Patents by Inventor Yoshiyuki Matsunaga

Yoshiyuki Matsunaga 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: 20230353897
    Abstract: An imaging device including a photoelectric converter that generates signal charge; a charge storage region that stores the signal charge; a first transistor that has a gate coupled to the charge storage region and reads out the signal charge; a second transistor that has a source and a drain, an output of the first transistor being fed back to one of the source and the drain and being supplied to the charge storage region from the other of the source and the drain; and voltage supply circuitry that supplies voltages varying with time. In a reset operation for discharging the signal charge stored in the charge storage region, the voltage supply circuitry supplies the voltages to a gate of the second transistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2023
    Publication date: November 2, 2023
    Inventors: Motonori ISHII, Yoshiyuki MATSUNAGA, Yutaka HIROSE
  • Publication number: 20230253422
    Abstract: An imaging device including a semiconductor substrate; a photoelectric converter that converts incident light into a signal charge, the photoelectric converter being stacked on the semiconductor substrate; a node to which the signal charge is input; a transistor having a source and a drain, one of the source and the drain being connected to the node; and a capacitive element connected between the transistor and a voltage source or a ground. The transistor is configured to switch between a first mode and a second mode, a sensitivity in the first mode being different from a sensitivity in the second mode, and in a cross-sectional view, the capacitive element is located between the semiconductor substrate and the photoelectric converter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2023
    Publication date: August 10, 2023
    Inventors: Masashi MURAKAMI, Kazuko NISHIMURA, Yutaka ABE, Yoshiyuki MATSUNAGA, Yoshihiro SATO, Junji HIRASE
  • Patent number: 11722798
    Abstract: An imaging device including: a photoelectric converter that generates signal charge; a charge storage region that stores the signal charge; a first transistor that has a gate coupled to the charge storage region and reads out the signal charge; a second transistor that, has a source and a drain, an output of the first transistor being fed back to one of the source and the drain and being supplied to the charge storage region from the other of the source and the drain; and voltage supply circuitry that supplies voltages varying with time. In a reset operation for discharging the signal charge stored in the charge storage region, the voltage supply circuitry supplies the voltages to a gate of the second transistor so that the second transistor gradually changes from an OFF state to an ON state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Motonori Ishii, Yoshiyuki Matsunaga, Yutaka Hirose
  • Patent number: 11670652
    Abstract: An imaging device including: a photoelectric converter that converts incident light into a signal charge; a node to which the signal charge is input; a transistor having a source and a drain, one of the source and the drain being connected to the node; and a capacitive element. The capacitive element including a first electrode, a second electrode and a dielectric film sandwiched between the first electrode and the second electrode, the first electrode being connected to the other of the source and the drain of the transistor, the second electrode being connected to a voltage source or a ground. The transistor is configured to switch a first mode and a second mode, a sensitivity in the first mode being different from a sensitivity in the second mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masashi Murakami, Kazuko Nishimura, Yutaka Abe, Yoshiyuki Matsunaga, Yoshihiro Sato, Junji Hirase
  • Patent number: 11482558
    Abstract: An imaging device having a pixel including: a photoelectric converter that generates an electric signal through photoelectric conversion of incident light; a first transistor that has a gate coupled to the photoelectric converter and that amplifies the electric signal; and a second transistor that has a gate coupled to the photoelectric converter, one of a source and a drain of the second transistor being coupled to the photoelectric converter. The imaging device further includes a voltage supply circuit configured to supply two or more different voltages to the other of the source and the drain of the second transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuko Nishimura, Yutaka Abe, Masashi Murakami, Yoshiyuki Matsunaga
  • Publication number: 20220320161
    Abstract: An imaging device including: a photoelectric converter that converts incident light into a signal charge; a node to which the signal charge is input; a transistor having a source and a drain, one of the source and the drain being connected to the node; and a capacitive element. The capacitive element including a first electrode, a second electrode and a dielectric film sandwiched between the first electrode and the second electrode, the first electrode being connected to the other of the source and the drain of the transistor, the second electrode being connected to a voltage source or a ground. The transistor is configured to switch a first mode and a second mode, a sensitivity in the first mode being different from a sensitivity in the second mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2022
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Inventors: Masashi MURAKAMI, Kazuko NISHIMURA, Yutaka ABE, Yoshiyuki MATSUNAGA, Yoshihiro SATO, Junji HIRASE
  • Patent number: 11329079
    Abstract: An imaging device including a semiconductor substrate; a photoelectric converter stacked on the semiconductor substrate, the photoelectric converter being configured to generate a signal through photoelectric conversion of incident light; a multilayer wiring structure located between the semiconductor substrate and the photoelectric converter; and circuitry located in the multilayer wiring structure and the semiconductor substrate, the circuitry being configured to detect the signal. The circuitry includes a first capacitance element and a second capacitance element; and a first transistor including a first source and a first drain in the semiconductor substrate and a first gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masashi Murakami, Kazuko Nishimura, Yutaka Abe, Yoshiyuki Matsunaga, Yoshihiro Sato, Junji Hirase
