Patents by Inventor Hideaki Kinouchi

Hideaki Kinouchi 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: 20230000320
    Abstract: An endoscope processor includes a receptacle that allows insertion of either a first connector for endoscope or a second connector for endoscope, and the receptacle includes: a primary coil performing power feeding to a secondary coil of the first connector for endoscope without using an electric contact; an optical fiber in an optical fiber insertion hole performing signal reception and transmission with an optical fiber in an optical fiber plug without using an electric contact; and electric contacts performing power feeding to and signal reception and transmission with respective electric contacts by contact, the primary coil, the optical fiber insertion hole, and the electric contacts being provided in positions respectively facing the secondary coil, the optical fiber, and the electric contacts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2022
    Publication date: January 5, 2023
    Applicant: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hideaki Kinouchi
  • Patent number: 11058285
    Abstract: An optical signal transmission module is provided, in which a lens surface for condensing light emitted from an LD configured to convert an electrical signal to an optical signal and emit light of the optical signal is integrally formed on an end portion of an optical fiber, a mounting substrate for the LD to be mounted is configured with a specially-shaped substrate, and a fixing portion (a fixing hole portion) for the optical fiber to be fixed is integrally formed on the mounting substrate, at a position where the light emitted from the LD (the light of the optical signal) can be incident on the lens surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hideaki Kinouchi, Yasuhiro Miyazaki, Tsutomu Urakawa
  • Patent number: 10911708
    Abstract: An endoscope system includes: an endoscope including an image pickup device provided in an insertion portion, and configured to pick up an image of a subject to output a binary image signal; a multilevel modulation unit configured to output, through a predetermined transmission path, a multilevel signal obtained by performing multilevel modulation on the binary image signal; and a memory configured to store endoscope information on signal transmission; and a processor including a multilevel demodulation unit configured to receive the multilevel signal through the predetermined transmission path, and obtain and output the binary image signal by multilevel demodulation; and a controller configured to read the endoscope information from the memory, and determine a multilevel number in the multilevel modulation by the multilevel modulation unit based on the endoscope information read to control the multilevel modulation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hideaki Kinouchi
  • Patent number: 10687696
    Abstract: An endoscope system includes: an image sensor; a transmission module; a first optical fiber; a first optical connector; a second optical connector; a communication mode stabilizing unit configured to smooth an optical beam; a second optical fiber having a core diameter larger than a core diameter of the first optical fiber; a reception module; a first correction optical system including a first lens and configured to increase a beam diameter of an optical signal output from an end of the first optical fiber, and a second lens configured to convert the optical signal whose beam diameter is increased by the first lens into parallel light; and a second correction optical system. The second optical fiber is a step index optical fiber, and the communication mode stabilizing unit smoothes the optical beam by using a larger area of a core of the first optical fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hideaki Kinouchi, Tsutomu Urakawa, Susumu Kawata
  • Publication number: 20200022567
    Abstract: An optical signal transmission module is provided, in which a lens surface for condensing light emitted from an LD configured to convert an electrical signal to an optical signal and emit light of the optical signal is integrally formed on an end portion of an optical fiber, a mounting substrate for the LD to be mounted is configured with a specially-shaped substrate, and a fixing portion (a fixing hole portion) for the optical fiber to be fixed is integrally formed on the mounting substrate, at a position where the light emitted from the LD (the light of the optical signal) can be incident on the lens surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2018
    Publication date: January 23, 2020
    Applicant: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hideaki KINOUCHI, Yasuhiro MIYAZAKI, Tsutomu URAKAWA
  • Publication number: 20190110015
    Abstract: An endoscope system includes: an endoscope including an image pickup device provided in an insertion portion, and configured to pick up an image of a subject to output a binary image signal; a multilevel modulation unit configured to output, through a predetermined transmission path, a multilevel signal obtained by performing multilevel modulation on the binary image signal; and a memory configured to store endoscope information on signal transmission; and a processor including a multilevel demodulation unit configured to receive the multilevel signal through the predetermined transmission path, and obtain and output the binary image signal by multilevel demodulation; and a controller configured to read the endoscope information from the memory, and determine a multilevel number in the multilevel modulation by the multilevel modulation unit based on the endoscope information read to control the multilevel modulation unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2018
    Publication date: April 11, 2019
    Applicant: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hideaki Kinouchi
  • Patent number: 10085614
    Abstract: A transmitting device includes: a first transmission unit; a second transmission unit having transmission lines each having a proximal end at which a transmitting-side connecting portion is provided; and a first switch for selecting a transmission line from the second transmission unit, to connect the selected transmission line to the first transmission unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hideaki Kinouchi
  • Publication number: 20180035877
