Patents Assigned to Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
  • Lens frame structure for optical axis adjustment
    Publication number: 20030007260
    Abstract: A lens frame structure for optical axis adjustment includes a first frame having a central opening and a first reference surface normal to an optical axis, a second frame supporting a lens group to be aligned with the central opening, the second frame having a radial flange which has a second reference surface normal to the optical axis and contacting the first reference surface so that the second frame is movable in a direction normal to the optical axis, and a plurality of cutout portions formed on the radial flange, wherein an adhesive is inserted into each of the plurality of cutout portions to bond the second frame to the first frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2002
    Publication date: January 9, 2003
    Applicant: ASAHI KOGAKU KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Noboru Saitoh, Yoshihiro Yamazaki
  • Focused image tremble correcting device
    Publication number: 20030007794
    Abstract: A first rotating board is supported on a fixed member, being rotatable around a first pivot shaft. A second rotating board is supported on the first rotating board, being rotatable around a second pivot shaft. The first and second rotating boards are respectively rotated by first and second driving mechanisms. A lens holding member, which holds a correction lens, is fixed at an opening portion of the second rotating board. The lens holding member pierces through opening portions of the fixed member and the first rotating board. The first and second driving mechanisms are controlled such that a focused image tremble can be canceled by a combination of the displacement of the correction lens due to the rotation of the first rotating board and the displacement of the correction lens due to the rotation of the second rotating board.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2002
    Publication date: January 9, 2003
    Applicant: ASAHI KOGAKU KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shigeo Enomoto
  • Endoscope system
    Publication number: 20030004398
    Abstract: An endoscope system is provided that includes a processor connectable to various endoscopes to process signals generated by the endoscope being connected. The processor further includes a database, a data selector and a data register. The database is configured to be registered a plurality of pieces of endoscope data, each of which being related to different one of the endoscopes connectable to the connector. Each piece of the endoscope data includes priority information indicating the priority of deleting the piece of endoscope data. The data selector selects one piece of the endoscope data based on the priority information. The data register registers a new endoscope with the database by replacing the selected piece of endoscope data with the piece of endoscope data of the new endoscope.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2002
    Publication date: January 2, 2003
    Applicant: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tadashi Takahashi
  • Electronic endoscope with color adjustment function
    Publication number: 20030001952
    Abstract: An electronic endoscope includes a video-scope with an image sensor and a video-processor, to which the video-scope is detachably connected. The electronic endoscope has a light source that emits illuminating light for illuminating a subject, a color adjuster that performs a color adjustment process for color image signals read from the image sensor, which include a plurality of color signal components corresponding to a plurality of color elements, and a light source detector that detects the type of the light source. The color adjuster performs the color adjustment process in accordance with the type of the light source such that color in displayed subject image is properly reproduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2002
    Publication date: January 2, 2003
    Applicant: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mitsuru Iida, Haruhiko Hibi, Kenichi Iriyama
  • Cradle for digital camera
    Publication number: 20020196360
    Abstract: A cradle for a digital camera comprises a connector to which a plurality different kinds of digital cameras can be selectively and detachably connected. The camera body of the digital camera is provided with a magnet located at a position which is changed in accordance with the kind of the digital camera, or provided with a magnet having a magnetic force the value of which corresponds to the kind of digital camera. The cradle has a magnetic sensor and a sensing circuit. The sensing circuit determines the kind of digital camera connected to the connector, by sensing the magnet. The magnet and the magnetic sensor may be replaced with a reflecting member and an optical sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2002
    Publication date: December 26, 2002
    Applicant: ASAHI KOGAKU KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shunichi Miyadera
  • Zoom lens system
    Publication number: 20020196559
    Abstract: A zoom lens system includes a positive first lens group, a positive second lens group, a diaphragm, and a negative third lens group. The first through third lens groups move in an optical axis direction for zooming. The positive first lens group includes a negative lens element, and at least one positive lens element. The negative lens element is positioned at the most object-side of the positive first lens group, and is provided with a concave surface on the object-side surface thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2002
    Publication date: December 26, 2002
    Applicant: ASAHI KOGAKU KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masaru Eguchi
  • Image-blur correcting viewing-optical system
    Publication number: 20020196543
    Abstract: An image-blur correcting viewing-optical system includes an objective optical system, an image-erecting optical system and an eyepiece optical system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2002
