Patents by Inventor Tokuhiko Tamaki

Tokuhiko Tamaki 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: 20170230563
    Abstract: An imaging device includes a unit pixel cell. The unit pixel cell captures first data in a first exposure period and captures second data in a second exposure period different from the first exposure period, the first exposure period and the second exposure period being included in a frame period. A sensitivity per unit time of the unit pixel cell in the first exposure period is different from a sensitivity per unit time of the unit pixel cell in the second exposure period. The imaging device outputs multiple-exposure image data including at least the first data and the second data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2017
    Publication date: August 10, 2017
    Inventors: YOSHIAKI SATOU, YASUO MIYAKE, YASUNORI INOUE, TOKUHIKO TAMAKI
  • Publication number: 20170221944
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes: pixels arranged in a matrix; a vertical signal line provided for each column, conveying a pixel signal; a power line provided for each column, proving a power supply voltage; and a feedback signal line provided for each column, conveying a signal from a peripheral circuit to a pixel, in which each of the pixels includes: an N-type diffusion layer; a photoelectric conversion element above the N-type diffusion layer; and a charge accumulation node between the N-type diffusion layer and the photoelectric conversion element, accumulating signal charge generated in the photoelectric conversion element, the feedback signal line, a metal line which is a part of the charge accumulation node, the vertical signal line, and the power line are disposed in a second interconnect layer, and the vertical signal line and the power line are disposed between the feedback signal line and the metal line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2017
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Inventors: Tokuhiko TAMAKI, Hirohisa OHTSUKI, Ryohei MIYAGAWA, Motonori ISHII
  • Publication number: 20170214873
    Abstract: An imaging device includes: a first pixel cell including a first photoelectric converter that generates a first signal by photoelectric conversion, and a first signal detection circuit that is electrically connected to the first photoelectric converter and detects the first signal; and a second pixel cell including a second photoelectric converter that generates a second signal by photoelectric conversion, and a second signal detection circuit that is electrically connected to the second photoelectric converter and detects the second signal. A sensitivity of the first pixel cell is higher than a sensitivity of the second pixel cell. A circuit configuration of the first signal detection circuit is different from a circuit configuration of the second signal detection circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2017
    Publication date: July 27, 2017
    Inventors: KAZUKO NISHIMURA, TOKUHIKO TAMAKI, MASASHI MURAKAMI
  • Publication number: 20170150073
    Abstract: An imaging device comprises at least one unit pixel cell. Each of them comprises: a photoelectric conversion layer having a first and second surfaces; a pixel electrode and a shield electrode located on the first surface and separated from each other, a shield voltage being applied to the shield electrode; an upper electrode located on the second surface and opposing to the pixel electrode and the shield electrode, a counter voltage being applied to the upper electrode; a charge accumulation node electrically connected to the pixel electrode; and a charge detection circuit electrically connected to the charge accumulation node. An absolute value of a difference between the shield voltage and the counter voltage is larger than an absolute value of a difference between the counter voltage and a voltage of the pixel electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2017
    Publication date: May 25, 2017
    Inventors: Takayoshi YAMADA, Masayuki TAKASE, Tokuhiko TAMAKI, Masashi MURAKAMI
  • Patent number: 9653510
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes: pixels arranged in a matrix; a vertical signal line provided for each column, conveying a pixel signal; a power line provided for each column, proving a power supply voltage; and a feedback signal line provided for each column, conveying a signal from a peripheral circuit to a pixel, in which each of the pixels includes: an N-type diffusion layer; a photoelectric conversion element above the N-type diffusion layer; and a charge accumulation node between the N-type diffusion layer and the photoelectric conversion element, accumulating signal charge generated in the photoelectric conversion element, the feedback signal line, a metal line which is a part of the charge accumulation node, the vertical signal line, and the power line are disposed in a second interconnect layer, and the vertical signal line and the power line are disposed between the feedback signal line and the metal line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tokuhiko Tamaki, Hirohisa Ohtsuki, Ryohei Miyagawa, Motonori Ishii
  • Patent number: 9602743
