Patents by Inventor Yoshiaki Satou

Yoshiaki Satou 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: 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: 11722784
    Abstract: An imaging device including pixels and processing circuitry, where the pixels capture a first image in a first exposure period within a frame period and capture a second image in a second exposure period within the frame period to generate multiple-exposure image data that include the first image and the second image in a multiplexed state, the second exposure period being different from the first exposure period, the second image being different from the first image in brightness or color, and the processing circuitry detects an image of a moving subject from the multiple-exposure image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Satou, Yasuo Miyake, Yasunori Inoue, Tokuhiko Tamaki
  • Publication number: 20230247315
    Abstract: An imaging device including pixels each including a photoelectric converter that converts light into a signal charge; and controller, where the controller causes the pixels to perform global shutter operation in a first frame period and causes the pixels to perform rolling shatter operation in a second frame period different from the first frame period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2023
    Publication date: August 3, 2023
    Inventors: Yasuo MIYAKE, Masashi MURAKAMI, Tokuhiko TAMAKI, Yoshiaki SATOU
  • Patent number: 11678083
    Abstract: An imaging device including a semiconductor substrate that includes a first impurity region; a photoelectric converter that is coupled to the first impurity region and that converts light into charges; a capacitor that includes a first terminal and a second terminal, the first terminal coupled to the first impurity region; voltage supply circuitry coupled to the second terminal; a first transistor including the first impurity region as a source or a drain; and control circuitry. The control circuitry is programmed to cause the voltage supply circuitry to supply a first voltage in a first period, and to cause the voltage supply circuitry to supply a second voltage different from the first voltage in a second period continuous to the first period, the first transistor being in on-state in the first period, the first transistor being in off-state in the second period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Satou, Shota Yamada, Masashi Murakami, Yutaka Hirose
  • Patent number: 11647299
    Abstract: An imaging device including pixels each including: a photoelectric converter including a first electrode, a second electrode, and a photoelectric conversion layer between the first electrode and the second electrode, the second electrode of each of the pixels being electrically connected to each other; and a transistor having a gate electrically connected to the first electrode. The imaging device further including voltage supply circuitry electrically connected to the second electrode, in which the voltage supply circuitry supplies a first voltage to the second electrode in an exposure period, the voltage supply circuitry supplies a second voltage to the second electrode in a non-exposure period, an a potential difference between the first electrode and the second electrode in the non-exposure period is less than a potential difference between the first electrode and the second electrode in the exposure period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yasuo Miyake, Masashi Murakami, Tokuhiko Tamaki, Yoshiaki Satou
  • Publication number: 20230060498
    Abstract: An imaging device including a first filter that passes a first light and a second light; a second filter that blocks the second light; photoelectric converters that have sensitivity to the first light and the second light; and a processor, in which one of the photoelectric converters detects a light passing through the first filter to generate a first signal, one of the photoelectric converters detects a light passing through the first filter and the second filter to generate a second signal, and the processor performs the second light sensing based on the first signal and the second signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2022
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Inventors: Yoshiaki SATOU, Kazuko NISHIMURA, Yasuo MIYAKE, Osamu SHIBATA, Hiroshi IWAI
  • 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: 11546521
    Abstract: A camera system including an imaging device that captures a first image by a normal exposure including only one exposure and that captures a second image by a multiple exposure including a plurality of exposures; and a control circuit. The the imaging device captures the second image in a first frame period, and the control circuit determines, based on the second image captured in the first frame period, whether to capture an image by the normal exposure or capture an image by the multiple exposure in a second frame period following the first frame period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Satou, Sanshiro Shishido, Yasuo Miyake, Kazuko Nishimura, Hiroshi Iwai, Osamu Shibata
  • 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: 11528424
    Abstract: An imaging device having an imager that includes first pixels having sensitivity to a first light and second pixels having sensitivity to a second light, a wavelength of the first light being different from a wavelength of the second light. The imager being configured to acquire first image data from the first pixels and being configured to acquire second image data from the second pixels. Each of the first image data and the second image data including an image of a code, the code being configured to output the second light. The imaging device further including an image processor configured to extract an image of the code based on the first image data and the second image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Satou, Kazuko Nishimura, Yasuo Miyake, Osamu Shibata, Hiroshi Iwai
  • Publication number: 20220303448
    Abstract: An imaging device including pixels and processing circuitry, where the pixels capture a first image in a first exposure period within a frame period and capture a second image in a second exposure period within the frame period to generate multiple-exposure image data that include the first image and the second image in a multiplexed state, the second exposure period being different from the first exposure period, the second image being different from the first image in brightness or color, and the processing circuitry detects an image of a moving subject from the multiple-exposure image data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2022
