Patents by Inventor Youji Sakioka

Youji Sakioka 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: 11770639
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a solid-state imaging device, a signal processing method therefor, and an electronic apparatus enabling sensitivity correction in which a sensitivity difference between solid-state imaging devices is suppressed. The solid-state imaging device includes a pixel unit in which one microlens is formed for a plurality of pixels in a manner such that a boundary of the microlens coincides with boundaries of the pixels. The correction circuit corrects a sensitivity difference between the pixels inside the pixel unit based on a correction coefficient. The present disclosure is applicable to, for example, a solid-state imaging device and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: SONY GROUP CORPORATION
    Inventors: Youji Sakioka, Masayuki Tachi, Hisashi Nishimaki, Taishin Yoshida
  • Publication number: 20230013088
    Abstract: Provided are an imaging device having more superior optical characteristics, a method of manufacturing the imaging device, and an electronic device at a lower cost. An imaging device according to an embodiment includes: an imaging element (10) including a solid-state imaging element (100) on which a light receiving surface in which light receiving elements are arranged in a two-dimensional lattice shape is formed, and a protection member (101, 102) disposed on a side of the light receiving surface with respect to the solid-state imaging element, in which the imaging element includes a curved portion curved from the light receiving surface of the solid-state imaging element toward a surface on an opposite side of the light receiving surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2020
    Publication date: January 19, 2023
    Inventors: KATSUJI KIMURA, YOUJI SAKIOKA, HIROKAZU SEKI
  • Publication number: 20220309692
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a distance measurement apparatus and a biometric authentication apparatus that are capable of conducting high-precise distance measurement even in intense light such as sunlight. A light source applies light to a subject. An image sensor captures an image of the subject. A distance measurement section calculates a distance to the subject on the basis of the image obtained by the image capturing. A transparent member is formed, on the image sensor, so as to be integrated with the image sensor. In addition, the transparent member includes a transmission film that allows a peak wavelength band of the light of the light source to transmit therethrough. The present disclosure is applicable to a biometric authentication apparatus, for example.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2020
    Publication date: September 29, 2022
    Inventors: KATSUJI KIMURA, YOUJI SAKIOKA, MITSUHIRO IWAMA
  • Publication number: 20210377482
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a solid-state imaging device, a signal processing method therefor, and an electronic apparatus enabling sensitivity correction in which a sensitivity difference between solid-state imaging devices is suppressed. The solid-state imaging device includes a pixel unit in which one microlens is formed for a plurality of pixels in a manner such that a boundary of the microlens coincides with boundaries of the pixels. The correction circuit corrects a sensitivity difference between the pixels inside the pixel unit based on a correction coefficient. The present disclosure is applicable to, for example, a solid-state imaging device and the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2021
    Publication date: December 2, 2021
    Applicant: SONY GROUP CORPORATION
    Inventors: Youji SAKIOKA, Masayuki TACHI, Hisashi NISHIMAKI, Taishin YOSHIDA
  • Patent number: 11122229
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a solid-state imaging device, a signal processing method therefor, and an electronic apparatus enabling sensitivity correction in which a sensitivity difference between solid-state imaging devices is suppressed. The solid-state imaging device includes a pixel unit in which one microlens is formed for a plurality of pixels in a manner such that a boundary of the microlens coincides with boundaries of the pixels. The correction circuit corrects a sensitivity difference between the pixels inside the pixel unit based on a correction coefficient. The present disclosure is applicable to, for example, a solid-state imaging device and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Youji Sakioka, Masayuki Tachi, Hisashi Nishimaki, Taishin Yoshida
  • Publication number: 20200029046
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a solid-state imaging device, a signal processing method therefor, and an electronic apparatus enabling sensitivity correction in which a sensitivity difference between solid-state imaging devices is suppressed. The solid-state imaging device includes a pixel unit in which one microlens is formed for a plurality of pixels in a manner such that a boundary of the microlens coincides with boundaries of the pixels. The correction circuit corrects a sensitivity difference between the pixels inside the pixel unit based on a correction coefficient. The present disclosure is applicable to, for example, a solid-state imaging device and the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2019
    Publication date: January 23, 2020
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Youji SAKIOKA, Masayuki TACHI, Hisashi NISHIMAKI, Taishin YOSHIDA
  • Patent number: 10542229
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a solid-state imaging device, a signal processing method therefor, and an electronic apparatus enabling sensitivity correction in which a sensitivity difference between solid-state imaging devices is suppressed. The solid-state imaging device includes a pixel unit in which one microlens is formed for a plurality of pixels in a manner such that a boundary of the microlens coincides with boundaries of the pixels. The correction circuit corrects a sensitivity difference between the pixels inside the pixel unit based on a correction coefficient. The present disclosure is applicable to, for example, a solid-state imaging device and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Youji Sakioka, Masayuki Tachi, Hisashi Nishimaki, Taishin Yoshida
