Patents by Inventor Akira Sano

Akira Sano 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: 11601628
    Abstract: A control method of a spectroscopic imaging device including an imaging element and a spectral element, the control method includes causing the spectroscopic imaging device to generate a first measurement spectrum consisting of N1 wavelengths by imaging a target object by making output wavelengths of a spectral element different when the spectroscopic imaging device is in a high accuracy mode and causing the spectroscopic imaging device to generate a second measurement spectrum consisting of N2 wavelengths by imaging the target object by making the output wavelengths of the spectral element different when the spectroscopic imaging device is in a high speed mode, in which N1 is an integer greater than or equal to two, and N2 is an integer less than N1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akira Sano, Shinji Kubota
  • Patent number: 11530949
    Abstract: A spectral filter module includes a spectral filter that splits light having a wavelength corresponding to an input drive voltage from incident light and outputs the light, a drive unit that outputs the drive voltage based on an input wavelength command value, and a drive controller that outputs the wavelength command value and changes the wavelength command value every time a trigger signal is input from the outside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Inventors: Akira Sano, Hideaki Kasahara
  • Patent number: 11307478
    Abstract: An optical filter includes a substrate, a first reflective film provided on the substrate, a second reflective film disposed to face the first reflective film, and a supporting portion provided on the substrate and supporting the second reflective film. The first reflective film is protected with a first protective film so as not to be exposed and the second reflective film is protected with a second protective film so as not to be exposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Inventors: Susumu Shinto, Akira Sano, Teruyuki Nishimura
  • Publication number: 20220012612
    Abstract: A system includes a learning object storing section that stores objects to be learned, a learning result storing section that stores learning results, and a control section connected to an input section. The control section computes a principal component coefficient vector of a first feature vector of an object to be processed that is designated by the input section, computes a principal component coefficient vector of a second feature vector using a principal component basis vector stored in the learning result storing section, and computes the second feature vector of the object to be processed using the principal component coefficient vector of the second feature vector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2021
    Publication date: January 13, 2022
    Inventors: Takeshi NAGATA, Hidemasa MAEKAWA, Makiko SUITANI, Hiromitsu TOMOZAWA, Kazutoshi MATSUZAKI, Akira SANO, Toru HAGIWARA, Akiyoshi HIZUKURI
  • Publication number: 20210377502
    Abstract: A control method of a spectroscopic imaging device including an imaging element and a spectral element, the control method includes causing the spectroscopic imaging device to generate a first measurement spectrum consisting of N1 wavelengths by imaging a target object by making output wavelengths of a spectral element different when the spectroscopic imaging device is in a high accuracy mode and causing the spectroscopic imaging device to generate a second measurement spectrum consisting of N2 wavelengths by imaging the target object by making the output wavelengths of the spectral element different when the spectroscopic imaging device is in a high speed mode, in which N1 is an integer greater than or equal to two, and N2 is an integer less than N1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2021
    Publication date: December 2, 2021
    Inventors: Akira SANO, Shinji KUBOTA
  • Patent number: 11146767
    Abstract: A projection position detection device includes: a spectroscopic camera receiving light from an image pickup range including a projection image projected onto a projection target, and picking up a plurality of spectral images corresponding to different wavelengths from each other; a spectrum computation unit computing an optical spectrum of each pixel, based on the plurality of spectral images; a feature point detector detecting a feature point in the image pickup range, based on the optical spectrum of the pixel; and a projection position calculator calculating a relative position of the projection image to the feature point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Inventor: Akira Sano
  • Patent number: 11144837
    Abstract: A system includes a learning object storing section that stores objects to be learned, a learning result storing section that stores learning results, and a control section connected to an input section. The control section computes a principal component coefficient vector of a first feature vector of an object to be processed that is designated by the input section, computes a principal component coefficient vector of a second feature vector using a principal component basis vector stored in the learning result storing section, and computes the second feature vector of the object to be processed using the principal component coefficient vector of the second feature vector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: MIZUHO RESEARCH & TECHNOLOGIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Takeshi Nagata, Hidemasa Maekawa, Makiko Suitani, Hiromitsu Tomozawa, Kazutoshi Matsuzaki, Akira Sano, Toru Hagiwara, Akiyoshi Hizukuri
