Patents by Inventor Yoshiaki Kitano

Yoshiaki Kitano 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: 9252173
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes a light sensing unit generating a signal charge by performing a photoelectric conversion of an incident light; a conductive material in the vicinity of the light sensing unit; a first light-shielding film formed to cover at least a portion of the conductive material; and a second light-shielding film formed on a part of or all of a surface of the first light-shielding film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshiaki Kitano
  • Publication number: 20150029374
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an image sensor, a manufacturing apparatus and method, and an imaging apparatus that are capable of further enlarging a charge accumulation region. In the image sensor of this disclosure, a channel portion of a readout transistor that constitutes a pixel and a floating diffusion are formed so as to be overlaid with each other at least partly. For example, the channel portion and the floating diffusion are formed in the form of a column on a surface of a photodiode that constitutes the pixel. This disclosure can be applied to the manufacturing apparatus and method, and the imaging apparatus, in addition to the image sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2013
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yoshiaki Kitano
  • Publication number: 20140061834
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device including pixel photododes on a light-receiving surface of a substrate; a first insulating film on the substrate covering a multilayer wiring on and in contact with the substrate. The first insulating film comprises material of a first refractive index lower than a refractive index of the substrate for at least bottom and top surface portions of the first insulating film. A second insulating film with a second refractive index higher than the first refractive index is on the first insulating film. A third insulating film with a third refractive index higher than the second refractive index is on the second insulating film. For each pixel, a color filter is on the third insulating film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Kyoko Izuha, Hiromi Wano, Yoshiaki Kitano
  • Patent number: 8633559
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes light-sensing sections serving as pixels, and waveguides each including a core layer and a cladding layer, the waveguides each being disposed at a position corresponding to one of the light-sensing sections. A cross-sectional structure of the waveguide taken in the horizontal direction of an imaging plane is different from a cross-sectional structure of the waveguide taken in the vertical direction of the imaging plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Hiromi Wano, Yoshiaki Kitano
  • Patent number: 8598640
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device with a structure such that an electrode for reading a signal charge is provided on one side of a light-receiving sensor portion constituting a pixel; a predetermined voltage signal V is applied to a light-shielding film formed to cover an image pickup area except the light-receiving sensor portion; a second-conductivity-type semiconductor area is formed in the center on the surface of a first-conductivity-type semiconductor area constituting a photo-electric conversion area of the light-receiving sensor portion; and areas containing a lower impurity concentration than that of the second-conductivity-type semiconductor area is formed on the surface of the first-conductivity-type semiconductor area at the end on the side of the electrode and at the opposite end on the side of a pixel-separation area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Kitano, Hideshi Abe, Jun Kuroiwa, Kiyoshi Hirata, Hiroaki Ohki, Nobuhiro Karasawa, Ritsuo Takizawa, Mitsuru Yamashita, Mitsuru Sato, Katsunori Kokubun
  • Patent number: 8558158
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes a semiconductor substrate, photodiodes, a first insulating film, a second insulating film, a third insulating film, and a color filter. The photodiodes are disposed on the semiconductor substrate. The first insulating film covers a multilayer wiring on the semiconductor substrate. The first insulating film comprises a material having a first refractive index lower than a refractive index of the semiconductor substrate for at least bottom surface and top surface portions of the first insulating film. The second insulating film has a second refractive index higher than the first refractive index. The third insulating film has a third refractive index higher than the second refractive index.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Kyoko Izuha, Hiromi Okazaki, Yoshiaki Kitano
  • Publication number: 20130088713
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes a light sensing unit generating a signal charge by performing a photoelectric conversion of an incident light; a conductive material in the vicinity of the light sensing unit; a first light-shielding film formed to cover at least a portion of the conductive material; and a second light-shielding film formed on a part of or all of a surface of the first light-shielding film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2012
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshiaki Kitano
  • Publication number: 20110298024
