Patents by Inventor Atsushi Iwashita

Atsushi Iwashita 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).

  • Publication number: 20180328862
    Abstract: A radiation imaging apparatus includes a pixel array in which a plurality of pixels are arrayed and a processing unit configured to process pixel signals non-destructively read out from the respective pixels. The processing unit performs a first process of obtaining image data of a plurality of frames by repeatedly reading out image data while the pixel array is irradiated with radiation, with a group of pixel signals from the plurality of pixels corresponding to image data of one frame, and a second process of generating data for a radiation image based on data differences between the image data of the plurality of frames.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2018
    Publication date: November 15, 2018
    Inventors: Sho Sato, Atsushi Iwashita, Kosuke Terui, Yoshiaki Ishii
  • Publication number: 20180317868
    Abstract: A radiographic imaging apparatus is provided. The apparatus comprises a sensor panel in which pixels are provided and a processor that generates an image that corresponds to the number of radiation photons incident on each of the pixels. In an imaging mode in which an image formed by radiation that has passed through a subject is generated, the processor generates a correction signal by correcting a value of a signal output from the conversion element of each of the pixels according to a correction coefficient for converting the value of the signal output from the conversion element on which a radiation photon was incident to a value that corresponds to an energy value of the radiation photon, and generates an image based on the number of correction signals of pixels on which a radiation photon was incident from among the correction signals of the pixels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2018
    Publication date: November 8, 2018
    Inventors: Kosuke Terui, Atsushi Iwashita, Sho Sato, Yoshiaki Ishii
  • Publication number: 20180267177
    Abstract: An energy resolution decrease in a radiation imaging apparatus is suppressed. The apparatus includes a detector including a conversion unit configured to convert incident radiation photons into optical photons or charges, a pixel array including pixels arranged in a two-dimensional matrix and configured to obtain a pixel value in accordance with the optical photons or charges, and an output circuit including a plurality of output channels configured to output the pixel value from the pixel array, and a signal processing unit configured to perform signal processing of correcting the pixel value by using a correction coefficient in accordance with a pixel value obtaining process model in which a process of obtaining the pixel value output from the pixel array via the plurality of output channels on the basis of the optical photons or charges is modeled and obtaining an energy-discriminated radiographic image based on the corrected pixel value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2018
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Ishii, Atsushi Iwashita, Sho Sato, Kosuke Terui
  • Publication number: 20180239033
    Abstract: A radiation imaging apparatus comprising a pixel array in which a plurality of pixels are arrayed and a processor configured to generate a radiation image based on radio-photons which have entered the pixel array, wherein the processor performs a first process of obtaining a value of a signal from each of the plurality of pixels as a pixel value, a second process of selecting at least one of the plurality of pixels as a reference pixel, and a third process of specifying a detection area of a radio-photon in the pixel array by sequentially referring to pixel values of pixels around the reference pixel as a starting point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2016
    Publication date: August 23, 2018
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Ishii, Atsushi Iwashita, Sho Sato, Kosuke Terui
  • Patent number: 10009990
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus comprises a detecting unit for converting radiation or light into an electric signal provided with a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix, each of the pixels including a conversion element and a switching element, a drive circuit unit for controlling a conducting state of the switching element, and a control circuit unit for controlling the drive circuit unit based on the electric signal converted by the detecting unit. The control circuit unit controls the drive circuit unit to perform steps including the drive circuit unit setting the switching elements at the conducting state row by row to acquire an offset image based on the signal accumulated in the plurality of pixels for subtraction processing of the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Katsuro Takenaka, Toshio Kameshima, Tomoyuki Yagi, Sho Sato, Atsushi Iwashita, Eriko Sugawara
  • Publication number: 20180172851
    Abstract: A radiation imaging apparatus includes a pixel array having a plurality of pixels configured to detect radiation, a detector configured to detect radiation irradiation, and a controller. In a case in which a measured value obtained by using the detector exceeds a threshold in one range out of a positive range and a negative range with respect to a reference value, the controller controls a radiation image capturing operation by determining that the radiation irradiation has started. The controller changes the threshold in accordance with the measured value of the other range out of the positive range and the negative range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2018
    Publication date: June 21, 2018
    Inventors: Atsushi IWASHITA, Toshio KAMESHIMA, Hideyuki OKADA, Eriko SATO
  • Patent number: 9989656
