Patents Assigned to Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
  • Optical system for the light source device of a video endoscope system
    Patent number: 6482150
    Abstract: An video endoscope system has, as main components, a video endoscope equipped with a light guide, a light source device for supplying illumination light and exciting light to the light guide, and an endoscope processor to process image signals and to control the light source device. The light source device is composed of a white light source for generating a collimated beam of white light, an ultraviolet light source for generating a collimated light beam having wavelengths in the ultraviolet region, and a UV reflection filter for transmitting white light while reflecting ultraviolet light, as main components. In the optical system for the light source device, the UV reflection filter is arranged at an angle of 45 degrees to both the collimated beam of white light and the collimated light beam having wavelengths in the ultraviolet region that intersect each other orthogonally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tetsuya Utsui
  • Prosthetic filler for a living body and method of manufacturing the prosthetic filler
    Publication number: 20020169506
    Abstract: A prosthetic filler for a living body having excellent storage properties and handlability is disclosed. The prosthetic filler includes calcium phosphate granules and porous small chips made of an organic material for binding these calcium phosphate granules to each other. The prosthetic filler is made by mixing the calcium phosphate granules and the small chips of the organic material. When the prosthetic filler is used for a living body, it is added with water, and then they are kneaded to become a paste state. Thus obtained paste state prosthetic filler is injected into a bone defect site or the like to restore it.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2002
    Publication date: November 14, 2002
    Applicant: ASAHI KOGAKU KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Asako Matsushima, Masanori Nakasu, Takahiro Fukuhara
  • Heat-sensitive microcapsule and recording medium using same
    Publication number: 20020168580
    Abstract: A first heat-sensitive microcapsule of the present invention comprises a shell wall and a liquid coloring composition, and has such a temperature-breaking characteristic that the shell wall is broken by heating to a temperature equal to or higher than a boiling point of the liquid coloring composition. The first heat-sensitive microcapsule is stable to light and easy to handle. A second heat-sensitive microcapsule of the present invention comprises a shell wall, a coloring composition and a heat decomposition-type gas-developing agent, and has such a temperature-breaking characteristic that the shell wall is broken by heating to a temperature equal to or higher than a decomposition temperature of the gas-developing agent. The second heat-sensitive microcapsule can be sensitively broken even by heating in a short time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2000
    Publication date: November 14, 2002
    Applicant: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yukio Kubota, Minoru Suzuki, Kazuyuki Shimbo, Yutaka Igari
  • Fiber bundle and endoscope apparatus
    Publication number: 20020168158
    Abstract: A fiber bundle for image transmission includes pluralities of first optical fibers and a plurality of second optical fibers. Both pluralities of optical fibers being tied at their distal ends to form a composite bundle portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2002
    Publication date: November 14, 2002
    Applicant: ASAHI KOGAKU KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koichi Furusawa, Masaru Eguchi, Tetsuya Utsui, Tetsuya Nakamura, Ryo Ozawa, Shinsuke Okada
  • Objective lens for optical pick-up
    Patent number: 6480344
    Abstract: An objective lens includes a refractive lens having a positive refractive power, and a diffractive lens structure having a plurality of concentric ring-shaped steps that are formed on a lens surface of the refractive lens. The objective lens is a biconvex plastic lens having first and second aspherical surfaces. The diffractive lens structure has such a wavelength dependence that at least two diffracted beams having different wavelengths with the same diffraction order form appropriate wavefronts for at least two kinds of optical discs having cover layers of different thickness, respectively. Further, the diffractive lens structure has a predetermined power at any points in a middle ring area that is concentrically arranged about the optical axis at a middle range of the radius of the refractive lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Koichi Maruyama
  • Autofocus distance-measuring optical system
    Patent number: 6480266
    Abstract: An autofocus distance-measuring optical system includes a sighting telescope having an objective lens for sighting an object; an optical distance meter which includes a light-transmitting optical system for transmitting a measuring light via the, and a light-receiving optical system for receiving light reflected by the object; a focus detecting device for detecting a focus state of the sighting telescope; and a controller for controlling the sighting telescope to automatically focus on the object in accordance with the focus state detected by the focus detecting device. The focus detecting device is a phase-difference detection type which detects an in-focus state from a pair of images respectively formed by two light bundles which are passed through two different pupil areas. The two different pupil areas are positioned so as not to interfere with any optical elements of the optical distance meter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Assignees: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Asahi Seimitsu Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masami Shirai, Ryota Ogawa, Shinichi Suzuki, Homu Takayama