  • Publication number: 20180160067
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a solid-state imaging device, a signal processing method therefor, and an electronic apparatus enabling sensitivity correction in which a sensitivity difference between solid-state imaging devices is suppressed. The solid-state imaging device includes a pixel unit in which one microlens is formed for a plurality of pixels in a manner such that a boundary of the microlens coincides with boundaries of the pixels. The correction circuit corrects a sensitivity difference between the pixels inside the pixel unit based on a correction coefficient. The present disclosure is applicable to, for example, a solid-state imaging device and the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2018
    Publication date: June 7, 2018
    Inventors: Youji SAKIOKA, Masayuki TACHI, Hisashi NISHIMAKI, Taishin YOSHIDA
  • Patent number: 9918031
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a solid-state imaging device, a signal processing method therefor, and an electronic apparatus enabling sensitivity correction in which a sensitivity difference between solid-state imaging devices is suppressed. The solid-state imaging device includes a pixel unit in which one microlens is formed for a plurality of pixels in a manner such that a boundary of the microlens coincides with boundaries of the pixels. The correction circuit corrects a sensitivity difference between the pixels inside the pixel unit based on a correction coefficient. The present disclosure is applicable to, for example, a solid-state imaging device and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Youji Sakioka, Masayuki Tachi, Hisashi Nishimaki, Taishin Yoshida
  • Publication number: 20170251135
    Abstract: An imaging device includes an exposure control unit, a determination unit, and an illuminance calculation unit. The exposure control unit is configured to control a plurality of exposure times. The determination unit is configured to determine whether or not saturation occurs using at least one data item of a plurality of data items obtained during the plurality of exposure times. The illuminance calculation unit is configured to calculate, if the determination unit determines that the saturation occurs, an illuminance using a data item different from the at least one data item used in the determination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2017
    Publication date: August 31, 2017
    Inventors: Kazuhide Namba, Youji Sakioka, Hiroaki Ebihara, Daisuke Yoshioka, Ryota Moriwaka
  • Publication number: 20170171470
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a solid-state imaging device, a signal processing method therefor, and an electronic apparatus enabling sensitivity correction in which a sensitivity difference between solid-state imaging devices is suppressed. The solid-state imaging device includes a pixel unit in which one microlens is formed for a plurality of pixels in a manner such that a boundary of the microlens coincides with boundaries of the pixels. The correction circuit corrects a sensitivity difference between the pixels inside the pixel unit based on a correction coefficient. The present disclosure is applicable to, for example, a solid-state imaging device and the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2015
    Publication date: June 15, 2017
    Inventors: Youji SAKIOKA, Masayuki TACHI, Hisashi NISHIMAKI, Taishin YOSHIDA
  • Patent number: 9671282
    Abstract: An imaging device includes an exposure control unit, a determination unit, and an illuminance calculation unit. The exposure control unit is configured to control a plurality of exposure times. The determination unit is configured to determine whether or not saturation occurs using at least one data item of a plurality of data items obtained during the plurality of exposure times. The illuminance calculation unit is configured to calculate, if the determination unit determines that the saturation occurs, an illuminance using a data item different from the at least one data item used in the determination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuhide Namba, Youji Sakioka, Hiroaki Ebihara, Daisuke Yoshioka, Ryota Moriwaka
  • Patent number: 9398238
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes: an element array portion in which unit elements are disposed in a matrix; and a signal processing portion including a signal processing circuit executing predetermined signal processing based on unit signals outputted from the circuit elements, respectively, every column, in which a function of the signal processing circuit is controlled in such a way that power consumption of the signal processing circuit concerned corresponding to the unit elements each not required becomes lower in a phase of an element selection mode in which only information on a part of the unit pixels for one row in the element array portion is required than in a phase of a normal operation mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Shinya Nomura, Yoshiaki Urakawa, Youji Sakioka
  • Patent number: 9363453
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes: a pixel section wherein pixels including photoelectric conversion devices are arranged in a matrix; and a pixel driving section including a row selection circuit which controls the pixels to perform an electronic shutter operation and readout of the pixel section. The row selection circuit has a function of selecting a readout row from which a signal is read out and a shutter row on which reset is performed by discharging charge accumulated in the photoelectric conversion devices, in accordance with address and control signals. The row selection circuit can set, in accordance with the address and control signals, in the pixels of the selected row, at least a readout state, a discharge state where a smaller amount of the charge accumulated in the photoelectric conversion devices than the reset is discharged, an electronic shutter state, and a charge state where the charge is accumulated in the photoelectric conversion devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Eiji Makino, Tetsuji Nakaseko, Ryoji Eki, Youji Sakioka
