Patents by Inventor Wataru FUNAMIZU
Wataru FUNAMIZU 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).
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Publication number: 20230396894Abstract: An image sensor includes: a readout circuit that reads out a signal to a signal line, the signal being generated by an electric charge resulting from a photoelectric conversion; a holding circuit that holds a voltage based on an electric current from a power supply circuit; and an electric current source including a transistor having a drain part connected to the signal line and a gate part connected to the holding circuit and the drain part, the electric current source supplying the signal line with an electric current generated by the voltage held in the holding circuit.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 3, 2023Publication date: December 7, 2023Applicant: NIKON CORPORATIONInventors: Wataru FUNAMIZU, Masahiro JUEN, Atsushi KOMAI
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Patent number: 11812172Abstract: An image sensor includes: a readout circuit that reads out a signal to a signal line, the signal being generated by an electric charge resulting from a photoelectric conversion; a holding circuit that holds a voltage based on an electric current from a power supply circuit; and an electric current source including a transistor having a drain part connected to the signal line and a gate part connected to the holding circuit and the drain part, the electric current source supplying the signal line with an electric current generated by the voltage held in the holding circuit.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2022Date of Patent: November 7, 2023Assignee: NIKON CORPORATIONInventors: Wataru Funamizu, Masahiro Juen, Atsushi Komai
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Patent number: 11800252Abstract: An image sensor includes: a readout circuit that reads out a signal to a signal line, the signal being generated by an electric charge resulting from a photoelectric conversion; a holding circuit that holds a voltage based on an electric current from a power supply circuit; and an electric current source including a transistor having a drain part connected to the signal line and a gate part connected to the holding circuit and the drain part, the electric current source supplying the signal line with an electric current generated by the voltage held in the holding circuit.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2019Date of Patent: October 24, 2023Assignee: NIKON CORPORATIONInventors: Wataru Funamizu, Masahiro Juen, Atsushi Komai
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Publication number: 20230292018Abstract: An image sensor includes: a first readout circuit that reads out a first signal, being generated by an electric charge resulting from a photoelectric conversion, to a first signal line; a first holding circuit that holds a voltage based on an electric current from a power supply circuit; and a first electric current source that supplies the first signal line with an electric current generated by the voltage held in the first holding circuit, wherein: the first holding circuit holds the voltage based on the electric current from the power supply circuit when the first signal is not read out to the first signal line by the first readout circuit.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 23, 2023Publication date: September 14, 2023Applicant: NIKON CORPORATIONInventors: Wataru FUNAMIZU, Masahiro JUEN, Atsushi KOMAI
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Patent number: 11758301Abstract: An image sensor includes: a readout circuit that reads out a signal to a signal line, the signal being generated by an electric charge resulting from a photoelectric conversion; a holding circuit that holds a voltage based on an electric current from a power supply circuit; and an electric current source including a transistor having a drain part connected to the signal line and a gate part connected to the holding circuit and the drain part, the electric current source supplying the signal line with an electric current generated by the voltage held in the holding circuit.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2019Date of Patent: September 12, 2023Assignee: NIKON CORPORATIONInventors: Wataru Funamizu, Masahiro Juen, Atsushi Komai
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Publication number: 20230239591Abstract: An image sensor includes: a pixel that generates a pixel signal based upon incident light having entered therein; and a generation unit that includes a first input unit to which the pixel signal is input, a second input unit to which a first reference signal with a shifting voltage is input, and an output unit that outputs an output signal generated based upon the pixel signal and the first reference signal, wherein: the generation unit further includes a first capacitance disposed between the first input unit and the output unit, a second capacitance disposed between the second input unit and the output unit, and a third capacitance connected to either one of the first capacitance and the second capacitance.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 3, 2023Publication date: July 27, 2023Applicant: NIKON CORPORATIONInventors: Wataru FUNAMIZU, Yojiro TEZUKA, Masahiro JUEN
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Patent number: 11696047Abstract: An image sensor includes: a first readout circuit that reads out a first signal, being generated by an electric charge resulting from a photoelectric conversion, to a first signal line; a first holding circuit that holds a voltage based on an electric current from a power supply circuit; and a first electric current source that supplies the first signal line with an electric current generated by the voltage held in the first holding circuit, wherein: the first holding circuit holds the voltage based on the electric current from the power supply circuit when the first signal is not read out to the first signal line by the first readout circuit.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2021Date of Patent: July 4, 2023Assignee: NIKON CORPORATIONInventors: Wataru Funamizu, Masahiro Juen, Atsushi Komai
