2023Applicant: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATIONInventors: Makoto NAKAMURA, Shin KITANO, Yusuke MURAKAWA, Koya TSUCHIMOTO, Takuya HANADA, Yuki NODA
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Publication number: 20230059890Abstract: Please replace the currently pending Abstract with the following amended A solid-state imaging device is provided with a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements, a plurality of current-voltage conversion circuits, a plurality of address event detection circuits, first ground wiring, and second ground wiring. The plurality of photoelectric conversion elements is arranged side by side in a first region. The plurality of current-voltage conversion circuits converts currents output from the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements into voltages, respectively. The plurality of address event detection circuits detects changes in voltages output from the plurality of current-voltage conversion circuits, respectively. The first ground wiring is provided in a second region located outside the first region, and supplies first ground potential to the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 28, 2021Publication date: February 23, 2023Applicant: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATIONInventors: Takuya HANADA, Koya TSUCHIMOTO, Makoto NAKAMURA, Yuki NODA, Yusuke MURAKAWA, Shin KITANO
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Publication number: 20230052364Abstract: A solid-state imaging device according to the present disclosure includes a light-receiving substrate, a circuit board, and a plurality of first connections. The light-receiving substrate includes a plurality of light-receiving circuits provided with photoelectric conversion elements. The circuit board is directly bonded to the light-receiving substrate and includes a plurality of address event detection circuits that detects individual changes in voltages output from the photoelectric conversion elements of the plurality of light-receiving circuits. The plurality of first connections is provided at a joint between the light-receiving substrate and the circuit board to electrically connect the light-receiving circuits and the address event detection circuits corresponding to each other.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 22, 2021Publication date: February 16, 2023Applicant: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATIONInventors: Yuki NODA, Yusuke MURAKAWA, Takuya HANADA, Makoto NAKAMURA, Koya TSUCHIMOTO, Shin KITANO