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: 20200177787
    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: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2020
    Publication date: June 4, 2020
    Inventors: Yoshiaki SATOU, Yasuo MIYAKE, Yasunori INOUE, Tokuhiko TAMAKI
  • Publication number: 20200115537
    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: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2018
    Publication date: April 16, 2020
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshiaki Satou
  • Patent number: 10616495
    Abstract: An imaging device includes: an imager that includes first pixels having sensitivity to visible light and second pixels having sensitivity to non-visible 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 containing an image of an object that displays a code through non-visible light; and an image processor. The image processor performs a correction process including a process of multiplying at least either the first image data or the second image data by a correction factor, generates third image data from a difference between a pair of image data obtained by the correction process, and extracts the code on the basis of the third image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Satou, Kazuko Nishimura, Yasuo Miyake, Osamu Shibata, Hiroshi Iwai
  • Patent number: 10594948
    Abstract: An imaging device includes a unit pixel cell. The unit pixel cell 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 per unit time of the unit pixel cell in the first exposure period is different from a sensitivity per unit time of the unit pixel cell in the second exposure period. The imaging device outputs multiple-exposure image data including at least the first data and the second data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Satou, Yasuo Miyake, Yasunori Inoue, Tokuhiko Tamaki
  • Publication number: 20200056879
    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: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2019
    Publication date: February 20, 2020
    Inventors: Kazuko NISHIMURA, Yasuo MIYAKE, Yoshiaki SATOU, Osamu SHIBATA, Hiroshi IWAI
  • Patent number: 10534240
    Abstract: An imaging control device includes a controller and an input section. The controller causes an image sensor to, during at least one first frame period, capture at least one first multiple exposure image by using a first exposure signal that contains a plurality of pulses having a plurality of pulse widths different from one another; the image sensor is configured to capture an image by making multiple exposure. The input section receives the at least one first multiple exposure image. The controller selects one pulse width from the plurality of pulse widths, based on the first multiple exposure image received by the input section and then causes the image sensor to, during a second frame period, capture the image by using a second exposure signal that contains a pulse having the selected pulse width; the second frame period follows the first frame period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Iwai, Osamu Shibata, Kazuko Nishimura, Yasuo Miyake, Yoshiaki Satou
  • Patent number: 10531021
    Abstract: An object is to extract the motion tracks of other vehicles from an image taken from a target vehicle. An image generating apparatus includes: a determiner circuit that determines whether surroundings of the target vehicle are in a dark place; and a control circuit that causes an image sensor including a high-sensitivity cell and a highly-saturated cell to create a highly-saturated frame by multiple exposures through the highly-saturated cell, the highly-saturated cell having lower sensitivity and larger charge storage capacity than the high-sensitivity cell, when the determiner circuit determines that the surroundings of the target vehicle are in the dark place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Osamu Shibata, Hiroshi Iwai, Kazuko Nishimura, Yasuo Miyake, Yoshiaki Satou
  • Publication number: 20190362479
    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: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2017
    Publication date: November 28, 2019
    Inventors: OSAMU SHIBATA, HIROSHI IWAI, KAZUKO NISHIMURA, YASUO MIYAKE, YOSHIAKI SATOU
  • Patent number: 10473456
    Abstract: A driving control system includes: an imaging device that is installed on a moving body and that images a target object in a first frame period a plurality of times to generate a multiple-exposure image data including a first image data and a second image data; and a processor that detects a relative motion state of the moving body with respect to the target object, based on the first image data and the second image data. The imaging device images the target object with a first sensitivity in a first exposure period in the first frame period to generate the first image data and images the target object with a second sensitivity in a second exposure period in the first frame period to generate the second image data, the second exposure period being different from the first exposure period, the second sensitivity being different from the first sensitivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuko Nishimura, Yasuo Miyake, Yoshiaki Satou, Osamu Shibata, Hiroshi Iwai
  • Publication number: 20190313038
    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: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2019
    Publication date: October 10, 2019
    Inventors: Yasuo MIYAKE, Masashi MURAKAMI, Tokuhiko TAMAKI, Yoshiaki SATOU
  • Patent number: 10440302
    Abstract: An imaging device having a pixel including a photoelectric converter that converts incident light into charges, and a reset transistor having a first source, a first drain and a first gate, one of the first source and the first drain coupled to the photoelectric converter. The imaging device further including first voltage generating circuity that generates a first voltage; second voltage generating circuity that generates a second voltage, the second voltage generating circuity being different from the first voltage generating circuity; and first switching circuity that causes either the first voltage generating circuity or the second voltage generating circuity to selectively couple to the other of the first source and the first drain of the reset transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaaki Yanagida, Takayasu Kito, Yoshiaki Satou
