Patents by Inventor Seiya AMANO

Seiya AMANO 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: 11410338
    Abstract: A measuring device and a measuring system. The measuring device includes circuitry to obtain at least one pair of stereo captured images captured by a stereo camera, detect two or more feature points from each one of the at least one pair of stereo captured images, and measure a disparity error using a distance between a pair of feature points of the two or more feature points on each one of the at least one pair of stereo captured images, where an equation S img > ? ? ? S E da ? d is satisfied. In the equation, Simg denotes the distance, ? denotes a detection error between the pair of imaging devices. Moreover, Eda denotes precision of measurement of a disparity error in disparity between a pair of images of the at least one pair of stereo captured images, and d denotes the disparity. The stereo camera including a pair of imaging devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroki Mima, Seiya Amano
  • Patent number: 11391840
    Abstract: A distance-measuring apparatus, a mobile object, a distance-measuring method, and a distance-measuring system. The distance-measuring apparatus and the distance-measuring method include performing matching for a plurality of images obtained by a plurality of imaging devices to convert the plurality of images into first distance information on a pixel-by-pixel basis, emitting a laser beam where at least one of a laser-beam resolution in a horizontal direction and a laser-beam resolution in a vertical direction exceeds two degrees, obtaining a reflected signal obtained when the laser beam is reflected by an object, detecting a peak that corresponds to reflection from the object from the reflected signal, calculating second distance information based on a length of time taken to observe the peak after the laser beam is emitted in the emitting, and integrating the first distance information and the second distance information with each other. The mobile object includes the distance-measuring apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyoshi Sekiguchi, Jun Kishiwada, Soichiro Yokota, Tadashi Nakamura, Seiya Amano, Kazuma Matsuura
  • Patent number: 11054245
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes processing circuitry configured to generate a first map formed of pixels that are associated with x coordinate information, distance information, and frequency values; search for a target pixel satisfying a predetermined condition among the pixels in the first map, the searching being performed from the pixels that are near towards the pixels that are far away as indicated by the distance information; and validate pixels surrounding the target pixel in the first map, together with the target pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Sadao Takahashi, Seiya Amano, Hiroyoshi Sekiguchi, Soichiro Yokota, Yuu Yamada, Shinichi Sumiyoshi
  • Patent number: 10984509
    Abstract: Disclosed is an image processing apparatus that includes one or more processors; and a memory storing instructions, which when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to: generate distribution data indicating a frequency distribution of horizontal distance values of a range image based on the range image having pixel values according to distance of an object in a plurality of captured images; detect an object based on the distribution data with respect to a range image; predict a predicted position of the object in a current frame based on the distribution data with respect to range images of a plurality of previous frames; and integrate a plurality of objects detected by the detector based on the predicted position to track an integrated object in subsequent frames.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Genki Watanabe, Hiroyoshi Sekiguchi, Soichiro Yokota, Seiya Amano, Yuu Yamada, Keito Sawada
  • Patent number: 10937181
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, an information processing apparatus includes a calculating unit and a discarding unit. The calculating unit is configured to calculate a distance between two objects, detected based on distance information on the objects that are overlapped in detection areas of the objects, in a depth direction in the detection areas. The discarding unit is configured to determine whether each of the two objects in the detection areas is to be discarded by using a method that corresponds to the distance calculated by the calculating unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Seiya Amano, Hiroyoshi Sekiguchi, Soichiro Yokota
  • Patent number: 10853963
    Abstract: An object detection device includes a map generator configured to generate, based on a distance image that includes distance information for each coordinate, a first map in which the coordinate in a horizontal direction of the distance image is associated with the distance information, and a second map in which the coordinate in the horizontal direction of the distance image is associated with the distance information, the second map having a lower resolution than the first map; and an object detector configured to detect an object based on the first map when a distance represented by the distance information is within a first range, and to detect an object based on the second map when a distance represented by the distance information is within a second range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Sadao Takahashi, Yuji Takahashi, Shinichi Sumiyoshi, Yuu Yamada, Seiya Amano, Soichiro Yokota, Hiroyoshi Sekiguchi
  • Publication number: 20200372683
    Abstract: A measuring device and a measuring system. The measuring device includes circuitry to obtain at least one pair of stereo captured images captured by a stereo camera, detect two or more feature points from each one of the at least one pair of stereo captured images, and measure a disparity error using a distance between a pair of feature points of the two or more feature points on each one of the at least one pair of stereo captured images, where an equation S img > ? ? ? S E da ? d is satisfied. In the equation, Simg denotes the distance, ? denotes a detection error between the pair of imaging devices. Moreover, Eda denotes precision of measurement of a disparity error in disparity between a pair of images of the at least one pair of stereo captured images, and d denotes the disparity. The stereo camera including a pair of imaging devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2020
    Publication date: November 26, 2020
    Inventors: Hiroki MIMA, Seiya AMANO