  • Publication number: 20210314539
    Abstract: An apparatus includes an acquisition unit configured to acquire a characteristic value of each of partial regions of an input image; a determination unit configured to determine target regions for which a graphic is displayed, out of the partial regions, based on the acquired characteristic values and a predetermined condition; and a control unit configured to control so that the graphic is displayed in the target regions of the input image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2021
    Publication date: October 7, 2021
    Inventor: Akira Sano
  • Patent number: 10921503
    Abstract: A wavelength variable interference filter includes: a first substrate on which a first reflection film is formed; and a second substrate that includes a movable portion on which a second reflection film facing the first reflection film is formed and a holding portion surrounding an outer circumference of the movable portion and holding the movable portion so that the movable portion is displaceable in a thickness direction of the second reflection film. The movable portion has long and short sides in a plan view. The holding portion includes a long-side holding portion formed along the long side and a short-side holding portion formed along the short side. The rigidity of the short-side holding portion is lower than the rigidity of the long-side holding portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Inventor: Akira Sano
  • Patent number: 10901200
    Abstract: A wavelength tunable interference filter includes a movable section having a mirror region that faces a first mirror in a first direction and an electrode so provided in a region outside the mirror region in a plan view viewed in the first direction as to surround the mirror region along the circumferential direction thereof, the electrode configured to displace the movable section in the first direction when voltage is applied to the electrode, and the width of the electrode in the plan view varies in the circumferential direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Inventor: Akira Sano
  • Patent number: 10838125
    Abstract: A wavelength tunable interference filter includes a fixed substrate, a fixed reflection film that is provided on the fixed substrate, reflects part of incident light, and transmits at least part of the incident light, a movable reflection film that faces the fixed reflection film, reflects part of incident light, and transmits at least part of the incident light, and a fixed electrode that surrounds the fixed reflection film and has a light absorbing layer and a metal layer, and the light absorbing layer is disposed closer to the fixed substrate than the metal layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Akira Sano
  • Publication number: 20200333519
    Abstract: A wavelength variable interference filter includes: a first substrate on which a first reflection film is formed; and a second substrate that includes a movable portion on which a second reflection film facing the first reflection film is formed and a holding portion surrounding an outer circumference of the movable portion and holding the movable portion so that the movable portion is displaceable in a thickness direction of the second reflection film. The movable portion has long and short sides in a plan view. The holding portion includes a long-side holding portion formed along the long side and a short-side holding portion formed along the short side. The rigidity of the short-side holding portion is lower than the rigidity of the long-side holding portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2020
    Publication date: October 22, 2020
    Inventor: Akira SANO
  • Patent number: 10766069
    Abstract: There is disclosed a method for manufacturing an electrode by pressing and sintering a mixed powder of a solid solution powder of Cr and a heat-resistant element, which contains Cr and the heat-resistant element in a ratio such that Cr is greater than the heat-resistant element by weight, a Cu powder, and a low melting metal powder (Bi, Sn, Se, Pb, etc.). The low melting metal powder of 0.30 weight % to 0.50 weight % is added to a mixed powder of a solid solution powder of Cr and the heat-resistant element and the Cu powder, and then a mixed powder prepared by adding the low melting metal powder is sintered at a temperature of from 1010° C. to 1035° C. As the low melting metal powder, there is used a powder having a median size of from 5 ?m to 20 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: MEIDENSHA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shota Hayashi, Keita Ishikawa, Kenta Yamamura, Kosuke Hasegawa, Hideaki Fukuda, Akira Sano
  • Patent number: 10746909
