Patents by Inventor Toshifumi Wakano

Toshifumi Wakano 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: 11626432
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a solid-state imaging device and an electronic device that are configured to suppress the occurrence of noise and white blemishes in an amplification transistor having an element separation region which is formed by ion implantation. An amplification transistor has an element separation region formed by ion implantation. A channel region insulating film which is at least a part of a gate insulating film above a channel region of the amplification transistor is thin compared to a gate insulating film of a selection transistor, and an element separation region insulating film which is at least a part of a gate insulating film above the element separation region of the amplification transistor is thick compared to the channel region insulating film. The present disclosure can be applied to, for example, a CMOS image sensor, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yusuke Otake, Toshifumi Wakano, Takuya Sano, Yusuke Tanaka, Keiji Tatani, Hideo Harifuchi, Eiichi Tauchi, Hiroki Iwashita, Akira Matsumoto
  • Publication number: 20230067160
    Abstract: To provide a solid-state imaging device and an electronic apparatus capable of achieving both of a high dynamic range operation and an auto focus operation in a pixel configuration in which a plurality of unit pixels includes two or more subpixels. There is provided a solid-state imaging device including: a first pixel separation region that separates a plurality of unit pixels including two or more subpixels; a second pixel separation region that separates each of the plurality of unit pixels separated by the first pixel separation region; and an overflow region that causes signal charges accumulated in the subpixels to overflow to at least one of adjacent subpixels, in which the overflow region is formed between a first subpixel and a second subpixel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2022
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Inventors: HIROFUMI YAMASHITA, SHOHEI SHIMADA, YUSUKE OTAKE, YUSUKE TANAKA, TOSHIFUMI WAKANO
  • Patent number: 11552114
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging element of a pixel sharing type with improved driving of transistors is disclosed. A first electric charge accumulating section and a second electric charge accumulating section are arranged in a predetermined direction. A first transfer section transfers electric charge from first photoelectric conversion elements to the first electric charge accumulating section, causing it to accumulate the electric charge. A second transfer section transfers electric charge from second photoelectric conversion elements to the second electric charge accumulating section, causing it to accumulate the electric charge. A first transistor is configured to output a signal corresponding to an amount of the electric charge accumulated in each of the first electric charge accumulating section and the second electric charge accumulating section. A second transistor is arranged with the first transistor in the predetermined direction and connected in parallel to the first transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Nakadate, Toshifumi Wakano, Masahiko Nakamizo
  • Publication number: 20220397651
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a ranging module including a light receiving element, a light emitting unit, and a light-emission control unit. The light receiving element has plural transfer gates which distribute and transfer, to plural floating diffusions, signal charge accumulated in a photodiode that photoelectrically converts incident light, and at least two of the plural transfer gates are disposed point-symmetrically with respect to an optical center as seen from a direction of incidence of the light. The light emitting unit emits irradiation light having a periodically varying brightness. The light-emission control unit controls irradiation timing of the irradiation light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2020
    Publication date: December 15, 2022
    Inventors: Takuro Murase, Yusuke Otake, Toshifumi Wakano
  • Patent number: 11523078
    Abstract: Provided is a solid-state imaging device and an electronic apparatus capable of achieving both of a high dynamic range operation and an auto focus operation in a pixel configuration in which a plurality of unit pixels includes two or more subpixels. The solid-state imaging device includes a first pixel separation region that separates a plurality of unit pixels including two or more subpixels, a second pixel separation region that separates each of the plurality of unit pixels separated by the first pixel separation region and an overflow region that causes signal charges accumulated in the subpixels to overflow to at least one of adjacent subpixels, in which the overflow region is formed between a first subpixel and a second subpixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hirofumi Yamashita, Shohei Shimada, Yusuke Otake, Yusuke Tanaka, Toshifumi Wakano
  • Publication number: 20220359587
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device according to the present disclosure includes a photoelectric conversion film that is provided outside a semiconductor substrate on a pixel-by-pixel basis, performs photoelectric conversion on light having a predetermined wavelength range, and transmits light having wavelength ranges other than the predetermined wavelength range, and a photoelectric conversion region that is provided inside the semiconductor substrate on a pixel-by-pixel basis and performs photoelectric conversion on the light having the wavelength ranges, the light having the wavelength ranges having passed through the photoelectric conversion film. The photoelectric conversion film includes a film having an avalanche function.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2022