    Abstract: A radiation imaging apparatus includes a pixel array where a plurality of pixels configured to detect radiation are arrayed, a sensor configured to detect radiation irradiation for exposure control, a reader configured to read out signals from the plurality of pixels and the sensor, and a processor configured to process the signals read out by the reader. The processor corrects, based on the signals read out from the sensor by the reader, the signals read out from the plurality of pixels by the reader.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Eriko Sato, Toshio Kameshima, Tomoyuki Yagi, Katsuro Takenaka, Atsushi Iwashita, Hideyuki Okada, Takuya Ryu, Kosuke Terui
  • Patent number: 9980685
    Abstract: A radiation imaging apparatus comprising a plurality of sensors arrayed to form a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns on a substrate and a driving unit configured to drive the plurality of sensors row by row, wherein the driving unit performs a first operation of driving the plurality of sensors while selecting the plurality of rows in a first order, and a second operation of driving the plurality of sensors while selecting the plurality of rows in a second order different from the first order after the first operation, such that a time difference is produced between a sensor in each row and a sensor in a neighboring row from the selection in the first order to the selection in the second order.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Atsushi Iwashita, Toshio Kameshima, Tomoyuki Yagi, Katsuro Takenaka, Hideyuki Okada, Eriko Sato, Takuya Ryu, Kosuke Terui
  • Publication number: 20180136343
    Abstract: A radiation imaging apparatus is provided. The apparatus comprises a scintillator configured convert radiation into light, a sensor panel in which a plurality of pixels each comprising a light detector configured to detect the light is arranged in a two-dimensional array, and a processing unit. The processing unit comprises a signal generating unit configured to output signals indicating intensities of the light detected by the light detector of each of the plurality of pixels, and a detection unit configured to identify a group of pixels each of which outputs a signal of a level exceeding a reference value out of the signals and detect, based on a pattern of the group, pileup in which a plurality of radiation photons is detected as a single radiation photon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2016
    Publication date: May 17, 2018
    Inventors: Kosuke Terui, Shinichi Takeda, Katsuro Takenaka, Sho Sato, Atsushi Iwashita, Yoshiaki Ishii
  • Patent number: 9971046
    Abstract: A radiation imaging system for performing a plurality of times of radiation imaging is provided. A readout circuit generates a value corresponding to a signal read out from each pixel. A control unit causes the readout circuit to generate a first pixel value corresponding to a signal read out from each pixel, and a first offset value of the readout circuit before starting the plurality of times of radiation imaging. The control unit causes the readout circuit to generate a second pixel value corresponding to a signal read out from each pixel, and a second offset value of the readout circuit during a plurality of times of radiation imaging. A correction unit corrects the second pixel value by using the first pixel value, the first offset value, and the second offset value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takuya Ryu, Toshio Kameshima, Tomoyuki Yagi, Katsuro Takenaka, Atsushi Iwashita, Eriko Sato, Hideyuki Okada, Kosuke Terui
  • Publication number: 20180128755
    Abstract: A radiation imaging apparatus that obtains a radiation image by an energy subtraction method. Each pixel includes a conversion element that converts radiation into an electrical signal and a reset portion that resets the conversion element. Each pixel performs an operation of outputting a first signal corresponding to an electrical signal generated by the conversion element in a first period, and an operation of outputting a second signal corresponding to an electrical signal generated by the conversion element in the first period and a second period. Radiation having first energy is emitted in the first period, and radiation having second energy is emitted in the second period. In each pixel, the reset portion does not reset the conversion element during a period that includes the first period and the second period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2017
    Publication date: May 10, 2018
    Inventors: Atsushi Iwashita, Kosuke Terui, Katsuro Takenaka, Yoshiaki Ishii
  • Publication number: 20180070906
    Abstract: A radiation imaging apparatus is provided. The apparatus comprises a scintillator configured to convert radiation into light, a sensor panel in which a plurality of pixels each comprising a light detector configured to detect the light is arranged, and a processing unit. The processing unit comprises a conversion unit configured to output a detection signal in accordance with a signal generated in the light detector by the incident light and radiation that has transmitted through the scintillator without being converted into light, and a reset control unit configured to determine that the light detector detects the transmitted radiation based on a magnitude of the detection signal and reset the conversion unit if the light detector is determined to detect the transmitted radiation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2016
    Publication date: March 15, 2018
    Inventors: Kosuke Terui, Atsushi Iwashita, Katsuro Takenaka, Shinichi Takeda
  • Patent number: 9910169
    Abstract: A radiation imaging apparatus includes a pixel array having a plurality of pixels configured to detect radiation, a detector configured to detect radiation irradiation, and a controller. In a case in which a measured value obtained by using the detector exceeds a threshold in one range out of a positive range and a negative range with respect to a reference value, the controller controls a radiation image capturing operation by determining that the radiation irradiation has started. The controller changes the threshold in accordance with the measured value of the other range out of the positive range and the negative range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Atsushi Iwashita, Toshio Kameshima, Hideyuki Okada, Eriko Sato
  • Patent number: 9846245
