Patents by Inventor Yoshiharu Kudoh

Yoshiharu Kudoh 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: 10205893
    Abstract: An imaging device of a CMOS type having a global shutter function is downsized. In the imaging device, a photoelectric conversion unit generates charge corresponding to an exposure amount in a predetermined exposure period. A generated charge retaining unit is formed to have a predetermined impurity concentration in a semiconductor substrate and retains the charge. A generated charge transferring unit renders the photoelectric conversion unit and the generated charge retaining unit conductive therebetween after the exposure period has elapsed and transfers the charge from the photoelectric conversion unit to the generated charge retaining unit. An output charge retaining unit is formed to have substantially the same impurity concentration as that of the generated charge retaining unit and retains charge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yoshiharu Kudoh
  • Publication number: 20190043901
    Abstract: The present technology relates to a solid-state imaging element configured so that pixels can be more reliably separated, a method for manufacturing the solid-state imaging element, and an electronic apparatus. The solid-state imaging element includes a photoelectric converter, a first separator, and a second separator. The photoelectric converter is configured to perform photoelectric conversion of incident light. The first separator configured to separate the photoelectric converter is formed in a first trench formed from a first surface side. The second separator configured to separate the photoelectric converter is formed in a second trench formed from a second surface side facing a first surface. The present technology is applicable to an individual imaging element mounted on, e.g., a camera and configured to acquire an image of an object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2017
    Publication date: February 7, 2019
    Inventors: Hideyuki HONDA, Tetsuya UCHIDA, Toshifumi WAKANO, Yusuke TANAKA, Yoshiharu KUDOH, Hirotoshi NOMURA, Tomoyuki HIRANO, Shinichi YOSHIDA, Yoichi UEDA, Kosuke NAKANISHI
  • Patent number: 10199414
    Abstract: The present technology relates to a semiconductor device and electronic equipment in which a semiconductor device that suppresses the occurrence of noise by a leakage of light can be provided. A semiconductor device is configured which includes a light-receiving element 34, an active element for signal processing, and a light shielding structure 40 which is between the light-receiving element 34 and the active element to cover the active element and is formed of wirings 45 and 46. The semiconductor device further includes a first substrate on which the light-receiving element is formed, a second substrate on which the active element is formed, and a wiring layer which has a light shielding structure by the wirings which is formed on the second substrate, and in which the second substrate can be bonded to the first substrate through the wiring layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shoji Kobayashi, Yoshiharu Kudoh, Takuya Sano
  • Patent number: 10163950
    Abstract: A solid state imaging device including: a pixel region that is formed on a light incidence side of a substrate and to which a plurality of pixels that include photoelectric conversion units is arranged; a peripheral circuit unit that is formed in a lower portion in the substrate depth direction of the pixel region and that includes an active element; and a light shielding member that is formed between the pixel region and the peripheral circuit unit and that shields the incidence of light, emitted from an active element, to the photoelectric conversion unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Shoji Kobayashi, Yoshiharu Kudoh, Takuya Sano
  • Publication number: 20180295299
    Abstract: An imaging device of a CMOS type having a global shutter function is downsized. In the imaging device, a photoelectric conversion unit generates charge corresponding to an exposure amount in a predetermined exposure period. A generated charge retaining unit is formed to have a predetermined impurity concentration in a semiconductor substrate and retains the charge. A generated charge transferring unit renders the photoelectric conversion unit and the generated charge retaining unit conductive therebetween after the exposure period has elapsed and transfers the charge from the photoelectric conversion unit to the generated charge retaining unit. An output charge retaining unit is formed to have substantially the same impurity concentration as that of the generated charge retaining unit and retains charge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2016
    Publication date: October 11, 2018
    Inventor: YOSHIHARU KUDOH
  • Publication number: 20180269244
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device which includes a plurality of pixels in an arrangement, each of the pixels including a photoelectric conversion element, pixel transistors including a transfer transistor, and a floating diffusion region, in which the channel width of transfer gate of the transfer transistor is formed to be larger on a side of the floating diffusion region than on a side of the photoelectric conversion element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2018
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Inventor: Yoshiharu Kudoh
  • Patent number: 9924122