    Publication date: December 26, 2002
    Applicant: ASAHI KOGAKU KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takaaki Yano
  • Probe of endoscope
    Patent number: 6497653
    Abstract: A probe of an endoscope comprises a light guide fiber bundle and an image guide fiber bundle. The light guide fiber bundle supplies illumination light to the distal end of the probe, to illuminate the observed object. The illumination light is reflected by the observed object, and enters the end surface of the image guide fiber bundle. When the radius of the image guide fiber bundle is a, the radius of the light guide fiber bundle is b, and the inner radius of the probe is 1, a and b satisfy the following conditions. 0.545≦a≦0.581 0.419≦b≦0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2002
    Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Teruo Ouchi
  • Automatic focusing apparatus
    Patent number: 6498900
    Abstract: An automatic focusing apparatus in which the quantity of auxiliary light can be precisely controlled regardless of conditions of an object to be taken is disclosed. The apparatus includes a passive AF sensor unit, a flash device and a main CPU which controls the flash device as an auxiliary light source for the focus detection, so that the flash device intermittently emits flashes of light. The main CPU increases emission time and emission time interval stepwise from the minimum value when the flash device intermittently emits flashes of light as the auxiliary light source upon detection of the focused state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2002
    Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masahiro Nakata, Satoru Horita
  • Click-stop mechanism provided between two relatively slidable members
    Publication number: 20020187001
    Abstract: A click-stop mechanism provided between two members, one of the two members being slidably fitted on the other of the two members, includes an engaging groove formed on one of opposed surfaces of the two members, a leaf spring insertion recess formed on the other of opposed surfaces of the two members, a click member which is engaged in the engaging groove so as to be movable in a direction normal to the sliding movement of the two members, and a leaf spring which is inserted in the leaf spring insertion recess to bias the click member toward the engaging groove.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2002
    Publication date: December 12, 2002
    Applicant: ASAHI KOGAKU KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Hattori, Hiroaki Suzuki, Kazuhiro Ikuta
  • Electronic endoscope system
    Publication number: 20020188173
    Abstract: There is provided an electronic endoscope system, which is provided with an electronic endoscope, and an endoscope processor to which the electronic endoscope is detachably connected. The electronic endoscope system is further provided with a usage status monitoring system which monitors a usage status of the electronic endoscope system and outputs status data, and a usage condition obtaining system which obtains a usage condition of the electronic endoscope system based on the status data. The usage condition obtaining system updates the usage condition based on the status data successively output by the usage status monitoring system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2002
    Publication date: December 12, 2002
    Applicant: ASAHI KOGAKU KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Kobayashi
  • Image-capturing device and diaphragm
    Publication number: 20020186976
    Abstract: An image-capturing device comprises a photographing lens, a first imaging device, a second imaging device, and a diaphragm. The photographing lens forms subject images on the first and second imaging device. The first imaging device receives light rays of the infrared rays spectrum through the photographing lens and captures a subject images formed by the infrared rays spectrum. The second imaging device receives light rays of the visible rays spectrum through the photographing lens and captures a subject images formed by the visible rays spectrum. The diaphragm is mounted in the photographing optical system and forms a first area and a second area. The first area transmits light rays of the infrared and visible rays spectrum. The second area selectively transmits either of light rays of the infrared or visible rays spectrum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2002
    Publication date: December 12, 2002
    Applicant: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shuzo Seo
  • Keyhole button
    Patent number: 6491725
    Abstract: A keyhole button used as a supplement of a keyhole portion formed on a cranium is constituted to have a brim portion having front and back surfaces, and a shaft portion integrally provided on the back surface of the brim portion. The front surface of the brim portion is convexed in a first direction, and concaved in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Junichi Koyama, Yukio Taniguchi, Takamitsu Yoshida, Yoshiro Imamura
  • Step zoom lens camera
    Patent number: 6493512
    Abstract: A step zoom lens camera includes a rotatable cam ring, a cam groove formed on the cam ring, including step areas, a linear movement member which is connected to the cam ring, and a cam-guided lens group which is guided by the linear movement member to move linearly in the optical axis direction in accordance with the cam groove so as to move to an in-focus position of an object within each step area of the cam groove. The cam ring is provided on the rear end surface thereof with step area indicating indexes representing the corresponding step areas. The linear movement member is provided with a reference index at a predetermined circumferential position thereof, so that the position of use of the cam groove can be visually confirmed by viewing the position of the step area indicating indexes relative to the reference index.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Norio Sato
  • Mechanism for moving optical element of an optical system
