Patents by Inventor Kazuhiko Kobayashi

Kazuhiko Kobayashi 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).

  • Patent number: 10603791
    Abstract: An apparatus comprises a holding unit configured to hold data related to a worker; an obtaining unit configured to obtain measurement data for recognizing the worker; a recognizing unit configured to recognize the worker based on the data related to the worker and the measurement data; a determination unit configured to determine work information about a work which the worker and a robot perform on a target object together, corresponding to the recognized worker, based on a physical feature of the recognized worker; and a controlling unit configured to control the robot based on the work information so that the worker and the robot perform a work on the target object together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yusuke Nakazato, Kazuhiko Kobayashi, Masahiro Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20200096317
    Abstract: A three-dimensional measurement apparatus selects points corresponding to geometric features of a three-dimensional shape model of a target object, projects a plurality of selected points corresponding to the geometric features onto a range image based on approximate values indicating the position and orientation of the target object and imaging parameters at the time of imaging of the range image, searches regions of predetermined ranges respectively from the plurality of projected points for geometric features on the range image which correspond to the geometric features of the three-dimensional shape model, and associates these geometric features with each other. The apparatus then calculates the position and orientation of the target object using differences of distances on a three-dimensional space between the geometric features of the three-dimensional shape model and those on the range image, which are associated with each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2019
    Publication date: March 26, 2020
    Inventors: Yusuke Nakazato, Kazuhiko Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20200029052
    Abstract: To reduce complication of a configuration of a vehicle while suppressing an increase in weight of the vehicle, a camera system mounted on a vehicle includes an imaging unit to capture multiple frame images of an outside of the vehicle per cycle and an image processor to obtain the multiple frame images from the imaging unit and separate the multiple frame images into a first given number of frame images as a recognition target and a second given number of frame images as a storage target to be stored in an image recorder. The image processor separately outputs the first and second given numbers of frame images to be recognized and stored, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2019
    Publication date: January 23, 2020
    Inventors: Toshikazu MURAO, Kazuyoshi AKIBA, Tetsuya KIMATA, Kazuhiko KOBAYASHI, Takayuki KIMURA
  • Publication number: 20190369635
    Abstract: In an autonomous driving control apparatus, a drive control unit determines, based on first and second images respectively captured by first and second cameras and an autonomous driving condition, a value of at least one controlled variable for autonomous driving of a vehicle, and outputs, to a vehicle control unit, the value of the at least one controlled variable to thereby cause the vehicle control unit to carry out a task of autonomously driving the vehicle. A camera monitor unit determines whether at least one of the first and second cameras has malfunctioned. The camera monitor unit limits, based on the at least one of the first and second directional regions corresponding to the at least of the first and second cameras, the autonomous driving condition when determining that the at least one of the first and second cameras has malfunctioned.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2019
    Publication date: December 5, 2019
    Inventors: Kazuhiko KOBAYASHI, Kazuyoshi AKIBA, Toshikazu MURAO
  • Patent number: 10497111
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus comprises: a generating unit which generates, based on model information including a feature of an object, a model feature indicating the feature of the object to be acquired by observing the object respectively from a plurality of candidate viewpoints; an acquiring unit which acquires an image feature indicating features of images acquired by photographing the object respectively from the plurality of candidate viewpoints; an evaluating unit which evaluates each of the plurality of candidate viewpoints, based on a correspondence relation between the model feature and the image feature; and a selecting unit which selects, from the plurality of candidate viewpoints, one or more measurement viewpoints from which the object should be measured, on the basis of evaluation by the evaluating unit for each of the plurality of candidate viewpoints.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuichiro Hirota, Masakazu Fujiki, Kazuhiko Kobayashi, Masahiro Suzuki, Keisuke Tateno
  • Publication number: 20190266423
    Abstract: An imaging system to be mounted in a vehicle is provided. The imaging system includes an optical wide-angle camera acquiring an image, and an object identifying apparatus. This object identifying apparatus executes a distortion correcting process with the acquired image and apply previously-prepared reference patterns to the image which has been subjected to the distortion correcting process such that objects in the acquired image are recognized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2019
    Publication date: August 29, 2019
    Inventors: Kazuyoshi AKIBA, Toshikazu MURAO, Kazuhiko KOBAYASHI
  • Patent number: 10372969