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Publication number: 20220328543Abstract: An image sensor includes a plurality of pixels each including: a first and a second photoelectric conversion unit that perform photoelectric conversion upon light that has passed through a micro lens and generates a charge; a first accumulation unit that accumulates the charge generated by the first conversion unit; a second accumulation unit that accumulates the charge generated by the second conversion unit; a third accumulation unit that accumulates the charges generated by the first and second conversion units; a first transfer unit that transfers the charge generated by the first conversion unit to the first accumulation unit; a second transfer unit that transfers the charge generated by the second conversion unit to the second accumulation unit; and a third transfer unit that transfers the charges generated by the first and second conversion units to the third accumulation unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 7, 2022Publication date: October 13, 2022Applicant: NIKON CORPORATIONInventors: Sota NAKANISHI, Wataru FUNAMIZU, Masahiro JUEN
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Patent number: 11387267Abstract: An image sensor includes a plurality of pixels each including: a first and a second photoelectric conversion unit that perform photoelectric conversion upon light that has passed through a micro lens and generates a charge; a first accumulation unit that accumulates the charge generated by the first conversion unit; a second accumulation unit that accumulates the charge generated by the second conversion unit; a third accumulation unit that accumulates the charges generated by the first and second conversion units; a first transfer unit that transfers the charge generated by the first conversion unit to the first accumulation unit; a second transfer unit that transfers the charge generated by the second conversion unit to the second accumulation unit; and a third transfer unit that transfers the charges generated by the first and second conversion units to the third accumulation unit.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2018Date of Patent: July 12, 2022Assignee: NIKON CORPORATIONInventors: Sota Nakanishi, Wataru Funamizu, Masahiro Juen
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Publication number: 20220210356Abstract: An image sensor includes: a readout circuit that reads out a signal to a signal line, the signal being generated by an electric charge resulting from a photoelectric conversion; a holding circuit that holds a voltage based on an electric current from a power supply circuit; and an electric current source including a transistor having a drain part connected to the signal line and a gate part connected to the holding circuit and the drain part, the electric current source supplying the signal line with an electric current generated by the voltage held in the holding circuit.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2022Publication date: June 30, 2022Applicant: NIKON CORPORATIONInventors: Wataru FUNAMIZU, Masahiro JUEN, Atsushi KOMAI
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Publication number: 20210314506Abstract: An image sensor includes: a first readout circuit that reads out a first signal, being generated by an electric charge resulting from a photoelectric conversion, to a first signal line; a first holding circuit that holds a voltage based on an electric current from a power supply circuit; and a first electric current source that supplies the first signal line with an electric current generated by the voltage held in the first holding circuit, wherein: the first holding circuit holds the voltage based on the electric current from the power supply circuit when the first signal is not read out to the first signal line by the first readout circuit.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 20, 2021Publication date: October 7, 2021Applicant: NIKON CORPORATIONInventors: Wataru FUNAMIZU, Masahiro JUEN, Atsushi KOMAI
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Patent number: 11057578Abstract: An image-capturing device allowing skew reduction, and an image-capturing system allowing skew reduction are provided. An image-capturing device is provided, including a plurality of photoelectric converting units; and a plurality of light-receiving units that are arranged corresponding to a plurality of blocks each constituted by one or more photoelectric converting units, and receive drive light instructing driving of the photoelectric converting units to output a drive signal to a corresponding photoelectric converting unit among the photoelectric converting units. In addition, an image-capturing system is provided, including the image-capturing device; and a light-emitting unit that is spaced apart from the plurality of light-receiving units, and emits the drive light to the plurality of light-receiving units.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2019Date of Patent: July 6, 2021Assignee: NIKON CORPORATIONInventors: Masahiro Juen, Toru Takagi, Osamu Saruwatari, Wataru Funamizu, Sota Nakanishi
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Publication number: 20210185253Abstract: An image sensor includes: a pixel that generates a pixel signal based upon incident light having entered therein; and a generation unit that includes a first input unit to which the pixel signal is input, a second input unit to which a first reference signal with a shifting voltage is input, and an output unit that outputs an output signal generated based upon the pixel signal and the first reference signal, wherein: the generation unit further includes a first capacitance disposed between the first input unit and the output unit, a second capacitance disposed between the second input unit and the output unit, and a third capacitance connected to either one of the first capacitance and the second capacitance.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 1, 2021Publication date: June 17, 2021Applicant: NIKON CORPORATIONInventors: Wataru FUNAMIZU, Yojiro TEZUKA, Masahiro JUEN
