Patents by Inventor Daisaku Horikawa

Daisaku Horikawa 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: 10674041
    Abstract: An image capturing unit includes a sensor unit that image-captures a predetermined area including a subject; and a reference chart unit that is arranged in the predetermined area and captured with the subject by the sensor unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Satoh, Yasuyuki Suzuki, Masato Kobayashi, Suguru Yokozawa, Tatsuhiko Okada, Mamoru Yorimoto, Daisaku Horikawa, Yuichi Sakurada
  • Publication number: 20190174025
    Abstract: An image capturing unit includes a sensor unit that image-captures a predetermined area including a subject; and a reference chart unit that is arranged in the predetermined area and captured with the subject by the sensor unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2019
    Publication date: June 6, 2019
    Inventors: Nobuyuki SATOH, Yasuyuki SUZUKI, Masato KOBAYASHI, Suguru YOKOZAWA, Tatsuhiko OKADA, Mamoru YORIMOTO, Daisaku HORIKAWA, Yuichi SAKURADA
  • Patent number: 10244147
    Abstract: An image capturing unit includes a sensor unit that image-captures a predetermined area including a subject; and a reference chart unit that is arranged in the predetermined area and captured with the subject by the sensor unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Satoh, Yasuyuki Suzuki, Masato Kobayashi, Suguru Yokozawa, Tatsuhiko Okada, Mamoru Yorimoto, Daisaku Horikawa, Yuichi Sakurada
  • Patent number: 10158767
    Abstract: An image capturing apparatus includes: a casing having an opening; a light source arranged inside the casing; a sensor arranged inside the casing and configured to capture, through the opening, an image of an object present outside the casing while the light source is on; and a distance calculator to calculate a distance between the casing and the object, based on an image that has been captured by the sensor and contains, within an image region of the object defined by the opening, a high-luminance region and low-luminance regions located more outside than the high-luminance region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomohiro Sasa, Nobuyuki Satoh, Yuichi Sakurada, Kenji Morita, Masaya Kawarada, Daisaku Horikawa
  • Patent number: 10093087
    Abstract: A distance measuring device includes: an imaging unit that captures a test pattern image including a pair of first markers and a second marker that is formed under a condition different from a condition applied to the first markers; a position detecting unit that detects a position of each of the pair of first markers and the second marker in a captured image captured by the imaging unit; a ratio calculating unit that calculates a ratio of a distance between the pair of the first markers in the captured image and an actual distance between the pair of the first markers; and an actual distance calculating unit that calculates an actual distance between one of the first markers as the pair and the second marker by multiplying a distance between the one of the first markers as the pair and the second marker in the captured image by the ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaya Kawarada, Nobuyuki Satoh, Kenji Morita, Yuichi Sakurada, Tomohiro Sasa, Daisaku Horikawa
  • Publication number: 20180167534
    Abstract: An image capturing unit includes a sensor unit that image-captures a predetermined area including a subject; and a reference chart unit that is arranged in the predetermined area and captured with the subject by the sensor unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2018
    Publication date: June 14, 2018
    Inventors: Nobuyuki SATOH, Yasuyuki SUZUKI, Masato KOBAYASHI, Suguru YOKOZAWA, Tatsuhiko OKADA, Mamoru YORIMOTO, Daisaku HORIKAWA, Yuichi SAKURADA
  • Patent number: 9944103
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a recording head in which a plurality of nozzles for discharging liquid droplets; and a pattern forming unit configured to form a test pattern used for positional deviation adjustment including a first pattern serving as a reference pattern and a second pattern serving as an adjustment pattern. The first pattern and the second pattern each are a linear pattern that is parallel to a nozzle arrangement direction and has a disconnected portion. The disconnected portion of the first pattern and the disconnected portion of the second pattern are shifted from each other in the nozzle arrangement direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsuhiko Okada, Mamoru Yorimoto, Daisaku Horikawa, Yuichi Sakurada, Makoto Moriwaki
  • Patent number: 9906688
    Abstract: An image capturing unit includes a sensor unit that image-captures a predetermined area including a subject; and a reference chart unit that is arranged in the predetermined area and captured with the subject by the sensor unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Satoh, Yasuyuki Suzuki, Masato Kobayashi, Suguru Yokozawa, Tatsuhiko Okada, Mamoru Yorimoto, Daisaku Horikawa, Yuichi Sakurada
  • Publication number: 20170361605
