Patents by Inventor Hitoshi Otani

Hitoshi Otani 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: 20080075325
    Abstract: A position measuring system, comprising a distance measuring unit for projecting and scanning a pulsed beam for measurement to a measurement area and for measuring a distance based on a reflected light of the pulsed beam for measurement and for obtaining a position data group in the measurement area, a digital image pickup unit for acquiring an image data by taking an image of the measurement area, a storage unit for storing at least two sets of the position data groups and the image data acquired from at least two directions by interrelating and associating the position data groups with the image data, and an arithmetic unit for synthesizing the at least two position data groups through matching of the two images based on the two stored image data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2007
    Publication date: March 27, 2008
    Inventors: Hitoshi Otani, Tadayuki Ito
  • Patent number: 7349580
    Abstract: A calibrating apparatus for a zoom lens comprising: a first image-acquiring section 60 for acquiring a first image-for-calibration by photographing an area, in which reference marks for calibration are positioned, with a photographic device-to-be-calibrated 19 whose focal length is set to a first focal length; a second image-acquiring section 62 for acquiring a second image-for-calibration by photographing the area, in which the reference marks for calibration are positioned, with the photographic device-to-be-calibrated 19 whose focal length is set to a second focal length; a correction coefficient calculating section 64 for calculating a calibration correction coefficient for the first and second focal lengths, with the use of the photographed reference marks in the first and second image-for-calibrations: and a reference mark inferring section 66 for inferring a positional relationship of the photographed reference marks for calibration in the second image-for-calibration, with the use of the photographed
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Assignee: Topcon Corporation
    Inventors: Takayuki Noma, Hitoshi Otani, Nobuo Kochi
  • Patent number: 7319511
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a surveying instrument for measuring the distance to a target to be measured, a horizontal angle, and a vertical angle by use of reflected light. An imager can be connected to the surveying instrument. In addition, an arithmetic processing means can determine a three-dimensional position of a plane part by determining from at least three measuring points an equation that includes the plane part as the target to be measured, and then by associating digital image data to which the plane part belongs with the equation so that the plane part is identified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Topcon
    Inventors: Shunji Murai, Fumio Ohtomo, Hitoshi Otani
  • Patent number: 7301560
    Abstract: A three-dimensional field for calibration having a wide-angle area 110 and a zooming area 120 located within an area overlapped with the wide-angle area 110 comprises: a plurality of rough alignment reference marks 122 for zooming and a plurality of precise alignment reference marks 124 for zooming, and the rough alignment reference marks 122 and the precise alignment reference marks 124 for zooming being arranged within the zooming area 120; and a plurality of rough alignment reference marks 112 for wide-angle and a plurality of precise alignment reference marks 114 for wide-angle, the rough alignment reference marks 112 and the precise alignment reference 124 marks for wide-angle being arranged within the wide-angle area 110.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Topcon Corporation
    Inventors: Takayuki Noma, Tadayuki Ito, Hitoshi Otani, Mitsuharu Yamada, Nobuo Kochi
  • Publication number: 20070263924
    Abstract: An image processing device is provided that can precisely measure the photographing position or posture of a photographing device or the coordinates of an object based on sequentially changing photographed images. A series of sequentially photographed images are acquired, from which feature points are extracted. The feature points are tracked and correlated to each other. Stereo images are selected from the series of photographed images correlated, and subjected to an orientation and a 3D measurement. The error range of corresponding points obtained by the 3D measurement is calculated. Based on the calculated error range, it is determined whether or not the corresponding points are appropriate for 3D measurement. Those corresponding points determined as inappropriate are deleted. Another orientation and another 3D measurement are performed using those corresponding points excluding the deleted ones, thus improving the measurement precision.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2007
    Publication date: November 15, 2007
    Inventors: Nobuo Kochi, Tetsuji Anai, Hitoshi Otani
  • Publication number: 20070236561
    Abstract: An image processing device is provided that can precisely measure the photographing position or posture of a photographing device or the coordinates of an object based on sequentially changing photographed images. A series of sequentially photographed images are acquired, from which feature points are extracted. The feature points are tracked and correlated. Stereo images are selected from the series of photographed images correlated. Images selectable as stereo images are grouped into a group of images, from which stereo images are selected, before an orientation and a 3D measurement are performed. The images are grouped according to the distance from the object to the photographing position or the photographing magnification. Images with abrupt changes are removed so as to improve the measurement precision.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2007
    Publication date: October 11, 2007
    Inventors: Tetsuji Anai, Nobuo Kochi, Hitoshi Otani
  • Publication number: 20070167154
    Abstract: A position data interpolation method, comprising: a step of continuously taking digital images of scenes in the surrounding in a process of moving from a first point, which is a known point, via a second point, which is a known point, to a third point, which is an unknown point; a step of generating tracking points from an image acquired at the first point, and sequentially specifying the tracking points through the pursuit of points generated on continuously acquired images; a step of obtaining 3-dimensional position data of the tracking points based on a result of orientation of the tracking points at the first point and at the second point and based on position data of the first point and the second point; and a step of sequentially obtaining a position of the third point based on a result of orientation of the tracking points acquired at the third point and based on 3-dimensional position data of the tracking points.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2006
