Patents by Inventor Eiji Yamamoto

Eiji Yamamoto 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: 20180286062
    Abstract: An area determination unit 31 determines an active-method application area in which three-dimensional information is acquired on the basis of reflected light of a projected predetermined luminous flux and a passive-method application area that is another area and outputs an area determination result RD to a three-dimensional information acquisition unit 41. On the basis of the area determination result RD, an active-method three-dimensional information acquisition unit 411 of the three-dimensional information acquisition unit 41 acquires three-dimensional information DTa of the active-method application area by using the reflected light. A passive-method three-dimensional information acquisition unit 412 acquires three-dimensional information DTp of the passive-method application area on the basis of a plurality of captured images of different viewpoints. Therefore, it is possible to acquire three-dimensional information of a subject easily, speedily, and accurately.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2015
    Publication date: October 4, 2018
    Inventor: EIJI YAMAMOTO
  • Publication number: 20180266813
    Abstract: A curvature sensor includes a light source, a flexible light guide including cores, and FBG sensors that are provided in the cores and constitute FBG sensor groups at predetermined positions at predetermined positions along longitudinal axes of the cores. The curvature sensor includes a detector that detects an optical spectrum of light from the FBG sensors, and a processor that obtains a bend of the light guide. FBG sensors provided in a core include a first FBG sensor and a second FBG sensor next to it. The first and second FBG sensors include gratings having first and second pitches. The first pitch is shorter than the second pitch and is closer to the second pitch than other pitches of gratings of all FBG sensors that are provided in the core and include gratings having pitches shorter than the second pitch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2018
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Applicant: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasuo SASAKI, Eiji YAMAMOTO
  • Publication number: 20180266812
    Abstract: A curvature sensor includes a light source, a flexible light guide including cores, FBG sensors that are provided in the cores and constitute FBG sensor groups at predetermined positions along longitudinal axes of the cores. The curvature sensor includes a detector that detects an optical spectrum of light from the FBG sensors, and a processor that determines a bend position and a bend amount of the light guide. The FBG sensor groups include a first FBG sensor group and a second FBG sensor group next to it. FBG sensors in the first and second FBG sensor groups include gratings having first and second pitches. The first pitch is shorter than the second pitch and is closer to the second pitch than other pitches of gratings of FBG sensors that include gratings having pitches shorter than the second pitch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2018
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Applicant: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasuo SASAKI, Eiji YAMAMOTO
  • Publication number: 20180227477
    Abstract: An image adjustment apparatus includes a boundary calculation unit that calculates a boundary between a follow light region and a back light region in an image based on a position of a light source and an image adjustment unit that adjusts a state of the follow light region or the back light region with the boundary being a reference.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2018
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Inventors: EIJI YAMAMOTO, MASANORI MIKAMI, SHUNJI OKADA
  • Patent number: 10041655
    Abstract: An illumination system includes a light source device configured by an excitation light source, a light guiding member and a wavelength converter that are connected in order, and an operation check device. The system further includes: a connector configured to directly and physically connect the operation check device to a light signal emitting end which includes the wavelength converter; a detector configured to detect a light signal emitted from the light signal emitting end when the light signal emitting end and the operation check device are connected by the connector; and an operation determiner configured to determine the operations of the excitation light source, the light guiding member, and the wavelength converter by a detection result in the detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masahiro Nishio, Takeshi Ito, Eiji Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 9998676
    Abstract: An image adjustment apparatus includes a boundary calculation unit that calculates a boundary between a follow light region and a back light region in an image based on a position of a light source and an image adjustment unit that adjusts a state of the follow light region or the back light region with the boundary being a reference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Eiji Yamamoto, Masanori Mikami, Shunji Okada
  • Patent number: 9996076
    Abstract: The present invention uses a simple structure to precisely control a position of a rotator. A controller (1) sends a pulse for controlling rotation of a work (34) to a servo driver (2), and the work (34) is rotated by a motor (31) according to a reduction ratio as prescribed of a decelerator in which the motor (31) is driven by the servo driver (2) using a pulse quantity of the pulse for indicating an instruction position. The controller (1) includes a counting range determining part (132), and the counting range determining part (132) determines a counting range of an instruction position counter (21a) for counting the pulse quantity. The counting range determining part (132) multiples a prescribed pulse quantity of each turn of the motor (31) by a reciprocal of the reduction ratio and a correction value, and determines the correction value which enables a multiplication result to be an integer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: OMRON Corporation
