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: 9156162
    Abstract: The positions and orientations of one or more target objects are obtained from the result of measuring a set of target objects by using a first sensor. A robot including a grip unit is controlled to grip one target object as a gripping target object among the target objects by the grip unit. Whether the grip unit has succeeded in gripping the gripping target object is determined from the result of measurement performed by a second sensor for measuring the target object gripped by the grip unit. When the grip unit has been determined to fail in gripping the gripping target object, one target object interacting with the gripping target object is selected among the target objects. The robot is controlled to grip the selected target object by the grip unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masahiro Suzuki, Kazuhiko Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20150268035
    Abstract: An apparatus that enables measurement of distances to a plurality of planes of an object and plane directions thereof, includes a unit acquiring an image of the object on which a projection pattern formed by arranging a plurality of geometric figure sets each having geometric figures arranged at intervals shorter than a predetermined value, at intervals longer than the predetermined value is projected, a unit detecting the geometric figures in the projection pattern from the image, a unit determining the geometric figure sets from the detected geometric figures detected, a unit calculating a distance from a predetermined reference coordinate to a position on a plane of the measurement target object on which a detected geometric figure is projected, and a unit calculating a plane direction of a plane of the object on which the geometric figure sets are projected, based on the calculated distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2015
    Publication date: September 24, 2015
    Inventors: Hisayoshi Furihata, Kazuhiko Kobayashi, Masahiro Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20150194098
    Abstract: A luminance control device and method are disclosed. A surrounding brightness of a touch panel is measured to obtain a measured surrounding brightness. A luminance of the touch panel is controlled during a first time period starting from when the measured surrounding brightness changes from a first condition to a second condition, during which the measured surrounding brightness decreases by an amount equal to or greater than a threshold value. The luminance of the touch panel is maintained at a first luminance corresponding to the first condition when the measured surrounding brightness changes from the second condition to the first condition. The luminance of the touch panel is controlled to change to a second luminance corresponding to the second condition, when the measured surrounding brightness has not changed from the second condition to the first condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Publication date: July 9, 2015
    Inventor: Kazuhiko KOBAYASHI
  • Patent number: 9045140
    Abstract: A coasting control device capable of avoiding coasting control during running on road having a small coefficient of friction between a tire and a road surface (“low ? roads”) includes a low ? road running recognition unit which recognizes that a vehicle is running on a low ? road and a unit for prohibiting coasting control during low ? road running when the low ? road running recognition unit recognizes that the vehicle is running on a low ? road.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignees: ISUZU MOTORS LIMITED, TRANSTRON INC.
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Iwao, Yasushi Yamamoto, Kazuhiko Kobayashi, Hiroyuki Arai, Kouhei Takama
  • Publication number: 20150125035
    Abstract: To perform robust position and orientation measurement even in a situation where noise exist, an image including a target object is obtained, an approximate position and orientation of the target object included in the obtained image are obtained, information related to a shadow region of the target object in the obtained image is estimated, the approximate position and orientation are corrected on the basis of the estimated information related to the shadow region, and a position and orientation of the target object in the image are derived on the basis of the corrected approximate position and orientation and held model information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2014
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventors: Sonoko Miyatani, Kazuhiko Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 9016342
    Abstract: The bonding apparatus is capable of effectively increasing temperature of a substrate and reducing occurrence of position gaps and poor connection in a process of flip-chip-bonding semiconductor devices to the substrate. The bonding apparatus comprises: a supporting unit for supporting the substrate, on which the semiconductor devices have been adhered by a non-conductive; and a heating/pressing unit for heating and pressing the substrate, the heating/pressing unit having a built-in heat source and a clamping face, onto which the substrate supported by the supporting unit is pressed. The substrate supported by the supporting unit is moved toward the clamping face of the heating/pressing unit so as to preheat the substrate and the semiconductor devices by radiation heat. Then, the semiconductor devices are pressed onto the clamping face of the heating/pressing unit so as to cure the non-conductive adhesive and bond bumps of the semiconductor devices to terminal sections of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Apic Yamada Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuhiko Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 9014433
    Abstract: A measurement apparatus includes a projection unit configured to project pattern light onto an object to be measured, an imaging unit configured to capture an image of the object to be measured on which the pattern light is projected to acquire a captured image of the object to be measured, a measurement unit configured to measure a position and/or orientation of the object to be measured on the basis of the captured image, a position and orientation of the projection unit, and a position and orientation of the imaging unit, a setting unit configured to set identification resolution of the pattern light using a range of variation in the position and/or orientation of the object to be measured; and a change unit configured to change a pattern shape of the pattern light in accordance with the identification resolution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Kobayashi, Masakazu Fujiki, Shinji Uchiyama, Keisuke Tateno
  • Patent number: 8880307
    Abstract: A coasting control device for avoiding dangerous modes such as tire lock up upon the end of coasting control. The device, which performs coasting control to disengage the clutch and to reduce the engine revolutions per minute (RPM), also prevents a gearshift operation during coasting control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignees: Isuzu Motors Limited, Transtron Inc.
