Patents by Inventor Shinji Kashiwada

Shinji Kashiwada 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).

  • Publication number: 20240012111
    Abstract: An optical distance measuring device includes: a light source unit that irradiates a measurement region with irradiation light; a light receiving unit that has a light receiving surface including a plurality of light receiving elements capable of receiving reflected light from a range including the measurement region corresponding to irradiation with the irradiation light and outputs a signal corresponding to a light receiving state of the reflected light for each of the light receiving elements; and a measurement unit that measures a distance to an object in the measurement region by using the signal outputted from the light receiving unit. The light receiving unit has a function of selecting a light receiving element that outputs the signal so that a light receiving position at which the reflected light is received is variable, and the light receiving unit changes the light receiving position to a plurality of positions with respect to a position of the reflected light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2023
    Publication date: January 11, 2024
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Noriyuki OZAKI, Mitsuhiro KIYONO, Teiyu KIMURA, Shinji KASHIWADA
  • Patent number: 11668826
    Abstract: A light reception array unit receives light irradiated from an irradiation unit and reflected from an object, and outputs in parallel a pulse signal respectively output from a plurality of light reception units. A timer unit measures an elapsed time since an input of an irradiation timing signal. A response acquisition unit acquires a number of responses, which is a number of the light reception units outputting the pulse signal, at each fixed cycle timing, and outputs an adjusted number of responses obtained by subtracting a bias value from the number of responses or dividing the number of responses by the bias value. An address of a memory is associated with a timer value measured by the timer unit. A histogram generation unit integrates and stores, in a memory address specified from a timer value, the adjusted number of responses as data at that address.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takehiro Hata, Noriyuki Ozaki, Teiyu Kimura, Kenta Azuma, Shinji Kashiwada
  • Patent number: 11662442
    Abstract: An optical distance measurement apparatus that measures a distance using a round-trip time of light to an object includes an irradiator, a plurality of SPADs, a plurality of signal output units, a response number detector, a timing identifier, and a timing corrector. The response number detector detects a response number representing the number of responding one of the SPADs based on a pulse signal. The timing identifier identifies a temporary timing based on a state of variation in the response number along a time series and identifies a detection timing representing a timing when the optical distance measurement apparatus detects light in accordance with the temporary timing. The timing corrector acquires a correction time representing a time difference between the temporary timing and a true timing corresponding to a distance to an object and sets a timing corrected from the temporary timing by the correction time as the detection timing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akifumi Ueno, Takehiro Hata, Shinji Kashiwada
  • Patent number: 11422240
    Abstract: A light detector is provided to include a light receiving array having a plurality of light receivers respectively outputting pulse signals upon incidence of photons. A delay setting value is set which is used to adjust a time interval from when the pulse signals are output from the light receiving array to when a response number, which is a specified number of the light receivers outputting the pulse signals, is acquired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenta Azuma, Noriyuki Ozaki, Shinji Kashiwada, Teiyu Kimura, Isamu Takai, Hiroyuki Matsubara
  • Patent number: 11422241
    Abstract: A photodetector includes plural detectors. Each of the plural detectors has a single photon avalanche diode (hereinafter referred to as SPAD) which responds to incidence of a photon. The plural detectors include at least a first detector and a second detector. The SPAD has a recovery time period until the SPAD reaches a next photon-responsive state, in response to the SPAD responding to the incidence of the photon. The recovery time period of the SPAD in the first detector is different from the recovery time period of the SPAD in the second detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenta Azuma, Noriyuki Ozaki, Shinji Kashiwada, Teiyu Kimura, Isamu Takai, Hiroyuki Matsubara, Mitsuhiko Ohta, Shigeyoshi Hiratsuka
  • Patent number: 11411130
    Abstract: A photodetector includes: a photoreceptor provided with a SPAD that is configured to respond to incidence of a photon, and as the response of the SPAD, configured to output a pulse signal; and a pulse rate control circuit configured to control sensitivity of the photoreceptor to have a pulse rate as the number of pulse signals outputted per unit time from the photoreceptor to be a set value set in advance, (i) in a set range including the set value, (ii) in a set range of the set value or more, or (iii) in a set range of the set value or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenta Azuma, Noriyuki Ozaki, Shinji Kashiwada, Teiyu Kimura, Isamu Takai, Hiroyuki Matsubara, Mitsuhiko Ohta, Shigeyoshi Hiratsuka
  • Publication number: 20220187429
    Abstract: An optical ranging device comprises: a light emitting portion emitting laser light; a scanning portion performing a scan using the laser light emitted from the light emitting portion; a light receiving portion receiving incident light; a rotation angle sensor detecting a rotation angle of the scanning portion; and a control device configured to: acquire the rotation angle and output a drive signal to the light emitting portion, and use a correction value determined using at least an emission delay period from when the rotation angle is acquired to when the laser light is emitted, to perform at least one of a first correction control of an emission timing of the laser light and a second correction control of a detection angle of distance data generated using a received light signal output from the light receiving portion that received the laser light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2022
