Patents by Inventor Akihiro Kitahara
Akihiro Kitahara 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).
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Patent number: 10317658Abstract: A microscope includes: an objective lens having an optical system; a correction collar provided on the objective lens and configured to move the optical system in a direction of an optical axis of the optical system by rotating around the objective lens to correct aberration; a switching unit to which the objective lens is attachable and which switches a position of the objective lens; a supporting unit for supporting the switching unit; and a focusing unit that holds the supporting unit such that the supporting unit is movable along the optical axis of the objective lens. A correction collar operating device is detachably attached to the supporting unit and includes: an input unit for inputting rotary force to rotate the correction collar; and a correction collar driving unit for rotating the correction collar according to the rotary force while the correction collar driving unit has contact with the correction collar.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2015Date of Patent: June 11, 2019Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATIONInventors: Hiroyasu Hebiishi, Masaru Mizunaka, Shintaro Kobayashi, Akihiro Kitahara
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Patent number: 10222598Abstract: An inverted microscope includes: an epifluorescence illumination optical system configured to irradiate a specimen on a stage with epi-illumination light from below the stage; a transmitting illumination optical system configured to irradiate the specimen on the stage with transmitting illumination light from above the stage; an objective lens arranged below the stage and configured to collect the epi-illumination light on the specimen; and a light blocking unit configured to be arranged between the stage and the transmitting illumination optical system so as to be located on or deviated from an observation optical axis of the inverted microscope, and configured to be located at a light blocking position separated from the stage so as to block all direct light entering the objective lens at an angle not larger than an aperture angle of the objective lens.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2016Date of Patent: March 5, 2019Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATIONInventors: Akihiro Kitahara, Shintaro Kobayashi
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Publication number: 20170090173Abstract: An inverted microscope includes: an epifluorescence illumination optical system configured to irradiate a specimen on a stage with epi-illumination light from below the stage; a transmitting illumination optical system configured to irradiate the specimen on the stage with transmitting illumination light from above the stage; an objective lens arranged below the stage and configured to collect the epi-illumination light on the specimen; and a light blocking unit configured to be arranged between the stage and the transmitting illumination optical system so as to be located on or deviated from an observation optical axis of the inverted microscope, and configured to be located at a light blocking position separated from the stage so as to block all direct light entering the objective lens at an angle not larger than an aperture angle of the objective lens.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 20, 2016Publication date: March 30, 2017Applicant: OLYMPUS CORPORATIONInventors: Akihiro KITAHARA, Shintaro KOBAYASHI
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Patent number: 9557552Abstract: A microscope apparatus includes a stage and a revolver that holds objective lenses. At least one of the stage and the revolver constitutes an electric movable device that is electrically operated. The microscope apparatus further includes an input device for inputting a command for operating the electric movable device, a manual focusing device for adjusting a relative distance between the stage and the objective lenses, an operation control device for controlling operation of the electric movable device, a state determining device for determining whether the electric movable device is in an operable state or not, and a restriction device for restricting an output of a control signal for commanding the operation to the operation control device when the command for operating the electric movable device is input if the electric movable device is in an inoperable state.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 2013Date of Patent: January 31, 2017Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATIONInventors: Akihiro Kitahara, Shota Takenaga
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Patent number: 9494780Abstract: An inverted microscope includes an imaging lens configured to form an image of light which passes through an objective lens from a specimen, and a microscope main body in which a plurality of optical devices are configured to be arranged between the objective lens and the imaging lens in a direction of an optical axis of the objective lens and which includes therein a plurality of installation units that allow the plurality of optical devices to be fixed independently of one another. Each of the plurality of installation units includes an abutting reference surface on which any one of the plurality of optical devices is configured to be abutted. A plurality of abutting reference surfaces of the plurality of the installation units are shifted from one another in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis of the objective lens.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2013Date of Patent: November 15, 2016Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATIONInventors: Akihiro Kitahara, Hironori Utsugi, Yusuke Amano
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Publication number: 20160004061Abstract: A microscope includes: an objective lens having an optical system; a correction collar provided on the objective lens and configured to move the optical system in a direction of an optical axis of the optical system by rotating around the objective lens to correct aberration; a switching unit to which the objective lens is attachable and which switches a position of the objective lens; a supporting unit for supporting the switching unit; and a focusing unit that holds the supporting unit such that the supporting unit is movable along the optical axis of the objective lens. A correction collar operating device is detachably attached to the supporting unit and includes: an input unit for inputting rotary force to rotate the correction collar; and a correction collar driving unit for rotating the correction collar according to the rotary force while the correction collar driving unit has contact with the correction collar.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 1, 2015Publication date: January 7, 2016Applicant: OLYMPUS CORPORATIONInventors: Hiroyasu HEBIISHI, Masaru MIZUNAKA, Shintaro KOBAYASHI, Akihiro KITAHARA