    Abstract: An endoscope system includes: an image sensor; a transmission module; a first optical fiber; a first optical connector; a second optical connector; a communication mode stabilizing unit configured to smooth an optical beam; a second optical fiber having a core diameter larger than a core diameter of the first optical fiber; a reception module; a first correction optical system including a first lens and configured to increase a beam diameter of an optical signal output from an end of the first optical fiber, and a second lens configured to convert the optical signal whose beam diameter is increased by the first lens into parallel light; and a second correction optical system. The second optical fiber is a step index optical fiber, and the communication mode stabilizing unit smoothes the optical beam by using a larger area of a core of the first optical fiber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2017
    Publication date: February 8, 2018
    Applicant: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hideaki KINOUCHI, Tsutomu URAKAWA, Susumu KAWATA
  • Patent number: 9883089
    Abstract: An imaging unit provided at a tip portion of an endoscope includes: an imaging element configured to receive light and perform photoelectric conversion on the light to generate an electrical signal; an oscillator configured to generate a clock signal for driving the imaging element; a photoelectric element configured to convert the electrical signal generated by the imaging element into an optical signal and to output the optical signal to outside; a regulator configured to convert electric power input from the outside into electric power depending on each of the imaging element, the oscillator, and the photoelectric element, and to supply the converted electric power thereto. The imaging element is spaced farther than the oscillator and the photoelectric element from the regulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tsutomu Urakawa, Hideaki Kinouchi, Takamasa Mikami
  • Patent number: 9861266
    Abstract: An endoscope device includes: an imaging unit for photoelectrically converting light from an object that has been irradiated with the light to generate an image signal; an optical signal converter for converting the image signal into an optical signal; a signal dividing unit for dividing the optical signal into first and second optical signals at a predetermined light quantity ratio; a first optical signal transmission line for transmitting the first optical signal; a connecting unit configured to connect the first optical signal transmission line and other optical signal transmission line and to input the first optical signal that has been transmitted through the first optical signal transmission line into the other optical signal transmission line; an electrical signal converter configured to convert the second optical signal into an electrical signal including light quantity information of the second optical signal; and an electrical signal transmission line for transmitting the electrical signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventor: Hideaki Kinouchi
  • Publication number: 20170258298
    Abstract: An endoscope system includes: an image sensor, a first photoelectric sensor configured to convert an imaging signal and test data output from the image sensor into an optical signal and output the optical signal, optical fibers configured to transmit the optical signal output from the first photoelectric sensor, and an information processing device. The information processing device includes a second photoelectric sensor configured to receive the optical signal transmitted through the optical fibers, and is configured to: measure a current value corresponding to a receiving sensitivity of the test data converted into an electric signal by the second photoelectric sensor; measure a bit error rate of the test data; determine a transmission level of the test data based on the current value and the bit error rate; and assume reasons for a decrease in the transmission level and cause the transmission level to recover based on the transmission level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2017
    Publication date: September 14, 2017
    Applicant: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tsutomu URAKAWA, Hideaki KINOUCHI, Takamasa MIKAMI
  • Publication number: 20170184836
    Abstract: A unit includes: a module configured to convert an electric signal into an optical signal and transmit the optical signal, or receive an optical signal and convert the received optical signal into an electric signal; and a connector connected to the module and configured to hold an end portion of an optical fiber transmitting the optical signal. The connector includes a ferrule configured to hold the optical fiber, and a flange portion provided at one end of the ferrule. The module includes an element configured to convert the electric signal into an optical signal or the optical signal into an electric signal, and a metal case configured to store the element. A connector side screw portion is provided on the ferrule, and a module side screw portion screwed with the connector side screw portion is provided in a sleeve of the metal case into which the ferrule is inserted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2017
    Publication date: June 29, 2017
    Applicant: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tsutomu URAKAWA, Susumu KAWATA, Hideaki KINOUCHI
  • Publication number: 20170095137
    Abstract: A transmitting device includes: a first transmission unit; a second transmission unit having transmission lines each having a proximal end at which a transmitting-side connecting portion is provided; and a first switch for selecting a transmission line from the second transmission unit, to connect the selected transmission line to the first transmission unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2016
    Publication date: April 6, 2017
    Inventor: Hideaki KINOUCHI
  • Patent number: 9537574
    Abstract: An optical transmitting and receiving unit includes: an optical transmitting module having a light emitting element and having a metal case that stores the light emitting element; an optical connector having a ferrule for holding an optical fiber and having a flange portion provided at one end of the ferrule, the ferrule being inserted into a sleeve of the metal case to connect the optical connector with the optical transmitting module; and a tubular waterproof cap that has a bottom, with one end open and the other end closed, and caps the optical connector to seal an optical connecting portion between the optical connector and the optical transmitting module in a watertight manner. The metal case has step portions with different outside diameters. One of the step portions closest to the optical connecting portion contacts an inner surface of the waterproof cap along an entire circumference thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tsutomu Urakawa, Susumu Kawata, Hideaki Kinouchi