    Publication date: June 16, 2022
    Inventors: Akifumi UENO, Shinji KASHIWADA, Fumiaki MIZUNO
  • Patent number: 11296241
    Abstract: A light detector is provided to include a detection module, and a monitoring SPAD. The detection module includes an SPAD that is an avalanche photodiode operable in Geiger mode; the detection module is configured to perform light detection by applying, to the SPAD, a reverse bias voltage in a reverse direction. The monitoring SPAD has characteristics identical to characteristics of the SPAD in the detection module. The reverse bias voltage is generated to be applied to the SPAD in the detection module based on (i) a reference breakdown voltage set from a breakdown voltage generated across the monitoring SPAD in Geiger mode and (ii) a predetermined excess voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenta Azuma, Teiyu Kimura, Noriyuki Ozaki, Shinji Kashiwada, Takehiro Hata, Isamu Takai, Hiroyuki Matsubara
  • Publication number: 20210341587
    Abstract: An optical ranging device includes a light emitting section provided with a semiconductor laser element having a light emitting region whose length in a first direction is more than that in a second direction intersecting the first direction. The device measures the distance to an object based on the time from light emission from the light emitting section to reception of the light by a light receiving section. A plurality of light emitting regions may be provided in the light emitting section such that they are separated in the second direction and abut or partially overlap each other in the first direction so that the light emitting regions are continuous in the first direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2021
    Publication date: November 4, 2021
    Inventors: Teiyu KIMURA, Kenichi YANAI, Shinji KASHIWADA, Yoshihide TACHINO
  • Publication number: 20210240066
    Abstract: An optical detector includes a light emitter having a light emitting window extended in an extension direction to emit a projection beam from the light emitting window toward a measurement area and to detect a return beam from the measurement area. The optical detector includes a scanning mirror that scans by reflecting the projection beam. The scanning mirror swings within a finite angular range around a rotation axis that is along a direction corresponding to the extension direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2021
    Publication date: August 5, 2021
    Inventors: Mitsuhiro Kiyono, Kenichi Yanai, Teiyuu Kimura, Noriyuki Ozaki, Shinji Kashiwada, Fumiaki Mizuno, Kazuhisa Onda
  • Publication number: 20210239834
    Abstract: The laser light for performing a detection for at least 2 pixel parts is scanned in a first direction, covering at least a predetermined angle of field range. A reflection body is driven to reflect the scanned laser light, to scan the laser light in a second direction, covering a predetermined external range. The reflected light from the object is turned towards a light receiving lens by a route changing unit. A light receiving unit provided with a light receiving element for at least 2 pixel parts detects a condensed reflected light from the object. The distance to the object is detected depending on a period from a time when the laser light is emitted to a time when the reflected light is received. The route changing unit is disposed allowing the laser light scanned in the first direction to pass therethrough to reach the reflection body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2021
    Publication date: August 5, 2021
    Inventors: Teiyu KIMURA, Kenichi YANAI, Shinji KASHIWADA
  • Publication number: 20210239802
    Abstract: An optical detector is configured to project a projection beam toward a measurement area and detect a return beam from the measurement area. The optical detector includes: a projecting optical system that forms a projection optical axis to project the projection beam; a receiving optical system that forms a receiving optical axis to receive the return beam, and a housing having a housing chamber to house the projecting optical system and the receiving optical system, and an optical window for the projection beam and the return beam to travel between the housing chamber and the measurement area. The projection optical axis and the receiving optical axis are offset from each other to define an overlap region inside the housing chamber where footprints of the projection beam and the return beam overlap with each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2021
    Publication date: August 5, 2021
    Inventors: Mitsuhiro Kiyono, Teiyuu Kimura, Noriyuki Ozaki, Kenichi Yanai, Shinji Kashiwada, Fumiaki Mizuno, Kazuhisa Onda
  • Publication number: 20210181308
    Abstract: An optical distance measuring device includes: a light source unit that irradiates a measurement region with irradiation light; a light receiving unit that has a light receiving surface including a plurality of light receiving elements capable of receiving reflected light from a range including the measurement region corresponding to irradiation with the irradiation light and outputs a signal corresponding to a light receiving state of the reflected light for each of the light receiving elements; and a measurement unit that measures a distance to an object in the measurement region by using the signal outputted from the light receiving unit. The light receiving unit has a function of selecting a light receiving element that outputs the signal so that a light receiving position at which the reflected light is received is variable, and the light receiving unit changes the light receiving position to a plurality of positions with respect to a position of the reflected light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2021
    Publication date: June 17, 2021
    Inventors: Noriyuki OZAKI, Mitsuhiro KIYONO, Teiyu KIMURA, Shinji KASHIWADA
  • Publication number: 20200132817
