Patents by Inventor Takahiro Abiru

Takahiro Abiru 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: 9930283
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a solid state image sensor and an electronic apparatus capable of performing a gain transition at high speed. A ramp generation circuit includes sample hold circuits and ramp generation DACs, the number of which depends on kinds of required gains (for example, two kinds, i.e. a low gain and a high gain). Then, the two sample hold circuits can individually hold gain DAC output voltages at the different gains. This enables a switch to the ramp generation DAC holding the required gain voltage by means of a ramp selection signal. The present disclosure can be applied, for example, to a CMOS solid state image sensor that is used for an imaging device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Takahiro Abiru, Yasuaki Hisamatsu, Tadafumi Nagata
  • Publication number: 20170230599
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a solid state image sensor and an electronic apparatus capable of performing a gain transition at high speed. A ramp generation circuit includes sample hold circuits and ramp generation DACs, the number of which depends on kinds of required gains (for example, two kinds, i.e. a low gain and a high gain). Then, the two sample hold circuits can individually hold gain DAC output voltages at the different gains. This enables a switch to the ramp generation DAC holding the required gain voltage by means of a ramp selection signal. The present disclosure can be applied, for example, to a CMOS solid state image sensor that is used for an imaging device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2015
    Publication date: August 10, 2017
    Inventors: Takahiro ABIRU, Yasuaki HISAMATSU, Tadafumi NAGATA
  • Patent number: 9628729
    Abstract: An image sensor that has a pixel array section in which pixels are arrayed in a two-dimensional manner in vertical and horizontal directions and that controls an exposure time of each pixel in a rolling shutter method is disclosed. The sensor includes control means for determining an electronic shutter occurrence number within one horizontal scanning period, which is the number of rows where electronic shutters are simultaneously performed in one horizontal scanning period, by an operation based on an address addition amount (P1, P2, P3, . . . , PN) when a vertical address movement amount of the pixel array section for every one horizontal scanning period in an exposure regulation shutter, which is an electronic shutter for regulating exposure, executed corresponding to electric charge reading in each pixel is expressed as repetition of the address addition amount (P1, P2, P3, . . . , PN).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Eiji Makino, Takahiro Abiru, Ryoji Suzuki, Masahiro Itoh
  • Publication number: 20150146059
    Abstract: An image sensor that has a pixel array section in which pixels are arrayed in a two-dimensional manner in vertical and horizontal directions and that controls an exposure time of each pixel in a rolling shutter method is disclosed. The sensor includes control means for determining an electronic shutter occurrence number within one horizontal scanning period, which is the number of rows where electronic shutters are simultaneously performed in one horizontal scanning period, by an operation based on an address addition amount (P1, P2, P3, . . . , PN) when a vertical address movement amount of the pixel array section for every one horizontal scanning period in an exposure regulation shutter, which is an electronic shutter for regulating exposure, executed corresponding to electric charge reading in each pixel is expressed as repetition of the address addition amount (P1, P2, P3, . . . , PN).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2015
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Inventors: Eiji Makino, Takahiro Abiru, Ryoji Suzuki, Masahiro Itoh
  • Patent number: 9001244
    Abstract: An image sensor that has a pixel array section in which pixels are arrayed in a two-dimensional manner in vertical and horizontal directions and that controls an exposure time of each pixel in a rolling shutter method is disclosed. The sensor includes control means for determining an electronic shutter occurrence number within one horizontal scanning period, which is the number of rows where electronic shutters are simultaneously performed in one horizontal scanning period, by an operation based on an address addition amount (P1, P2, P3, . . . , PN) when a vertical address movement amount of the pixel array section for every one horizontal scanning period in an exposure regulation shutter, which is an electronic shutter for regulating exposure, executed corresponding to electric charge reading in each pixel is expressed as repetition of the address addition amount (P1, P2, P3, . . . , PN).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Eiji Makino, Takahiro Abiru, Ryoji Suzuki, Masahiro Itoh
  • Publication number: 20140204254
    Abstract: An image sensor that has a pixel array section in which pixels are arrayed in a two-dimensional manner in vertical and horizontal directions and that controls an exposure time of each pixel in a rolling shutter method is disclosed. The sensor includes control means for determining an electronic shutter occurrence number within one horizontal scanning period, which is the number of rows where electronic shutters are simultaneously performed in one horizontal scanning period, by an operation based on an address addition amount (P1, P2, P3, . . . , PN) when a vertical address movement amount of the pixel array section for every one horizontal scanning period in an exposure regulation shutter, which is an electronic shutter for regulating exposure, executed corresponding to electric charge reading in each pixel is expressed as repetition of the address addition amount (P1, P2, P3, . . . , PN).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2014