    Inventors: Eiji Yamamoto, Daisuke Matsunaga, Tomonori Shimamura, Yoshimi Kamitani
  • Patent number: 9943220
    Abstract: A tubular insertion system includes an insertion unit including a bendable portion, a bending operation mechanism that operates the bendable portion. The tubular insertion system further includes a bending operation amount detection/calculation device that calculates bending operation amount information, a bent shape detection/calculation device that calculates bent shape information, and a first operation support information acquisition unit that acquires first operation support information based on at least one of the bending operation amount information and the bent shape information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Eiji Yamamoto, Jun Hane, Hiromasa Fujita, Jun Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 9903709
    Abstract: An insertion portion detection device provided with a light source unit which emits measuring beam to an outer circumferential surface of a cylindrical shape of an insertion portion to be inserted into an insertion target and to be a detection target, an optical pattern detection unit which receives reflected light from the outer circumferential surface and which sequentially acquires image data in a predetermined range of the outer circumferential surface including given optical patterns so that at least some of the optical patterns correspond to the image data, and a displacement amount calculation unit which detects a corresponding optical pattern from the image data and calculates at least one of an insertion amount of the insertion portion and an amount of rotation around the central axis of the cylindrical shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ryo Tojo, Eiji Yamamoto, Jun Hane
  • Patent number: 9888838
    Abstract: A light source device to illuminate a target to be imaged by an imaging unit which includes N kinds of light detection elements which wavelength sensitivity regions are different each other includes a light source section, an insertion portion, an illumination light emitting portion and a light guide member. The light source section emits M kinds of narrow-band light which have different peak wavelengths, a difference between the peak wavelengths being equal to or more than an effective wavelength gap. The insertion portion is configured to be inserted into an internal space of an object. The illumination light emitting portion is provided in the insertion portion and which emits an illumination light. The light guide member guides the narrow-band light emitted from the light source section to the illumination light emitting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Takeshi Ito, Eiji Yamamoto, Hiroyuki Kamee
  • Publication number: 20170370697
    Abstract: A bending detecting system includes a light guide, a first grating and a light detector. The light guide has elongated shape and is configured to guide an incident light in a propagating direction. The light guide includes a core and a cladding disposed around the core. The first grating is disposed in a boundary area, the boundary area including an outer surface of the core, and an adjacent area that is adjacent to the outer surface. The first grating includes a first periodic structure along the propagating direction with a first pitch, and is configured to generate a first diffracted light from the incident light. The light detector is configured to detect the first diffracted light from the first grating, and detect a bending of the light guide based upon an optical feature amount of the first diffracted light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2017
    Publication date: December 28, 2017
    Applicant: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasuo SASAKI, Eiji YAMAMOTO, Hiromasa FUJITA
  • Patent number: 9843778
    Abstract: Provided is an image display device including: a light source part (200) for emitting coherent light; and a plurality of phase shift elements (301) arranged in two-dimensional directions, the device further including a phase shift part (300) for scanning the wavefront of the coherent light from the light source part (200) in two-dimensional directions, in which light is scanned in the two-dimensional directions by a phased array to thereby allow an observer to observe an image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Horikawa, Eiji Yamamoto, Kanto Miyazaki
  • Publication number: 20170347916
    Abstract: Example embodiments of the present invention relate to a manipulation support apparatus. The apparatus may include a processor and memory storing instructions that when executed on the processor cause the processor to perform the operation of acquiring detection data from a sensor provided in an inserted object which is inserted into a subject body. The detection data may be associated with a state of the inserted object. The apparatus then may decide setting information based on at least one of inserted object information and the user information. The apparatus then may generate support information for a manipulation of the inserted object based on the detection data and the setting information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2017
    Publication date: December 7, 2017
    Applicant: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Jun Hane, Eiji Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 9835782
