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: 20210329181
    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: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2021
    Publication date: October 21, 2021
    Inventors: Takeyoshi TOKUHARA, Yoshiaki SATOU, Yusuke OKADA
  • Patent number: 11149142
    Abstract: The present invention provides a thermoplastic resin composition having a gel content of 40% by mass or more, comprising: a rubber-containing polymer (A); and a phosphorus-based antioxidant (B) having an alkyl group having 8 or more carbon atoms, wherein a melt flow rate (M1) for a retention time of 4 minutes measured in accordance with JIS K7210 under conditions of a temperature of 280° C. and a load of 49 N is 20 [g/10 min] or more. Even with a high gel content, the thermoplastic resin composition is high in fluidity and thermal stability during molding and easy to handle, and can be stably produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshiaki Satou
  • Patent number: 11128806
    Abstract: A camera system includes an imaging device that acquires a first image by a normal exposure including only one exposure and that acquires a second image by a multiple exposure including a plurality of exposures; and an image processor that extracts a feature value of a first object in the first image and that identifies one or more locations corresponding to the feature value in the second image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Satou, Sanshiro Shishido, Yasuo Miyake, Kazuko Nishimura, Hiroshi Iwai, Osamu Shibata
  • Patent number: 11094734
    Abstract: An imaging device including a semiconductor substrate having a first surface, the semiconductor substrate including: a first layer containing an impurity of a first conductivity type; a second layer containing an impurity of a second conductivity type different from the first conductivity type, the second layer being closer to the first surface than the first layer is; and a pixel. The pixel includes a photoelectric converter configured to convert light into charge; and a first diffusion region containing an impurity of the first conductivity type, the first diffusion region facing the first layer via the second layer, configured to store at least a part of the charge. The first layer having a second surface adjacent to the second layer, the second surface including a convex portion toward the first surface, and the convex portion facing the first diffusion region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Junji Hirase, Yoshinori Takami, Shota Yamada, Yoshihiro Sato, Yoshiaki Satou
  • Publication number: 20210250487
    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: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2021
    Publication date: August 12, 2021
    Inventors: Yoshiaki SATOU, Yasuo MIYAKE, Yasunori INOUE, Tokuhiko TAMAKI
  • Publication number: 20210185261
    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: February 25, 2021
    Publication date: June 17, 2021
    Inventors: YASUO MIYAKE, YUSUKE OKADA, TAKEYOSHI TOKUHARA, YOSHIAKI SATOU
  • Patent number: 11025832
    Abstract: An imaging device includes a pixel including a photoelectric converter, where 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 sensitivity of the photoelectric converter in the first exposure period is different from a sensitivity of the photoelectric converter in the second exposure period, and the imaging device generates multiple-exposure image data including at least the first data and the second data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Satou, Yasuo Miyake, Yasunori Inoue, Tokuhiko Tamaki
  • Publication number: 20210143218
    Abstract: An imaging device includes a semiconductor substrate, a first pixel that performs photoelectric conversion, and a first shield. The first pixel includes a first diffusion region that is present in the semiconductor substrate, a first wiring line connected to the first diffusion region, a first transistor, and a first voltage line that makes up at least part of a voltage supply path to a drain or a source of the first transistor. A first signal charge obtained by photoelectric conversion performed by the first pixel flows through the first wiring line. The first signal charge flows into a gate of the first transistor via the first wiring line. Voltages that are different from each other are applied to the first voltage line. A distance between the first voltage line and the first shield is smaller than a distance between the first voltage line and the first wiring line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2021
    Publication date: May 13, 2021
    Inventors: YOSHIAKI SATOU, YOSHIHIRO SATO, MASASHI MURAKAMI
  • Publication number: 20210099658
    Abstract: An imaging device includes: a photoelectric converter that includes first and second electrodes and a photoelectric conversion layer therebetween and that generates signal charge; a capacitor having first and second terminals, the first terminal being connected to the first electrode; a first voltage supply circuit that selectively supplies at least two different voltages to the second electrode; and a second voltage supply circuit that selectively supplies at least two different voltages to the second terminal. In a predetermined period in each frame, when the first voltage supply circuit supplies a first voltage to the second electrode, the second voltage supply circuit supplies a second voltage to the second terminal, and when the first voltage supply circuit supplies a third voltage higher than the first voltage to the second electrode, the second voltage supply circuit supplies a fourth voltage lower than the second voltage to the second terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2020
    Publication date: April 1, 2021
    Inventors: TAKEYOSHI TOKUHARA, YOSHIAKI SATOU, YUSUKE OKADA
  • Patent number: 10957028
    Abstract: An image generation device includes a first reception unit and a control unit. The first reception unit receives travel information about the travel state of a moving body. The control unit sets, based on the travel information, a multiple-exposure region in an imaging region of an image sensor used on the moving body, and generates image data in which the multiple-exposure region in the imaging region is formed through a multiple exposure and a region other than the multiple-exposure region is not formed through the multiple exposure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Osamu Shibata, Hiroshi Iwai, Kazuko Nishimura, Yasuo Miyake, Yoshiaki Satou
  • Publication number: 20210084248
