Patents by Inventor Shiro Tsunai
Shiro Tsunai 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: 20190222741Abstract: An image-capturing device includes: a plurality of pixels, having a plurality of first electrodes provided upon one surface of a light reception unit that receives incident light, and a plurality of second electrodes provided upon another surface of the light reception unit; and an output unit that outputs a signal generated by the light reception unit upon receipt of the incident light, the light reception unit being sandwiched between the first electrodes, to which a voltage is applied, and the second electrodes.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 5, 2017Publication date: July 18, 2019Applicant: NIKON CORPORATIONInventor: Shiro TSUNAI
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Publication number: 20190182446Abstract: An imaging element includes: an imaging unit in which a plurality of pixel groups including a plurality of pixels that output pixel signals according to incident light are formed, and on which incident light corresponding to mutually different pieces of image information is incident; a control unit that controls, for each of the pixel groups, a period of accumulating in the plurality of pixels included in the pixel group; and a readout unit that is provided to each of the pixel groups, and reads out the pixel signals from the plurality of pixels included in the pixel group.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 4, 2019Publication date: June 13, 2019Applicant: NIKON CORPORATIONInventors: Shiro TSUNAI, Hironobu MURATA
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Publication number: 20190137741Abstract: An image capturing apparatus includes an image capturing device that has a plurality of photoelectric converting elements, and a light restricting portion that has a plurality of light inlets and a plurality of light outlets provided to each of the plurality of photoelectric converting elements, that emits, to each of the plurality of photoelectric converting elements, light that can reach each of the plurality of light inlets among light incident on each of the plurality of light outlets and that restricts light that cannot reach each of the plurality of light outlets among the light incident on the light inlets from being emitted to each of the plurality of photoelectric converting elements.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 28, 2018Publication date: May 9, 2019Applicant: NIKON CORPORATIONInventor: Shiro TSUNAI
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Publication number: 20190104266Abstract: An image sensor is provided, the image sensor including: an imaging unit that has a first imaging region and a second imaging region, and outputs: a first pixel signal generated according to light incident on the first imaging region; and a second pixel signal generated according to light incident on the second imaging region; a first ramp generating unit that generates a first ramp signal; a second ramp generating unit that generates a second ramp signal; a first signal converting unit that converts the first pixel signal into a first digital image signal based on a result of comparison between the first pixel signal and the first ramp signal; and a second signal converting unit that converts the second pixel signal into a second digital image signal based on a result of comparison between the second pixel signal and the second ramp signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 9, 2018Publication date: April 4, 2019Applicant: NIKON CORPORATIONInventors: Hironobu MURATA, Shiro TSUNAI, Takashi KURIYAMA
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Patent number: 10244194Abstract: An imaging element includes: an imaging unit in which a plurality of pixel groups including a plurality of pixels that output pixel signals according to incident light are formed, and on which incident light corresponding to mutually different pieces of image information is incident; a control unit that controls, for each of the pixel groups, a period of accumulating in the plurality of pixels included in the pixel group; and a readout unit that is provided to each of the pixel groups, and reads out the pixel signals from the plurality of pixels included in the pixel group.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2017Date of Patent: March 26, 2019Assignee: NIKON CORPORATIONInventors: Shiro Tsunai, Hironobu Murata
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Publication number: 20190074307Abstract: An image sensor includes: a photoelectric conversion layer where light having entered therein undergoes photoelectric conversion; a first electrode disposed at one surface located on one side of the photoelectric conversion layer; and a second electrode disposed at the one surface so as to surround the first electrode.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 6, 2017Publication date: March 7, 2019Applicant: NIKON CORPORATIONInventors: Yuki KITA, Shiro TSUNAI
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Patent number: 10205901Abstract: An image sensor is provided, the image sensor including: an imaging unit that has a first imaging region and a second imaging region, and outputs: a first pixel signal generated according to light incident on the first imaging region; and a second pixel signal generated according to light incident on the second imaging region; a first ramp generating unit that generates a first ramp signal; a second ramp generating unit that generates a second ramp signal; a first signal converting unit that converts the first pixel signal into a first digital image signal based on a result of comparison between the first pixel signal and the first ramp signal; and a second signal converting unit that converts the second pixel signal into a second digital image signal based on a result of comparison between the second pixel signal and the second ramp signal.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2016Date of Patent: February 12, 2019Assignee: NIKON CORPORATIONInventors: Hironobu Murata, Shiro Tsunai, Takashi Kuriyama