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device with a structure such that an electrode for reading a signal charge is provided on one side of a light-receiving sensor portion constituting a pixel; a predetermined voltage signal V is applied to a light-shielding film formed to cover an image pickup area except the light-receiving sensor portion; a second-conductivity-type semiconductor area is formed in the center on the surface of a first-conductivity-type semiconductor area constituting a photo-electric conversion area of the light-receiving sensor portion; and areas containing a lower impurity concentration than that of the second-conductivity-type semiconductor area is formed on the surface of the first-conductivity-type semiconductor area at the end on the side of the electrode and at the opposite end on the side of a pixel-separation area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2011
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Kitano, Hideshi Abe, Jun Kuroiwa, Kiyoshi Hirata, Hiroaki Ohki, Nobuhiro Karasawa, Ritsuo Takizawa, Mitsuru Yamashita, Mitsuru Sato, Katsunori Kokubun
  • Patent number: 8017984
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device with a structure such that an electrode for reading a signal charge is provided on one side of a light-receiving sensor portion constituting a pixel; a predetermined voltage signal V is applied to a light-shielding film formed to cover an image pickup area except the light-receiving sensor portion; a second-conductivity-type semiconductor area is formed in the center on the surface of a first-conductivity-type semiconductor area constituting a photo-electric conversion area of the light-receiving sensor portion; and areas containing a lower impurity concentration than that of the second-conductivity-type semiconductor area is formed on the surface of the first-conductivity-type semiconductor area at the end on the side of the electrode and at the opposite end on the side of a pixel-separation area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Kitano, Hideshi Abe, Jun Kuroiwa, Kiyoshi Hirata, Hiroaki Ohki, Nobuhiro Karasawa, Ritsuo Takizawa, Mitsuru Yamashita, Mitsuru Sato, Katsunori Kokubun
  • Publication number: 20110108705
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes: a semiconductor substrate that includes a photodiode separately provided for each of pixels disposed in a matrix on a light-receiving surface; a first insulating film formed on the semiconductor substrate so as to cover multilayer wiring formed on and in contact with the semiconductor substrate, wherein the first insulating film is formed using material of a first refractive index lower than a refractive index of the semiconductor substrate for at least bottom surface and top surface portions of the first insulating film; a second insulating film of a second refractive index higher than the first refractive index formed on the first insulating film; a third insulating film of a third refractive index higher than the second refractive index formed on the second insulating film; and a color filter formed on the third insulating film in a corresponding manner with each pixel so as to transmit light in a wavelength region of red, green, or blue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2010
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kyoko Izuha, Hiromi Okazaki, Yoshiaki Kitano
  • Patent number: 7935563
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device with a structure such that an electrode for reading a signal charge is provided on one side of a light-receiving sensor portion constituting a pixel; a predetermined voltage signal V is applied to a light-shielding film formed to cover an image pickup area except the light-receiving sensor portion; a second-conductivity-type semiconductor area is formed in the center on the surface of a first-conductivity-type semiconductor area constituting a photo-electric conversion area of the light-receiving sensor portion; and areas containing a lower impurity concentration than that of the second-conductivity-type semiconductor area is formed on the surface of the first-conductivity-type semiconductor area at the end on the side of the electrode and at the opposite end on the side of a pixel-separation area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Kitano, Hideshi Abe, Jun Kuroiwa, Kiyoshi Hirata, Hiroaki Ohki, Nobuhiro Karasawa, Ritsuo Takizawa, Mitsuru Yamashita, Mitsuru Sato, Katsunori Kokubun
  • Patent number: 7928487
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device having an electrode for reading a signal charge is provided on one side of a light-receiving sensor portion constituting a pixel; a predetermined voltage signal applied to a light-shielding film formed to cover an image pickup area except the light-receiving sensor portion; a second-conductivity-type semiconductor area formed in the center on the surface of a first-conductivity-type semiconductor area constituting a photo-electric conversion area of the light-receiving sensor portion; and areas containing a lower impurity concentration than that of the second-conductivity-type semiconductor area formed on the surface of the first-conductivity-type semiconductor area at the end on the side of the electrode and at the opposite end on the side of a pixel-separation area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Kitano, Hideshi Abe, Jun Kuroiwa, Kiyoshi Hirata, Hiroaki Ohki, Nobuhiro Karasawa, Ritsuo Takizawa, Mitsuru Yamashita, Mitsuru Sato, Katsunori Kokubun
  • Patent number: 7821093
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device with a structure such that an electrode for reading a signal charge is provided on one side of a light-receiving sensor portion constituting a pixel; a predetermined voltage signal V is applied to a light-shielding film formed to cover an image pickup area except the light-receiving sensor portion; a second-conductivity-type semiconductor area is formed in the center on the surface of a first-conductivity-type semiconductor area constituting a photo-electric conversion area of the light-receiving sensor portion; and areas containing a lower impurity concentration than that of the second-conductivity-type semiconductor area is formed on the surface of the first-conductivity-type semiconductor area at the end on the side of the electrode and at the opposite end on the side of a pixel-separation area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Kitano, Hideshi Abe, Jun Kuroiwa, Kiyoshi Hirata, Hiroaki Ohki, Nobuhiro Karasawa, Ritsuo Takizawa, Mitsuru Yamashita, Mitsuru Sato, Katsunori Kokubun