  • Patent number: 10832431
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, an image processing apparatus includes a first extracting unit, a second extracting unit, and a detecting unit. The first extracting unit is configured to extract a first region in which an object is represented, from a distance image that is drawn using distance information, based on the distance information of the object calculated from an image of the object captured by an image capturing unit. The second extracting unit is configured to extract a contour direction that is a direction along which pixels forming a contour of the first region are arrayed. The detecting unit is configured to detect a first surface facing the image capturing unit from the first region, based on the contour direction extracted by the second extracting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Seiya Amano, Hiroyoshi Sekiguchi, Soichiro Yokota
  • Patent number: 10776946
    Abstract: An image processing device includes: a predicting unit configured to, from a position of an object in a previous frame with respect to a current frame, predict a position of the object in the current frame and identify a prediction area; a first matching unit configured to perform template matching in the prediction area in the current frame using a first template regarding the object in the previous frame, to detect the object, when the object is present in a first distance area; and a second matching unit configured to perform template matching in the prediction area in the current frame using a second template which is different than the first template and which is regarding the object in the previous frame, to detect the object, when the object is present in a second distance area which is farther than the first distance area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Soichiro Yokota, Seiya Amano, Yuu Yamada
  • Patent number: 10776637
    Abstract: An image processing device includes a first extracting unit, a second extracting unit, a face detecting unit, a first apex detecting unit, and a decider. The first extracting unit is configured to extract, based on distance information regarding an object, a first area representing the object. The second extracting unit is configured to extract contour directions of a contour of the first area. The face detecting unit is configured to detect a first face in the first area, based on the contour directions extracted by the second extracting unit. The first apex detecting unit is configured to detect a first apex indicating a boundary of the first face. The decider is configured to decide on a principal face of the object represented by the first area, based on at least the first face and the first apex.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Seiya Amano, Hiroyoshi Sekiguchi, Soichiro Yokota
  • Publication number: 20200074212
    Abstract: An information processing device includes: a first generation unit configured to generate first information in which a horizontal direction position and a depth direction position of an object are associated with each other from information in which a vertical direction position, the horizontal direction position, and the depth direction position of the object are associated with each other; a first detection unit configured to detect one region indicating the object based on the first information; a second generation unit configured to generate, from the information in which the vertical direction position, the horizontal direction position, and the depth direction position of the object are associated with each other, second information having separation performance higher than separation performance of the first information in which the horizontal direction position and the depth direction position of the object are associated with each other; a second detection unit configured to detect a plurality of reg
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2017
    Publication date: March 5, 2020
    Inventors: Seiya AMANO, Soichiro YOKOTA, Sukehiro KIMURA, Jun YOSHIDA, Yohichiroh OHBAYASHI, Shintaroh KIDA, Hiroki KUBOZONO, Daisuke OKADA, Tabito SUZUKI, Sadao TAKAHASHI
  • Patent number: 10546383
    Abstract: An image processing device includes: a first generating unit configured to generate, based on a distance image generated from a plurality of taken images imaged by a plurality of imaging units in a travelling direction, and made from distance values corresponding to the travelling direction, a first image indicating a frequency distribution associating actual distances in a direction orthogonal to the travelling direction with the distance values; a second generating unit configured to generate, based on the distance image, a second image indicating a frequency distribution associating a horizontal direction of the distance image with the distance values; a first processing unit configured to detect a face of an object represented by the first image, using at least the first image; and a second processing unit configured to identify a type of the face of the object using at least the second image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Seiya Amano, Hiroyoshi Sekiguchi, Soichiro Yokota
  • Publication number: 20190391244
    Abstract: A distance-measuring apparatus, a mobile object, a distance-measuring method, and a distance-measuring system. The distance-measuring apparatus and the distance-measuring method include performing matching for a plurality of images obtained by a plurality of imaging devices to convert the plurality of images into first distance information on a pixel-by-pixel basis, emitting a laser beam where at least one of a laser-beam resolution in a horizontal direction and a laser-beam resolution in a vertical direction exceeds two degrees, obtaining a reflected signal obtained when the laser beam is reflected by an object, detecting a peak that corresponds to reflection from the object from the reflected signal, calculating second distance information based on a length of time taken to observe the peak after the laser beam is emitted in the emitting, and integrating the first distance information and the second distance information with each other. The mobile object includes the distance-measuring apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2019
    Publication date: December 26, 2019
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: HIROYOSHI SEKIGUCHI, JUN KISHIWADA, SOICHIRO YOKOTA, TADASHI NAKAMURA, SEIYA AMANO, KAZUMA MATSUURA
  • Publication number: 20190012798