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device including a photoelectric conversion portion photoelectrically converting incident light into signal charge and accumulate the signal charge, a plurality of signal lines including a transfer signal line to which a transfer signal for reading the signal charge accumulated in the photoelectric conversion portion to a floating diffusion region is input, a driver circuit inputting a plurality of desired signals into the plurality of signal lines including the transfer signal line, and a terminal circuit connected to a side opposite to a side of the transfer signal line where the driver circuit is connected and to which a control signal for securing the transfer signal line at a constant voltage is input before a desired signal of the plurality of desired signals with respect to a signal line adjacent to the transfer signal line of the plurality of signal lines is input to the signal line adjacent to the transfer signal line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshiharu Kudoh, Hiroaki Ebihara
  • Patent number: 9912892
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device which includes a plurality of pixels in an arrangement, each of the pixels including a photoelectric conversion element, pixel transistors including a transfer transistor, and a floating diffusion region, in which the channel width of transfer gate of the transfer transistor is formed to be larger on a side of the floating diffusion region than on a side of the photoelectric conversion element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshiharu Kudoh
  • Patent number: 9899438
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device which includes a plurality of pixels in an arrangement, each of the pixels including a photoelectric conversion element, pixel transistors including a transfer transistor, and a floating diffusion region, in which the channel width of transfer gate of the transfer transistor is formed to be larger on a side of the floating diffusion region than on a side of the photoelectric conversion element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshiharu Kudoh
  • Patent number: 9899440
    Abstract: A solid state imaging device including: a pixel region that is formed on a light incidence side of a substrate and to which a plurality of pixels that include photoelectric conversion units is arranged; a peripheral circuit unit that is formed in a lower portion in the substrate depth direction of the pixel region and that includes an active element; and a light shielding member that is formed between the pixel region and the peripheral circuit unit and that shields the incidence of light, emitted from an active element, to the photoelectric conversion unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Shoji Kobayashi, Yoshiharu Kudoh, Takuya Sano
  • Publication number: 20170338355
    Abstract: The present technology relates to a semiconductor device and electronic equipment in which a semiconductor device that suppresses the occurrence of noise by a leakage of light can be provided. A semiconductor device is configured which includes a light-receiving element 34, an active element for signal processing, and a light shielding structure 40 which is between the light-receiving element 34 and the active element to cover the active element and is formed of wirings 45 and 46. The semiconductor device further includes a first substrate on which the light-receiving element is formed, a second substrate on which the active element is formed, and a wiring layer which has a light shielding structure by the wirings which is formed on the second substrate, and in which the second substrate can be bonded to the first substrate through the wiring layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2017
    Publication date: November 23, 2017
    Inventors: Shoji Kobayashi, Yoshiharu Kudoh, Takuya Sano
  • Publication number: 20170301717
    Abstract: A semiconductor integrated circuit includes a first semiconductor substrate in which a part of an analog circuit is formed between the analog circuit and a digital circuit which subjects an analog output signal output from the analog circuit to digital conversion; a second semiconductor substrate in which the remaining part of the analog circuit and the digital circuit are formed; and a substrate connection portion which connects the first and second semiconductor substrates to each other. The substrate connection portion transmits an analog signal which is generated by a part of the analog circuit of the first semiconductor substrate to the second semiconductor substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2017
    Publication date: October 19, 2017
    Inventor: Yoshiharu Kudoh
  • Publication number: 20170287961
    Abstract: A solid state imaging device including: a pixel region that is formed on a light incidence side of a substrate and to which a plurality of pixels that include photoelectric conversion units is arranged; a peripheral circuit unit that is formed in a lower portion in the substrate depth direction of the pixel region and that includes an active element; and a light shielding member that is formed between the pixel region and the peripheral circuit unit and that shields the incidence of light, emitted from an active element, to the photoelectric conversion unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2017
    Publication date: October 5, 2017
    Inventors: Shoji Kobayashi, Yoshiharu Kudoh, Takuya Sano
  • Patent number: 9749505
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device is provided. The solid-state imaging device includes an imaging region having a plurality of pixels arranged on a semiconductor substrate, in which each of the pixels includes a photoelectric converting portion and a charge converting portion for converting a charge generated by photoelectric conversion into a pixel signal and blooming is suppressed by controlling a substrate voltage of the semiconductor substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Maki Sato, Yoshiharu Kudoh
  • Publication number: 20170237916