    Abstract: A wavelength variable interference filter includes: a first substrate on which a first reflection film is formed; and a second substrate that includes a movable portion on which a second reflection film facing the first reflection film is formed and a holding portion surrounding an outer circumference of the movable portion and holding the movable portion so that the movable portion is displaceable in a thickness direction of the second reflection film. The movable portion has long and short sides in a plan view. The holding portion includes a long-side holding portion formed along the long side and a short-side holding portion formed along the short side. The rigidity of the short-side holding portion is lower than the rigidity of the long-side holding portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Akira Sano
  • Publication number: 20200244936
    Abstract: A projection position detection device includes: a spectroscopic camera receiving light from an image pickup range including a projection image projected onto a projection target, and picking up a plurality of spectral images corresponding to different wavelengths from each other; a spectrum computation unit computing an optical spectrum of each pixel, based on the plurality of spectral images; a feature point detector detecting a feature point in the image pickup range, based on the optical spectrum of the pixel; and a projection position calculator calculating a relative position of the projection image to the feature point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2020
    Publication date: July 30, 2020
    Inventor: Akira SANO
  • Publication number: 20200200607
    Abstract: A spectral filter module includes a spectral filter that splits light having a wavelength corresponding to an input drive voltage from incident light and outputs the light, a drive unit that outputs the drive voltage based on an input wavelength command value, and a drive controller that outputs the wavelength command value and changes the wavelength command value every time a trigger signal is input from the outside.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Publication date: June 25, 2020
    Inventors: Akira SANO, Hideaki KASAHARA
  • Patent number: 10578859
    Abstract: An optical filter includes: a first substrate; a second substrate opposed to the first substrate; a first reflecting film provided to the first substrate; a second reflecting film provided to the second substrate and opposed to the first reflecting film; a first electrode provided to the first substrate in a peripheral area of the first reflecting film; a second electrode provided to the first substrate in a peripheral area of the first electrode; a third electrode provided to the second substrate and opposed to the first electrode; and a fourth electrode provided to the second substrate and opposed to the second electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Akira Sano
  • Patent number: 10473913
    Abstract: An etalon includes a first substrate, a second substrate facing the first substrate, a fixed mirror provided on a surface of the first substrate that faces the second substrate, a movable mirror provided on the second substrate and facing the fixed mirror via an inter-mirror gap, and a first electrode provided on the surface of the first substrate that faces the second substrate. A first multilayer stopper portion is provided by a portion of the first electrode being stacked with at least a portion of an outer circumferential edge of the fixed mirror.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Sano, Yasushi Matsuno, Koji Kitahara
  • Publication number: 20190299285
    Abstract: There is disclosed a method for manufacturing an electrode by pressing and sintering a mixed powder of a solid solution powder of Cr and a heat-resistant element, which contains Cr and the heat-resistant element in a ratio such that Cr is greater than the heat-resistant element by weight, a Cu powder, and a low melting metal powder (Bi, Sn, Se, Pb, etc.). The low melting metal powder of 0.30 weight % to 0.50 weight % is added to a mixed powder of a solid solution powder of Cr and the heat-resistant element and the Cu powder, and then a mixed powder prepared by adding the low melting metal powder is sintered at a temperature of from 1010° C. to 1035° C. As the low melting metal powder, there is used a powder having a median size of from 5 ?m to 20 ?m.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2017
    Publication date: October 3, 2019
    Applicant: MEIDENSHA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shota HAYASHI, Keita ISHIKAWA, Kenta YAMAMURA, Kosuke HASEGAWA, Hideaki FUKUDA, Akira SANO
  • Publication number: 20190155015
    Abstract: A wavelength tunable interference filter includes a movable section having a mirror region that faces a first mirror in a first direction and an electrode so provided in a region outside the mirror region in a plan view viewed in the first direction as to surround the mirror region along the circumferential direction thereof, the electrode configured to displace the movable section in the first direction when voltage is applied to the electrode, and the width of the electrode in the plan view varies in the circumferential direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2018
    Publication date: May 23, 2019
    Inventor: Akira SANO