    Publication date: November 10, 2022
    Inventors: NANAKO KATO, TOSHIFUMI WAKANO, YUSUKE OTAKE
  • Publication number: 20220302185
    Abstract: The solid-state imaging element includes a photoelectric converter, a first separator, and a second separator. The photoelectric converter is configured to perform photoelectric conversion of incident light. The first separator configured to separate the photoelectric converter is formed in a first trench formed from a first surface side. The second separator configured to separate the photoelectric converter is formed in a second trench formed from a second surface side facing a first surface. The present technology is applicable to an individual imaging element mounted on, e.g., a camera and configured to acquire an image of an object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2022
    Publication date: September 22, 2022
    Applicant: SONY GROUP CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hideyuki HONDA, Tetsuya UCHIDA, Toshifumi WAKANO, Yusuke TANAKA, Yoshiharu KUDOH, Hirotoshi NOMURA, Tomoyuki HIRANO, Shinichi YOSHIDA, Yoichi UEDA, Kosuke NAKANISHI
  • Publication number: 20220291347
    Abstract: An imaging element includes a photoelectric converting section configured to perform photoelectric conversion, a plurality of charge storage sections configured to store charge obtained by the photoelectric converting section, and a plurality of transfer sections configured to transfer the charge from the photoelectric converting section to each of the plurality of charge storage sections. Each of the charge storage sections is provided between a first gate of a transistor included in a corresponding one of the transfer sections and a second gate provided at a position parallel to the first gate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2020
    Publication date: September 15, 2022
    Applicant: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yusuke OTAKE, Toshifumi WAKANO
  • Publication number: 20220272270
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an image pickup device that enables inhibition of occurrence of color mixture or noise, and an electronic apparatus. The image pickup device of the present disclosure includes an image plane phase difference detection pixel for obtaining a phase difference signal for image plane phase difference AF.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2022
    Publication date: August 25, 2022
    Applicant: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kyohei YOSHIMURA, Toshifumi WAKANO, Yusuke OTAKE
  • Patent number: 11411034
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device according to the present disclosure includes a photoelectric conversion film that is provided outside a semiconductor substrate on a pixel-by-pixel basis, performs photoelectric conversion on light having a predetermined wavelength range, and transmits light having wavelength ranges other than the predetermined wavelength range, and a photoelectric conversion region that is provided inside the semiconductor substrate on a pixel-by-pixel basis and performs photoelectric conversion on the light having the wavelength ranges, the light having the wavelength ranges having passed through the photoelectric conversion film. The photoelectric conversion film includes a film having an avalanche function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nanako Kato, Toshifumi Wakano, Yusuke Otake
  • Patent number: 11411032
    Abstract: An imaging device comprises a sensor substrate including a pixel array that includes at least a first pixel. The first pixel includes an avalanche photodiode including a light receiving region, a cathode, and an anode. The first pixel includes a wiring layer electrically connected to the cathode and arranged in the sensor substrate such that the wiring layer is in a path of incident light that exits the light receiving region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Tanaka, Yusuke Otake, Toshifumi Wakano
  • Patent number: 11404595
    Abstract: An avalanche photodiode (APD) sensor includes a photoelectric conversion region disposed in a substrate and that converts light incident to a first side of the substrate into electric charge, and a cathode region disposed at a second side of the substrate. The second side is opposite the first side. The APD sensor includes an anode region disposed at the second side of the substrate, a first region of a first conductivity type disposed in the substrate, and a second region of a second conductivity type disposed in the substrate. The second conductivity type is different than the first conductivity type. In a cross-sectional view, the first region and the second region are between the photoelectric conversion region and the second side of the substrate. In the cross-sectional view, an interface between the first region and the second region has an uneven pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation
    Inventors: Toshifumi Wakano, Yusuke Otake
  • Patent number: 11398515
    Abstract: The present technology relates to a solid-state imaging element configured so that pixels can be more reliably separated, a method for manufacturing the solid-state imaging element, and an electronic apparatus. The solid-state imaging element includes a photoelectric converter, a first separator, and a second separator. The photoelectric converter is configured to perform photoelectric conversion of incident light. The first separator configured to separate the photoelectric converter is formed in a first trench formed from a first surface side. The second separator configured to separate the photoelectric converter is formed in a second trench formed from a second surface side facing a first surface. The present technology is applicable to an individual imaging element mounted on, e.g., a camera and configured to acquire an image of an object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hideyuki Honda, Tetsuya Uchida, Toshifumi Wakano, Yusuke Tanaka, Yoshiharu Kudoh, Hirotoshi Nomura, Tomoyuki Hirano, Shinichi Yoshida, Yoichi Ueda, Kosuke Nakanishi