    Abstract: An imaging device comprises at least one unit pixel cell. Each of them comprises: a photoelectric conversion layer having a first and second surfaces; a pixel electrode and a shield electrode located on the first surface and separated from each other, a shield voltage being applied to the shield electrode; an upper electrode located on the second surface and opposing to the pixel electrode and the shield electrode, a counter voltage being applied to the upper electrode; a charge accumulation node electrically connected to the pixel electrode; and a charge detection circuit electrically connected to the charge accumulation node. The charge detection circuit includes a reset transistor that sets the pixel electrode at an initialization voltage at predetermined timing. An absolute value of a difference between the shield voltage and the counter voltage is larger than an absolute value of a difference between the initialization voltage and the counter voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takayoshi Yamada, Masayuki Takase, Tokuhiko Tamaki, Masashi Murakami
  • Patent number: 9478760
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes pixel including: a first and second electrode located in a same layer, the second electrode being located between the first electrode and the other first electrodes included in adjacent pixels; an organic photoelectric conversion film including a first surface and a second surface, the first surface being in contact with the first electrode and the second electrode; and a counter electrode located on the second surface. The organic photoelectric conversion film extends over the pixels. The first electrode is an electrode through which electrons or holes generated in the organic photoelectric conversion film are extracted. An area ratio of the first electrode to the each pixel is 25% or less. And a total area ratio of a sum of the first electrode and the second electrode to the each pixel is 40% or greater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tokuhiko Tamaki, Masayuki Takase, Yasuhiko Adachi
  • Publication number: 20160293654
    Abstract: An imaging device includes: a semiconductor substrate; a photoelectric conversion element including a first electrode, a second electrode, and a photoelectric conversion film, supported on the semiconductor substrate, and generating a signal by performing photoelectric conversion on incident light; a multilayer wiring structure including an upper wiring layer and a lower wiring layer provided between the semiconductor substrate and the second electrode; and a signal detection circuit provided in the semiconductor substrate and the multilayer wiring structure, including a signal detection transistor and a first capacitance element, and detecting the signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2016
    Publication date: October 6, 2016
    Inventors: YUUKO TOMEKAWA, TOKUHIKO TAMAKI
  • Patent number: 9402040
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device has a plurality of imaging-purpose pixels and a plurality of focus detection-purpose pixels. Each of the imaging-purpose pixels are provided with a first lower electrode, a photoelectric conversion film formed on the first lower electrode, and an upper electrode formed on the photoelectric conversion film. Each of the focus detection-purpose pixels is provided with a second lower electrode, the photoelectric conversion film formed on the second lower electrode, and the upper electrode formed on the photoelectric conversion film. The area of the second lower electrode is smaller than the area of the first lower electrodes. The second lower electrode is provided on a position deviating from a pixel center of a corresponding focus detection-pixel, and two second lower electrodes corresponding to two focus detection purpose pixels included in the plurality of focus detection purpose pixels is arranged in mutually opposite directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masayuki Takase, Yoshihiro Sato, Junji Hirase, Tokuhiko Tamaki
  • Publication number: 20160119563
    Abstract: An imaging device comprises at least one unit pixel cell. Each of them comprises: a photoelectric conversion layer having a first and second surfaces; a pixel electrode and a shield electrode located on the first surface and separated from each other, a shield voltage being applied to the shield electrode; an upper electrode located on the second surface and opposing to the pixel electrode and the shield electrode, a counter voltage being applied to the upper electrode; a charge accumulation node electrically connected to the pixel electrode; and a charge detection circuit electrically connected to the charge accumulation node. The charge detection circuit includes a reset transistor that sets the pixel electrode at an initialization voltage at predetermined timing. An absolute value of a difference between the shield voltage and the counter voltage is larger than an absolute value of a difference between the initialization voltage and the counter voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2015
    Publication date: April 28, 2016