  • Patent number: 7807953
    Abstract: There is provided a solid-state imaging device, including: a semiconductor substrate having a plurality of pixels, each having a photoelectric conversion portion, formed therein; and a laminated film formed on said semiconductor substrate; wherein said laminated film includes a hydrogen desorbing film for desorbing hydrogen, and a hydrogen blocking-off film disposed so as to overlie said hydrogen desorbing film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Kitano, Keiji Tatani, Shinya Watanabe, Kouji Yahazu, Yosuke Isoo, Masaru Suzuki
  • Patent number: 7800041
    Abstract: There is provided a solid-state imaging device, including: a semiconductor substrate having a plurality of pixels, each having a photoelectric conversion portion, formed therein; and a laminated film formed on said semiconductor substrate; wherein said laminated film includes a hydrogen desorbing film for desorbing hydrogen, and a hydrogen blocking-off film disposed so as to overlie said hydrogen desorbing film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Kitano, Keiji Tatani, Shinya Watanabe, Kouji Yahazu, Yosuke Isoo, Masaru Suzuki
  • Patent number: 7791118
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device with a structure such that an electrode for reading a signal charge is provided on one side of a light-receiving sensor portion constituting a pixel; a predetermined voltage signal V is applied to a light-shielding film formed to cover an image pickup area except the light-receiving sensor portion; a second-conductivity-type semiconductor area is formed in the center on the surface of a first-conductivity-type semiconductor area constituting a photo-electric conversion area of the light-receiving sensor portion; and areas containing a lower impurity concentration than that of the second-conductivity-type semiconductor area is formed on the surface of the first-conductivity-type semiconductor area at the end on the side of the electrode and at the opposite end on the side of a pixel-separation area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Kitano, Hideshi Abe, Jun Kuroiwa, Kiyoshi Hirata, Hiroaki Ohki, Nobuhiro Karasawa, Ritsuo Takizawa, Mitsuru Yamashita, Mitsuru Sato, Katsunori Kokubun
  • Publication number: 20100078744
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes light-sensing sections serving as pixels, and waveguides each including a core layer and a cladding layer, the waveguides each being disposed at a position corresponding to one of the light-sensing sections. A cross-sectional structure of the waveguide taken in the horizontal direction of an imaging plane is different from a cross-sectional structure of the waveguide taken in the vertical direction of the imaging plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2009
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiromi Wano, Yoshiaki Kitano
  • Publication number: 20090278031
    Abstract: There is provided a solid-state imaging device, including: a semiconductor substrate having a plurality of pixels, each having a photoelectric conversion portion, formed therein; and a laminated film formed on said semiconductor substrate; wherein said laminated film includes a hydrogen desorbing film for desorbing hydrogen, and a hydrogen blocking-off film disposed so as to overlie said hydrogen desorbing film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2009
    Publication date: November 12, 2009
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: YOSHIAKI KITANO, Keiji Tatani, Shinya Watanabe, Kouji Yahazu, Yosuke Isoo, Masaru Suzuki
  • Patent number: 7595214
    Abstract: A solid-state image pickup device includes, in a substrate, a plurality of photoelectric conversion regions for subjecting incoming light to photoelectric conversion, a reading gate for reading a signal charge from the photoelectric conversion regions, and a transfer register (vertical register) for transferring the signal charge read by the reading gate. Therein, a groove is formed on the surface side of the substrate, and the transfer register and the reading gate are formed at the bottom part of the groove. With such a structure, in the solid-state image pickup device, reduction can be achieved for the smear characteristics, a reading voltage, noise, and others.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Kitano, Nobuhiro Karasawa, Jun Kuroiwa, Hideshi Abe, Mitsuru Sato, Hiroaki Ohki
  • Publication number: 20090078976
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device with a structure such that an electrode for reading a signal charge is provided on one side of a light-receiving sensor portion constituting a pixel; a predetermined voltage signal V is applied to a light-shielding film formed to cover an image pickup area except the light-receiving sensor portion; a second-conductivity-type semiconductor area is formed in the center on the surface of a first-conductivity-type semiconductor area constituting a photo-electric conversion area of the light-receiving sensor portion; and areas containing a lower impurity concentration than that of the second-conductivity-type semiconductor area is formed on the surface of the first-conductivity-type semiconductor area at the end on the side of the electrode and at the opposite end on the side of a pixel-separation area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2008
    Publication date: March 26, 2009
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Kitano, Hideshi Abe, Jun Kuroiwa, Kiyoshi Hirata, Hiroaki Ohki, Nobuhiro Karasawa, Ritsuo Takizawa, Mitsuru Yamashita, Mitsuru Sato, Katsunori Kokubun