  • Patent number: 11378659
    Abstract: The present technology relates to a light reception device and a distance measurement module. The light reception device includes an on-chip lens, a wiring layer, and a semiconductor layer between the on-chip lens and the wiring layer. The semiconductor layer includes a first tap to which a first voltage is applied and a first charge detection portion, and a second tap to which a second voltage different from the first voltage is applied and a second charge detection portion. The position of the on-chip lens differs depending upon an in-plane position of a pixel array section, so that an optical path length or a DC contrast of a chief ray from an object is uniform at in-plane pixels of the pixel array section. The present technology can be applied, for example, to a light reception device that generates distance information, for example, by a ToF method, and so forth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation
    Inventors: Yuji Isogai, Tsutomu Imoto, Takuya Maruyama, Takuro Murase, Ryota Watanabe, Toshifumi Wakano
  • Patent number: 11363186
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an image pickup device that enables inhibition of occurrence of color mixture or noise, and an electronic apparatus. The image pickup device of the present disclosure includes an image plane phase difference detection pixel for obtaining a phase difference signal for image plane phase difference AF.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation
    Inventors: Kyohei Yoshimura, Toshifumi Wakano, Yusuke Otake
  • Publication number: 20220181374
    Abstract: A sensor chip according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes: a photoelectric conversion section including a multiplication region that avalanche-multiplies carriers by a high electric field region; a light-condensing section that condenses incident light toward the photoelectric conversion section; and a pixel array in which a plurality of pixels each including the photoelectric conversion section and the light-condensing section are arranged in array and at least one of a structure of the photoelectric conversion section or a structure of the light-condensing section is changed stepwise from a middle part toward an outer peripheral part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2020
    Publication date: June 9, 2022
    Applicant: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kyosuke ITO, Toshifumi WAKANO, Yusuke OTAKE
  • Patent number: 11333549
    Abstract: An avalanche photodiode sensor includes a photoelectric conversion region disposed in a substrate and that converts incident light into electric charge. The avalanche photodiode sensor includes a first region of a first conductivity type on the photoelectric conversion region, and a cathode disposed in the substrate adjacent to the first region and coupled to the photoelectric conversion region. The avalanche photodiode sensor includes an anode disposed in the substrate adjacent to the cathode, and a contact of the first conductivity type disposed in the substrate. An impurity concentration of the first region is different than an impurity concentration of the contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation
    Inventors: Kyosuke Ito, Toshifumi Wakano, Yusuke Otake
  • Publication number: 20220149103
    Abstract: Provided are a solid-state image-capturing element and an electronic device capable of reducing the capacitance by using a hollow region. At least a part of a region between an FD wiring connected to a floating diffusion and a wiring other than the FD wiring is a hollow region. The present disclosure can be applied to a CMOS image sensor having, for example, a floating diffusion, a transfer transistor, an amplifying transistor, a selection transistor, a reset transistor, and a photodiode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2021
    Publication date: May 12, 2022
    Inventors: YUSUKE TANAKA, TAKASHI NAGANO, TOSHIFUMI WAKANO, TAKESHI MATSUNUMA
  • Publication number: 20220149090
    Abstract: The present technology relates to a light detecting element and a method of manufacturing the same that make it possible to reduce pixel size. The light detecting element includes a plurality of pixels arranged in the form of a matrix. Each of the pixels includes a first semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type formed in an outer peripheral portion in the vicinity of a pixel boundary, and a second semiconductor layer of a second conductivity type opposite from the first conductivity type formed on the inside of the first semiconductor layer as viewed in plan. A high field region formed by the first semiconductor layer and the second semiconductor layer when a reverse bias voltage is applied is configured to be formed in a depth direction of a substrate. The present technology is, for example, applicable to a photon counter or the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2022
    Publication date: May 12, 2022
    Applicant: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yusuke OTAKE, Toshifumi WAKANO
  • Publication number: 20220140156
    Abstract: Distance measurement accuracy is improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2020
    Publication date: May 5, 2022
    Applicant: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shinichiro YAGI, Toshifumi WAKANO