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Patent number: 9195039Abstract: An inverted microscope includes: a stage which places a specimen thereon; a light source unit which has a light source irradiating light to the specimen on the stage; an objective lens which focuses at least observation light from the specimen on the stage; a body unit which holds at least the objective lens; a condenser which is provided on an optical axis of the objective lens; a condenser holding unit which holds the condenser; a condenser moving mechanism which movably supports the condenser holding unit and moves the condenser holding unit along the optical axis; a transmission mechanism which transmits power for moving the condenser to the condenser moving mechanism; and an input unit which inputs the power to the transmission mechanism. The input unit is provided above the condenser holding unit.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2012Date of Patent: November 24, 2015Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATIONInventors: Yusuke Matsumoto, Akihiro Kitahara, Mika Fukuda
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Publication number: 20140295535Abstract: A measurement apparatus includes: a holding unit that holds at least a specimen to be observed; an illumination unit that emits illumination light to be irradiated to the specimen; a detection unit that is arrangeably provided in the holding unit and detects an intensity of the illumination light on a light irradiation surface of the specimen; a field stop that is formed with an aperture and stops down a field on the light irradiation surface by an image of the aperture that is provided on an optical path of the illumination unit, the aperture through which the illumination light passes and through which an image of the illumination light is projected on the light illumination surface; and a computation unit that computes, based on an area of the aperture and the detected intensity, an intensity of the illumination light per unit area of the light irradiation surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 26, 2014Publication date: October 2, 2014Applicant: OLYMPUS CORPORATIONInventors: Akihiro KITAHARA, Madoka ITO, Hironori UTSUGI, Kenichi KUSAKA, Mina KOBAYASHI
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Patent number: 8749883Abstract: An inverted microscope includes: a microscope main body; a stage that is supported by the microscope main body; and an observation optical system that allows observing a sample placed on the stage from underneath, the microscope main body, in which an optical device can be attached between an objective lens and a tube lens which constitute the observation optical system including a plurality of stage supporting parts that support the stage; and a beam part that connects, in a manner of locating between the tube lens and the objective lens, at least a pair of stage supporting parts at front and back sides together among the plurality of stage supporting parts.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 2012Date of Patent: June 10, 2014Assignee: Olympus CorporationInventor: Akihiro Kitahara
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Publication number: 20130335820Abstract: An illuminating unit that is a part of a microscope for forming an image of a specimen being an observation object, that is located above a stage on which the specimen is placed, and that applies transmitting illumination light to the specimen includes a light source unit including a light source that generates the transmitting illumination light, and a condenser unit that includes a condenser lens for collecting and applying the transmitting illumination light emitted by the light source unit onto the specimen, and that is detachably connected to the light source unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 29, 2013Publication date: December 19, 2013Inventors: Yusuke MATSUMOTO, Akihiro KITAHARA
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Publication number: 20130286474Abstract: A microscope apparatus includes a stage and a revolver that holds objective lenses. At least one of the stage and the revolver constitutes an electric movable device that is electrically operated. The microscope apparatus further includes an input device for inputting a command for operating the electric movable device, a manual focusing device for adjusting a relative distance between the stage and the objective lenses, an operation control device for controlling operation of the electric movable device, a state determining device for determining whether the electric movable device is in an operable state or not, and a restriction device for restricting an output of a control signal for commanding the operation to the operation control device when the command for operating the electric movable device is input if the electric movable device is in an inoperable state.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 25, 2013Publication date: October 31, 2013Applicant: OLYMPUS CORPORATIONInventors: Akihiro KITAHARA, Shota TAKENAGA
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Publication number: 20130258457Abstract: An inverted microscope includes an imaging lens configured to form an image of light which passes through an objective lens from a specimen, and a microscope main body in which a plurality of optical devices are configured to be arranged between the objective lens and the imaging lens in a direction of an optical axis of the objective lens and which includes therein a plurality of installation units that allow the plurality of optical devices to be fixed independently of one another. Each of the plurality of installation units includes an abutting reference surface on which any one of the plurality of optical devices is configured to be abutted. A plurality of abutting reference surfaces of the plurality of the installation units are shifted from one another in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis of the objective lens.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 27, 2013Publication date: October 3, 2013Applicant: OLYMPUS CORPORATIONInventors: Akihiro KITAHARA, Hironori UTSUGI, Yusuke AMANO