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Iwao, Yasushi Yamamoto, Kazuhiko Kobayashi, Hiroyuki Arai, Kouhei Takama
  • Patent number: 8872755
    Abstract: A luminance control device and method are disclosed. A surrounding brightness of a touch panel is measured to obtain a measured surrounding brightness. A luminance of the touch panel is controlled during a first time period starting from when the measured surrounding brightness changes from a first condition to a second condition, during which the measured surrounding brightness decreases by an amount equal to or greater than a threshold value. The luminance of the touch panel is maintained at a first luminance corresponding to the first condition when the measured surrounding brightness changes from the second condition to the first condition. The luminance of the touch panel is controlled to change to a second luminance corresponding to the second condition, when the measured surrounding brightness has not changed from the second condition to the first condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: KYOCERA Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuhiko Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20140300765
    Abstract: Provided is an image pickup apparatus that includes: an image pickup unit configured to generate picked-up image data by an image pickup process; a camera shake detection unit configured to detect an angular velocity generated by camera shake when shooting; an electronic image stabilization unit configured to perform an image stabilization process by moving a position of a cropping area in the picked-up image data, based on the angular velocity detected by the camera shake detection unit; and an area changing unit configured to change a size of the cropping area with respect to the picked-up image data, based on the angular velocity detected by the camera shake detection unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2014
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Applicant: JVC KENWOOD Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuyuki TAKAO, Hidehiro KATOH, Teppei KUBOTA, Atsushi SUGITA, Kensuke TAGUCHI, Kazuhiko KOBAYASHI, Takashi SUEDA, Hiroshi FURUTA, Hiroki NISHIOKA, Masamichi NISHIOKA
  • Patent number: 8855887
    Abstract: A coasting control device capable of avoiding coasting control during turning is provided. A turning recognition unit that recognizes that a vehicle is turning and a unit for prohibiting coasting control during turning that prohibits coasting control when the turning recognition unit recognizes that the vehicle is turning are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignees: Isuzu Motors Limited, Transtron Inc.
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Iwao, Yasushi Yamamoto, Kazuhiko Kobayashi, Hiroyuki Arai, Kouhei Takama
  • Patent number: 8792726
    Abstract: A geometric feature extracting device comprising: first input means for inputting a three-dimensional shape model of a measurement object; generation means for generating two-dimensional parameter planes corresponding to curved surface patches that configure the three-dimensional shape model; first calculation means for calculating normal directions to points on the curved surface patches; holding means for holding the parameter planes and the normal directions in association with each other; second input means for inputting an observation direction used to observe the measurement object from an observation position; selection means for selecting regions in each of which the normal direction and the observation direction satisfy a predetermined angle condition from the parameter planes; and second calculation means for calculating geometric features on three-dimensional shape model corresponding to regions selected by the selection means as geometric features that configure geometric feature regions on the th
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Daisuke Watanabe, Kazuhiko Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 8786700
    Abstract: A position and orientation measurement apparatus comprises: a distance information obtaining unit adapted to obtain distance information of a target object captured by a capturing unit; a grayscale image obtaining unit adapted to obtain a grayscale image of the target object; a first position and orientation estimation unit adapted to estimate a position and orientation of the target object based on the information of a three-dimensional shape model and the distance information; a second position and orientation estimation unit adapted to estimate a position and orientation of the target object based on a geometric feature of the grayscale image and projection information obtained by projecting, on the grayscale image, the information of the three-dimensional shape model; and a determination unit adapted to determine whether a parameter of the capturing unit is needed to be calibrated or not, based on both a first and second estimated values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Kobayashi, Shinji Uchiyama
  • Patent number: 8781699
    Abstract: A coasting control device that prevents failures due to deterioration of a release bearing. The device includes an cumulative disengagement time measuring unit cumulatively measuring a duration of time that a clutch is being disengaged during coasting control, and an overtime restricting unit prohibiting coasting control when the measured cumulative clutch disengagement time has exceeded a predetermined time giving an indication of fatigue of a member of the clutch, and/or an overtime alarm unit providing an alarm when the measured cumulative clutch disengagement time has exceeded a predetermined time giving an indication of fatigue of the member of the clutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignees: Isuzu Motors Limited, Transtron Inc.
