Patents by Inventor Hirotaka Seki

Hirotaka Seki 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: 20240103420
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit configured to form an image on a sheet based on image forming condition, a reader configured to convey the sheet and read a test image on the sheet while the sheet is conveyed, and a controller configured to control the image forming unit to form the image and the test image on a same sheet, control the reader to read the test image on the same sheet, and generate the image forming condition for adjusting a density of an image to be formed by the image forming unit, based on a reading result of the test image by the reader.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2023
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Inventor: Hirotaka Seki
  • Publication number: 20240069462
    Abstract: There is provided an image forming apparatus including: a photosensitive member that is driven to rotate; an exposure head that includes a plurality of light-emitting portions arranged at different positions in an axial direction of the photosensitive member, wherein each of pixels of an image corresponding to an output resolution of the image forming apparatus is formed by multiple light-emitting portions of the plurality of light-emitting portions, and a control unit configured to control the number of light-emitting portions to be driven to form each of the pixels of the image based on correction data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2023
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Inventors: DAISUKE AKAGI, HIROTAKA SEKI
  • Patent number: 11868071
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit configured to form an image on a sheet based on image forming condition, a reader configured to convey the sheet and read a test image on the sheet while the sheet is conveyed, and a controller configured to control the image forming unit to form the image and the test image on a same sheet, control the reader to read the test image on the same sheet, and generate the image forming condition for adjusting a density of an image to be formed by the image forming unit, based on a reading result of the test image by the reader.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hirotaka Seki
  • Publication number: 20230273544
    Abstract: An exposure apparatus comprises an exposure head, a memory and at least one processor. The exposure head includes light-emitting elements, and a rod lens array. A photosensitive body is rotationally driven. The light-emitting elements are arranged in a direction intersecting a direction of rotation of the photosensitive body. The rod lens array forms an image of light on the photosensitive body. The light is outputted from any of the light-emitting elements based on image data, passes through the rod lens array and reaches the photosensitive body. The memory stores correction data for correcting a streak image. The at least one processor corrects the image data based on the correction data read out from the memory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2023
    Publication date: August 31, 2023
    Inventors: Hirotaka Seki, Koichiro Nakanishi
  • Publication number: 20230119179
    Abstract: An inspection system comprises a plurality of image capturing systems including a first image capturing unit, a first irradiation unit corresponding to the first image capturing unit, a second irradiation unit that does not correspond to the first image capturing unit but corresponds to a second image capturing unit and in which the irradiated terahertz waves are directly incident to the first image capturing unit, and a control unit that controls the plurality of image capturing systems such that the timing of a period of image capturing of the first image capturing unit and the timing of a period of irradiation of the terahertz waves of the second irradiation unit is different.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2022
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Inventor: Hirotaka Seki
  • Publication number: 20230074291
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit configured to form an image on a sheet based on image forming condition, a reader configured to convey the sheet and read a test image on the sheet while the sheet is conveyed, and a controller configured to control the image forming unit to form the image and the test image on a same sheet, control the reader to read the test image on the same sheet, and generate the image forming condition for adjusting a density of an image to be formed by the image forming unit, based on a reading result of the test image by the reader.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2022
    Publication date: March 9, 2023
    Inventor: Hirotaka Seki
  • Patent number: 11567420
    Abstract: There is provided a reading apparatus that includes a conveyance roller, a light source, a light transmission member, a line sensor having a plurality of pixels and configured to receive reflected light from a sheet via the light transmission member while the sheet is conveyed by the conveyance roller, and a controller. The controller is configured to perform acquiring an output value of a first pixel, an output value of a second pixel, and an output value of a third pixel, determine a first value based on the output value of the second pixel and a first coefficient, determine a second value based on the output value of the third pixel and a second coefficient, and determine read data based on the output value of the first pixel, the first value, and the second value. The first coefficient is larger than the second coefficient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Ryo Mikami, Hirotaka Seki, Takeyuki Suda, Shinichi Isozaki
  • Patent number: 11520264
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit configured to form an image on a sheet based on image forming condition, a reader configured to convey the sheet and read a test image on the sheet while the sheet is conveyed, and a controller configured to control the image forming unit to form the image and the test image on a same sheet, control the reader to read the test image on the same sheet, and generate the image forming condition for adjusting a density of an image to be formed by the image forming unit, based on a reading result of the test image by the reader.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hirotaka Seki
  • Publication number: 20220244657
    Abstract: There is provided a reading apparatus that includes a conveyance roller, a light source, a light transmission member, a line sensor having a plurality of pixels and configured to receive reflected light from a sheet via the light transmission member while the sheet is conveyed by the conveyance roller, and a controller. The controller is configured to perform acquiring an output value of a first pixel, an output value of a second pixel, and an output value of a third pixel, determine a first value based on the output value of the second pixel and a first coefficient, determine a second value based on the output value of the third pixel and a second coefficient, and determine read data based on the output value of the first pixel, the first value, and the second value. The first coefficient is larger than the second coefficient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2022
    Publication date: August 4, 2022
    Inventors: Ryo Mikami, Hirotaka Seki, Takeyuki Suda, Shinichi Isozaki
  • Patent number: 11361797
    Abstract: In a case where an event occurs, a moving image corresponding to a time period during which a matter relating to the event is detectable is reproduced. A moving image reproduction apparatus includes a human figure detection unit that detects a first human figure and a second human figure detected during an event time period which is a partial time period which an event continues, a specification unit that specifies a first human figure appearance time period during which the first human figure appears and a second human figure appearance time period during which the second human figure appears, and a display control unit that controls reproduction of a time period of a moving image, the time period including a time from the first human figure appearance time period to the second human figure appearance time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hirotaka Seki
  • Patent number: 11294297