    Abstract: A distance measuring device includes: an imaging unit that captures a test pattern image including a pair of first markers and a second marker that is formed under a condition different from a condition applied to the first markers; a position detecting unit that detects a position of each of the pair of first markers and the second marker in a captured image captured by the imaging unit; a ratio calculating unit that calculates a ratio of a distance between the pair of the first markers in the captured image and an actual distance between the pair of the first markers; and an actual distance calculating unit that calculates an actual distance between one of the first markers as the pair and the second marker by multiplying a distance between the one of the first markers as the pair and the second marker in the captured image by the ratio.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2017
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Inventors: Masaya Kawarada, Nobuyuki Satoh, Kenji Morita, Yuichi Sakurada, Tomohiro Sasa, Daisaku Horikawa
  • Patent number: 9782967
    Abstract: A distance measuring device includes: an imaging unit that captures a test pattern image including a pair of first markers and a second marker that is formed under a condition different from a condition applied to the first markers; a position detecting unit that detects a position of each of the pair of first markers and the second marker in a captured image captured by the imaging unit; a ratio calculating unit that calculates a ratio of a distance between the pair of the first markers in the captured image and an actual distance between the pair of the first markers; and an actual distance calculating unit that calculates an actual distance between one of the first markers as the pair and the second marker by multiplying a distance between the one of the first markers as the pair and the second marker in the captured image by the ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaya Kawarada, Nobuyuki Satoh, Kenji Morita, Yuichi Sakurada, Tomohiro Sasa, Daisaku Horikawa
  • Patent number: 9744785
    Abstract: A medium identification device identifies a type of a recording medium used for image formation. The medium identification device includes: a two-dimensional image sensor that captures an image of the recording medium; and an identifying unit that obtains a glossiness evaluation value indicating glossiness of the recording medium, a surface roughness evaluation value indicating surface roughness of the recording medium, and a coloring evaluation value indicating coloring of the recording medium, using image data of a specular reflection region reflecting specular reflection light from the recording medium and image data of a diffused reflection region reflecting diffused reflection light from the recording medium, the regions being in the image of the recording medium, and identifies the type of the recording medium by combining determination using the glossiness evaluation value, determination using the surface roughness evaluation value, and determination using the coloring evaluation value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Suguru Yokozawa, Nobuyuki Satoh, Mamoru Yorimoto, Kenji Morita, Masayuki Fujii, Daisaku Horikawa
  • Patent number: 9716124
    Abstract: An apparatus includes: a light source; a two-dimensional image sensor that receives reflected light from a subject including specular light of the source and outputs an image of the subject; and an optical member arranged in an optical path of light emitted from the source to the subject. When a specular position of the source in the subject arranged apart from the two-dimensional image sensor by a certain distance is defined as a first specular position, whereas a specular position of the source in the optical member is defined as a second specular position, a relative positional relation of the optical member and the source with respect to the two-dimensional image sensor is determined so that a difference between an incident angle from the source toward the first specular position and an incident angle from the source toward the second specular position is a reference value or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Mamoru Yorimoto, Nobuyuki Satoh, Masato Kobayashi, Masayuki Fujii, Hiroshi Matsumoto, Daisaku Horikawa, Suguru Yokozawa, Kenji Morita
  • Patent number: 9654671
    Abstract: An imaging device including a light source; a two-dimensional image sensor that receives reflected light from a subject containing specular light of the light source and outputs an image of the subject; a light transmission member disposed in an optical path of light emitted from the light source to the subject; and a light shielding unit that, when a position on the subject at which light from the light source is regularly reflected and enters the two-dimensional image sensor is defined as a first specular position, whereas a position on the light transmission member at which light from the light source is regularly reflected and enters the two-dimensional image sensor is defined as a second specular position, shields the light directed from the light source toward the second specular position without shielding the light directed from the light source toward the first specular position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Mamoru Yorimoto, Nobuyuki Satoh, Kenji Morita, Masaya Kawarada, Masahiro Hiranuma, Daisaku Horikawa
  • Patent number: 9609163
    Abstract: An image capturing device includes: a two-dimensional image sensor that captures an image of a predetermined image capture area including a subject; a light source that illuminates the image capture area; and a light blocking member that blocks light traveling from the light source toward a specular reflection position, the specular reflection position being a position that is in the image capture area and where, if light travels from the light source, the light would be specularly reflected to the two-dimensional sensor. The light blocking member is arranged outside the image capture area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Masaya Kawarada, Nobuyuki Satoh, Mamoru Yorimoto, Kenji Morita, Masahiro Hiranuma, Daisaku Horikawa
