Patents by Inventor Kenichi Kikuchi

Kenichi Kikuchi 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: 5555022
    Abstract: Sixty-four regions are established on an image sensed picture from a video camera, where evaluating value r.sub.ij, b.sub.ij, and y.sub.ij is obtained by averaging color difference signals R-Y and B-Y and luminance signal Y obtained from an image sensing signal for over 1 field period for each region. When the apparatus determines that the difference in the evaluating values between two adjacent regions does not exceed a predetermined value, that is, when that continuing regions have the same color, the weighing amount of the color evaluating values of a corresponding region is adjusted to limit its effect upon the gain control signals used to adjust the gain of the color signal amplifiers. As a result, the effect of objects of the same color towards white balance adjustment is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1996
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshinobu Haruki, Kenichi Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 5514464
    Abstract: A magnetic recording medium comprising an undercoat layer formed on one side or both sides of a non-magnetic substrate and a magnetic layer formed on the undercoat layer, characterized in that the undercoat layer contains powders having an average particle size of 0.5 to 5.0 .mu.m and an aspect ratio of 5.0 or more and a magnetic recording medium comprising a magnetic layer formed on a non-magnetic substrate, characterized in that the non-magnetic substrate contains powders having an average particle size of 0.5 to 5.0 .mu.m and an aspect ratio of 5.0 or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 7, 1996
    Assignee: Victor Company Of Japan, Ltd.
    Inventors: Isao Sasaki, Kazuhiro Takeda, Masamichi Saito, Osamu Kobayashi, Kenichi Kikuchi, Shigeru Nakano
  • Patent number: 5489939
    Abstract: Sixty-four regions are established on an image sensed picture from a video camera, where evaluating value r.sub.ij, b.sub.ij, and y.sub.ij is obtained by averaging color difference signals R-Y and B-Y and luminance signal Y obtained from an image sensing signal for over 1 field period for each region. When the apparatus determines that the difference in the evaluating values between two adjacent regions do not exceed a predetermined value, that is, when that continuing regions have the same color, the weighing amount of the color evaluating values of a corresponding region is adjusted to limit its effect upon the gain control signals used to adjust the gain of the color signal amplifiers. As a result, the effect of objects of the same color towards white balance adjustment is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 6, 1996
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshinobu Haruki, Kenichi Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 5442408
    Abstract: Sixty-Four regions are established on an image sensed picture from a video camera, where evaluating value r.sub.ij, b.sub.ij, and y.sub.ij is obtained by averaging color difference signals R-Y and B-Y and luminance signal Y obtained from an image sensing signal for over 1 field period for each region. When the apparatus determines that the difference in the evaluating values between two adjacent regions do not exceed a predetermined value, that is, when that adjacent regions have the same color, the weighing amount of the color evaluating values of a corresponding region is adjusted to limit its effect upon the gain control signals used to adjust the gain of the color signal amplifiers. As a result, the effect of objects of the same color towards white balance adjustment is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 15, 1995
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshinobu Haruki, Kenichi Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 5408263
    Abstract: An electronic endoscope apparatus has an arrangement that its discrimination circuit discriminates the type or the operational state of the light source in accordance with a discrimination signal transmitted from a discrimination signal generator, and in accordance with the result of the discrimination, the processing operation to be performed by its video signal processing circuit is changed over to correspond to the difference in the type or the operational state of the light source. The video signal processing circuit performs a proper signal processing operation to correspond to the difference in the type of the light source to prevent deterioration in the image quality. The electronic endoscope apparatus is structured so that a different type light source can be adaptably connected to it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 18, 1995
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenichi Kikuchi, Akira Watanabe, Masaki Terakubo, Takehiro Nakagawa, Yasuo Komatsu
  • Patent number: 5372894
    Abstract: A magnetic recording medium comprising a non-magnetic substrate, a magnetic layer formed at one surface of the substrate, and a back coat layer formed at the other surface of the substrate wherein the back coat layer contains a thermosetting resin and a photosetting resin and its light transmittance is at least 1%. A process for producing a magnetic recording medium which comprises the steps of applying a back coat layer containing a thermosetting resin and a photosetting resin and having a light transmittance of at least 1% to one surface of a non-magnetic substrate; irradiating the back coat layer with a light from both surfaces to carry out photosetting; applying a magnetic layer to the other surface of the non-magnetic substrate; winding the double-coated substrate in the form of a roll; and thermosetting the back coat layer. The magnetic recording media having excellent characteristics can be easily obtained without requiring any complicated apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1994
    Assignee: Victor Company of Japan, Ltd.