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an exposure head having an odd number of chips in each of which a plurality of light emitting elements configured to expose a photosensitive member are arrayed at intervals corresponding to a first resolution in an intersecting direction intersecting with a rotation direction of the photosensitive member. An even number of chips of the odd number of chips are arranged on one side of the printed circuit board in the rotation direction, and a remaining odd number of chips of the odd number of chips are arranged on another side of the printed circuit board. A center of an intensity of a light amount of the odd number of chips in the rotation direction is shifted to a side of the even number of chips with respect to a center of the printed circuit board in the rotation direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hirotaka Seki
  • Publication number: 20220019166
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming unit configured to form an image on a sheet based on image forming condition; a reader configured to convey the sheet, and read a test image on the sheet while the sheet is conveyed; and a controller configured to: control the image forming unit to form the image and the test image on a same sheet; control the reader to read the test image on the same sheet; and generate the image forming condition for adjusting an density of an image to be formed by the image forming unit, based on a reading result of the test image by the reader.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2021
    Publication date: January 20, 2022
    Inventor: Hirotaka Seki
  • Patent number: 11204581
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus resets a count value retained by a counter if a cleaning sequence is executed based on an execution instruction accepted from an operator via an operation unit or when the count value for counting the number of image-formed sheets reaches a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hirotaka Seki
  • Patent number: 11201985
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus capable of executing adjustment of an image formation position at a timing determined based on the number of printed sheets according to a user's request. Adjustment modes for use in adjusting geometrical characteristics of an image which is printed on a sheet are displayed for causing an image forming apparatus to print an adjustment chart. A controller receives first information indicating whether or not to execute a first adjustment mode for causing the image forming apparatus to print the adjustment chart based on the number of sheets on which images have been printed by the image forming apparatus, and receives second information indicating whether or not to execute a second adjustment mode for causing the image forming apparatus to print the adjustment chart based on a result of detection by a temperature sensor provided in the image forming apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hirotaka Seki
  • Publication number: 20210203804
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus capable of executing adjustment of an image formation position at a timing determined based on the number of printed sheets according to a user's request. Adjustment modes for use in adjusting geometrical characteristics of an image which is printed on a sheet are displayed for causing an image forming apparatus to print an adjustment chart. A controller receives first information indicating whether or not to execute a first adjustment mode for causing the image forming apparatus to print the adjustment chart based on the number of sheets on which images have been printed by the image forming apparatus, and receives second information indicating whether or not to execute a second adjustment mode for causing the image forming apparatus to print the adjustment chart based on a result of detection by a temperature sensor provided in the image forming apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2020
    Publication date: July 1, 2021
    Inventor: Hirotaka SEKI
  • Publication number: 20210103231
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an exposure head having an odd number of chips in each of which a plurality of light emitting elements configured to expose a photosensitive member are arrayed at intervals corresponding to a first resolution in an intersecting direction intersecting with a rotation direction of the photosensitive member. An even number of chips of the odd number of chips are arranged on one side of the printed circuit board in the rotation direction, and a remaining odd number of chips of the odd number of chips are arranged on another side of the printed circuit board. A center of an intensity of a light amount of the odd number of chips in the rotation direction is shifted to a side of the even number of chips with respect to a center of the printed circuit board in the rotation direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2020
    Publication date: April 8, 2021
    Inventor: Hirotaka Seki
  • Patent number: 10795280
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive drum; an exposure portion including light emitting elements; and a controller configured to control activation of the light emitting elements. The exposure portion includes array chips, each including the light emitting elements, a substrate on which the array chips are arranged in a staggered fashion in the rotational axis direction, and a substrate temperature detecting portion. The controller includes a correcting portion configured to correct magnification of the image data with respect to the rotational axis direction depending on a length fluctuation amount of the substrate calculated on the basis of the temperature detected by the temperature detecting portion, and a converting portion. Depending on magnification correction by the correcting portion, the image data is arranged by the converting portion on the basis of the mounting positions of the array chips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hirotaka Seki
  • Publication number: 20200258550
    Abstract: In a case where an event occurs, a moving image corresponding to a time period during which a matter relating to the event is detectable is reproduced. A moving image reproduction apparatus includes a human figure detection unit that detects a first human figure and a second human figure detected during an event time period which is a partial time period which an event continues, a specification unit that specifies a first human figure appearance time period during which the first human figure appears and a second human figure appearance time period during which the second human figure appears, and a display control unit that controls reproduction of a time period of a moving image, the time period including a time from the first human figure appearance time period to the second human figure appearance time period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2020
    Publication date: August 13, 2020
    Inventor: Hirotaka Seki
  • Publication number: 20200225600
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive drum; an exposure portion including light emitting elements; and a controller configured to control activation of the light emitting elements. The exposure portion includes array chips each including the light emitting elements, a substrate on which the array chips are arranged in a staggered fashion in the rotational axis direction, and a substrate temperature detecting portion. The controller includes a correcting portion configured to correct magnification of the image data with respect to the rotational axis direction depending on a length fluctuation amount of the substrate calculated on the basis of the temperature detected by the temperature detecting portion, and a converting portion. Depending on magnification correction by the correcting portion, the image data is arranged by the converting portion on the basis of the mounting positions of the array chips.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2020
    Publication date: July 16, 2020
    Inventor: Hirotaka Seki
  • Publication number: 20200150571
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus resets a count value retained by a counter if a cleaning sequence is executed based on an execution instruction accepted from an operator via an operation unit or when the count value for counting the number of image-formed sheets reaches a predetermined value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2019
    Publication date: May 14, 2020
    Inventor: Hirotaka Seki