  • Publication number: 20170034397
    Abstract: An image capturing unit includes a sensor unit that image-captures a predetermined area including a subject; and a reference chart unit that is arranged in the predetermined area and captured with the subject by the sensor unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2016
    Publication date: February 2, 2017
    Inventors: Nobuyuki SATOH, Yasuyuki SUZUKI, Masato KOBAYASHI, Suguru YOKOZAWA, Tatsuhiko OKADA, Mamoru YORIMOTO, Daisaku HORIKAWA, Yuichi SAKURADA
  • Patent number: 9527278
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a recording-head carrier including a recording head for ejecting a liquid droplet onto a recording medium, a relative moving unit configured to relatively move the recording-head carrier and the recording medium; an image recording unit configured to drive the recording head by a driving signal having a driving waveform to eject liquid droplets toward the recording medium while relatively moving the recording-head carrier and the recording medium; a driving-waveform determining unit configured to determine the driving waveform of the driving signal based on a detected temperature near the recording head; a drive-timing determining unit configured to determine drive timing at which the recording head is driven by the driving signal, based on the detected temperature; and a drive control unit configured to set the driving waveform and the drive timing to the image recording unit to drive the recording head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuichi Sakurada, Mamoru Yorimoto, Tatsuhiko Okada, Daisaku Horikawa, Makoto Moriwaki
  • Publication number: 20160366288
    Abstract: An image capturing apparatus includes: a casing having an opening; a light source arranged inside the casing; a sensor arranged inside the casing and configured to capture, through the opening, an image of an object present outside the casing while the light source is on; and a distance calculator to calculate a distance between the casing and the object, based on an image that has been captured by the sensor and contains, within an image region of the object defined by the opening, a high-luminance region and low-luminance regions located more outside than the high-luminance region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2016
    Publication date: December 15, 2016
    Inventors: Tomohiro SASA, Nobuyuki SATOH, Yuichi SAKURADA, Kenji MORITA, Masaya KAWARADA, Daisaku HORIKAWA
  • Patent number: 9516179
    Abstract: An image capturing unit includes a sensor unit that image-captures a predetermined area including a subject; and a reference chart unit that is arranged in the predetermined area and captured with the subject by the sensor unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Satoh, Yasuyuki Suzuki, Masato Kobayashi, Suguru Yokozawa, Tatsuhiko Okada, Mamoru Yorimoto, Daisaku Horikawa, Yuichi Sakurada
  • Publication number: 20160347052
    Abstract: A distance measuring device includes: an imaging unit that captures a test pattern image including a pair of first markers and a second marker that is formed under a condition different from a condition applied to the first markers; a position detecting unit that detects a position of each of the pair of first markers and the second marker in a captured image captured by the imaging unit; a ratio calculating unit that calculates a ratio of a distance between the pair of the first markers in the captured image and an actual distance between the pair of the first markers; and an actual distance calculating unit that calculates an actual distance between one of the first markers as the pair and the second marker by multiplying a distance between the one of the first markers as the pair and the second marker in the captured image by the ratio.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2016
    Publication date: December 1, 2016
    Inventors: Masaya KAWARADA, Nobuyuki SATOH, Kenji MORITA, Yuichi SAKURADA, Tomohiro SASA, Daisaku HORIKAWA
  • Publication number: 20160243866
    Abstract: A medium identification device identifies a type of a recording medium used for image formation. The medium identification device includes: a two-dimensional image sensor that captures an image of the recording medium; and an identifying unit that obtains a glossiness evaluation value indicating glossiness of the recording medium, a surface roughness evaluation value indicating surface roughness of the recording medium, and a coloring evaluation value indicating coloring of the recording medium, using image data of a specular reflection region reflecting specular reflection light from the recording medium and image data of a diffused reflection region reflecting diffused reflection light from the recording medium, the regions being in the image of the recording medium, and identifies the type of the recording medium by combining determination using the glossiness evaluation value, determination using the surface roughness evaluation value, and determination using the coloring evaluation value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2016
    Publication date: August 25, 2016
    Inventors: Suguru YOKOZAWA, Nobuyuki SATOH, Mamoru YORIMOTO, Kenji MORITA, Masayuki FUJII, Daisaku HORIKAWA