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Eiji Makino, Takahiro Abiru, Ryoji Suzuki, Masahiro Itoh
  • Patent number: 8767104
    Abstract: An image sensor that has a pixel array section in which pixels are arrayed in a two-dimensional manner in vertical and horizontal directions and that controls an exposure time of each pixel in a rolling shutter method is disclosed. The sensor includes control means for determining an electronic shutter occurrence number within one horizontal scanning period, which is the number of rows where electronic shutters are simultaneously performed in one horizontal scanning period, by an operation based on an address addition amount (P1, P2, P3, . . . , PN) when a vertical address movement amount of the pixel array section for every one horizontal scanning period in an exposure regulation shutter, which is an electronic shutter for regulating exposure, executed corresponding to electric charge reading in each pixel is expressed as repetition of the address addition amount (P1, P2, P3, . . . , PN).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Eiji Makino, Takahiro Abiru, Ryoji Suzuki, Masahiro Itoh
  • Patent number: 8711260
    Abstract: An image sensor that has a pixel array section in which pixels are arrayed in a two-dimensional manner in vertical and horizontal directions and that controls an exposure time of each pixel in a rolling shutter method is disclosed. The sensor includes control means for determining an electronic shutter occurrence number within one horizontal scanning period, which is the number of rows where electronic shutters are simultaneously performed in one horizontal scanning period, by an operation based on an address addition amount (P1, P2, P3, . . . , PN) when a vertical address movement amount of the pixel array section for every one horizontal scanning period in an exposure regulation shutter, which is an electronic shutter for regulating exposure, executed corresponding to electric charge reading in each pixel is expressed as repetition of the address addition amount (P1, P2, P3, . . . , PN).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Eiji Makino, Takahiro Abiru, Ryoji Suzuki, Masahiro Itoh
  • Patent number: 8599305
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device having a pixel array section in which pixels including photoelectric conversion elements are arranged in a matrix form, and sweeping out unnecessary charges by setting a predetermined number, two or more, of adjacent rows or a predetermined number, two or more, of adjacent columns, in the pixel array section, to a single group, and by applying a shutter pulse in units of groups before storing signal charges, and sequentially reading the signal charges in the units of groups. In the solid-state imaging device, a pre-shutter pulse is applied to pixels belonging to at least a single row or a single column within a succeeding group and adjacent to a preceding group, prior to the shutter pulse, before a reading timing for the preceding group, to sweep out unnecessary charges stored in the pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Takahiro Abiru, Ryoji Suzuki, Eiji Makino, Takayuki Usui
  • Publication number: 20110292262
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device having a pixel array section in which pixels including photoelectric conversion elements are arranged in a matrix form, and sweeping out unnecessary charges by setting a predetermined number, two or more, of adjacent rows or a predetermined number, two or more, of adjacent columns, in the pixel array section, to a single group, and by applying a shutter pulse in units of groups before storing signal charges, and sequentially reading the signal charges in the units of groups. In the solid-state imaging device, a pre-shutter pulse is applied to pixels belonging to at least a single row or a single column within a succeeding group and adjacent to a preceding group, prior to the shutter pulse, before a reading timing for the preceding group, to sweep out unnecessary charges stored in the pixels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2011
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takahiro Abiru, Ryoji Suzuki, Eiji Makino, Takayuki Usui
  • Patent number: 8031246
    Abstract: An image sensor that has a pixel array section in which pixels are arrayed in a two-dimensional manner in vertical and horizontal directions and that controls an exposure time of each pixel in a rolling shutter method is disclosed. The sensor includes control means for determining an electronic shutter occurrence number within one horizontal scanning period, which is the number of rows where electronic shutters are simultaneously performed in one horizontal scanning period, by an operation based on an address addition amount (P1, P2, P3, . . . , PN) when a vertical address movement amount of the pixel array section for every one horizontal scanning period in an exposure regulation shutter, which is an electronic shutter for regulating exposure, executed corresponding to electric charge reading in each pixel is expressed as repetition of the address addition amount (P1, P2, P3, . . . , PN).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Eiji Makino, Takahiro Abiru, Ryoji Suzuki, Masahiro Itoh
  • Patent number: 8013931