  • Publication number: 20160206185
    Abstract: An endoscope device includes: an imaging unit for photoelectrically converting light from an object that has been irradiated with the light to generate an image signal; an optical signal converter for converting the image signal into an optical signal; a signal dividing unit for dividing the optical signal into first and second optical signals at a predetermined light quantity ratio; a first optical signal transmission line for transmitting the first optical signal; a connecting unit configured to connect the first optical signal transmission line and other optical signal transmission line and to input the first optical signal that has been transmitted through the first optical signal transmission line into the other optical signal transmission line; an electrical signal converter configured to convert the second optical signal into an electrical signal including light quantity information of the second optical signal; and an electrical signal transmission line for transmitting the electrical signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2016
    Publication date: July 21, 2016
    Applicant: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hideaki KINOUCHI
  • Publication number: 20160211919
    Abstract: An optical transmitting and receiving unit includes: an optical transmitting module having a light emitting element and having a metal case that stores the light emitting element; an optical connector having a ferrule for holding an optical fiber and having a flange portion provided at one end of the ferrule, the ferrule being inserted into a sleeve of the metal case to connect the optical connector with the optical transmitting module; and a tubular waterproof cap that has a bottom, with one end open and the other end closed, and caps the optical connector to seal an optical connecting portion between the optical connector and the optical transmitting module in a watertight manner. The metal case has step portions with different outside diameters. One of the step portions closest to the optical connecting portion contacts an inner surface of the waterproof cap along an entire circumference thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Publication date: July 21, 2016
    Applicant: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tsutomu URAKAWA, Susumu KAWATA, Hideaki KINOUCHI
  • Publication number: 20160006915
    Abstract: An imaging unit provided at a tip portion of an endoscope includes: an imaging element configured to receive light and perform photoelectric conversion on the light to generate an electrical signal; an oscillator configured to generate a clock signal for driving the imaging element; a photoelectric element configured to convert the electrical signal generated by the imaging element into an optical signal and to output the optical signal to outside; a regulator configured to convert electric power input from the outside into electric power depending on each of the imaging element, the oscillator, and the photoelectric element, and to supply the converted electric power thereto. The imaging element is spaced farther than the oscillator and the photoelectric element from the regulator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2015
    Publication date: January 7, 2016
    Applicant: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tsutomu URAKAWA, Hideaki KINOUCHI, Takamasa MIKAMI
  • Patent number: 8355043
    Abstract: A medical apparatus includes: a first image pickup section that is fixed to a body wall and picks up an image of an inside of a body cavity; a recording section that records in advance, in preparation for a case in which a predetermined image change occurs in a first image picked up by the first image pickup section, a predetermined image area in the first image or a coordinate for specifying the predetermined image area; and a display section that displays, when the predetermined image change occurs in the first image, the image area or the coordinate recorded in the recording section to be superimposed on the first image picked up by the first image pickup section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Olympus Medical Systems Corp.
    Inventors: Hideaki Kinouchi, Tsutomu Urakawa, Junichi Ohnishi
  • Patent number: 8348828
    Abstract: A medical apparatus which is introduced into a body includes an image pickup unit that picks up an image of the interior of the body, a communication cable that sends/receives a signal to/from an external device, an electric terminal section disposed at an end section of the communication cable, a drip-proof cap attached so as to cover the electric terminal section, a locking section provided at the drip-proof cap that locks a puncture needle for pulling the communication cable introduced into the body out of the body, and a dissection section provided at the drip-proof cap that dissects a body wall tissue when the cable wire is pulled out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Olympus Medical Systems Corp.
    Inventors: Daisuke Asada, Sho Nakajima, Hideaki Kinouchi, Nobuyoshi Yazawa
  • Publication number: 20120062717
    Abstract: A medical apparatus includes: a first image pickup section that is fixed to a body wall and picks up an image of an inside of a body cavity; a recording section that records in advance, in preparation for a case in which a predetermined image change occurs in a first image picked up by the first image pickup section, a predetermined image area in the first image or a coordinate for specifying the predetermined image area; and a display section that displays, when the predetermined image change occurs in the first image, the image area or the coordinate recorded in the recording section to be superimposed on the first image picked up by the first image pickup section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2011
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: OLYMPUS MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORP.
    Inventors: Hideaki Kinouchi, Tsutomu Urakawa, Junichi Ohnishi