  • Publication number: 20160011042
    Abstract: An imaging device includes an exposure control unit, a determination unit, and an illuminance calculation unit. The exposure control unit is configured to control a plurality of exposure times. The determination unit is configured to determine whether or not saturation occurs using at least one data item of a plurality of data items obtained during the plurality of exposure times. The illuminance calculation unit is configured to calculate, if the determination unit determines that the saturation occurs, an illuminance using a data item different from the at least one data item used in the determination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2015
    Publication date: January 14, 2016
    Inventors: Kazuhide Namba, Youji Sakioka, Hiroaki Ebihara, Daisuke Yoshioka, Ryota Moriwaka
  • Patent number: 9157794
    Abstract: An imaging device includes an exposure control unit, a determination unit, and an illuminance calculation unit. The exposure control unit is configured to control a plurality of exposure times. The determination unit is configured to determine whether or not saturation occurs using at least one data item of a plurality of data items obtained during the plurality of exposure times. The illuminance calculation unit is configured to calculate, if the determination unit determines that the saturation occurs, an illuminance using a data item different from the at least one data item used in the determination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuhide Namba, Youji Sakioka, Hiroaki Ebihara, Daisuke Yoshioka, Ryota Moriwaka
  • Patent number: 9112355
    Abstract: A power supply device that switches one of a first power supply, a second power supply, and a third power supply, all of which supply power to an auxiliary device, to a transfer gate in a CMOS image sensor having a photodiode and outputs the corresponding power to the transfer gate is disclosed. The device includes: a first transistor driven by the second power supply and outputting power of the second power supply to the transfer gate; a second transistor driven by the second power supply and outputting power of the first power supply to the transfer gate; a third transistor driven by the third power supply and outputting power of the third power supply to the transfer gate; and a fourth transistor located before the second transistor, driven by the first power supply, and outputting power of the first power supply to a source of the second transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Eiji Makino, Youji Sakioka, Shizunorl Matsumoto
  • Publication number: 20150156433
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes: an element array portion in which unit elements are disposed in a matrix; and a signal processing portion including a signal processing circuit executing predetermined signal processing based on unit signals outputted from the circuit elements, respectively, every column, in which a function of the signal processing circuit is controlled in such a way that power consumption of the signal processing circuit concerned corresponding to the unit elements each not required becomes lower in a phase of an element selection mode in which only information on a part of the unit pixels for one row in the element array portion is required than in a phase of a normal operation mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2015
    Publication date: June 4, 2015
    Inventors: Shinya Nomura, Yoshiaki Urakawa, Youji Sakioka
  • Publication number: 20150109502
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes: a pixel section wherein pixels including photoelectric conversion devices are arranged in a matrix; and a pixel driving section including a row selection circuit which controls the pixels to perform an electronic shutter operation and readout of the pixel section. The row selection circuit has a function of selecting a readout row from which a signal is read out and a shutter row on which reset is performed by discharging charge accumulated in the photoelectric conversion devices, in accordance with address and control signals. The row selection circuit can set, in accordance with the address and control signals, in the pixels of the selected row, at least a readout state, a discharge state where a smaller amount of the charge accumulated in the photoelectric conversion devices than the reset is discharged, an electronic shutter state, and a charge state where the charge is accumulated in the photoelectric conversion devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2014
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Inventors: Eiji Makino, Tetsuji Nakaseko, Ryoji Eki, Youji Sakioka
  • Patent number: 8970753
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes: a pixel section wherein pixels including photoelectric conversion devices are arranged in a matrix; and a pixel driving section including a row selection circuit which controls the pixels to perform an electronic shutter operation and readout of the pixel section. The row selection circuit has a function of selecting a readout row from which a signal is read out and a shutter row on which reset is performed by discharging charge accumulated in the photoelectric conversion devices, in accordance with address and control signals. The row selection circuit can set, in accordance with the address and control signals, in the pixels of the selected row, at least a readout state, a discharge state where a smaller amount of the charge accumulated in the photoelectric conversion devices than the reset is discharged, an electronic shutter state, and a charge state where the charge is accumulated in the photoelectric conversion devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Eiji Makino, Tetsuji Nakaseko, Ryoji Eki, Youji Sakioka