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device is provided, which includes a photodiode having a first conductivity type semiconductor area that is dividedly formed for each pixel; a first conductivity type transfer gate electrode formed on the semiconductor substrate via a gate insulating layer in an area neighboring the photodiode, and transmitting signal charges generated and accumulated in the photodiode; a signal reading unit reading a voltage which corresponds to the signal charge or the signal charge; and an inversion layer induction electrode formed on the semiconductor substrate via the gate insulating layer in an area covering a portion or the whole of the photodiode, and composed of a conductor or a semiconductor having a work function. An inversion layer is induced, which is formed by accumulating a second conductivity type carrier on a surface of the inversion layer induction electrode side of the semiconductor area through the inversion layer induction electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2017
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Inventors: Yorito Sakano, Takashi Abe, Keiji Mabuchi, Ryoji Suzuki, Hiroyuki Mori, Yoshiharu Kudoh, Fumihiko Koga, Takeshi Yanagita, Kazunobu Ota
  • Publication number: 20170221955
    Abstract: A semiconductor integrated circuit includes a first semiconductor substrate in which a part of an analog circuit is formed between the analog circuit and a digital circuit which subjects an analog output signal output from the analog circuit to digital conversion; a second semiconductor substrate in which the remaining part of the analog circuit and the digital circuit are formed; and a substrate connection portion which connects the first and second semiconductor substrates to each other. The substrate connection portion transmits an analog signal which is generated by a part of the analog circuit of the first semiconductor substrate to the second semiconductor substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2017
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Inventor: Yoshiharu Kudoh
  • Patent number: 9712765
    Abstract: A solid-state image pickup device includes a pixel unit in which a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements having different sensitivities are arranged; and a pixel reading unit configured to read and add output signals from the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements in the pixel unit, and to obtain an output signal seemingly from one pixel. The pixel unit includes an absorbing unit configured to absorb overflowing electric charge from a photoelectric conversion element with a high sensitivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Eiichi Funatsu, Hiroaki Ebihara, Yoshiharu Kudoh
  • Patent number: 9691806
    Abstract: A semiconductor integrated circuit includes a first semiconductor substrate in which a part of an analog circuit is formed between the analog circuit and a digital circuit which subjects an analog output signal output from the analog circuit to digital conversion; a second semiconductor substrate in which the remaining part of the analog circuit and the digital circuit are formed; and a substrate connection portion which connects the first and second semiconductor substrates to each other. The substrate connection portion transmits an analog signal which is generated by a part of the analog circuit of the first semiconductor substrate to the second semiconductor substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshiharu Kudoh
  • Patent number: 9666628
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes: a light-receiving pixel part configured to be formed on a semiconductor substrate; a black-level reference pixel part configured to be formed on the semiconductor substrate; and a multilayer interconnect part configured to be provided over the semiconductor substrate. The multilayer interconnect part includes an insulating layer formed over the semiconductor substrate and metal interconnect layers formed as a plurality of layers in the insulating layer. The multilayer interconnect part has a first light-blocking film formed above an area between first metal interconnects of a first metal interconnect layer as one of the metal interconnect layers above the black-level reference pixel part, and a second light-blocking film that is connected to the first light-blocking film and is formed of a second metal interconnect layer over the first metal interconnect layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toshihiko Hayashi, Yoshiharu Kudoh
  • Patent number: 9661194
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device is provided, which includes a photodiode having a first conductivity type semiconductor area that is dividedly formed for each pixel; a first conductivity type transfer gate electrode formed on the semiconductor substrate via a gate insulating layer in an area neighboring the photodiode, and transmitting signal charges generated and accumulated in the photodiode; a signal reading unit reading a voltage which corresponds to the signal charge or the signal charge; and an inversion layer induction electrode formed on the semiconductor substrate via the gate insulating layer in an area covering a portion or the whole of the photodiode, and composed of a conductor or a semiconductor having a work function. An inversion layer is induced, which is formed by accumulating a second conductivity type carrier on a surface of the inversion layer induction electrode side of the semiconductor area through the inversion layer induction electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation
    Inventors: Yorito Sakano, Takashi Abe, Keiji Mabuchi, Ryoji Suzuki, Hiroyuki Mori, Yoshiharu Kudoh, Fumihiko Koga, Takeshi Yanagita, Kazunobu Ota