  • Publication number: 20210092316
    Abstract: An imaging device including: a photoelectric converter that generates signal charge; a charge storage region that stores the signal charge; a first transistor that has a gate coupled to the charge storage region and reads out the signal charge; a second transistor that, has a source and a drain, an output of the first transistor being fed back to one of the source and the drain and being supplied to the charge storage region from the other of the source and the drain; and voltage supply circuitry that supplies voltages varying with time. In a reset operation for discharging the signal charge stored in the charge storage region, the voltage supply circuitry supplies the voltages to a gate of the second. transistor so that the second transistor gradually changes from an OFF state to an ON state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2020
    Publication date: March 25, 2021
    Inventors: Motonori ISHII, Yoshiyuki MATSUNAGA, Yutaka HIROSE
  • Patent number: 10897590
    Abstract: An imaging device includes a photoelectric converter generating signal charge; a charge storage region storing the signal charge; a first transistor having a gate coupled to the charge storage region; a second transistor having a source and a drain; and voltage supply circuitry supplying voltages varying with time. An output of the first transistor is fed back to the second transistor and is supplied to the charge storage region. A reset operation for discharging the signal charge in the charge storage region includes a first reset operation and a second reset operation. In the first reset operation, the second transistor changes from an OFF state to an ON state and then changes to an OFF state. In the second reset operation, the voltage supply circuitry supplies the voltages to a gate of the second transistor so that the second transistor gradually changes from an OFF state to an ON state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Motonori Ishii, Yoshiyuki Matsunaga, Yutaka Hirose
  • Publication number: 20200365633
    Abstract: An imaging device including a semiconductor substrate; a photoelectric converter stacked on the semiconductor substrate, the photoelectric converter being configured to generate a signal through photoelectric conversion of incident light; a multilayer wiring structure located between the semiconductor substrate and the photoelectric converter; and circuitry located in the multilayer wiring structure and the semiconductor substrate, the circuitry being configured to detect the signal. The the circuitry includes a first capacitance element and a second capacitance element; and a first transistor including a first source and a first drain in the semiconductor substrate and a first gate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2020
    Publication date: November 19, 2020
    Inventors: Masashi MURAKAMI, Kazuko NISHIMURA, Yutaka ABE, Yoshiyuki MATSUNAGA, Yoshihiro SATO, Junji HIRASE
  • Patent number: 10770491
    Abstract: An imaging device includes a photoelectric converter that includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and a photoelectric conversion layer between the first electrode and the second electrode, a first transistor that has a gate connected to the first electrode, and a first capacitor and a switching element that are connected, in series, between the first electrode and either a voltage source or a ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masashi Murakami, Kazuko Nishimura, Yutaka Abe, Yoshiyuki Matsunaga, Yoshihiro Sato, Junji Hirase
  • Publication number: 20200258933
    Abstract: An imaging device having a pixel including: a photoelectric converter that generates an electric signal through photoelectric conversion of incident light; a first transistor that has a gate coupled to the photoelectric converter and that amplifies the electric signal; and a second transistor that has a gate coupled to the photoelectric converter, one of a source and a drain of the second transistor being coupled to the photoelectric converter. The imaging device further includes a voltage supply circuit configured to supply two or more different voltages to the other of the source and the drain of the second transistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2020
    Publication date: August 13, 2020
    Inventors: Kazuko NISHIMURA, Yutaka ABE, Masashi MURAKAMI, Yoshiyuki MATSUNAGA
  • Patent number: 10672827
    Abstract: An imaging device having a pixel including a photoelectric converter that generates electric signal; first transistor having a gate coupled to the photoelectric converter; second transistor one of a source and a drain of which is coupled to one of a source and a drain of the first transistor; third transistor one of a source and a drain of which is coupled to the other of the source and the drain of the second transistor, the other of the source and the drain of the third transistor coupled to the photoelectric converter; first capacitor having a first and second ends, the first end coupled to the other of the source and the drain of the second transistor, first reference voltage applied to the second end; and second capacitor having a third and fourth ends, the third end coupled to the first end, the fourth end coupled to the photoelectric converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuko Nishimura, Yutaka Abe, Masashi Murakami, Yoshiyuki Matsunaga
  • Publication number: 20190259793
    Abstract: An imaging device includes a photoelectric converter that includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and a photoelectric conversion layer between the first electrode and the second electrode, a first transistor that has a gate connected to the first electrode, and a first capacitor and a switching element that are connected, in series, between the first electrode and either a voltage source or a ground.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2019
    Publication date: August 22, 2019