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Patent number: 10182190Abstract: Provided is a light detecting apparatus including: a first photoelectric converting element which outputs a first electrical signal in accordance with an incident light including a modulated light component and a background light component; a filter which outputs a second electrical signal resulting from the modulated light component being reduced in the incident light; and a signal processor which subtracts the second electrical signal from the first electrical signal to reduce a component corresponding to the background light component in the first electrical signal.Type: GrantFiled: May 9, 2017Date of Patent: January 15, 2019Assignee: NIKON CORPORATIONInventors: Sota Nakanishi, Wataru Funamizu, Kazuya Okamoto, Shiro Tsunai, Isao Sugaya
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Publication number: 20180295309Abstract: An imaging element comprising: an imaging unit that has: a plurality of groups each including at least one pixel; and a plurality of signal readout units that are each provided to each of the groups and read out a signal from the pixel; and a control unit that controls the signal readout unit in at least one group among the plurality of groups is provided. Each of the plurality of groups may include a plurality of the pixels. The control unit may select at least one group among the plurality of groups and control the signal readout unit by using a control parameter that is different from a control parameter that is used for another group among the plurality of groups.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 8, 2018Publication date: October 11, 2018Applicant: NIKON CORPORATIONInventors: Takashi KURIYAMA, Hironobu MURATA, Shiro TSUNAI, Tetsuya KONISHI, Masahiro SUZUKI
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Publication number: 20180227512Abstract: When the amplification ratio is low and strong incident light causes a large charge, the signal retrieved from regions where the incident light is weak is also weak, but when the amplification ratio is high in regions where the incident light is weak, the signal retrieved from regions where the incident light is strong becomes saturated. Therefore, the dynamic range of the imaging unit is narrow. Provided is an imaging unit comprising an imaging section that includes a first group having one or more pixels and a second group having one or more pixels different from those of the first group; and a control section that, while a single charge accumulation is performed in the first group, causes pixel signals to be output by performing charge accumulation in the second group a number of times differing from a number of times charge accumulation is performed in the first group.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 5, 2018Publication date: August 9, 2018Applicant: NIKON CORPORATIONInventor: Shiro TSUNAI
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Patent number: 9967480Abstract: When the amplification ratio is low and strong incident light causes a large charge, the signal retrieved from regions where the incident light is weak is also weak, but when the amplification ratio is high in regions where the incident light is weak, the signal retrieved from regions where the incident light is strong becomes saturated. Therefore, the dynamic range of the imaging unit is narrow. Provided is an imaging unit comprising an imaging section that includes a first group having one or more pixels and a second group having one or more pixels different from those of the first group; and a control section that, while a single charge accumulation is performed in the first group, causes pixel signals to be output by performing charge accumulation in the second group a number of times differing from a number of times charge accumulation is performed in the first group.Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 2017Date of Patent: May 8, 2018Assignee: NIKON CORPORATIONInventor: Shiro Tsunai
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Publication number: 20180048842Abstract: An imaging element includes: an imaging unit in which a plurality of pixel groups including a plurality of pixels that output pixel signals according to incident light are formed, and on which incident light corresponding to mutually different pieces of image information is incident; a control unit that controls, for each of the pixel groups, a period of accumulating in the plurality of pixels included in the pixel group; and a readout unit that is provided to each of the pixel groups, and reads out the pixel signals from the plurality of pixels included in the pixel group.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 25, 2017Publication date: February 15, 2018Applicant: NIKON CORPORATIONInventors: Shiro TSUNAI, Hironobu MURATA
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Publication number: 20170302859Abstract: Provided is a light detecting apparatus including: a first photoelectric converting element which outputs a first electrical signal in accordance with an incident light including a modulated light component and a background light component; a filter which outputs a second electrical signal resulting from the modulated light component being reduced in the incident light; and a signal processor which subtracts the second electrical signal from the first electrical signal to reduce a component corresponding to the background light component in the first electrical signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 9, 2017Publication date: October 19, 2017Applicant: NIKON CORPORATIONInventors: Sota NAKANISHI, Wataru FUNAMIZU, Kazuya OKAMOTO, Shiro TSUNAI, Isao SUGAYA
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Publication number: 20170118422Abstract: When the amplification ratio is low and strong incident light causes a large charge, the signal retrieved from regions where the incident light is weak is also weak, but when the amplification ratio is high in regions where the incident light is weak, the signal retrieved from regions where the incident light is strong becomes saturated. Therefore, the dynamic range of the imaging unit is narrow. Provided is an imaging unit comprising an imaging section that includes a first group having one or more pixels and a second group having one or more pixels different from those of the first group; and a control section that, while a single charge accumulation is performed in the first group, causes pixel signals to be output by performing charge accumulation in the second group a number of times differing from a number of times charge accumulation is performed in the first group.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 9, 2017Publication date: April 27, 2017Applicant: NIKON CORPORATIONInventor: Shiro TSUNAI