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Patent number: 11012644Abstract: An image sensor includes: a first readout circuit that reads out a first signal, being generated by an electric charge resulting from a photoelectric conversion, to a first signal line; a first holding circuit that holds a voltage based on an electric current from a power supply circuit; and a first electric current source that supplies the first signal line with an electric current generated by the voltage held in the first holding circuit, wherein: the first holding circuit holds the voltage based on the electric current from the power supply circuit when the first signal is not read out to the first signal line by the first readout circuit.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2019Date of Patent: May 18, 2021Assignee: NIKON CORPORATIONInventors: Wataru Funamizu, Masahiro Juen, Atsushi Komai
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Publication number: 20210104562Abstract: An image sensor includes a plurality of pixels each including: a first and a second photoelectric conversion unit that perform photoelectric conversion upon light that has passed through a micro lens and generates a charge; a first accumulation unit that accumulates the charge generated by the first conversion unit; a second accumulation unit that accumulates the charge generated by the second conversion unit; a third accumulation unit that accumulates the charges generated by the first and second conversion units; a first transfer unit that transfers the charge generated by the first conversion unit to the first accumulation unit; a second transfer unit that transfers the charge generated by the second conversion unit to the second accumulation unit; and a third transfer unit that transfers the charges generated by the first and second conversion units to the third accumulation unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 28, 2018Publication date: April 8, 2021Applicant: NIKON CORPORATIONInventors: Sota NAKANISHI, Wataru FUNAMIZU, Masahiro JUEN
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Patent number: 10965892Abstract: An image sensor includes: a first readout circuit that reads out a first signal, being generated by an electric charge resulting from a photoelectric conversion, to a first signal line; a first holding circuit that holds a voltage based on an electric current from a power supply circuit; and a first electric current source that supplies the first signal line with an electric current generated by the voltage held in the first holding circuit, wherein: the first holding circuit holds the voltage based on the electric current from the power supply circuit when the first signal is not read out to the first signal line by the first readout circuit.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2016Date of Patent: March 30, 2021Assignee: NIKON CORPORATIONInventors: Wataru Funamizu, Masahiro Juen, Atsushi Komai
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Patent number: 10742920Abstract: An image sensor includes: a readout circuit that reads out a signal to a signal line, the signal being generated by an electric charge resulting from a photoelectric conversion; a storage circuit including an analog/digital converter that converts a first voltage signal based on an electric current from a first power supply circuit into a digital signal and a first storage unit that stores the first voltage signal converted into a digital signal by the analog/digital converter; and a first electric current source that supplies the signal line with an electric current generated by the first voltage signal stored in the first storage unit.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2016Date of Patent: August 11, 2020Assignee: NIKON CORPORATIONInventors: Atsushi Komai, Wataru Funamizu, Masahiro Juen
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Patent number: 10708518Abstract: There is a demand for increasing the dynamic range of an imaging unit. Provided is an imaging unit comprising a pixel section that outputs a pixel signal corresponding to a reset potential after a reset and a signal potential after charge accumulation; an amplifying section that amplifies the pixel signal with a first amplification ratio or a second amplification ratio that is different from the first amplification ratio; and a control section that causes the amplifying section to amplify the pixel signal corresponding to a change from the reset potential to the signal potential with the first amplification ratio, and then causes the amplifying section to amplify the pixel signal corresponding to a change from the signal potential to the reset potential with the second amplification ratio.Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 2019Date of Patent: July 7, 2020Assignee: NIKON CORPORATIONInventor: Wataru Funamizu
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Patent number: 10554916Abstract: An image sensor includes: a readout circuit that reads out a signal to a signal line, the signal being generated by an electric charge resulting from a photoelectric conversion; a holding circuit that holds a voltage based on an electric current from a power supply circuit; and an electric current source including a transistor having a drain part connected to the signal line and a gate part connected to the holding circuit and the drain part, the electric current source supplying the signal line with an electric current generated by the voltage held in the holding circuit.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2016Date of Patent: February 4, 2020Assignee: NIKON CORPORATIONInventors: Wataru Funamizu, Masahiro Juen, Atsushi Komai
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Publication number: 20200036921Abstract: An image sensor includes: a readout circuit that reads out a signal to a signal line, the signal being generated by an electric charge resulting from a photoelectric conversion; a holding circuit that holds a voltage based on an electric current from a power supply circuit; and an electric current source including a transistor having a drain part connected to the signal line and a gate part connected to the holding circuit and the drain part, the electric current source supplying the signal line with an electric current generated by the voltage held in the holding circuit.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 2, 2019Publication date: January 30, 2020Applicant: NIKON CORPORATIONInventors: Wataru FUNAMIZU, Masahiro JUEN, Atsushi KOMAI