Patents by Inventor Takafumi Kishi

Takafumi Kishi 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: 20230156364
    Abstract: An image pickup device which suppresses an increase in chip area of peripheral circuits without degrading the performance of a pixel section and makes it possible to prevent costs from being increased. The image pickup device includes a first semiconductor substrate and a second semiconductor substrate. A pixel section includes photo diodes each for generate electric charges by photoelectric conversion, floating diffusions each for temporarily storing the electric charges generated by the photo diode, and amplifiers each connected to the floating diffusion, for outputting a signal dependent on a potential of the associated floating diffusion. Column circuits are connected to vertical signal lines, respectively, for performing predetermined processing on signals output from the pixel section to vertical signal lines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2023
    Publication date: May 18, 2023
    Inventor: Takafumi Kishi
  • Patent number: 11606526
    Abstract: An image pickup device which suppresses an increase in chip area of peripheral circuits without degrading the performance of a pixel section and makes it possible to prevent costs from being increased. The image pickup device includes a first semiconductor substrate and a second semiconductor substrate. A pixel section includes photo diodes each for generate electric charges by photoelectric conversion, floating diffusions each for temporarily storing the electric charges generated by the photo diode, and amplifiers each connected to the floating diffusion, for outputting a signal dependent on a potential of the associated floating diffusion. Column circuits are connected to vertical signal lines, respectively, for performing predetermined processing on signals output from the pixel section to vertical signal lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takafumi Kishi
  • Publication number: 20210227165
    Abstract: An image pickup device which suppresses an increase in chip area of peripheral circuits without degrading the performance of a pixel section and makes it possible to prevent costs from being increased. The image pickup device includes a first semiconductor substrate and a second semiconductor substrate. A pixel section includes photo diodes each for generate electric charges by photoelectric conversion, floating diffusions each for temporarily storing the electric charges generated by the photo diode, and amplifiers each connected to the floating diffusion, for outputting a signal dependent on a potential of the associated floating diffusion. Column circuits are connected to vertical signal lines, respectively, for performing predetermined processing on signals output from the pixel section to vertical signal lines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2021
    Publication date: July 22, 2021
    Inventor: Takafumi Kishi
  • Patent number: 11013105
    Abstract: An image pickup unit includes an image pickup element and a wiring board. The image pickup element includes an analog circuit. The analog circuit includes an analog ground wiring. The image pickup element is mounted on the wiring board. The wiring board includes a first ground wiring that is connected to the analog ground wiring and forms a closed loop with the analog ground wiring in a side view of the image pickup unit, and a second ground wiring that is connected to the first ground wiring via only a first via conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Wenying Ye, Yasuhiko Sano, Shinichi Nishimura, Takafumi Kishi
  • Patent number: 10999550
    Abstract: An image pickup device which suppresses an increase in chip area of peripheral circuits without degrading the performance of a pixel section and makes it possible to prevent costs from being increased. The image pickup device includes a first semiconductor substrate and a second semiconductor substrate. A pixel section includes photo diodes each for generate electric charges by photoelectric conversion, floating diffusions each for temporarily storing the electric charges generated by the photo diode, and amplifiers each connected to the floating diffusion, for outputting a signal dependent on a potential of the associated floating diffusion. Column circuits are connected to vertical signal lines, respectively, for performing predetermined processing on signals output from the pixel section to vertical signal lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takafumi Kishi
  • Publication number: 20210036044
    Abstract: An image capturing unit includes a plurality of input wiring lines for controlling the semiconductor chip, a plurality of first electrodes connecting to the input wiring lines, and an input connector connecting to the input wiring lines. The substrate includes a first area for mounting an electronic component in an opposite surface on which the semiconductor chip is mounted and a second area for use in mounting the semiconductor chip. The connector is disposed in the first area. At least one or more of the first electrodes are disposed in the second area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2020
    Publication date: February 4, 2021
    Inventor: Takafumi Kishi
  • Publication number: 20200084877
    Abstract: An image pickup unit includes an image pickup element and a wiring board. The image pickup element includes an analog circuit. The analog circuit includes an analog ground wiring. The image pickup element is mounted on the wiring board. The wiring board includes a first ground wiring that is connected to the analog ground wiring and forms a closed loop with the analog ground wiring in a side view of the image pickup unit, and a second ground wiring that is connected to the first ground wiring via only a first via conductor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2019