    Inventors: Masashi MURAKAMI, Kazuko NISHIMURA, Yutaka ABE, Yoshiyuki MATSUNAGA, Yoshihiro SATO, Junji HIRASE
  • Patent number: 10367025
    Abstract: Each unit pixel includes a photoelectric converter, an n-type impurity region forming an accumulation diode together with the semiconductor region, the accumulation diode accumulating a signal charge generated by the photoelectric converter, an amplifier transistor including a gate electrode electrically connected to the impurity region, and an isolation region formed around the amplifier transistor and implanted with p-type impurities. The amplifier transistor includes an n-type source/drain region formed between the gate electrode and the isolation region, and a channel region formed under the gate electrode. A gap in the isolation region is, in a gate width direction, wider at a portion including the channel region than at a portion including the source/drain region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Sato, Ryohei Miyagawa, Tokuhiko Tamaki, Junji Hirase, Yoshiyuki Ohmori, Yoshiyuki Matsunaga
  • Patent number: 10325945
    Abstract: An imaging device includes a unit pixel cell including: a photoelectric converter that generates a signal charge through photoelectric conversion of incident light, and a signal detection circuit that detects an electric signal according to an amount of the signal charge, wherein the signal detection circuit includes: a first transistor that amplifies the electric signal, a gate of the first transistor being connected to the photoelectric converter, a second transistor having a source and a drain, one of the source and the drain being connected to the photoelectric converter, and a first capacitor having a first end and a second end, the first end being connected to the other of the source and the drain of the second transistor, the second end being connected to a first voltage source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masashi Murakami, Kazuko Nishimura, Yutaka Abe, Yoshiyuki Matsunaga, Yoshihiro Sato, Junji Hirase
  • Publication number: 20190075265
    Abstract: An imaging device includes a photoelectric converter generating signal charge; a charge storage region storing the signal charge; a first transistor having a gate coupled to the charge storage region; a second transistor having a source and a drain; and voltage supply circuity supplying voltages varying with time. An output of the first transistor is fed back to the second transistor and is supplied to the charge storage region. A reset operation for discharging the signal charge in the charge storage region includes a first reset operation and a second reset operation. In the first reset operation, the second transistor changes from an OFF state to an ON state and then changes to an OFF state. In the second reset operation, the voltage supply circuity supplies the voltages to a gate of the second transistor so that the second transistor gradually changes from an OFF state to an ON state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2018
    Publication date: March 7, 2019
    Inventors: Motonori ISHII, Yoshiyuki MATSUNAGA, Yutaka HIROSE
  • Patent number: 10212371
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging apparatus has: a signal readout circuit including a charge storage region connected to a photoelectric conversion region, and a reset transistor connected at one of source and drain to the charge storage region; and a negative feedback circuit that feeds back an output of the signal readout circuit in a negative feedback manner to the other of the source and drain of the reset transistor. A reset operation for discharging a charge stored in the charge storage region includes a first period in which the negative feedback circuit is OFF and a second period which occurs after the first period and in which the negative feedback circuit is ON. In the first period, the reset transistor changes from OFF to ON and then to OFF. In the second period, such a reset transistor control voltage is applied that makes the reset transistor to gradually change to ON.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Motonori Ishii, Yoshiyuki Matsunaga, Yutaka Hirose
  • Publication number: 20190051693
    Abstract: An imaging device having a pixel including a photoelectric converter that generates electric signal; first transistor having a gate coupled to the photoelectric converter; second transistor one of a source and a drain of which is coupled to one of a source and a drain of the first transistor; third transistor one of a source and a drain of which is coupled to the other of the source and the drain of the second transistor, the other of the source and the drain of the third transistor coupled to the photoelectric converter; first capacitor having a first and second ends, the first end coupled to the other of the source and the drain of the second transistor, first reference voltage applied to the second end; and second capacitor having a third and fourth ends, the third end coupled to the first end, the fourth end coupled to the photoelectric converter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2018
    Publication date: February 14, 2019
    Inventors: Kazuko NISHIMURA, Yutaka ABE, Masashi MURAKAMI, Yoshiyuki MATSUNAGA
  • Patent number: 10158814
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging apparatus has: a signal readout circuit including a charge storage region connected to a photoelectric conversion region, and a reset transistor connected at one of source and drain to the charge storage region; and a negative feedback circuit that feeds back an output of the signal readout circuit in a negative feedback manner to the other of the source and drain of the reset transistor. A reset operation for discharging a charge stored in the charge storage region includes a first period in which the negative feedback circuit is OFF and a second period which occurs after the first period and in which the negative feedback circuit is ON. In the first period, the reset transistor changes from OFF to ON and then to OFF. In the second period, such a reset transistor control voltage is applied that makes the reset transistor to gradually change to ON.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Motonori Ishii, Yoshiyuki Matsunaga, Yutaka Hirose