  • Endoscope system
    Patent number: 6478732
    Abstract: Light emitted from a light source is converted into ultraviolet-and-blue light, green light, and red light, in that order, by a first wheel. When a second wheel inserts a transparent member 251 into the optical path, the ultraviolet-and-blue light, the green light, and the red light enter a light guide. On the other hand, when the second wheel inserts a fluorescence observation filter into the optical path, ultraviolet-and-blue light is converted to ultraviolet light and then enters the light guide, while the green light is blocked and the red light enters the light guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Rensuke Adachi
  • Light amount distribution control device
    Patent number: 6480303
    Abstract: A light amount distribution control device has a reflecting sheet by which light irradiated by LEDs is reflected and is radiated onto an object to be read. The light reflected by the object is made incident onto a line sensor to sense an image formed on the object. The reflecting sheet has a color distribution in which a white component increases from the center of the reflecting sheet towards the ends of the reflecting sheet. The reflecting ratio of the reflecting sheet is controlled along the longitudinal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuo Kawasaki, Nobuyuki Nagai
  • Diopter adjusting device
    Patent number: 6480343
    Abstract: A diopter adjusting device includes a diopter adjusting lens which is guided in an optical axis thereof; a cam member which is provided rotatable about an axis which is parallel to the optical axis of the diopter adjusting lens, the cam member being provided with a cam surface on an end surface thereof; a motion-transmission lever which is rotatable about a lever axis, the lever axis being positioned between the diopter adjusting lens and the motion-transmission lever and lying on a plane normal to the optical axis; a cam follower portion and an engaging portion formed on one and the other ends of the motion-transmission lever to be engaged with the cam surface and the diopter adjusting lens, respectively; and a spring for constantly bringing the cam follower portion into contact with the cam surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tetsuro Tani
  • Pattern reading apparatus
    Patent number: 6476917
    Abstract: A pattern reading apparatus reads a pattern from a reflective object. The pattern reading apparatus includes a minute-area light source, an objective lens system, an imaging lens, and an imaging element. The objective lens system causes the illumination light beam from the light source to be incident on the object and converges the light beam reflected from the object. The imaging lens forms an image of the object using only a diffused component of light which has been reflected from the object. The imaging element is positioned where the image of the pattern is imaged for reading the pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tuyoshi Ishikawa
  • Optical member inspecting apparatus and method of inspection thereof
    Patent number: 6477264
    Abstract: An optical member inspection apparatus includes an inspection optical system having a light source, and a diffusing means for diffusing the light emitted from the light source. The diffusing means has a central portion and a peripheral portion. The diffusion transmittance of the peripheral portion is higher than the diffusion transmittance of the central portion. The inspection optical system is also provided with an image pick-up means to pick-up an image of the optical member to be inspected, and is positioned so as to receive that light emitted from the light source and transmitted through the diffusing means and the optical member. A judging means is also provided, for judging whether or not the optical member has a defect, in accordance with image signals output from the image pick-up means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshihiro Nakayama, Masato Hara, Masayuki Sugiura, Atsushi Kida
  • Optical member inspecting apparatus and method of inspection thereof
    Patent number: 6476909
    Abstract: An optical member inspection apparatus includes an inspection optical system having a light source, and a diffusing means for diffusing the light emitted from the light source. The diffusing means has a central portion and a peripheral portion. The diffusion transmittance of the peripheral portion is higher than the diffusion transmittance of the central portion. The inspection optical system is also provided with an image pick-up means to pick-up an image of the optical member to be inspected, and is positioned so as to receive that light emitted from the light source and transmitted through the diffusing means and the optical member. A judging means is also provided, for judging whether or not the optical member has a defect, in accordance with image signals output from the image pick-up means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshihiro Nakayama, Masato Hara, Masayuki Sugiura, Atsushi Kida
