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: 20050286760
    Abstract: A method for associating a stereo image, by acquiring images of an object from a first point and a second point and by associating the image at the first point and the second point, comprising a step of moving from the first point to the second point while taking an image of the object, a step of setting two or more pass points on the image of the first point, a step of comparing a preceding image and a subsequent image over time, a step of retrieving and identifying the pass points of the preceding image in the subsequent image, a step of retrieving and identifying the pass points sequentially with respect to every frame image data from the image of the first point to the image of the second point, a step of identifying the pass points of the image of the second point, and a step of associating the image at the first point with the image at the second point via the pass points.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2005
    Publication date: December 29, 2005
    Inventors: Fumio Ohtomo, Hitoshi Otani
  • Publication number: 20050271264
    Abstract: The present invention provides a three-dimensional image measuring apparatus and method capable of measuring projections and depressions on a surface of an object with fine precision, as well as ensuring stable convergence, even for stereo images with significant project distortion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2005
    Publication date: December 8, 2005
    Inventors: Tadayuki Ito, Hitoshi Otani, Nobuo Kochi
  • Publication number: 20050243329
    Abstract: A measuring method, comprising a step of drawing a line on a surface such as ground surface, a step of performing measurement along the line on a predetermined measurement range including the line, a step of acquiring an image of a range including the predetermined measurement range as an image data, a step of superimposing the image data on a measurement data, and a step of calculating a measurement data of the line from line position in the image data and from the measurement data near the line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2005
    Publication date: November 3, 2005
    Inventors: Fumio Ohtomo, Hitoshi Otani
  • Publication number: 20050213808
    Abstract: A survey data processing system, comprising processing programs for preparing a 3-dimensional data at two or more points including a control point in a predetermined range by a surveying instrument, for preparing a digital image in a predetermined range including the control point taken by an image pickup device, for preparing TIN data obtained by connecting two or more points including the control point, for matching the control point on the TIN data with the control point on the image, for associating the image with a triangular net which composes the TIN data by texture mapping based on the matching, and for changing a method to display the image prepared through the texture mapping by applying calculation to the TIN data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2005
    Publication date: September 29, 2005
    Inventors: Fumio Ohtomo, Hitoshi Otani, Makoto Omori
  • Publication number: 20050207621
    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: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2003
    Publication date: September 22, 2005
    Inventors: Shunji Murai, Fumio Ohtomo, Hitoshi Otani
  • Publication number: 20050195384
    Abstract: A surveying instrument, comprising an optical system for collimating a measuring point, a driving unit for performing scanning in a measurement range the optical system, a distance-measuring unit comprising a light wave distance measuring system, an image pickup unit for taking an image in the measurement range, an image processing unit for performing image processing to extract edges from the image picked up, and a control arithmetic operation unit for selecting a point near the edge as a measuring point on the image picked up and for controlling the distance-measuring unit to carry out surveying operation of the measuring point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2005
    Publication date: September 8, 2005
    Inventors: Fumio Ohtomo, Hitoshi Otani, Makoto Omori
  • Publication number: 20050151839
    Abstract: A three-dimensional image display apparatus is provided that can integrate and visualize 3D measurement data obtained from a stereo image with an image of a measuring object to which stereoscopic texture is applied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2004
    Publication date: July 14, 2005
    Inventors: Tadayuki Ito, Hitoshi Otani, Nobuo Kochi
  • Patent number: 6859269
    Abstract: A surveying instrument, comprising a distance measuring unit for measuring a distance to a collimating point, an angle measuring unit for measuring a vertical angle and a horizontal angle of the collimating point, an image pick-up means for acquiring an image in a collimating direction, a driving unit for directing the image pick-up means in a direction of a predetermined object to be measured as selected based on an entire image data acquired by the image pick-up means, and a control arithmetic unit for recording by associating an image of an object to be measured with survey data to the object, wherein the image is picked-up in the direction directed by the driving unit and the survey data is measured by the distance measuring unit and the angle measuring unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2005
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha TOPCON
    Inventors: Fumio Ohtomo, Hitoshi Otani, Makoto Omori
  • Publication number: 20050013504
    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: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2004
    Publication date: January 20, 2005
    Inventors: Takayuki Noma, Hitoshi Otani, Nobuo Kochi
  • Publication number: 20050012844
    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: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2004
    Publication date: January 20, 2005
    Inventors: Takayuki Noma, Tadayuki Ito, Hitoshi Otani, Mitsuharu Yamada, Nobuo Kochi
  • Publication number: 20040234122
    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: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2004
    Publication date: November 25, 2004
    Inventors: Nobuo Kochi, Hitoshi Otani, Satoru Niimura
  • Patent number: 6810142