    Publication date: March 12, 2020
    Inventors: Wenying Ye, Yasuhiko Sano, Shinichi Nishimura, Takafumi Kishi
  • Publication number: 20200068157
    Abstract: An image pickup device which suppresses an increase in chip area of peripheral circuits without degrading the performance of a pixel section and makes it possible to prevent costs from being increased. The image pickup device includes a first semiconductor substrate and a second semiconductor substrate. A pixel section includes photo diodes each for generate electric charges by photoelectric conversion, floating diffusions each for temporarily storing the electric charges generated by the photo diode, and amplifiers each connected to the floating diffusion, for outputting a signal dependent on a potential of the associated floating diffusion. Column circuits are connected to vertical signal lines, respectively, for performing predetermined processing on signals output from the pixel section to vertical signal lines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2019
    Publication date: February 27, 2020
    Inventor: Takafumi Kishi
  • Patent number: 10506190
    Abstract: An image pickup device which suppresses an increase in chip area of peripheral circuits without degrading the performance of a pixel section and makes it possible to prevent costs from being increased. The image pickup device includes a first semiconductor substrate and a second semiconductor substrate. A pixel section includes photo diodes each for generate electric charges by photoelectric conversion, floating diffusions each for temporarily storing the electric charges generated by the photo diode, and amplifiers each connected to the floating diffusion, for outputting a signal dependent on a potential of the associated floating diffusion. Column circuits are connected to vertical signal lines, respectively, for performing predetermined processing on signals output from the pixel section to vertical signal lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takafumi Kishi
  • Patent number: 10063762
    Abstract: An image sensor comprising: a plurality of unit pixels, arranged in matrix, each having a plurality of photoelectric conversion portions for accumulating charge corresponding to a quantity of incident light; color filters, arranged for the plurality of unit pixels, respectively, that mainly pass light of wavelengths corresponding to different colors; first control signal lines arranged between every predetermined number of rows and connected to the unit pixels, included in the predetermined number of rows, corresponding to the color filters of a first color; and second control signal lines arranged between the every predetermined number of rows and connected to the unit pixels, included in the same predetermined number of rows that include the unit pixels corresponding to the color filters of the first color, corresponding to the color filters of a second color.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hirokazu Kobayashi, Takafumi Kishi
  • Patent number: 9807332
    Abstract: An image capturing apparatus comprises: an image sensor that includes a plurality of pixels, each including a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements; a readout unit that reads out a signal from a portion of the photoelectric conversion elements of each pixel as a first signal and reads out a sum of signals from the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements of each pixel as an image signal; a generation unit that generates a second signal for each pixel using the image signal and the first signal; and a calculation unit that calculates a moving amount of a focus lens for achieving an in-focus state based on a phase difference between the first signal and the second signal. The calculation unit performs the calculation without using a signal from a defective line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takafumi Kishi
  • Patent number: 9781373
    Abstract: An image capturing apparatus comprises: an image sensor that includes a plurality of pixels, each including a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements; a readout unit that reads out a signal from a portion of the photoelectric conversion elements of each pixel as a first signal and reads out a sum of signals from the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements of each pixel as an image signal; a generation unit that generates a second signal for each pixel using the image signal and the first signal; and a calculation unit that calculates a moving amount of a focus lens for achieving an in-focus state based on a phase difference between the first signal and the second signal. The calculation unit performs the calculation without using a signal from a defective line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takafumi Kishi
  • Publication number: 20170180664
    Abstract: An image pickup device which suppresses an increase in chip area of peripheral circuits without degrading the performance of a pixel section and makes it possible to prevent costs from being increased. The image pickup device includes a first semiconductor substrate and a second semiconductor substrate. A pixel section includes photo diodes each for generate electric charges by photoelectric conversion, floating diffusions each for temporarily storing the electric charges generated by the photo diode, and amplifiers each connected to the floating diffusion, for outputting a signal dependent on a potential of the associated floating diffusion. Column circuits are connected to vertical signal lines, respectively, for performing predetermined processing on signals output from the pixel section to vertical signal lines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2017
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Inventor: Takafumi Kishi
  • Patent number: 9666626