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus comprises an image generation unit configured to generate, based on a first image in which a transparent object having transparency is captured and a second image in which a target object is captured, a reproduced image in which the target object which is at least partially covered by the transparent object is reproduced; and a creation unit configured to create, based on the reproduced image, a model for recognizing the target object which is at least partially covered by the transparent object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masaki Inaba, Masahiro Suzuki, Kazuhiko Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 10375316
    Abstract: An imaging device performs imaging using an imaging element. The imaging device is provided with an imaging unit, a control unit and a synthesis unit. The imaging unit performs exposure with a predetermined exposure time, thereby performing image capture. The control unit successively performs an imaging process N-times. In each imaging process, a plurality of images are captured with different exposure times. The synthesis unit generates, using HDR rendering, a plurality of images acquired by the plurality of image captures. The control unit performs one of the plurality of image captures such that the exposure is completed at a corresponding synchronous timing, and performs a subsequent other image capture such that exposure is started at the synchronous timing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Kobayashi, Toshikazu Murao, Masato Nishikawa
  • Publication number: 20190220775
    Abstract: As learning data, an image of a virtual space corresponding to a physical space and geometric information of the virtual space is generated. Learning processing of a learning model is performed using the learning data. A position and/or orientation of an image capturing device is calculated based on geometric information output from the learning model when a captured image of the physical space captured by the image capturing device is input to the learning model.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2019
    Publication date: July 18, 2019
    Inventors: Masahiro Suzuki, Daisuke Kotake, Kazuhiko Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20190220676
    Abstract: Of a plurality of learning models learned to output geometric information corresponding to a captured image, a learning model corresponding to a setting region is acquired.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2018
    Publication date: July 18, 2019
    Inventors: Sonoko Miyatani, Masakazu Fujiki, Kazuhiko Kobayashi, Masahiro Suzuki, Makoto Tomioka
  • Patent number: 10346692
    Abstract: This malfunction diagnosis apparatus detects a line on a road surface by distinguishing the line from an asphalt surface other than the line. The malfunction diagnosis apparatus sets a first area corresponding to the line and a second area corresponding to the asphalt surface using a first image captured while the line is detected. The malfunction diagnosis apparatus calculates a first brightness in the first area and a second brightness in the second area using a second image captured while the vehicle is cruising and the line is not detected. Further, the malfunction diagnosis apparatus diagnoses the malfunction based on at least one of the first brightness and the second brightness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: TRANSTRON INC
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Hishinuma, Naoyuki Urushizaki, Hirokazu Sugita, Kazuhiko Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 10335951
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes, an acquisition unit that acquires surface position information on an object, a decision unit that decides a measurement position for measuring the object based on the surface position information acquired by the acquisition unit, a measurement unit that measures contact position information on contact with the object at the measurement position decided by the decision unit, a creation unit that creates map information indicative of spatial position information on the object based on the contact position information measured by the measurement unit, and a recognition unit that recognizes the position and orientation of the object based on the map information created by the creation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Daisuke Yamada, Kazuhiko Kobayashi, Masahiro Suzuki
  • Patent number: 10335963
    Abstract: A position and an orientation of an object are measured with high accuracy. An approximate position-orientation of a target object is obtained, positional information of the target object is obtained by measuring the target object using a noncontact sensor, positional information of contact positions touched by a contact sensor is obtained by bringing the contact sensor into contact with the target object, and a position-orientation of the target object is obtained by associating shape information of the target object with the positional information of the target object and the positional information of the contact positions in accordance with the approximate position-orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yusuke Nakazato, Kazuhiko Kobayashi, Masahiro Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20190196396
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, an electronic device includes a heat source, a discharge path, a wall internal space, and a heat conductor. The discharge path is configured to guide a gas toward the outside of the device. The wall internal space is surrounded by walls, extends vertically, and is open to a space outside the device via an upper opening and a lower opening that are in different vertical positions. The heat conductor includes a heat absorber that is positioned in the discharge path and a heat dissipater that is positioned in the wall internal space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Publication date: June 27, 2019