    Publication date: September 22, 2022
    Inventors: Yoshiaki SATOU, Yasuo Miyake, Yasunori Inoue, Tokuhiko Tamaki
  • 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: 11388349
    Abstract: An imaging device including a pixel, and a controller that sets a sensitivity of the pixel according to an external signal, where the external signal includes sound, vibration or inclination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Satou, Yasuo Miyake, Yasunori Inoue, Tokuhiko Tamaki
  • Patent number: 11333489
    Abstract: An imaging device includes a pixel. The pixel includes: a first electrode; a second electrode facing the first electrode; a photoelectric conversion layer between the first electrode and the second electrode, the photoelectric conversion layer converting light into signal charge; and a charge accumulation region coupled to the second electrode, the charge accumulation region accumulating the signal charge. The pixel 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 length of the first exposure period is different from a length of the second exposure period. The imaging device generates multiple-exposure image data including at least the first data and the second data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuko Nishimura, Yasuo Miyake, Yoshiaki Satou, Osamu Shibata, Hiroshi Iwai
  • Publication number: 20220109800
    Abstract: An imaging device including a semiconductor substrate that includes a first impurity region; a photoelectric converter that is coupled to the first impurity region and that converts light into charges; a capacitor that includes a first terminal and a second terminal, the first terminal coupled to the first impurity region; voltage supply circuitry coupled to the second terminal; a first transistor including the first impurity region as a source or a drain; and control circuitry. The control circuitry is programmed to cause the voltage supply circuitry to supply a first voltage in a first period, and to cause the voltage supply circuitry to supply a second voltage different from the first voltage in a second period continuous to the first period, the first transistor being in on-state in the first period, the first transistor being in off-state in the second period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2021
    Publication date: April 7, 2022
    Inventors: Yoshiaki SATOU, Shota YAMADA, Masashi MURAKAMI, Yutaka HIROSE
  • Publication number: 20220046192
    Abstract: An imaging device including pixels each including: a photoelectric converter including a first electrode, a second electrode, and a photoelectric conversion layer between the first electrode and the second electrode, the second electrode of each of the pixels being electrically connected to each other; and a transistor having a gate electrically connected to the first electrode. The imaging device further including voltage supply circuitry electrically connected to the second electrode, in which the voltage supply circuitry supplies a first voltage to the second electrode in an exposure period, the voltage supply circuitry supplies a second voltage to the second electrode in a non-exposure period, an a potential difference between the first electrode and the second electrode in the non-exposure period is less than a potential difference between the first electrode and the second electrode in the exposure period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2021
    Publication date: February 10, 2022
    Inventors: Yasuo MIYAKE, Masashi Murakami, Tokuhiko Tamaki, Yoshiaki Satou
  • Patent number: 11233958
    Abstract: An imaging device includes a semiconductor substrate that includes a first impurity region having n-type conductivity; a photoelectric converter that is electrically connected to the first impurity region and that converts light into charges; a capacitor that includes a first terminal and a second terminal, the first terminal being electrically connected to the first impurity region; and a voltage supply circuit electrically connected to the second terminal. The voltage supply circuit is configured to generate a first voltage and a second voltage different from the first voltage. The first impurity region accumulates positive charges generated by the photoelectric converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Satou, Shota Yamada, Masashi Murakami, Yutaka Hirose
  • Publication number: 20210385366
    Abstract: A camera system including an imaging device that captures a first image by a normal exposure including only one exposure and that captures a second image by a multiple exposure including a plurality of exposures; and a control circuit. The the imaging device captures the second image in a first frame period, and the control circuit determines, based on the second image captured in the first frame period, whether to capture an image by the normal exposure or capture an image by the multiple exposure in a second frame period following the first frame period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2021
    Publication date: December 9, 2021
    Inventors: Yoshiaki SATOU, Sanshiro SHISHIDO, Yasuo MIYAKE, Kazuko NISHIMURA, Hiroshi IWAI, Osamu SHIBATA
  • Patent number: 11184563
    Abstract: An imaging device including pixels having a photoelectric converter including a first and second electrode, a photoelectric conversion layer; a charge accumulation region electrically connected to the first electrode; and a signal detection circuit. The photoelectric converter is applied with a voltage between the first electrode and the second electrode, and the photoelectric converter has a characteristic, responsive to the voltage within a range from a first voltage to a second voltage, showing that a density of current passing between the first electrode and the second electrode when light is incident on the photoelectric conversion layer becomes substantially equal to that when no light is incident on the photoelectric conversion layer. A difference between the first voltage and the second voltage is 0.5 V or more, and the voltage supply circuit supplies a voltage between the first voltage and the second voltage to the second electrode in a non-exposure period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yasuo Miyake, Masashi Murakami, Tokuhiko Tamaki, Yoshiaki Satou