    Inventors: Osamu Kobayashi, Takayuki Deno, Kenichi Kikuchi, Masamichi Saito, Shigeru Nakano
  • Patent number: 5319462
    Abstract: An automatic focusing apparatus of a video camera automatically matches a focus in response to a video signal obtained from an image sensing circuit. The automatic focusing apparatus detects the level of a high frequency component of the video signal in order to supply a focus evaluating value which takes a maximum value in an in-focus position. A focusing motor controlling circuit performs an automatic focusing operation by a hill-climbing servo system based on the supplied focus evaluating value. A determination is made by employing a fuzzy inference with respect to the initialization of the direction of movement of a lens when the automatic focusing operation starts, the selection of a focusing area from a plurality of areas, and the reactivation of the automatic focusing operation due to a change of an object after once the automatic focusing operation is completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 7, 1994
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshinobu Haruki, Kenichi Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 5282022
    Abstract: Sixty-four regions are established on an image sensed picture from a video camera, where each evaluating value r.sub.ij, b.sub.ij, and y.sub.ij is obtained by averaging color difference signals R-Y and B-Y and luminance signal Y obtained from an image sensed signal over 1 field period for each region. When determination is made that luminance evaluating value y.sub.ij out of these evaluating values exceeds a predetermined value, the color evaluating values of the corresponding region are attenuated by a predetermined amount, in response to gain control signals derived from the color difference signals. As a result, the effect of an object of high luminance towards white balance adjustment is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 25, 1994
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshinobu Haruki, Kenichi Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 5111301
    Abstract: An automatic exposure adjusting apparatus for use in a video camera automatically adjusts exposure based on a video signal obtained from an image sensing circuit. The automatic exposure adjusting apparatus detects a luminance signal level of the video signal and detects a first mean value which is a simple mean value per unit area of an image sensed picture. The automatic exposure adjusting apparatus also outputs a second mean value weighted every area in accordance with a luminance distribution in the image sensed picture. The automatic exposure adjusting apparatus controls the adjustment of exposure based on the first and second mean values. Such weighting of the luminance level in accordance with the luminance distribution is carried out based on the fuzzy inference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1992
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshinobu Haruki, Kenichi Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 5089031
    Abstract: A coal gasification apparatus using coal powder supplies coal powder, along with oxygen or air and steam, into a reaction chamber, supplies the char produced in the reaction chamber or the char and coal, along with oxygen or air and steam into a combustion chamber formed in the lower part of the reaction chamber and burns the same in the combustion chamber to maintain the temperature therein at about 1,600.degree. C., and forms the temperature region of the reaction chamber into an agglomerated bed of fluidized coal having a temperature between 900.degree. and 1,300.degree. C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 18, 1992
    Assignee: Nippon Kokan Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenichi Kikuchi, Akio Suzuki, Tetsuro Mochizuki
  • Patent number: 5031036
    Abstract: For a picture image signal imaged by an imaging device, a first signal processing circuit displays an original picture image/contracted original picture image and a second signal processing circuit makes a special picture image processed as an outline enhancement, differentiation and color enhancement are provided. Both picture image signals processed by both circuits are mixed and displayed on the same displaying picture surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1991
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenichi Kikuchi, Kazunari Nakamura
  • Patent number: 5003339