    Inventors: TAKAYOSHI YAMADA, MASAYUKI TAKASE, TOKUHIKO TAMAKI, MASASHI MURAKAMI
  • Publication number: 20160119562
    Abstract: An imaging device, comprising: at least one unit pixel cell; and a voltage application circuit that generates at least two different voltages, each of the at least one unit pixel cell comprising: a photoelectric conversion layer having a first surface and a second surface being on a side opposite to the first surface, a pixel electrode located on the first surface, an auxiliary electrode located on the first surface, the auxiliary electrode being separated from the pixel electrode and electrically connected to the voltage application circuit, an upper electrode located on the second surface, the upper electrode opposing to the pixel electrode and the auxiliary electrode, a charge storage node electrically connected to the pixel electrode, and a charge detection circuit electrically connected to the charge storage node.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2015
    Publication date: April 28, 2016
    Inventors: MASAYUKI TAKASE, TAKAYOSHI YAMADA, TOKUHIKO TAMAKI
  • Publication number: 20160105622
    Abstract: An imaging device according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes: a first image pickup cell comprising a first photoelectric converter that converts incident light into a first charge, a first charge detection circuit that is electrically connected to the first photoelectric converter and detects the first charge, and a first capacitive element one end of which is electrically connected to the first photoelectric converter, the first capacitive element storing at least a part of the first charge; and a second image pickup cell comprising a second photoelectric converter that converts incident light into a second charge, and a second charge detection circuit that is electrically connected to the second photoelectric converter and detects the second charge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2015
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Inventor: TOKUHIKO TAMAKI
  • Publication number: 20150377866
    Abstract: A preparation element set including an image sensor including a sensor surface, a sensor back surface, and a board; a package including a front surface, a back surface, and terminals on the back surface, the front surface touching or facing the sensor back surface; and a transparent plate facing the sensor surface with a subject placed therebetween, wherein the board includes a board surface and a board back surface, a distance between the board surface and the sensor surface is less than a distance between the board back surface and the sensor surface, a distance between the board surface and the sensor back surface is more than a distance between the board back surface and the sensor back surface, conductive holes pierce the board from the board surface to the board back surface, and conductors on the board surface are electrically connected to terminals by using the conductive holes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2015
    Publication date: December 31, 2015
    Inventors: HIDETO MOTOMURA, YOSHIHISA KATO, TSUYOSHI TANAKA, TOKUHIKO TAMAKI
  • Publication number: 20150340393
    Abstract: An imaging device includes a semiconductor substrate and at least one unit pixel cell provided to a surface of the semiconductor substrate. Each of the at least one unit pixel cell includes: a photoelectric converter including a pixel electrode and a photoelectric conversion layer located on the pixel electrode, the photoelectric converter converting incident light into electric charges; a charge detection transistor that includes a part of the semiconductor substrate and detects the electric charges; and a reset transistor that includes a gate electrode and initializes a voltage of the photoelectric converter. The pixel electrode is located above the charge detection transistor. The reset transistor is located between the charge detection transistor and the pixel electrode. When viewed from a direction normal to the surface of the semiconductor substrate, at least a part of the gate electrode is located outside the pixel electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2015
    Publication date: November 26, 2015
    Inventors: TOKUHIKO TAMAKI, JUNJI HIRASE, SHIGEO YOSHII
  • Publication number: 20150280155
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes pixel including: a first and second electrode located in a same layer, the second electrode being located between the first electrode and the other first electrodes included in adjacent pixels; an organic photoelectric conversion film including a first surface and a second surface, the first surface being in contact with the first electrode and the second electrode; and a counter electrode located on the second surface. The organic photoelectric conversion film extends over the pixels. The first electrode is an electrode through which electrons or holes generated in the organic photoelectric conversion film are extracted. An area ratio of the first electrode to the each pixel is 25% or less. And a total area ratio of a sum of the first electrode and the second electrode to the each pixel is 40% or greater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2015