    Abstract: There is provided a solid-state imaging device having a pixel array section in which pixels including photoelectric conversion elements are arranged in a matrix form, and sweeping out unnecessary charges by setting a predetermined number, two or more, of adjacent rows or a predetermined number, two or more, of adjacent columns, in the pixel array section, to a single group, and by applying a shutter pulse in units of groups before storing signal charges, and sequentially reading the signal charges in the units of groups. In the solid-state imaging device, a pre-shutter pulse is applied to pixels belonging to at least a single row or a single column within a succeeding group and adjacent to a preceding group, prior to the shutter pulse, before a reading timing for the preceding group, to sweep out unnecessary charges stored in the pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Takahiro Abiru, Ryoji Suzuki, Eiji Makino, Takayuki Usui
  • Publication number: 20110205415
    Abstract: An image sensor that has a pixel array section in which pixels are arrayed in a two-dimensional manner in vertical and horizontal directions and that controls an exposure time of each pixel in a rolling shutter method is disclosed. The sensor includes control means for determining an electronic shutter occurrence number within one horizontal scanning period, which is the number of rows where electronic shutters are simultaneously performed in one horizontal scanning period, by an operation based on an address addition amount (P1, P2, P3, . . . , PN) when a vertical address movement amount of the pixel array section for every one horizontal scanning period in an exposure regulation shutter, which is an electronic shutter for regulating exposure, executed corresponding to electric charge reading in each pixel is expressed as repetition of the address addition amount (P1, P2, P3, . . . , PN).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2011
    Publication date: August 25, 2011
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Eiji Makino, Takahiro Abiru, Ryoji Suzuki, Masahiro Itoh
  • Patent number: 7897969
    Abstract: A solid-state image pickup device includes a pixel array area in which pixels each including a photoelectric conversion element are two-dimensionally arranged; first control means for performing control such that signals of pixels in a desired region of the pixel array area are sequentially read row by row; and second control means for performing control such that, when the signals of the pixels in the desired region are sequentially read row by row by the first control means, pixels in particular regions below and above the desired region are sequentially reset row by row.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshinori Muramatsu, Takahiro Abiru, Takaichi Hirata
  • Publication number: 20080284884
    Abstract: An image sensor that has a pixel array section in which pixels are arrayed in a two-dimensional manner in vertical and horizontal directions and that controls an exposure time of each pixel in a rolling shutter method is disclosed. The sensor includes control means for determining an electronic shutter occurrence number within one horizontal scanning period, which is the number of rows where electronic shutters are simultaneously performed in one horizontal scanning period, by an operation based on an address addition amount (P1, P2, P3, . . . , PN) when a vertical address movement amount of the pixel array section for every one horizontal scanning period in an exposure regulation shutter, which is an electronic shutter for regulating exposure, executed corresponding to electric charge reading in each pixel is expressed as repetition of the address addition amount (P1, P2, P3, . . . , PN).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2008
    Publication date: November 20, 2008
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Eiji Makino, Takahiro Abiru, Ryoji Suzuki, Masahiro Itoh
  • Publication number: 20080192133
    Abstract: There is provided a solid-state imaging device having a pixel array section in which pixels including photoelectric conversion elements are arranged in a matrix form, and sweeping out unnecessary charges by setting a predetermined number, two or more, of adjacent rows or a predetermined number, two or more, of adjacent columns, in the pixel array section, to a single group, and by applying a shutter pulse in units of groups before storing signal charges, and sequentially reading the signal charges in the units of groups. In the solid-state imaging device, a pre-shutter pulse is applied to pixels belonging to at least a single row or a single column within a succeeding group and adjacent to a preceding group, prior to the shutter pulse, before a reading timing for the preceding group, to sweep out unnecessary charges stored in the pixels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2008
    Publication date: August 14, 2008
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takahiro Abiru, Ryoji Suzuki, Eiji Makino, Takayuki Usui
  • Publication number: 20060237721
    Abstract: A solid-state image pickup device includes a pixel array area in which pixels each including a photoelectric conversion element are two-dimensionally arranged; first control means for performing control such that signals of pixels in a desired region of the pixel array area are sequentially read row by row; and second control means for performing control such that, when the signals of the pixels in the desired region are sequentially read row by row by the first control means, pixels in particular regions below and above the desired region are sequentially reset row by row.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2006
    Publication date: October 26, 2006
    Inventors: Yoshinori Muramatsu, Takahiro Abiru, Takaichi Hirata