    Publication date: July 19, 2007
    Inventors: Fumio Ohtomo, Hitoshi Otani
  • Publication number: 20070140528
    Abstract: A technique is provided that can precisely measure the photographing position and posture of a photographing device and the coordinates of an object from moving images or photographed images that sequentially change gradually, even in the case with the need to process the sway of the photographing device and the disappearance and reappearance of characteristic points.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2006
    Publication date: June 21, 2007
    Inventors: Tetsuji Anai, Nobuo Kochi, Hitoshi Otani, Hirokazu Sato
  • Publication number: 20070115354
    Abstract: A 3-dimensional data preparing method, comprising a first step of continuously taking digital images of scenes in the surrounding when moving from a first point, which is a known point, via a second point, which is a known point, to a third point, which is an unknown point, a second step of generating tracking points from an image acquired at the first point, and sequentially specifying the tracking points by the pursuit of the points generated on the continuously acquired images, a third step of obtaining 3-dimensional data of the tracking points based on the result of orientation of the tracking points at the first point and at the second point and from position data of the first point and the second point, a fourth step of sequentially obtaining a position of the third point, i.e.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2006
    Publication date: May 24, 2007
    Inventors: Fumio Ohtomo, Hitoshi Otani
  • Patent number: 7206080
    Abstract: A surface shape measuring apparatus, comprising: a stereo-photographing part 3 for photographing an object 1 in stereo; a relative position changing part 4 for changing the positional relation between the stereo-photographing part 3 and the object 1; means 5 for storing stereo-photographing parameters in a plurality of directions from which the stereo-photographing part 3 photographs the object 1; a stereo-image generating means 6 for controlling the stereo-photographing part 3 to photograph the object 1 from the plurality of directions with the stored stereo-photographing parameters and generating stereo images of the object 1; and a surface shape processing means 7 for measuring the surface shape of the object 1 based on the stereo images of the object 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: Topcon Corporation
    Inventors: Nobuo Kochi, Hitoshi Otani, Satoru Niimura
  • Patent number: 7193626
    Abstract: A stereo image displaying device comprising: a feature element specifying section 40 for specifying feature elements contained in a pair of stereo images taken with a stereo image taking section 10; an image controlling section 30 for controlling the stereo images based on the positions of the specified feature elements in the stereo images to provide finished stereo images; and a displaying section 60 for displaying the finished stereo images in stereovision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: Topcon Corporation
    Inventors: Hitoshi Otani, Nobuo Kochi, Hiroyuki Aoki, Mitsuharu Yamada, Hirokazu Sato
  • Publication number: 20070008515
    Abstract: A geographic data collecting system, comprising a distance measuring unit for projecting a distance measuring light and for measuring a distance to an object to be measured, a camera for taking an image in measuring direction, a display unit for displaying the pickup image, a touch panel provided to correspond to a screen position of the display unit, a tilt sensor for detecting a tilting of the measuring direction, and an arithmetic unit for calculating a distance to the object to be measured by giving consideration on the tilting in the measuring direction and a point-to-point distance as specified on the image by specifying two or more points of the object to be measured on a displayed image via the touch panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2006
    Publication date: January 11, 2007
    Inventors: Hitoshi Otani, Atsushi Tanahashi, Hiroshi Inaba, Takeshi Ishida, Junki Kaneko
  • Publication number: 20070010924
    Abstract: A geographic data collecting system, comprising an image pickup unit for taking a digital image including a measuring point of an object to be measured, a GPS unit, an azimuth sensor for detecting an image pickup direction, a display unit for displaying the image taken, a receiving unit for receiving correction information to correct measurement result of the GPS unit, and a control arithmetic unit for obtaining corrected position data by correcting the measurement result based on the correction information and for associating the image acquired by the image pickup unit with the corrected position data and for storing the image and the corrected position data in a storage unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2005
    Publication date: January 11, 2007
    Inventors: Hitoshi Otani, Hiroshi Inaba, Takeshi Ishida, Atsushi Tanahashi, Junki Kaneko
  • Publication number: 20060239539
    Abstract: The present invention provides a model forming apparatus that can simply and efficiently form a three-dimensional model of an object using previously obtained three-dimensional model data of the object as a starting point. The apparatus comprises a photographing section 110 for photographing an object 10, an image data storage section 130 for storing three-dimensional model data of the object, a display section 140 for displaying a three-dimensional model based on the three-dimensional model data of the object 10, a recognition section 150 for recognizing an unmodeled part of the object 10 based on the three-dimensional model data stored in the image data storage section 130, and a photographing instruction information section 160 for obtaining photographing instruction information related to photographing the unmodeled part. The photographing section 110 photographs the object 10 in accordance with the photographing instruction information obtained by the photographing instruction information section 160.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2005
    Publication date: October 26, 2006