    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: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2020
    Publication date: March 18, 2021
    Inventors: YUSUKE OKADA, TAKEYOSHI TOKUHARA, YOSHIAKI SATOU, YASUO MIYAKE
  • Publication number: 20210051261
    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: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2020
    Publication date: February 18, 2021
    Inventors: Yoshiaki SATOU, Kazuko NISHIMURA, Yasuo MIYAKE, Osamu SHIBATA, Hiroshi IWAI
  • Publication number: 20210006735
    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: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2020
    Publication date: January 7, 2021
    Inventors: Yasuo MIYAKE, Masashi MURAKAMI, Tokuhiko TAMAKI, Yoshiaki SATOU
  • Patent number: 10868983
    Abstract: An objective is recognition of the travel direction of an object captured in an image frame. An image generating apparatus includes: a receiver circuit that receives a single exposure frame created by a single exposure and a multiple exposure frame created by multiple exposures after the single exposure frame, the single exposure frame and the multiple exposure frame being output from an image sensor; and a control circuit that specifies a starting point of a motion track of an object in the multiple exposure frame in accordance with a position of the object in the single exposure frame and a position of the same object in the multiple exposure frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Osamu Shibata, Hiroshi Iwai, Kazuko Nishimura, Yasuo Miyake, Yoshiaki Satou
  • Patent number: 10841505
    Abstract: An imaging device including 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 acquiring first image data from the first pixels and acquiring 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; and an image processor. The image processor performs a differential processing based on the first image data and the second image data to generate third image data, and extracts an image of the code from the third image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Satou, Kazuko Nishimura, Yasuo Miyake, Osamu Shibata, Hiroshi Iwai
  • Patent number: 10819924
    Abstract: An electronic device including: a photosensitive layer that converts incident light into a signal charge; a first electrode that collects the signal charge; and a first carrier blocking layer between the photosensitive layer and the first electrode. The carrier blocking layer is configured to block a carrier a polarity of which is different from that of the signal charge. Under a first range of biases on the electronic device, the photosensitive layer is configured to generate photocurrent while illuminated. Under a second range of biases on the electronic device, the photosensitive layer is configured to generate lower photocurrent while illuminated compared to under the first range of biases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yasuo Miyake, Masashi Murakami, Tokuhiko Tamaki, Yoshiaki Satou
  • Publication number: 20200321385
    Abstract: An imaging device including a semiconductor substrate having a first surface, the semiconductor substrate including: a first layer containing an impurity of a first conductivity type; a second layer containing an impurity of a second conductivity type different from the first conductivity type, the second layer being closer to the first surface than the first layer is; and a pixel. The pixel includes a photoelectric converter configured to convert light into charge; and a first diffusion region containing an impurity of the first conductivity type, the first diffusion region facing the first layer via the second layer, configured to store at least a part of the charge. The first layer having a second surface adjacent to the second layer, the second surface including a convex portion toward the first surface, and the convex portion facing the first diffusion region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2020
    Publication date: October 8, 2020
    Inventors: Junji HIRASE, Yoshinori TAKAMI, Shota YAMADA, Yoshihiro SATO, Yoshiaki SATOU
  • Patent number: 10763285
    Abstract: An image generation device includes a receiver and a controller. The receiver receives travel information about the travel state of a movable-body apparatus. The controller selects, based on the travel information, a first partial region from an entirety of a plurality of pixels of an image sensor or an entirety of image data captured by the image sensor, and generates image data in which a region other than the first partial region has a resolution lower than the resolution of the first partial region. The image sensor is to be mounted to the movable-body apparatus and is configured to capture an area in a traveling direction of the movable-body apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Osamu Shibata, Hiroshi Iwai, Kazuko Nishimura, Yasuo Miyake, Yoshiaki Satou
  • Patent number: 10734432
    Abstract: An imaging device includes a semiconductor substrate having a surface, the semiconductor substrate including: a first layer of a first conductivity type; a second layer of a second conductivity type, the second layer being closer to the surface; and a pixel including: a photoelectric converter configured to convert light into charge; a first diffusion region of the first conductivity type, the first diffusion region facing the first layer via the second layer, configured to store at least a part of the charge; and a second diffusion region being a diffusion region closest to the first diffusion region among diffusion regions of the first conductivity type, the diffusion regions facing the first layer via the second layer. A distance between the second diffusion region and the first layer is equal to or less than 1.5 times a distance between the second diffusion region and the first diffusion region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Junji Hirase, Yoshinori Takami, Shota Yamada, Yoshihiro Sato, Yoshiaki Satou
  • Publication number: 20200195830
    Abstract: An imaging device including 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 acquiring first image data from the first pixels and acquiring 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; and an image processor. The image processor performs a differential processing based on the first image data and the second image data to generate third image data, and extracts an image of the code from the third image data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2020
    Publication date: June 18, 2020
    Inventors: Yoshiaki SATOU, Kazuko NISHIMURA, Yasuo MIYAKE, Osamu SHIBATA, Hiroshi IWAI