  • Optical disc drive
    Patent number: 6477129
    Abstract: An optical disc drive using either one of a first disc (e.g., DVD) and a second disc (e.g., CD), is provided with a first laser diode that emits a shorter wavelength beam, a second laser diode that emits a longer wavelength beam, an objective lens, and a driving unit that holds and rotates the optical disc. The optical axis of the objective lens is inclined relative to a normal to the optical disc. The first laser diode is located at a first position so that the coma, which is caused when the first laser beam is converged on a data recording surface of the first disc, is minimized, and the second laser diode is located at a second position so that the coma, which is caused when the second laser beam is converged on a data recording surface of the second disc, is minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd., Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koichi Maruyama, Takeshi Shimano, Shigeru Nakamura, Akira Arimoto, Kazuo Shigematsu
  • Endoscope system
    Patent number: 6477403
    Abstract: An endoscope system is provided with first and second light guides, which are optically coupled by an optical coupler. A low-coherent light source is provided, and the light emitted therefrom is incident on the first or second light guide. Further provided is a scanning unit that causes the light beam emerged from the first light guide to scan on a predetermined surface of the object. The light beam reflected by the object is directed, by the scanning unit, to the first light guide as a detection light beam. A light beam emerged from the second light guide is reflected by a reflector and returned to the second light guide as a reference beam. By varying the optical path length of the reference beam relative to that of the detection beam, two beams interfere. A signal processing system generates OCT image based on the signal detected by a light detecting device which receives the interfering beams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masaru Eguchi, Koichi Furusawa, Shinsuke Okada, Ryo Ozawa, Tetsuya Nakamura, Tetsuya Utsui
  • Multi-beam optical system
    Patent number: 6473233
    Abstract: A multi-beam optical systems forms a plurality of beam spots on an object surface to be exposed. The system includes a light source that emits a light beam having a plurality of peak wavelengths, a diffraction beam-dividing element that divides the light beam into a plurality of light beams exiting at the different diffraction angles, and a compensating optical system whose lateral magnification is inversely proportional to the wavelength of the light beam to compensate deviation of the diffraction angle of the diffracted light beams caused due to wavelength dependence of the diffraction beam-dividing element. The compensating optical system includes a diffractive lens component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takashi Iizuka
  • Connecting part in endoscopic treating instrument
    Patent number: 6471690
    Abstract: In a connecting part in an endoscopic treating instrument, there is provided, between a base end of a flexible sheath (10) and an operating member (34, 38), a reinforcing cover (40) into which an operation wire (20) is loosely inserted. The reinforcing cover (40) prevents a bending of the operation wire (20), and is detachable from the operation wire (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Teruo Ouchi
  • Electronic endoscope
    Patent number: 6473116
    Abstract: Electronic endoscope includes a video-scope, video-processor, a light source, a luminance value calculator, a stop, a motor, a drive-amount setter, a stop-controller, and a drive-amount determiner. The luminance value calculator successively calculates a luminance value indicating brightness of the object image, on the basis of image-pixel signals. The drive-amount setter sets a target drive-amount of the stop, to make the brightness of the object image constant, on the basis of the luminance value. The stop-controller adjusts the quantity of light radiating from the distal end of the video-scope by controlling the stop in accordance with the target drive-amount at regular time-intervals, whereby the stop opens and closes such that the brightness of the object image at constant level. The drive-amount determiner determines whether the target drive-amount exceeds a tolerable drive-amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tadashi Takahashi
  • Ultrasonic endoscope
    Patent number: 6471654
    Abstract: In an ultrasonic endoscope, a plurality of flexible substrates are connected to an ultrasonic probe as a signal transmission member for transmitting a signal which is inputted into/outputted from the ultrasonic probe. The plurality of flexible substrates are drawn into a curved portion and connected to a signal cable at lengthwise different positions respectively in the inside of a flexible tube portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenichi Ohara, Toshiyuki Hashiyama
  • Digital camera
    Patent number: D464980
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toshiya Inaba
  • Lens support ring for a digital camera
    Patent number: D465505
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Miyoshi Nasu