    Abstract: A radiographic image capturing apparatus includes: a pixel array in which a plurality of pixels outputting an electrical signal corresponding to radiation are arranged; a readout circuit section; and a member for preventing radiation from entering the readout circuit section. The pixel array includes a first region in which some pixels used for generating image signals are arranged, and a second region in which other pixels not used for generating the image signals are arranged in at least part of a region around the first region. From an outer side toward an inner side of the pixel array, an end on the inner side of the readout circuit section disposed in the second region, an end on the inner side of an orthogonal projection of the member to the pixel array, and an end on the inner side of the second region are arranged in this order.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsuro Takenaka, Toshio Kameshima, Tomoyuki Yagi, Atsushi Iwashita, Eriko Sato, Hideyuki Okada, Takuya Ryu, Kosuke Terui, Takashi Takasaki
  • Patent number: 9812474
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a pixel that generates charge; an integral amplifier that integrates charge transferred from the pixel; a low pass filter to which output of the integral amplifier is supplied and whose time constant is variable; first and second sample-and-hold circuits that sample and hold output of the low pass filter before and after the charge is transferred from the pixel to the integral amplifier, respectively; a differential circuit that outputs a difference between signals held by the first and second sample-and-hold circuits; and a control circuit that changes the time constant. The control circuit decreases the time constant after the sampling by the first sample-and-hold circuit ends, and increases the time constant in the middle of the sampling by the second sample-and-hold circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Yagi, Toshio Kameshima, Katsuro Takenaka, Sho Sato, Hideyuki Okada, Atsushi Iwashita, Eriko Sato, Takuya Ryu
  • Publication number: 20170303878
    Abstract: A radiation imaging apparatus comprising a plurality of sensors arrayed to form a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns on a substrate and a driving unit configured to drive the plurality of sensors row by row, wherein the driving unit performs a first operation of driving the plurality of sensors while selecting the plurality of rows in a first order, and a second operation of driving the plurality of sensors while selecting the plurality of rows in a second order different from the first order after the first operation, such that a time difference is produced between a sensor in each row and a sensor in a neighboring row from the selection in the first order to the selection in the second order.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2017
    Publication date: October 26, 2017
    Inventors: Atsushi Iwashita, Toshio Kameshima, Tomoyuki Yagi, Katsuro Takenaka, Hideyuki Okada, Eriko Sato, Takuya Ryu, Kosuke Terui
  • Patent number: 9743018
    Abstract: A radiation imaging system capable of obtaining excellent image quality is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsushi Iwashita, Toshio Kameshima, Tomoyuki Yagi, Katsuro Takenaka, Hideyuki Okada, Sho Sato, Eriko Sato, Takuya Ryu
  • Patent number: 9737271
    Abstract: A radiation imaging apparatus comprising a plurality of sensors arrayed to form a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns on a substrate and a driving unit configured to drive the plurality of sensors row by row, wherein the driving unit performs a first operation of driving the plurality of sensors while selecting the plurality of rows in a first order, and a second operation of driving the plurality of sensors while selecting the plurality of rows in a second order different from the first order after the first operation, such that a time difference is produced between a sensor in each row and a sensor in a neighboring row from the selection in the first order to the selection in the second order.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Atsushi Iwashita, Toshio Kameshima, Tomoyuki Yagi, Katsuro Takenaka, Hideyuki Okada, Eriko Sato, Takuya Ryu, Kosuke Terui
  • Patent number: 9655586
    Abstract: Provided is a radiation imaging apparatus, including: a first conversion element arranged to convert a radiation ray into electric charge in order to obtain a radiographic image; a first amplifier arranged to output a voltage corresponding to the electric charge of the first conversion element; a second conversion element arranged to convert the radiation ray into electric charge in order to detect radiation irradiation; a second amplifier arranged to output a voltage corresponding to the electric charge of the second conversion element; and a control circuit configured to control the first amplifier and the second amplifier, in which the control circuit is capable of controlling the second amplifier independently of control that is exerted over the first amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Yagi, Toshio Kameshima, Katsuro Takenaka, Atsushi Iwashita, Eriko Sato, Hideyuki Okada, Takuya Ryu, Kosuke Terui
  • Patent number: 9645259
    Abstract: A radiation image pickup apparatus includes a pixel array including a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix and configured to convert a radiant ray into electric signals, signal processors configured to output digital signals obtained in accordance with the electric signals output from the pixel array in parallel, and a controller configured to operate the signal processors after the signal processors enter a second power consumption state in which power consumption is higher than that of a first power consumption state from the first power consumption state after irradiation of a radiant ray to the pixel array is terminated, and to cause the signal processors to output digital signals after the signal processors are operated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshio Kameshima, Tomoyuki Yagi, Katsuro Takenaka, Sho Sato, Atsushi Iwashita, Eriko Sato, Hideyuki Okada, Takuya Ryu, Kosuke Terui