  • Publication number: 20190253597
    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: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2019
    Publication date: August 15, 2019
    Inventors: YOSHIAKI SATOU, SANSHIRO SHISHIDO, YASUO MIYAKE, KAZUKO NISHIMURA, HIROSHI IWAI, OSAMU SHIBATA
  • Patent number: 10375329
    Abstract: An imaging device including: unit pixel cells each including a first electrode, a second electrode, a photoelectric conversion layer, a charge accumulation region connected to the first electrode, and a signal detection circuit connected to the charge accumulation region; and a voltage supply circuit connected to the second electrode, the voltage supply circuit supplying a first voltage to the second electrode in a first period, the voltage supply circuit supplying a second voltage that is different from the first voltage to the second electrode in a second period. Each unit pixel cells includes a reset transistor which switches between supply and cutoff of a reset voltage initializing the charge accumulation region, and a potential difference between the first electrode and the second electrode when the reset voltage is supplied is greater than a potential difference between the first electrode and the second electrode after the reset voltage is cut off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yasuo Miyake, Masashi Murakami, Tokuhiko Tamaki, Yoshiaki Satou
  • Publication number: 20190238767
    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: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2019
    Publication date: August 1, 2019
    Inventors: YOSHIAKI SATOU, SHOTA YAMADA, MASASHI MURAKAMI, YUTAKA HIROSE
  • Publication number: 20190219891
    Abstract: An imaging control device includes a controller and an input section. The controller causes an image sensor to, during at least one first frame period, capture at least one first multiple exposure image by using a first exposure signal that contains a plurality of pulses having a plurality of pulse widths different from one another; the image sensor is configured to capture an image by making multiple exposure. The input section receives the at least one first multiple exposure image. The controller selects one pulse width from the plurality of pulse widths, based on the first multiple exposure image received by the input section and then causes the image sensor to, during a second frame period, capture the image by using a second exposure signal that contains a pulse having the selected pulse width; the second frame period follows the first frame period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2017
    Publication date: July 18, 2019
    Inventors: HIROSHI IWAI, OSAMU SHIBATA, KAZUKO NISHIMURA, YASUO MIYAKE, YOSHIAKI SATOU
  • Publication number: 20190198540
    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: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2019
    Publication date: June 27, 2019
    Inventors: OSAMU SHIBATA, HIROSHI IWAI, KAZUKO NISHIMURA, YASUO MIYAKE, YOSHIAKI SATOU
  • Publication number: 20190113332
    Abstract: A driving control system includes: an imaging device that is installed on a moving body and that images a target object in a first frame period a plurality of times to generate a multiple-exposure image data including a first image data and a second image data; and a processor that detects a relative motion state of the moving body with respect to the target object, based on the first image data and the second image data. The imaging device images the target object with a first sensitivity in a first exposure period in the first frame period to generate the first image data and images the target object with a second sensitivity in a second exposure period in the first frame period to generate the second image data, the second exposure period being different from the first exposure period, the second sensitivity being different from the first sensitivity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2018
    Publication date: April 18, 2019
    Inventors: KAZUKO NISHIMURA, YASUO MIYAKE, YOSHIAKI SATOU, OSAMU SHIBATA, HIROSHI IWAI
  • Patent number: 10225493
    Abstract: A method for driving an imaging device which includes unit pixel cells each including a first electrode, a second electrode, and a photoelectric conversion layer between the first electrode and second electrode, the photoelectric conversion layer having a photocurrent characteristic including a first voltage range, a second voltage range, and a third voltage range where an absolute value of a rate of change of the current density relative to the bias voltage is less than in the first voltage range and the second voltage range, the method including supplying a first voltage to the second electrode in a first period, and supplying a second voltage different from the first voltage to the second electrode in a second period different from the first period such that the bias voltage applied to the photoelectric conversion layer falls within the third voltage range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuo Miyake, Masashi Murakami, Tokuhiko Tamaki, Yoshiaki Satou
  • Publication number: 20190035842
    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: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2018
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Inventors: JUNJI HIRASE, YOSHINORI TAKAMI, SHOTA YAMADA, YOSHIHIRO SATO, YOSHIAKI SATOU
  • Publication number: 20180359439
    Abstract: An imaging device having a pixel including a photoelectric converter that converts incident light into charges, and a reset transistor having a first source, a first drain and a first gate, one of the first source and the first drain coupled to the photoelectric converter. The imaging device further including first voltage generating circuity that generates a first voltage; second voltage generating circuity that generates a second voltage, the second voltage generating circuity being different from the first voltage generating circuity; and first switching circuity that causes either the first voltage generating circuity or the second voltage generating circuity to selectively couple to the other of the first source and the first drain of the reset transistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2018
    Publication date: December 13, 2018
    Inventors: Masaaki YANAGIDA, Takayasu KITO, Yoshiaki SATOU