    Patent number: 6493153
    Abstract: First lens frame has first front and rear shaft bearings that engage with the first guiding shaft along the optical axis, and a second shaft bearing that engages with a second guiding shaft along the optical axis. The first front and rear shaft bearings are spaced apart from each other along the first guiding shaft. Second lens frame has third front and rear shaft bearings that engage with the second guiding shaft, spaced apart form each other, and fourth shaft bearing that engages with the first guiding shaft. The third front and rear shaft bearings are arranged with the second shaft bearing between them, and fourth shaft bearing is disposed between the first front and second shaft bearings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Gouji Funatsu
  • Electronic endoscope
    Patent number: 6491628
    Abstract: An electronic endoscope having a video-scope with an image sensor, a video-processor and a display has an image forming processor, a signal processor and a display-state changing processor. The signal processor generates video signals on the basis of image-pixel signals from the image sensor and outputs said video signals to said display. The display-state changing processor changes a display-state from a normal-display to a magnified-display and from the magnified-display to the normal-display. In the case of the normal-display, the image forming processor forms a normal-display subject image composed of a smaller number of pixels than that of the all-pixel subject image. In the case of the magnified-display, the image forming processor forms a magnified-display subject image composed of pixels arranged within a part-area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Kobayashi
  • Parallax correcting apparatus of a viewfinder
    Publication number: 20020181954
    Abstract: A parallax correcting apparatus includes a finder block mounted on a stationary base; a pivotal projection and a pivotal recess which are formed on the finder block and the stationary base, a common axis thereof being perpendicular to an optical axis of the viewfinder; a first adjustment mechanism for rotating the finder block about the common axis; a pair of vertical position adjustment mounts formed on the stationary base on opposite sides of the common axis in a front and rear direction; a second adjustment mechanism for adjusting a height of one of the pair of vertical position adjustment mounts; a pair of fixing mounts formed on the stationary base on opposite sides of the common axis in a right and left direction; and a pair of fixing limbs formed on the finder block which are fixed to the pair of fixing mounts, respectively, after adjustment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2002
    Publication date: December 5, 2002
    Applicant: ASAHI KOGAKU KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Ichinokawa
  • Endoscope system
    Publication number: 20020183592
    Abstract: An endoscope system is provided, including an endoscope having a flexible inserting tube to be inserted into a human body and a plurality of bending sensors distributed over the flexible inserting tube along the longitudinal direction thereof. Each of the bending sensors detects the local bending state of the flexible inserting tube at the location the bending sensor are provided. A computer adapted to receive data on the local bending state from each of the plurality of bending sensors is also provided. The computer generates a graphical image representing the geometrical configuration of the flexible inserting tube from the data on the local bending states. A monitor connected to the computer to display the graphical image generated by the computer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2002
    Publication date: December 5, 2002
    Applicant: ASAHI KOGAKU KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Naoki Suzuki, Kazuki Sumiyama, Naoshi Koizumi, Akira Sugiyama, Tetsuya Tarumoto, Toshiyuki Hashiyama, Motoko Kawamura, Takayuki Enomoto, Minoru Matsushita, Tetsuya Nakamura, Kenichi Ohara, Satoshi Takami
  • Lens drive system
    Publication number: 20020181953
    Abstract: A lens drive system includes a lens case supporting an image pick-up device; a movable lens frame supporting a lens group; a reversible motor supported by the lens case; a feed screw supported by the lens case and driven by the reversible motor; a half nut which moves together with the movable lens frame, is normally engaged with the feed screw, and is disengaged from the feed screw to slide thereon when more than a predetermined force is applied to the half nut in optical axis direction; and a plurality of ribs formed in the lens case projecting inwards behind a space for movement of the movable lens frame. Each rib includes a stop surface which comes into contact with a rear surface of the movable lens frame when the movable lens frame retreats while the half nut is sliding on the feed screw.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2002
    Publication date: December 5, 2002
    Applicant: ASAHI KOGAKU KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Ichinokawa
  • Semiconductor laser driving apparatus and laser scanner
    Publication number: 20020180862
    Abstract: A semiconductor laser driving apparatus has a laser diode that emits a laser beam, a laser driving circuit that drives the laser diode by feeding a driving current in pulses to the laser diode, a conductor that conducts the driving current from the laser driving circuit to the laser diode, and an inductance adjuster that has a conductor-pattern for conducting the driving current and adjusting the magnitude of inductance in the conductor. A part of the conductor-pattern that makes the magnitude of the inductance a proper magnitude for emitting the laser beam in generally rectangular pulses, is selectively defined and conducts the driving current as a part of the conductor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2002
    Publication date: December 5, 2002
    Applicant: ASAHI KOGAKU KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tadaaki Suda