Patents by Inventor TAKEYOSHI TOKUHARA

TAKEYOSHI TOKUHARA 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: 20240089630
    Abstract: An imaging device 100 includes a pixel array PA. A first period, a third period, and a second period appear in this order in a first frame. During the first period, pixel signal readout is performed on a first row in the pixel array PA. During the second period, pixel signal readout is performed on a second row in the pixel array PA. Each of the first period and the second period is a high-sensitivity exposure period. The third period is a low-sensitivity exposure period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2023
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Inventors: Yasuo MIYAKE, Yusuke OKADA, Takeyoshi TOKUHARA, Yoshiaki SATOU
  • Patent number: 11910625
    Abstract: An imaging device includes a pixel electrode, a counter electrode that faces the pixel electrode, a first photoelectric conversion layer that is located between the pixel electrode and the counter electrode and that generates first signal charge, a second photoelectric conversion layer that is located between the first photoelectric conversion layer and the pixel electrode and that generates second signal charge, a first barrier layer that is located between the first photoelectric conversion layer and the second photoelectric conversion layer and that forms a first heterojunction barrier against the first signal charge in the first photoelectric conversion layer, and a charge accumulator that is electrically connected to the pixel electrode and that accumulates the first signal charge and the second signal charge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Katsuya Nozawa, Takeyoshi Tokuhara, Nozomu Matsukawa, Sanshiro Shishido
  • Patent number: 11863895
    Abstract: An imaging device 100 includes a pixel array PA. A first period, a third period, and a second period appear in this order in a first frame. During the first period, pixel signal readout is performed on a first row in the pixel array PA. During the second period, pixel signal readout is performed on a second row in the pixel array PA. Each of the first period and the second period is a high-sensitivity exposure period. The third period is a low-sensitivity exposure period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yasuo Miyake, Yusuke Okada, Takeyoshi Tokuhara, Yoshiaki Satou
  • Patent number: 11777050
    Abstract: An optical sensor includes: a photosensitive layer that absorbs incident light to generate a first carrier with a first polarity and a second carrier with a second polarity different from the first polarity; a channel layer that is electrically connected to the photosensitive layer and that conducts the first carrier that has moved from the photosensitive layer; a counter electrode facing the channel layer through the photosensitive layer; an insulating layer positioned between the photosensitive layer and the counter electrode; and a source electrode and a drain electrode each electrically connected to the channel layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinichi Machida, Takeyoshi Tokuhara, Sanshiro Shishido
  • Publication number: 20230299098
    Abstract: An imaging device includes a photoelectric conversion layer that includes a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface and that generates signal charge, at least one pixel electrode located on the first surface of the photoelectric conversion layer, a control electrode located on the first surface of the photoelectric conversion layer, a counter electrode located on the second surface of the photoelectric conversion layer and opposite the at least one pixel electrode and the control electrode, and a charge accumulator that is connected to the at least one pixel electrode and that accumulates the signal charge. There is a line segment connecting two points on the at least one pixel electrode to each other and overlapping the control electrode in plan view.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2023
    Publication date: September 21, 2023
    Inventors: TAKEYOSHI TOKUHARA, YASUO MIYAKE, HIDENARI KANEHARA
  • Patent number: 11723225
    Abstract: An imaging device including a semiconductor substrate including a first surface that receives light from outside, and a second surface opposite to the first surface; a first transistor located on the second surface; and a photoelectric converter that faces the second surface and that receives light transmitted through the semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor substrate is a silicon substrate or a silicon compound substrate, and the photoelectric converter includes a first electrode electrically connected to the first transistor, a second electrode, and a photoelectric conversion layer that is located between the first electrode and the second electrode and that contains a material which absorbs light having a first wavelength longer than or equal to 1.1 ?m, and the material has a quantum nanostructure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takeyoshi Tokuhara, Sanshiro Shishido, Yasuo Miyake, Shinichi Machida
  • Patent number: 11659299
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a unit pixel including a pixel electrode, a charge accumulation region electrically connected to the pixel electrode, and a signal detection circuit electrically connected to the charge accumulation region; a counter electrode facing the pixel electrode; a photoelectric conversion layer disposed between the electrodes; and a voltage supply circuit configured to selectively apply any one of first, second, and third voltages between the electrodes. The photoelectric conversion layer exhibits first and second wavelength sensitivity characteristics in a wavelength range when the voltage supply circuit applies the first and second voltages between the electrodes, respectively, and becomes insensitive to light in the wavelength range when the voltage supply circuit applies the third voltage between the electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinichi Machida, Takeyoshi Tokuhara, Manabu Nakata, Sanshiro Shishido, Masaaki Yanagida, Masumi Izuchi
  • Publication number: 20230133421