    Abstract: An image pickup device which suppresses an increase in chip area of peripheral circuits without degrading the performance of a pixel section and makes it possible to prevent costs from being increased. The image pickup device includes a first semiconductor substrate and a second semiconductor substrate. A pixel section includes photo diodes each for generate electric charges by photoelectric conversion, floating diffusions each for temporarily storing the electric charges generated by the photo diode, and amplifiers each connected to the floating diffusion, for outputting a signal dependent on a potential of the associated floating diffusion. Column circuits are connected to vertical signal lines, respectively, for performing predetermined processing on signals output from the pixel section to vertical signal lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takafumi Kishi
  • Patent number: 9601537
    Abstract: An image pickup device which suppresses an increase in chip area of peripheral circuits without degrading the performance of a pixel section and makes it possible to prevent costs from being increased. The image pickup device includes a first semiconductor substrate and a second semiconductor substrate. A pixel section includes photo diodes each for generate electric charges by photoelectric conversion, floating diffusions each for temporarily storing the electric charges generated by the photo diode, and amplifiers each connected to the floating diffusion, for outputting a signal dependent on a potential of the associated floating diffusion. Column circuits are connected to vertical signal lines, respectively, for performing predetermined processing on signals output from the pixel section to vertical signal lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takafumi Kishi
  • Patent number: 9578229
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes an imaging element including a pixel portion having a plurality of photoelectric conversion units with respect to one micro lens and color filters which are regularly arranged for each micro lens. The imaging apparatus generates a first signal and a second signal for phase difference-type focus detection based on an output of the imaging element. Each of the first signal and the second signal consists of a plurality of unit signals, and the unit signal of each of the first signal and the second signal is a signal obtained by mixing image signals from the same combination of the color filters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takafumi Kishi
  • Patent number: 9554075
    Abstract: An image sensor includes a plurality of pixels arranged in matrix, each pixel including a plurality of photoelectric conversion portions, and analog/digital converters configured to convert analog signals from pixels into digital signals provided by column. The analog/digital converter performs a first operation of converting an analog signal corresponding to the reset level into a digital signal, a second operation of converting analog signals obtained from some portions of the plurality of photoelectric conversion portions into digital signals, and a third operation of converting analog signals obtained from all the plurality of photoelectric conversion portions into digital signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takafumi Kishi
  • Publication number: 20170019583
    Abstract: An image sensor comprising: a plurality of unit pixels, arranged in matrix, each having a plurality of photoelectric conversion portions for accumulating charge corresponding to a quantity of incident light; color filters, arranged for the plurality of unit pixels, respectively, that mainly pass light of wavelengths corresponding to different colors; first control signal lines arranged between every predetermined number of rows and connected to the unit pixels, included in the predetermined number of rows, corresponding to the color filters of a first color; and second control signal lines arranged between the every predetermined number of rows and connected to the unit pixels, included in the same predetermined number of rows that include the unit pixels corresponding to the color filters of the first color, corresponding to the color filters of a second color.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2016
    Publication date: January 19, 2017
    Inventors: Hirokazu Kobayashi, Takafumi Kishi
  • Patent number: 9538068
    Abstract: The image pickup apparatus includes an image sensor photoelectrically converting paired object images formed by light fluxes from mutually different pupil areas of an image capturing optical system, a signal producing part producing, by using output from each of plural pixel lines in a focus detection area in the image sensor, paired image signals corresponding to the paired object images for each pixel line, a calculating part calculating a defocus amount by using the paired image signals produced for each pixel line. The calculating part shifts the paired image signals relatively, produce first correlation data showing change of a correlation value of the paired image signals according to their relative shift amount, adds the first correlation data produced for the respective plural pixel lines to produce second correlation data, and calculates the defocus amount from the second correlation data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takafumi Kishi
  • Publication number: 20160353043
    Abstract: A plurality of first pixels each including two or more photoelectric converters and a plurality of second pixels each including one or more photoelectric converters smaller in number than the photoelectric converters in each first pixel are disposed alternately in a row direction and in a column direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2016
    Publication date: December 1, 2016
    Inventor: Takafumi Kishi