    Inventors: Nobuo Kochi, Hiroyuki Aoki, Hitoshi Otani, Mitsuharu Yamada, Tadayuki Ito
  • Patent number: 7116818
    Abstract: An image forming process for easily making an image drawing (ortho-image) in an actual place while confirming it in real time. Measuring of control points (at least three points) is performed (S110), and preparation is made for forming an ortho-image based on image data thereof and survey data. Where photographing is carried out from a plurality of directions, additional image measuring is performed (S140). Then, ortho-image formation is performed on a PC (S160). Here, if a formed ortho-image is not what is desired, ortho-image correction is performed (S180). After a satisfactory image is obtained (S200), the process moves to a next area to be measured, and the same operation is repeated. On the other hand, unless a satisfactory image is obtained, additional image measuring (S140) is performed again.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Topcon
    Inventors: Tadayuki Ito, Hitoshi Otani, Nobuo Kochi
  • Publication number: 20060126923
    Abstract: A method for preparing stereo images by using a surveying instrument, which comprises an image pickup means for acquiring an image in a collimating direction, and a distance measuring and angle measuring means for measuring a distance and angle of a collimating point, comprising a step of measuring distances and angles on at least three collimating points by installing said surveying instrument at a known point, a step of measuring angles on the three collimating points by setting said surveying instrument at an unknown point, a step of calculating coordinates of the unknown point based on surveying data of the three collimating points, a step of acquiring images from each of the known point and the unknown point for at least one of said three collimating points, and a step of preparing stereo images from the images from the known point and the unknown point based on coordinate data of the known point, distance measurement data, and angle measurement data from the known point, and based on coordinate data and
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2005
    Publication date: June 15, 2006
    Inventors: Hitoshi Otani, Tadayuki Ito
  • Patent number: 7015967
    Abstract: Disclosed is an image formation system which supports a survey and a photographing free from errors in the field. A control point data storing section 50 stores control point data required for forming a first orthogonally projected image. An image data storing section 60 stores digitized photographed image from which the orthogonally projected image is formed. An additional survey control point data storing section 55 stores control point survey data obtained by additional survey in the field. An additional image data storing section 65 stores digital image data obtained by additional survey and photographing in the field. An orthogonally projected image formation section 70 integrates the control point data and the image data, thus forming and synthesizing a final orthogonally projected image. An orthogonally projected image acquirement plan making section 80 makes an orthogonally projected image acquirement plan for spots to be amended.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Topcon
    Inventors: Nobuo Kochi, Hitoshi Otani, Tadayuki Ito
  • Patent number: 7016528
    Abstract: An image measuring apparatus includes an approximate position measuring portion for approximately obtaining, from a pair of images of a subject for measurement in different directions, positional information of the subject for measurement in each of the images. A data setting portion, having one image of the pair of images set as a reference image and the other image as a searched image, sets up, in accordance with the positional information obtained in the approximate position measuring portion, reference data blocks in the reference image and sets up searched areas in the searched image and searched data blocks in the searched area. A correspondence determining portion obtains correspondence between the searched data block set up in the searched area and the reference data block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha TOPCON
    Inventors: Hitoshi Otani, Nobuo Kochi
  • Patent number: 7010157
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a stereo image measuring device capable of carrying out high-speed and highly reliable three-dimensional measurement for a stereo image, easily correcting any omitted measurement, measurement errors or the like, and achieving a much higher speed, efficiency and reliability for measurement as a whole. A survey instrument measures a number of control points on site. A camera is, for example a digital camera, a film camera or the like. A control point search unit executes correlation between a control point measured beforehand by the instrument survey and an image. A search area setting unit sets a search area to be used for image correlation processing based on the control points correlated by the control point search unit, and sets respective data blocks, i.e., a reference data block and a search data block. An arithmetic operation unit executes orientation calculation, and image correlation processing (stereo matching) for the search area set by the search area setting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2006
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Topcon
    Inventors: Nobuo Kochi, Hitoshi Otani, Tadayuki Ito
  • Publication number: 20060013474
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a stereo image measuring device capable of carrying out high-speed and highly reliable three-dimensional measurement for a stereo image, easily correcting any omitted measurement, measurement errors or the like, and achieving a much higher speed, efficiency and reliability for measurement as a whole. A survey instrument measures a number of control points on site. A camera is, for example a digital camera, a film camera or the like. A control point search unit executes correlation between a control point measured beforehand by the instrument survey and an image. A search area setting unit sets a search area to be used for image correlation processing based on the control points correlated by the control point search unit, and sets respective data blocks, i.e., a reference data block and a search data block. An arithmetic operation unit executes orientation calculation, and image correlation processing (stereo matching) for the search area set by the search area setting unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2005
    Publication date: January 19, 2006
    Inventors: Nobuo Kochi, Hitoshi Otani, Tadayuki Ito