    Abstract: An imaging device including a semiconductor substrate including a first surface that receives light from outside, and a second surface opposite to the first surface; a first transistor located on the second surface; and a photoelectric converter that faces the second surface and that receives light transmitted through the semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor substrate is a silicon substrate or a silicon compound substrate, and the photoelectric converter includes a first electrode electrically connected to the first transistor, a second electrode, and a photoelectric conversion layer that is located between the first electrode and the second electrode and that contains a material which absorbs light having a first wavelength longer than or equal to 1.1 ?m, and the material has a quantum nanostructure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2022
    Publication date: May 4, 2023
    Inventors: Takeyoshi TOKUHARA, Sanshiro SHISHIDO, Yasuo MIYAKE, Shinichi MACHIDA
  • Patent number: 11637147
    Abstract: An imaging device including: a semiconductor substrate including a pixel region and a peripheral region; an insulating layer that covers the pixel and peripheral regions; first electrodes located on the insulating layer above the pixel region; a photoelectric conversion layer that covers the first electrodes; a second electrode that covers the photoelectric conversion layer; detection circuitry configured to be electrically connected to the first electrodes; peripheral circuitry configured to be electrically connected to the detection circuitry, and including analog circuitry; and a third electrode electrically connected to the second electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shunsuke Isono, Hidenari Kanehara, Sanshiro Shishido, Takeyoshi Tokuhara
  • Patent number: 11563057
    Abstract: An imaging device includes a semiconductor substrate including a first surface receiving light from outside, and a second surface opposite to the first surface, a first transistor on the second surface, and a photoelectric converter facing the second surface and receiving light through the semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor substrate is a silicon or silicon compound substrate. The photoelectric converter includes a first electrode electrically connected to the first transistor, a second electrode, and a photoelectric conversion layer located between the first and second electrodes and containing a material absorbing light having a wavelength 1.1 ?m or longer. The first electrode is located between the second surface and the photoelectric conversion layer. A spectral sensitivity of the material in a region of 1.0 ?m or longer and shorter than 1.1 ?m is 0% to 5% of the maximum value of a spectral sensitivity of the material in 1.1 ?m or longer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takeyoshi Tokuhara, Sanshiro Shishido, Yasuo Miyake, Shinichi Machida
  • Publication number: 20230007195
    Abstract: An imaging device includes: a photoelectric converter whose sensitivity changes depending on a value of a voltage to be applied; and a voltage supply circuit that alternately supplies a first voltage and a second voltage, which is different from the first voltage, to the photoelectric converter, in which in a first frame period, a length of a first period from a first point in time at which the first voltage is switched to the second voltage until a second point in time at which the first voltage is switched to the second voltage subsequently to the first point in time differs from a length of a second period from the second point in time until a third point in time at which the first voltage is switched to the second voltage subsequently to the second point in time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2022
    Publication date: January 5, 2023
    Inventors: YASUO MIYAKE, TAKEYOSHI TOKUHARA, YOSHIAKI SATOU, YUSUKE OKADA
  • Patent number: 11528443
    Abstract: An imaging device 100 includes a pixel array PA. A first period, a third period, and a second period appear in this order in one frame. During the first period, pixel signal readout is performed on at least one first row in the pixel array PA. During the second period, pixel signal readout is performed on at least one second row in the pixel array PA. At least one of the at least one first row or the at least one second row includes two rows in the pixel array PA. During the third period, no pixel signal readout is performed on the rows in the pixel array PA. Each of the first period and the second period is one of the high-sensitivity exposure period and the low-sensitivity exposure period. The third period is the other of the high-sensitivity exposure period and the low-sensitivity exposure period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yusuke Okada, Takeyoshi Tokuhara, Yoshiaki Satou, Yasuo Miyake
  • Patent number: 11451726
    Abstract: An imaging device includes: a photoelectric converter including a first electrode, a second electrode, and a photoelectric conversion layer that generates a signal charge; a charge accumulator connected to the first electrode to accumulate the signal charge; a first voltage supply circuit connected to the second electrode and that selectively supplies at least two different voltages including a first voltage and a third voltage greater than the first voltage; and a second voltage supply circuit that is connected to the charge accumulator via capacitance and that selectively supplies at least two different voltages including a second voltage and a fourth voltage less than the second voltage, where in a first period in which the first voltage supply circuit supplies the first voltage, the first period being included in an accumulation period for accumulating the signal charge in the charge accumulator, the second voltage supply circuit supplies the second voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takeyoshi Tokuhara, Yoshiaki Satou, Yusuke Okada
  • Patent number: 11317043
    Abstract: An imaging device includes a pixel including a permittivity modulation element that includes opposite and pixel electrodes and a permittivity modulation structure whose permittivity changes according to the radiation of light, a capacitive element that includes first and second electrodes, and a detection circuit that outputs a signal corresponding to the potential of the pixel electrode. Also provided are a voltage supply circuit that applies first and second voltages in different first and second periods to one of the opposite electrode and the first electrode, and a signal processing circuit that generates a third signal being a difference between a first signal output from the detection circuit in the first period and a second signal output from the detection circuit in the second period. The potential difference between the opposite electrode and the first electrode when the second voltage is applied is less than when the first voltage is applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takeyoshi Tokuhara, Yasuo Miyake, Sanshiro Shishido