    Abstract: An irradiation module mechanically detachably attached to a light source module includes a first light source light entrance end which allows entry of first light source light from a first light source module, a first light guide member to guide the first light source light entered the first light source light entrance end, a second light source light entrance end which allows entry of second light source light from a second light source module, and a second light guide member to guide the second light source light entered the second light source light entrance end. The first light guide member and the second light guide member have optical specifications which correspond to optical characteristics of the light source light to be guided and in which the optical characteristics are different from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takeshi Ito, Eiji Yamamoto, Masahiro Nishio
  • Publication number: 20170281048
    Abstract: A supporting apparatus for supporting insertion of a flexible insertion member into a subject and removal of the insertion member includes a self-following property evaluation unit and a determination unit. The self-following property evaluation unit evaluates self-following property or lateral movement during insertion of the insertion member. The determination unit which determines a state of the insertion member or the subject, based on the self-following property or the lateral movement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2017
    Publication date: October 5, 2017
    Applicant: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Eiji YAMAMOTO, Jun HANE
  • Publication number: 20170281047
    Abstract: A supporting apparatus for supporting insertion of a flexible insertion member is provided. In the supporting apparatus, an attention point acquisition unit specifies a first attention point specified by a shape of the insertion member. A first displacement acquisition unit acquires a first displacement, which is a positional change of the first attention point. A second displacement acquisition unit acquires a second displacement of a second attention point. A displacement information calculation unit compares the first displacement of the first attention point and the second displacement of the second attention point with each other and calculates displacement information. A determination unit determines state of the insertion member or the subject, based on the displacement information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2017
    Publication date: October 5, 2017
    Applicant: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Eiji YAMAMOTO, Jun HANE
  • Publication number: 20170281046
    Abstract: A supporting apparatus for supporting insertion of a flexible insertion member into a subject and removal of the insertion member includes a tangential direction acquisition unit, a moving direction acquisition unit and a determination unit. The tangential direction acquisition unit acquires a tangential direction at at least one point of a predetermined portion in a longitudinal direction of the insertion member, based on a shape of the insertion member. The moving direction acquisition unit acquires a moving direction of the point. The determination unit determines states of the insertion member and the subject, based on the tangential direction and the moving direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2017
    Publication date: October 5, 2017
    Applicant: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Eiji YAMAMOTO, Jun HANE
  • Publication number: 20170280978
    Abstract: A supporting apparatus for supporting insertion of a flexible insertion member into a subject and removal of the insertion member includes an attention point acquisition unit, a first displacement acquisition unit and a determination unit. The attention point acquisition unit specifies at least one first attention point specified by a shape of the insertion member. The first displacement acquisition unit acquires a first displacement of the first attention point. The determination unit determines how a state of the insertion member or the subject is at a position corresponding to the first attention point, based on displacement information including information on the first displacement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2017
    Publication date: October 5, 2017
    Applicant: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Eiji YAMAMOTO, Jun HANE
  • Publication number: 20170281049
    Abstract: A supporting apparatus for supporting insertion of a flexible insertion member into a subject and removal of the insertion member includes a position acquisition unit, an interrelation calculation unit and a determination unit. The position acquisition unit acquires information on displacements at at least two attention points located at positions that are different in the longitudinal direction of the insertion member. The interrelation calculation unit calculates a degree of interrelation of the displacements acquired at the at least two attention points. The determination unit determines a state of the insertion member or a state of a predetermined target portion of the subject, based on the degree of interrelation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2017
    Publication date: October 5, 2017
    Applicant: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Eiji YAMAMOTO, Jun HANE
  • Publication number: 20170258307
    Abstract: An endoscope apparatus includes a laser diode, an illumination section, an image sensor and a light source control section. The light source control section supplies the laser diode with different drive currents in sequence within exposure time of the image sensor to emit a plurality of laser lights in sequence from the laser diode and which controls the drive currents in such a manner that a combined wavelength spectrum width of combined laser light obtained by combining the emitted laser lights with the exposure time is made greater than a wavelength spectrum width of each of the laser lights.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2017
    Publication date: September 14, 2017
    Applicant: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Bakusui DAIDOJI, Eiji YAMAMOTO