    Abstract: An optical distance measurement apparatus according to an aspect of the disclosure includes an irradiator, a plurality of SPADs, a plurality of signal output units, a response number detector, a timing identifier, and a timing corrector. The response number detector detects a response number representing the number of responding one of the SPADs based on a pulse signal. The timing identifier identifies a temporary timing based on a state of variation in the response number along a time series and identifies a detection timing representing a timing when the optical distance measurement apparatus detects light in accordance with the temporary timing. The timing corrector acquires a correction time representing a time difference between the temporary timing and a true timing corresponding to a distance to an object and sets a timing corrected from the temporary timing by the correction time as the detection timing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Publication date: April 30, 2020
    Inventors: Akifumi UENO, Takehiro HATA, Shinji KASHIWADA
  • Patent number: 10612973
    Abstract: A light detection device has light receiving parts, edge detection circuits and an addition unit. Each light receiving part has a quench resistance, a SPAD and a pulse signal output part. The SPAD responses incident photons, i.e. incident light. The quench resistance and pulse signal output part generate and transmit a pulse signal to a corresponding edge detection circuit when the SPAD receives and responds to the incident light. The edge detection circuits and the addition unit detects the number of edges during a period from a previously received CLK signal to a currently received CLK signal every time it receives a CLK signal transmitted at a predetermined period. The edge represents a state change from a first state which receives no pulse signal to a second state which receives the pulse signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takehiro Hata, Shinji Kashiwada, Akifumi Ueno
  • Publication number: 20200044098
    Abstract: A light detector is provided to include a detection module, and a monitoring SPAD. The detection module includes an SPAD that is an avalanche photodiode operable in Geiger mode; the detection module is configured to perform light detection by applying, to the SPAD, a reverse bias voltage in a reverse direction. The monitoring SPAD has characteristics identical to characteristics of the SPAD in the detection module. The reverse bias voltage is generated to be applied to the SPAD in the detection module based on (i) a reference breakdown voltage set from a breakdown voltage generated across the monitoring SPAD in Geiger mode and (ii) a predetermined excess voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2019
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Inventors: Kenta AZUMA, Teiyu KIMURA, Noriyuki OZAKI, Shinji KASHIWADA, Takehiro HATA, Isamu TAKAI, Hiroyuki MATSUBARA
  • Publication number: 20200044109
    Abstract: A photodetector includes: a photoreceptor provided with a SPAD that is configured to respond to incidence of a photon, and as the response of the SPAD, configured to output a pulse signal; and a pulse rate control circuit configured to control sensitivity of the photoreceptor to have a pulse rate as the number of pulse signals outputted per unit time from the photoreceptor to be a set value set in advance, (i) in a set range including the set value, (ii) in a set range of the set value or more, or (iii) in a set range of the set value or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2019
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Inventors: Kenta AZUMA, Noriyuki OZAKI, Shinji KASHIWADA, Teiyu KIMURA, Isamu TAKAI, Hiroyuki MATSUBARA, Mitsuhiko OHTA, Shigeyoshi HIRATSUKA
  • Publication number: 20200018832
    Abstract: A photodetector includes plural detectors. Each of the plural detectors has a single photon avalanche diode (hereinafter referred to as SPAD) which responds to incidence of a photon. The plural detectors include at least a first detector and a second detector. The SPAD has a recovery time period until the SPAD reaches a next photon-responsive state, in response to the SPAD responding to the incidence of the photon. The recovery time period of the SPAD in the first detector is different from the recovery time period of the SPAD in the second detector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2019
    Publication date: January 16, 2020
    Inventors: Kenta Azuma, Noriyuki Ozaki, Shinji Kashiwada, Teiyu Kimura, Isamu Takai, Hiroyuki Matsubara, Mitsuhiko Ohta, Shigeyoshi Hiratsuka
  • Publication number: 20200018831
    Abstract: A light detector is provided to include a light receiving array having a plurality of light receivers respectively outputting pulse signals upon incidence of photons. A delay setting value is set which is used to adjust a time interval from when the pulse signals are output from the light receiving array to when a response number, which is a specified number of the light receivers outputting the pulse signals, is acquired.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2019
    Publication date: January 16, 2020
    Inventors: Kenta AZUMA, Noriyuki OZAKI, Shinji KASHIWADA, Teiyu KIMURA, Isamu TAKAI, Hiroyuki MATSUBARA
  • Publication number: 20200018853
    Abstract: A light reception array unit receives light irradiated from an irradiation unit and reflected from an object, and outputs in parallel a pulse signal respectively output from a plurality of light reception units. A timer unit measures an elapsed time since an input of an irradiation timing signal. A response acquisition unit acquires a number of responses, which is a number of the light reception units outputting the pulse signal, at each fixed cycle timing, and outputs an adjusted number of responses obtained by subtracting a bias value from the number of responses or dividing the number of responses by the bias value. An address of a memory is associated with a timer value measured by the timer unit. A histogram generation unit integrates and stores, in a memory address specified from a timer value, the adjusted number of responses as data at that address.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2019
    Publication date: January 16, 2020
    Inventors: Takehiro HATA, Noriyuki OZAKI, Teiyu KIMURA, Kenta AZUMA, Shinji KASHIWADA