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, an information processing apparatus includes a calculating unit and a discarding unit. The calculating unit is configured to calculate a distance between two objects, detected based on distance information on the objects that are overlapped in detection areas of the objects, in a depth direction in the detection areas. The discarding unit is configured to determine whether each of the two objects in the detection areas is to be discarded by using a method that corresponds to the distance calculated by the calculating unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2018
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Inventors: Seiya AMANO, Hiroyoshi SEKIGUCHI, Soichiro YOKOTA
  • Publication number: 20190003822
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes processing circuitry configured to generate a first map formed of pixels that are associated with x coordinate information, distance information, and frequency values; search for a target pixel satisfying a predetermined condition among the pixels in the first map, the searching being performed from the pixels that are near towards the pixels that are far away as indicated by the distance information; and validate pixels surrounding the target pixel in the first map, together with the target pixel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2018
    Publication date: January 3, 2019
    Inventors: Sadao TAKAHASHI, Seiya AMANO, Hiroyoshi SEKIGUCHI, Soichiro YOKOTA, Yuu YAMADA, Shinichi SUMIYOSHI
  • Publication number: 20180357783
    Abstract: An object detection device includes a map generator configured to generate, based on a distance image that includes distance information for each coordinate, a first map in which the coordinate in a horizontal direction of the distance image is associated with the distance information, and a second map in which the coordinate in the horizontal direction of the distance image is associated with the distance information, the second map having a lower resolution than the first map; and an object detector configured to detect an object based on the first map when a distance represented by the distance information is within a first range, and to detect an object based on the second map when a distance represented by the distance information is within a second range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2018
    Publication date: December 13, 2018
    Inventors: Sadao TAKAHASHI, Yuji Takahashi, Shinichi Sumiyoshi, Yuu Yamada, Seiya Amano, Soichiro Yokota, Hiroyoshi Sekiguchi
  • Publication number: 20180336701
    Abstract: An image processing device includes: a predicting unit configured to, from a position of an object in a previous frame with respect to a current frame, predict a position of the object in the current frame and identify a prediction area; a first matching unit configured to perform template matching in the prediction area in the current frame using a first template regarding the object in the previous frame, to detect the object, when the object is present in a first distance area; and a second matching unit configured to perform template matching in the prediction area in the current frame using a second template which is different than the first template and which is regarding the object in the previous frame, to detect the object, when the object is present in a second distance area which is farther than the first distance area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2018
    Publication date: November 22, 2018
    Inventors: Soichiro Yokota, Seiya Amano, Yuu Yamada
  • Publication number: 20180330481
    Abstract: Disclosed is an image processing apparatus that includes one or more processors; and a memory storing instructions, which when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to: generate distribution data indicating a frequency distribution of horizontal distance values of a range image based on the range image having pixel values according to distance of an object in a plurality of captured images; detect an object based on the distribution data with respect to a range image; predict a predicted position of the object in a current frame based on the distribution data with respect to range images of a plurality of previous frames; and integrate a plurality of objects detected by the detector based on the predicted position to track an integrated object in subsequent frames.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2018
    Publication date: November 15, 2018
    Inventors: Genki WATANABE, Hiroyoshi Sekiguchi, Soichiro Yokota, Seiya Amano, Yuu Yamada, Keito Sawada
  • Publication number: 20180285661
    Abstract: An image processing device includes a first extracting unit, a second extracting unit, a face detecting unit, a first apex detecting unit, and a decider. The first extracting unit is configured to extract, based on distance information regarding an object, a first area representing the object. The second extracting unit is configured to extract contour directions of a contour of the first area. The face detecting unit is configured to detect a first face in the first area, based on the contour directions extracted by the second extracting unit. The first apex detecting unit is configured to detect a first apex indicating a boundary of the first face. The decider is configured to decide on a principal face of the object represented by the first area, based on at least the first face and the first apex.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2018
    Publication date: October 4, 2018
    Inventors: Seiya AMANO, Hiroyoshi Sekiguchi, Soichiro Yokota
  • Publication number: 20180276835
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, an image processing apparatus includes a first extracting unit, a second extracting unit, and a detecting unit. The first extracting unit is configured to extract a first region in which an object is represented, from a distance image that is drawn using distance information, based on the distance information of the object calculated from an image of the object captured by an image capturing unit. The second extracting unit is configured to extract a contour direction that is a direction along which pixels forming a contour of the first region are arrayed. The detecting unit is configured to detect a first surface facing the image capturing unit from the first region, based on the contour direction extracted by the second extracting unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2018
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Inventors: Seiya Amano, Hiroyoshi Sekiguchi, Soichiro Yokota