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuta UEDA, Makoto YOSHIOKA, Kazuhiko KOBAYASHI, Takushi SAITO
  • Patent number: 10288418
    Abstract: To decrease the time and work needed for the measurement of a target object, an information processing apparatus includes an acquisition unit configured to acquire measurement data on a target object from a measuring apparatus, an extraction unit configured to extract a partial region of the target object that contains a geometric feature for use in estimation of a position-and-orientation of the target object, based on one or more pieces of measurement data acquired by the acquisition unit, a determination unit configured to determine a position-and-orientation of the measuring apparatus configured to measure the partial region extracted by the extraction unit, and an output unit configured to output the position-and-orientation determined by the determination unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yusuke Nakazato, Kazuhiko Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20190126471
    Abstract: It is an object to enable a grasping operation to be executed according to a state of an object. The invention provides an information processing apparatus which determines the grasping operation in a grasping unit for grasping the object. The information processing apparatus has: an obtaining unit for obtaining an image acquired by capturing the object; a recognizing unit for recognizing a state of the object from the image obtained by the obtaining unit; and a generating unit for generating information for allowing the grasping unit to execute the grasping operation on the basis of the object state recognized by the recognizing unit and conditions to execute the grasping operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2018
    Publication date: May 2, 2019
    Inventors: Toshihiro Kobayashi, Kazuhiko Kobayashi, Masakazu Fujiki, Akihiro Katayama
  • Publication number: 20190118394
    Abstract: A control apparatus, comprising: an image obtaining unit configured to obtain an image in which a control target that a robot controls and a target position to which the control target is to be moved are imaged by an imaging apparatus that is attached to the robot; an axial direction obtainment unit configured to obtain an axial direction of a rotational axis of the control target; a target position detection unit configured to detect the target position in the image; an operation generation unit configured to generate an operation for the control target so that the target position is present in the axial direction and to further generate an operation by which the control target becomes closer to the target position in the axial direction; and a control unit configured to control the control target in accordance with the operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2018
    Publication date: April 25, 2019
    Inventors: Takayuki Yamada, Kazuhiko Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20190099891
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus that obtains, with high accuracy, the gripping position for gripping the target object by a gripping apparatus is provided. The information processing apparatus includes an image acquisition unit that acquires a captured image obtained by capturing an image of the target object, an image feature detection unit that detects a plurality of image features in the captured image, and a unit detection unit that detects a unit of a pattern in which a plurality of image features repeatedly appear. In addition, the information processing apparatus further includes a snipping position determining unit that determines a gripping position using the unit detected by the unit detection unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2018
    Publication date: April 4, 2019
    Inventors: Makoto Tomioka, Kazuhiko Kobayashi, Tomoaki Higo, Masahiro Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20190066333
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus comprising: at least one processor programmed to cause the apparatus to: hold label information regarding presence of a target object, the label information being set for the target object in an image; obtain a reliability of the label information; cause a display apparatus to display the label information and an image corresponding to the label information in the image, based on the reliability; accept an operation made by a user; and modify the label information based on the operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2018
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Inventors: Hisayoshi Furihata, Kazuhiko Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 10059002
    Abstract: There is provided with an image processing apparatus. A captured image of a target object that is captured by an image capturing apparatus is obtained. Information that indicates a deterioration degree of the captured image is obtained for a position in the captured image. A feature of the target object is extracted from the captured image based on the deterioration degree. The feature of the target object and a feature of the three-dimensional model observed when the three-dimensional model is arranged in accordance with a predetermined position and orientation are associated. A position and orientation of the target object with respect to the image capturing apparatus are derived by correcting the predetermined position and orientation based on a result of association.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Sonoko Miyatani, Tatsuya Suzuki, Masakazu Fujiki, Kazuhiko Kobayashi, Masahiro Suzuki, Yuichiro Hirota, Daisuke Kotake