    Abstract: In a video camera having an automatic focusing function, a first sampling area in the center of an image sensed picture and a second sampling area around the first sampling area are set. Considering a case in which an auto-focus operation is carried out selecting the first sampling area as a focusing area, when the difference between the newest focus evaluating value and the maximum focus evaluating value becomes one-eighth or more of the maximum focus evaluating value, the second sampling area is selected as the focusing area, to carry out an auto-focus operation. Consequently, an auto-focus operation conforming to the state of an object is carried out. In addition, a priority area for exposure control is selected following selection of the focusing area. Thus, exposure relative to a main object is always maintained most suitably.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 26, 1991
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenichi Kikuchi, Masao Takuma, Toshinobu Haruki
  • Patent number: 4969045
    Abstract: In a video camera having an automatic iris function and a gamma correcting function, an object evaluating value is calculated based on an exposure evaluating value in a sampling area designated as a priority area, a target luminance level for exposure control is changed according to the relation between this object evaluating value and exposure evaluating values in sampling areas other than the sampling area selected as the priority area, a ratio with which the priority area is weighted in calculating the object evaluating value is changed, and a correction value for gamma correction is further changed. As a result, overexposure and underexposure in a picture are decreased. Furthermore, if an extremely small value is included in exposure evaluating values in sampling areas, the value is previously replaced with a predetermined fixed value, so that the effect of noises or the like on exposure adjustment is decreased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 6, 1990
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshinobu Haruki, Kenichi Kikuchi, Masao Takuma
  • Patent number: 4967280
    Abstract: In a video camera having an automatic focusing function, a focus evaluating value is calculated as the sum of first and second focus evaluating values extracted using output of two filters having different cut-off frequencies, and a relative ratio of the first and second focus evaluating value is also calculated. This relative ratio is compared with a predetermined reference value. Considering a case in which the focus evaluating value is below this reference value after an object is brought into focus, even if the focus evaluating value does not change, an auto-focus operation is resumed. On the other hand, considering a case in which the relative ratio is above the reference value, even if the focus evaluating value changes, the auto-focus operation is not resumed. In addition, even if the focus evaluating value reaches a maximum in the auto-focus operation, the auto-focus operation is not terminated if the relative ratio does not reach a predetermined reference value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 30, 1990
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masao Takuma, Toshinobu Haruki, Kenichi Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 4931867
    Abstract: The electronic endoscope apparatus having an isolation circuit of the present invention is provided with an endoscope provided with an imaging device converting the photoinformation of an object to an electric signal and a video signal processing device processing the output signal of the imaging device to be a video signal. An isolation circuit separates and isolates the circuit forming the video signal processing device into a patient circuit including the imaging device and a secondary circuit which is a circuit not included in the patient circuit. A signal producing circuit makes either one of the patient circuit and secondary circuit a transmitted side circuit and produces a signal required by the transmitted side circuit on the basis of a signal forming a video transmitted to the transmitted side circuit through the isolation circuit from the transmitting side circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 5, 1990
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenichi Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 4922346
    Abstract: In an automatic focusing apparatus of a video camera, a first focus evaluating value which steeply changes and a second focus evaluating value which gently changes relative to the position of a lens, are detected in response to a video signal obtained in an image sensing circuit (4). A switching circuit (19) alternately selects the first and second focus evaluating values every one field to apply the same to in-focus state detecting circuits (20, 21), respectively. The in-focus state detecting circuits (20, 21), together with a focusing motor control circuit (10), perform an automatic focusing operation by hill-climbing control. In addition, a calculating circuit (22) calculates the relative ratio of the first focus evaluating value to the second focus evaluating value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 1, 1990