    Abstract: A stereo image measuring device capable of facilitating determination as to the correctness of the result of stereo image corresponding point measurement is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Topcon
    Inventors: Nobuo Kochi, Hitoshi Otani
  • Publication number: 20040202364
    Abstract: A calibration subject (11, 11B) for providing a reference dimension for use in measuring the surface shape of a measuring object to be photographed in stereo comprises an origin reference point target 110 corresponding to the origin position for three-dimensional measurement and reference targets (113, 113B) arranged in such a manner that at least six of them are included in each of stereo images photographed from a plurality of directions. The positions of the reference targets are determined in advance with respect to the origin reference point target 110.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2004
    Publication date: October 14, 2004
    Inventors: Hitoshi Otani, Nobuo Kochi
  • Patent number: 6804389
    Abstract: An orthogonally projected image forming unit 1 forms an orthogonally projected image based on a photographed image. A direction specifying unit 2 enables the orthogonally projected image to be seen from a different viewpoint, and forms an orthogonally projected image seen from a different viewpoint. A feature extracting unit 3 extracts a feature from the orthogonally projected image. A symbol pasting unit 4 pastes a symbol to a drawing during plotting. A display unit 5 displays the formed orthogonally projected image, the orthogonally projected image formed by changing a viewpoint, the orthogonally projected image processed by the image feature extracting unit 3, and the symbol pasted by the symbol pasting unit 4, and so on. An I/O unit 6 inputs/outputs various image data or three-dimensional coordinate data from a three-dimensional coordinate input de-vice such as a survey instrument or the like to the other device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2004
    Assignee: KabushikI Kaisha Topcon
    Inventors: Tadayuki Ito, Hitoshi Otani, Nobuo Kochi
  • Publication number: 20040131248
    Abstract: An image forming process for easily malting 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: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2003
    Publication date: July 8, 2004
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOPCON
    Inventors: Tadayuki Ito, Hitoshi Otani, Nobuo Kochi
  • Patent number: 6754378
    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: August 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Topcon
    Inventors: Tadayuki Ito, Hitoshi Otani, Nobuo Kochi
  • Publication number: 20040066454
    Abstract: A device for measuring data for calibration for obtaining data for calibration of a camera 2 capable of varying its optical conditions, wherein the data for calibration are obtained using a plurality of images of a calibration chart 1 having marks arranged thereon which were photographed with the camera 1 under varied optical conditions, comprising: a mark extracting part 131 for extracting the marks from the images of the chart; an internal parameter calculating part 134 for calculating data for calibration under optical conditions under which the images of the chart were photographed based on the positions of the marks extracted by the mark extracting part and a plurality of conditions under which the images of the chart were photographed; and an internal parameter function calculating part 160 for calculating data for calibration corresponding to the varied optical photographing conditions of the camera 2, using the data for calibration calculated in the internal parameter calculating part and a plurality
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2003
    Publication date: April 8, 2004
    Applicant: TOPCON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hitoshi Otani, Nobuo Kochi, Takayuki Noma
  • Publication number: 20030179361
    Abstract: A surveying instrument, comprising a distance measuring unit for measuring a distance to a collimating point, an angle measuring unit for measuring a vertical angle and a horizontal angle of the collimating point, an image pick-up means for acquiring an image in a collimating direction, a driving unit for directing the image pick-up means in a direction of a predetermined object to be measured as selected based on an entire image data acquired by the image pick-up means, and a control arithmetic unit for recording by associating an image of an object to be measured with survey data to the object, wherein the image is picked-up in the direction directed by the driving unit and the survey data is measured by the distance measuring unit and the angle measuring unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2003
    Publication date: September 25, 2003
    Inventors: Fumio Ohtomo, Hitoshi Otani, Makoto Omori
  • Publication number: 20030174204
    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: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2003
    Publication date: September 18, 2003
    Applicant: TOPCON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hitoshi Otani, Nobuo Kochi, Hiroyuki Aoki, Mitsuharu Yamada, Hirokazu Sato
  • Patent number: 6611664
    Abstract: The present invention provides a stereo image photographing system capable of easily obtaining a stable, highly reliable and accurate stereo image when three-dimensional measurement is carried out by a general camera. A photographing unit includes a camera and an omni-directional prism. By collimating the prism on the photographing unit, a measuring unit measures position data thereof (measured value). A photographing position calculating unit calculates a proper photographing position based on a photographing condition set by a condition setting unit. To realize coincidence or rough coincidence between the data of the position (measured value) of the photographing unit measured by the measuring unit and the data of the photographing position calculated by the photographing position calculating unit, a photographing control unit allows a movement control unit and a driving unit to move the photographing unit, and outputs a timing signal for photographing to the photographing unit and the measuring unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2003
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Topcon
    Inventors: Nobuo Kochi, Mituharu Yamada, Hitoshi Otani