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Publication number: 20130077158Abstract: An inverted microscope includes: a stage which places a specimen thereon; a light source unit which has a light source irradiating light to the specimen on the stage; an objective lens which focuses at least observation light from the specimen on the stage; a body unit which holds at least the objective lens; a condenser which is provided on an optical axis of the objective lens; a condenser holding unit which holds the condenser; a condenser moving mechanism which movably supports the condenser holding unit and moves the condenser holding unit along the optical axis; a transmission mechanism which transmits power for moving the condenser to the condenser moving mechanism; and an input unit which inputs the power to the transmission mechanism. The input unit is provided above the condenser holding unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 27, 2012Publication date: March 28, 2013Applicant: OLYMPUS CORPORATIONInventors: Yusuke MATSUMOTO, Akihiro KITAHARA, Mika FUKUDA
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Patent number: 8188412Abstract: A confocal microscope includes an objective lens for converging light which is emitted from a light source to a sample, a scanning mechanism for relatively scanning the sample with the light converged to the sample, and a plurality of confocal diaphragm apertures that are arranged at positions optically conjugate to the light-gathering position of the objective lens and have different diaphragm diameters. The confocal microscope further includes a plurality of photodetectors for detecting the intensities of lights respectively transmitting through the confocal diaphragm apertures, and a weighting/combining arithmetic processing unit for combining signals output from the photodetectors after weighting the signals.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2008Date of Patent: May 29, 2012Assignee: Olympus CorporationInventors: Akihiro Kitahara, Tsukasa Nittono, Shinsuke Kaneki
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Patent number: 8041097Abstract: To provide a confocal microscope for obtaining an extended image by easily determining the capturing range of an observation image without being aware of the shape of a sample to be observed, the confocal microscope comprises confocal image generating unit for generating a confocal image, first counting unit for counting a first number of pixels having a predetermined brightness level or lower among the brightness levels of the pixels of the confocal image, second counting unit for counting a second number of pixels obtained by extracting only a pixel that matches a predetermined condition for the confocal image, and boundary determining unit for detecting a boundary by determining whether or not the observation surface is within the image capturing range based on the first and the second numbers of pixels.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2008Date of Patent: October 18, 2011Assignee: Olympus CorporationInventors: Shuji Akiyama, Akihiro Kitahara
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Publication number: 20090173898Abstract: A confocal microscope having an objective lens for converging light, which is emitted from a light source, to a sample, a scanning mechanism for relatively scanning the sample with the light converged to the sample, a plurality of confocal diaphragm apertures that are arranged at positions optically conjugate to the light-gathering position of the objective lens and have different diaphragm diameters, and a plurality of photodetectors for detecting the intensities of lights respectively transmitting through the confocal diaphragm apertures comprises a weighting/combining arithmetic processing unit for combining signals output from the photodetectors after weighting the signals.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 23, 2008Publication date: July 9, 2009Applicant: Olympus CorporationInventors: Akihiro KITAHARA, Tsukasa NITTONO, Shinsuke KANEKI
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Publication number: 20090097109Abstract: To provide a confocal microscope for obtaining an extended image by easily determining the capturing range of an observation image without being aware of the shape of a sample to be observed, the confocal microscope comprises confocal image generating unit for generating a confocal image, first counting unit for counting a first number of pixels having a predetermined brightness level or lower among the brightness levels of the pixels of the confocal image, second counting unit for counting a second number of pixels obtained by extracting only a pixel that matches a predetermined condition for the confocal image, and boundary determining unit for detecting a boundary by determining whether or not the observation surface is within the image capturing range based on the first and the second numbers of pixels.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 11, 2008Publication date: April 16, 2009Applicant: Olympus CorporationInventors: Shuji Akiyama, Akihiro Kitahara
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Patent number: 7304281Abstract: A confocal laser scanning microscope acquires confocal images of a sample. The microscope is provided with an optical-microscope optical system which acquires non-confocal images of the sample by detecting measurement light coming from the sample. The optical-microscope optical system includes optical systems corresponding to at least two observation methods, and one of the optical systems is selected during use.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2007Date of Patent: December 4, 2007Assignee: Olympus CorporationInventor: Akihiro Kitahara
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Patent number: 7297921Abstract: A first amplification unit amplifies at a predetermined amplification rate an output signal from a photodetection unit for detecting an optical signal from a specimen and detecting it. An offset unit assigns offset to an output signal from the photodetection unit. A second amplification unit amplifies at an amplification rate smaller than the amplification rate of the first amplification unit an output signal from the photodetection unit assigned the offset by the offset unit. A rectification unit rectifies an output signal from the second amplification unit. An addition unit adds an output signal from the first amplification unit to an output signal from the rectification unit.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2004Date of Patent: November 20, 2007Assignee: Olympus CorportionInventors: Hideo Watanabe, Akihiro Kitahara
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Patent number: D690342Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2012Date of Patent: September 24, 2013Assignee: Olympus CorporationInventors: Yasuo Funakoshi, Kenji Tajima, Reisuke Osada, Akihiro Kitahara, Masayoshi Karasawa