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Iwao, Yasushi Yamamoto, Kazuhiko Kobayashi, Hiroyuki Arai, Kouhei Takama
  • Patent number: 8781700
    Abstract: A coasting control device for reducing uneasiness experienced by a driver when pressing a clutch pedal during coasting control. The device includes a clutch control unit that, when the clutch pedal is pressed during coasting control, controls an actuator to cause an amount of hydraulic oil that depends on the amount of depression of the clutch pedal to be ejected from a clutch-free operating cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignees: Isuzu Motors Limited, Transtron Inc.
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Iwao, Yasushi Yamamoto, Kazuhiko Kobayashi, Hiroyuki Arai, Kouhei Takama
  • Patent number: 8687057
    Abstract: A three-dimensional measurement apparatus generates patterns to be projected onto the measurement object, images the measurement object using an imaging unit after projecting a plurality of types of generated patterns onto the measurement object using a projection unit, and computes the coordinate values of patterns on a captured image acquired by the imaging unit, based on the projected patterns, a geometric model of the measurement object, and information indicating the coarse position and orientation of the measurement object. Captured patterns on the captured image are corresponded with the patterns projected by the projection unit using the computed coordinate values, and the distances between the imaging unit and the patterns projected onto the measurement object are derived. The position and orientation of the measurement object are estimated using the derived distances and the geometric model of the measurement object, and the information on the coarse position and orientation is updated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Kobayashi, Shinji Uchiyama
  • Publication number: 20140067126
    Abstract: There is provided with an information processing apparatus. An image including a target object is acquired. A coarse position and orientation of the target object is acquired. Information of a plurality of models which indicate a shape of the target object with different accuracy is held. A geometrical feature of the target object in the acquired image is associated with a geometrical feature indicated by at least one of the plurality of models placed at the coarse position and orientation. A position and orientation of the target object is estimated based on the result of association.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Daisuke Watanabe, Kazuhiko Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20140067317
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided with a first sensor unit that obtains two-dimensional information or three-dimensional information about a target object with a first position and orientation, a second sensor unit that obtains the two-dimensional information about the target object, a three-dimensional position and orientation measurement unit that measures three-dimensional position and orientation of the target object based on the information obtained by the first sensor unit, a second sensor position and orientation determination unit that calculates second position and orientation based on a measurement result with the three-dimensional position and orientation measurement unit and model information about the target object, and a three-dimensional position and orientation measurement unit that measures the three-dimensional position and orientation of the target object based on the information obtained by the second sensor unit with the second position and orientation and the model information about the target ob
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Kobayashi, Masahiro Suzuki, Shinji Uchiyama
  • Patent number: 8639025
    Abstract: A measurement apparatus which measures the relative position and orientation of an image-capturing apparatus capturing images of one or more measurement objects with respect to the measurement object, acquires a captured image using the image-capturing apparatus. The respective geometric features present in a 3D model of the measurement object are projected onto the captured image based on the position and orientation of the image-capturing apparatus, thereby obtaining projection geometric features. Projection geometric features are selected from the resultant projection geometric features based on distances between the projection geometric features in the captured image. The relative position and orientation of the image-capturing apparatus with respect to the measurement object is then calculated using the selected projection geometric features and image geometric features corresponding thereto detected in the captured image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Kobayashi, Shinji Uchiyama
  • Publication number: 20130238124
    Abstract: The positions and orientations of one or more target objects are obtained from the result of measuring a set of target objects by using a first sensor. A robot including a grip unit is controlled to grip one target object as a gripping target object among the target objects by the grip unit. Whether the grip unit has succeeded in gripping the gripping target object is determined from the result of measurement performed by a second sensor for measuring the target object gripped by the grip unit. When the grip unit has been determined to fail in gripping the gripping target object, one target object interacting with the gripping target object is selected among the target objects. The robot is controlled to grip the selected target object by the grip unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masahiro Suzuki, Kazuhiko Kobayashi