  • Publication number: 20220103773
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a unit pixel including a pixel electrode, a charge accumulation region electrically connected to the pixel electrode, and a signal detection circuit electrically connected to the charge accumulation region; a counter electrode facing the pixel electrode; a photoelectric conversion layer disposed between the electrodes; and a voltage supply circuit configured to selectively apply any one of first, second, and third voltages between the electrodes. The photoelectric conversion layer exhibits first and second wavelength sensitivity characteristics in a wavelength range when the voltage supply circuit applies the first and second voltages between the electrodes, respectively, and becomes insensitive to light in the wavelength range when the voltage supply circuit applies the third voltage between the electrodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2021
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Inventors: Shinichi MACHIDA, Takeyoshi TOKUHARA, Manabu NAKATA, Sanshiro SHISHIDO, Masaaki YANAGIDA, Masumi IZUCHI
  • Patent number: 11233955
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a unit pixel including a pixel electrode; a counter electrode facing the pixel electrode; a photoelectric conversion layer disposed between the pixel electrode and the counter electrode; and a computing circuit that acquires a first signal upon a first voltage being applied between the pixel electrode and the counter electrode, the first signal corresponding to an image captured with visible light and infrared light and a second signal upon a second voltage being applied between the pixel electrode and the counter electrode, the second signal corresponding to an image captured with visible light, and generates a third signal by performing a computation using the first signal and the second signal, the third signal corresponding to an image captured with infrared light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinichi Machida, Masashi Murakami, Takeyoshi Tokuhara, Masaaki Yanagida, Sanshiro Shishido, Manabu Nakata, Masumi Izuchi
  • Patent number: 11233965
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a unit pixel including a pixel electrode, a charge accumulation region electrically connected to the pixel electrode, and a signal detection circuit electrically connected to the charge accumulation region; a counter electrode facing the pixel electrode; a photoelectric conversion layer disposed between the electrodes; and a voltage supply circuit configured to selectively apply any one of first, second, and third voltages between the electrodes. The photoelectric conversion layer exhibits first and second wavelength sensitivity characteristics in a wavelength range when the voltage supply circuit applies the first and second voltages between the electrodes, respectively, and becomes insensitive to light in the wavelength range when the voltage supply circuit applies the third voltage between the electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinichi Machida, Takeyoshi Tokuhara, Manabu Nakata, Sanshiro Shishido, Masaaki Yanagida, Masumi Izuchi
  • Patent number: 11228725
    Abstract: A photosensor including: a first electrode; a second electrode; a photoelectric conversion layer between the first electrode and the second electrode; a first charge blocking layer between the first electrode and the photoelectric conversion layer; a second charge blocking layer between the second electrode and the photoelectric conversion layer; a voltage supply circuit supplying a voltage to the second electrode such that an electric field directed from the second electrode toward the first electrode is generated in the photoelectric conversion layer; and a transistor. The first charge blocking layer suppresses movement of holes from the photoelectric conversion layer to the first electrode and movement of electrons from the first electrode to the photoelectric conversion layer, and the second charge blocking layer suppresses movement of electrons from the photoelectric conversion layer to the second electrode and movement of holes from the second electrode to the photoelectric conversion layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takeyoshi Tokuhara, Tokuhiko Tamaki
  • Publication number: 20210366960
    Abstract: A capacitor includes a first electrode, a second electrode facing the first electrode, and a dielectric layer disposed between the first and second electrodes and being in contact with each of the first and second electrodes. The dielectric layer has a thickness of 10 nm or more. The first electrode contains carbon. At the interface between the dielectric layer and the first electrode, an elemental percentage of carbon is 30 atomic % or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2021
    Publication date: November 25, 2021
    Inventors: Yuuko TOMEKAWA, Takahiro KOYANAGI, Takeyoshi TOKUHARA
  • Publication number: 20210366992
    Abstract: An imaging device including: a semiconductor substrate including a pixel region and a peripheral region; an insulating layer that covers the pixel and peripheral regions; first electrodes located on the insulating layer above the pixel region; a photoelectric conversion layer that covers the first electrodes; a second electrode that covers the photoelectric conversion layer; detection circuitry configured to be electrically connected to the first electrodes; peripheral circuitry configured to be electrically connected to the detection circuitry, and including analog circuitry; and a third electrode electrically connected to the second electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2021
    Publication date: November 25, 2021
    Applicants: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD., PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shunsuke ISONO, Hidenari KANEHARA, Sanshiro SHISHIDO, Takeyoshi TOKUHARA