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaru Hidaka, Hirotsugu Murashima, Masao Takuma, Toshinobu Haruki, Kenichi Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 4887152
    Abstract: An information transmission system for transmitting signals from a transmitting side through a single transmission line to a plurality of terminal units. When the terminal units are interrupted by a command signal from the transmitting side, transmission of ordinary information signals to the terminal units is inhibited. When the terminal units are released from the interrupt mode, transmission of ordinary information signals automatically resumes, so that the ordinary information signals are reproduced from the point in time point at which they were interrupted. Normal operation of the terminal units is partially or totally inhibited during the interrupt mode. The system may be embodied in a passenger vehicle, in which a terminal unit is provided at each of a plurality of passenger seats.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 12, 1989
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Matsuzaki, Hiroyuki Kobayashi, Hideo Tomita, Kenichi Kikuchi, Kenji Inoue, Yoshiyuki Kondo, Masatoshi Hirayasu, Atsushi Ichise
  • Patent number: 4870950
    Abstract: This endoscope system is provided with an endoscope and an image receiving apparatus to be fitted to the eyepiece part of this endoscope. The endoscope has an elongate insertable part, an objective optical system provided in the tip part of the insertable part, an eyepiece part provided on the rear end side of the insertable part and an image guide consisting of a fiber bundle transmitting the image formed by the objective optical system to the eyepiece part. The image receiving apparatus has an image receiving part of many pixels on which the image from the eyepiece part is formed. Further, the endoscope system is provided with a vibrating apparatus relatively vibrating the image formed on the image receiving part and the image receiving part. The image receiving apparatus is a television camera, co-viewing apparatus or electronic still camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 3, 1989
    Inventors: Kouji Kanbara, Kenichi Kikuchi, Yoshihito Shimizu, Shinichiro Hattori, Yoshikazu Tojo, Akira Hasegawa, Tatsuya Yamaguchi, Takashi Tsukaya, Kazunari Kobayashi, Masanao Murata, Tsutomu Yamamoto, Takeaki Nakamura
  • Patent number: 4867136
    Abstract: An endoscope apparatus for inspecting an object including an insertion section insertable into the object and having a distal end and a proximal end, an image guide arranged within the insertion section and having entrance and exit ends arranged at the distal and proximal ends of insertion section, respectively, an objective lens system arranged at the distal end of insertion section for forming an optical image of the object onto the entrance end of image guide, an eyepiece lens system arranged at the proximal end of insertion section for projecting the optical image transmitted through the image guide onto an observating position, a first piezo-electric bimorph arranged at the distal end of insertion section for vibrating the entrance end of image guide in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the insertion section over a given distance, a second piezo-electric element arranged at the proximal end of insertion section for vibrating the exit end of image guide in the same direction and over the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 19, 1989
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Suzuki, Susumu Takahashi, Takeaki Nakamura, Tatsuya Yamaguchi, Takashi Tsukaya, Tsutomu Yamamoto, Masanao Murata, Kazunari Kobayashi, Yoshikazu Tojo, Kenichi Kikuchi, Koji Kanbara, Yoshihito Shimizu, Akira Hasegawa, Shinichiro Hattori, Iwao Kanamori, Akira Yokota, Kimihiko Nishioka, Minoru Okabe, Katsuyuki Kanehira, Nobuo Yamashita, Masayoshi Naito, Tomoaki Sato, Koichi Matsui, Kenji Hirooka, Hiroki Hibino
  • Patent number: 4862873
    Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed which includes a first and a second optical guides inserted in an elongated insertion portion thereof, and which can transmit an optical image, and an optical system with a function of imaging at the end surface of the optical guide. By transmitting an illuminating light from the other end surface to the portion to be observed through one of the optical guides, the portion to be observed is illuminated. While, the optical image transmitted through the other optical guide is introduced into an ocular system or an imaging system. By changing the functions performed by these optical guides, the stereoscopic observation and stereoscopic imaging can be realized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 5, 1989
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akihiko Yajima, Tetsuo Nonami, Masahiko Sasaki, Masao Uehara, Takashi Tsukaya, Kenichi Kikuchi, Hiroki Hibino, Takao Tsuruoka, Hiromasa Suzuki