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Patent number: 9571767Abstract: When the amplification ratio is low and strong incident light causes a large charge, the signal retrieved from regions where the incident light is weak is also weak, but when the amplification ratio is high in regions where the incident light is weak, the signal retrieved from regions where the incident light is strong becomes saturated. Therefore, the dynamic range of the imaging unit is narrow. Provided is an imaging unit comprising an imaging section that includes a first group having one or more pixels and a second group having one or more pixels different from those of the first group; and a control section that, while a single charge accumulation is performed in the first group, causes pixel signals to be output by performing charge accumulation in the second group a number of times differing from a number of times charge accumulation is performed in the first group.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2014Date of Patent: February 14, 2017Assignee: NIKON CORPORATIONInventor: Shiro Tsunai
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Publication number: 20160381313Abstract: An image sensor is provided, the image sensor including: an imaging unit that has a first imaging region and a second imaging region, and outputs: a first pixel signal generated according to light incident on the first imaging region; and a second pixel signal generated according to light incident on the second imaging region; a first ramp generating unit that generates a first ramp signal; a second ramp generating unit that generates a second ramp signal; a first signal converting unit that converts the first pixel signal into a first digital image signal based on a result of comparison between the first pixel signal and the first ramp signal; and a second signal converting unit that converts the second pixel signal into a second digital image signal based on a result of comparison between the second pixel signal and the second ramp signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 9, 2016Publication date: December 29, 2016Applicant: NIKON CORPORATIONInventors: Hironobu MURATA, Shiro TSUNAI, Takashi KURIYAMA
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Publication number: 20150077590Abstract: An imaging element comprising: an imaging unit that has: a plurality of groups each including at least one pixel; and a plurality of signal readout units that are each provided to each of the groups and read out a signal from the pixel; and a control unit that controls the signal readout unit in at least one group among the plurality of groups is provided. Each of the plurality of groups may include a plurality of the pixels. The control unit may select at least one group among the plurality of groups and control the signal readout unit by using a control parameter that is different from a control parameter that is used for another group among the plurality of groups.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 29, 2014Publication date: March 19, 2015Inventors: Takashi KURIYAMA, Hironobu MURATA, Shiro TSUNAI, Tetsuya KONISHI, Masahiro SUZUKI
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Publication number: 20150015760Abstract: When the amplification ratio is low and strong incident light causes a large charge, the signal retrieved from regions where the incident light is weak is also weak, but when the amplification ratio is high in regions where the incident light is weak, the signal retrieved from regions where the incident light is strong becomes saturated. Therefore, the dynamic range of the imaging unit is narrow. Provided is an imaging unit comprising an imaging section that includes a first group having one or more pixels and a second group having one or more pixels different from those of the first group; and a control section that, while a single charge accumulation is performed in the first group, causes pixel signals to be output by performing charge accumulation in the second group a number of times differing from a number of times charge accumulation is performed in the first group.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 29, 2014Publication date: January 15, 2015Inventor: Shiro TSUNAI
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Publication number: 20150009376Abstract: An imaging element includes: an imaging unit in which a plurality of pixel groups including a plurality of pixels that output pixel signals according to incident light are formed, and on which incident light corresponding to mutually different pieces of image information is incident; a control unit that controls, for each of the pixel groups, a period of accumulating in the plurality of pixels included in the pixel group; and a readout unit that is provided to each of the pixel groups, and reads out the pixel signals from the plurality of pixels included in the pixel group.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 22, 2014Publication date: January 8, 2015Inventors: Shiro TSUNAI, Hironobu MURATA
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Patent number: 8102443Abstract: The signal charge corresponding to the amount of light is obtained from a photodiode section and is then stored in a charge storage section under the control of a first control gate. An additional charge storage section may be provided between the photodiode section and the charge storage section. The signal charge thus stored in the charge storage section is supplied to a charge transfer section under the control of a second control gate. The charge storage section is set to operate in a PIN-ing state during its operation, which may be carried out by, for example, covering an N-type region with a storage control electrode to which a predetermined DC bias voltage is applied, or by forming a P-type region in surface portion of the N-type region.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2008Date of Patent: January 24, 2012Assignee: Renesas Electronics CorporationInventor: Shiro Tsunai