    Publication date: October 1, 2015
    Inventors: TOKUHIKO TAMAKI, MASAYUKI TAKASE, YASUHIKO ADACHI
  • Publication number: 20150195466
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device has a plurality of imaging-purpose pixels and a plurality of focus detection-purpose pixels. Each of the imaging-purpose pixels are provided with a first lower electrode, a photoelectric conversion film formed on the first lower electrode, and an upper electrode formed on the photoelectric conversion film. Each of the focus detection-purpose pixels is provided with a second lower electrode, the photoelectric conversion film formed on the second lower electrode, and the upper electrode formed on the photoelectric conversion film. The area of the second lower electrode is smaller than the area of the first lower electrodes. The second lower electrode is provided on a position deviating from a pixel center of a corresponding focus detection-pixel, and two second lower electrodes corresponding to two focus detection purpose pixels included in the plurality of focus detection purpose pixels is arranged in mutually opposite directions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2015
    Publication date: July 9, 2015
    Inventors: MASAYUKI TAKASE, YOSHIHIRO SATO, JUNJI HIRASE, TOKUHIKO TAMAKI
  • Publication number: 20150123180
    Abstract: Each unit pixel includes a photoelectric converter, an n-type impurity region forming an accumulation diode together with the semiconductor region, the accumulation diode accumulating a signal charge generated by the photoelectric converter, an amplifier transistor including a gate electrode electrically connected to the impurity region, and an isolation region formed around the amplifier transistor and implanted with p-type impurities. The amplifier transistor includes an n-type source/drain region formed between the gate electrode and the isolation region, and a channel region formed under the gate electrode. A gap in the isolation region is, in a gate width direction, wider at a portion including the channel region than at a portion including the source/drain region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2014
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventors: Yoshihiro SATO, Ryohei MIYAGAWA, Tokuhiko TAMAKI, Junji HIRASE, Yoshiyuki OHMORI, Yoshiyuki MATSUNAGA
  • Publication number: 20150115339
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes: pixels arranged in a matrix; a vertical signal line provided for each column, conveying a pixel signal; a power line provided for each column, proving a power supply voltage; and a feedback signal line provided for each column, conveying a signal from a peripheral circuit to a pixel, in which each of the pixels includes: an N-type diffusion layer; a photoelectric conversion element above the N-type diffusion layer; and a charge accumulation node between the N-type diffusion layer and the photoelectric conversion element, accumulating signal charge generated in the photoelectric conversion element, the feedback signal line, a metal line which is a part of the charge accumulation node, the vertical signal line, and the power line are disposed in a second interconnect layer, and the vertical signal line and the power line are disposed between the feedback signal line and the metal line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2014
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Inventors: Tokuhiko TAMAKI, Hirohisa OHTSUKI, Ryohei MIYAGAWA, Motonori ISHII
  • Publication number: 20150084106
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes unit pixels formed on a semiconductor substrate. Each of the unit pixels includes a photoelectric converter, a floating diffusion, a pinning layer, and a pixel transistor. The pixel transistor includes a gate electrode formed on the semiconductor substrate, a source diffusion layer, and a drain diffusion layer. At least one of the source diffusion layer or the drain diffusion layer functions as the floating diffusion. The pinning layer is covered by the floating diffusion at a bottom and a side at a channel of the pixel transistor. A conductivity type of the floating diffusion is opposite to that of the pinning layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2014
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Inventors: Kentaro NAKANISHI, Junji HIRASE, Kosaku SAEKI, Yoshinori TAKAMI, Takeshi HIDAKA, Tokuhiko TAMAKI
  • Patent number: 8344426
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a plurality of first cells having a first cell height, and a plurality of second cells having a second cell height. Each of the first cells has a first MIS transistor of a first conductivity type, and a substrate contact region of a second conductivity type. Each of the second cells has a second MIS transistor of the first conductivity type, a power supply region of the first conductivity type, and a first extended region of the first conductivity type that is silicidated at a surface thereof. The first cell height is greater than the second cell height.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Naoki Kotani, Tokuhiko Tamaki