Patents by Inventor Kenichi Otani

Kenichi 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: 20240108197
    Abstract: A white balance adjustment jig for an endoscope includes: an insertion portion that includes at least one insertion hole into which a distal end part of an endoscope is inserted; a lid portion that is disposed to face the insertion portion; and an outer peripheral portion that is in contact with the insertion portion and the lid portion to form an internal space. The lid portion includes a chart having a plurality of marks on a surface on an insertion portion side, and the chart is inclined with respect to a perpendicular plane perpendicular to the insertion direction of the distal end part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2023
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Applicant: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroaki SUZUKI, Kenichi OTANI, Yu YOSHIMORI, Shintaro HATTORI
  • Patent number: 11911009
    Abstract: A current having a light emission period current value for emitting first illumination light or second illumination light is caused to flow through a V-LED in a first light emission period for emitting the first illumination light or a second light emission period for emitting the second illumination light. A current having a light non-emission period current value for applying a VF voltage is caused to flow through a pseudo load in a light non-emission period that is provided between the first light emission period and the second light emission period, or between the second light emission periods and in which the first illumination light and the second illumination light are not emitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Takanori Demura, Kenichi Otani
  • Publication number: 20230073896
    Abstract: A current having a light emission period current value for emitting first illumination light or second illumination light is caused to flow through a V-LED in a first light emission period for emitting the first illumination light or a second light emission period for emitting the second illumination light. A current having a light non-emission period current value for applying a VF voltage is caused to flow through a pseudo load in a light non-emission period that is provided between the first light emission period and the second light emission period, or between the second light emission periods and in which the first illumination light and the second illumination light are not emitted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2022
    Publication date: March 9, 2023
    Applicant: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Takanori DEMURA, Kenichi OTANI
  • Patent number: 11419488
    Abstract: An endoscope system includes a plurality of light sources which emits light having different wavelengths, a photodetector which is provided in each of the plurality of light sources, and which receives a part of the light of the plurality of light sources and obtains information on a light emitting quantity of the plurality of light sources, an image acquisition unit that acquires an image to be observed for each illumination light using at least first illumination light and second illumination light, composed of the light emitted from at least one of the plurality of light sources, and a control unit that makes a mutual image signal ratio constant in the plurality of images acquired by the image acquisition unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Kenichi Otani
  • Publication number: 20220022738
    Abstract: The endoscope system includes a light source device that illuminates a subject, dichroic mirrors that separate a reflected light beam from the subject into a first blue light beam, a second blue light beam, a green light beam, and a red light beam, a CMOS sensor that picks up an image of the first blue light beam, a CMOS sensor that picks up an image of the second blue light beam, a CMOS sensor that picks up an image of the green light beam, and a CMOS sensor that picks up an image of the red light beam, and a control unit that controls image pickup. The control unit independently controls the exposure times of the CMOS sensors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2021
    Publication date: January 27, 2022
    Applicant: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Kenichi OTANI
  • Publication number: 20210369097
    Abstract: An endoscope system includes a light source unit that emits normal light and first specific light having a peak wavelength different from that of each of red light, green light, and blue light included in the normal light, a dichroic filter that transmits first specific return light which is return light from a subject illuminated with the first specific light and that reflects return light from the subject illuminated with the normal light, a CMOS sensor on which the return light of the normal light is incident, and a CMOS sensor on which the first specific return light is incident.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2021
    Publication date: December 2, 2021
    Applicant: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Kenichi OTANI
  • Publication number: 20200093188
    Abstract: A water repellency-imparted fiber article (10) of the present invention includes: a fiber article (1) having a skin-facing surface (1a) and a non-skin-facing surface (1b); and a water repellency-imparting agent attached to the fiber article (1). The fiber article (1) contains a water-absorbent fiber and has water absorbency in terms of a water absorption time of 30 seconds or less as measured in accordance with the dropping method of JIS L-1907. The water repellency-imparted fiber article (10) has a non-skin-side water-repellent region (2) on the non-skin-facing surface (1b) of the fiber article (1), the non-skin-side water-repellent region (2) including a portion to which the water repellency-imparting agent is attached.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2017
    Publication date: March 26, 2020
    Applicant: KAO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masahito TANAKA, Tetsuji KITO, Kenichi OTANI, Hirofumi NAKANISHI
  • Publication number: 20200069163
    Abstract: An endoscope system includes a plurality of light sources which emits light having different wavelengths, a photodetector which is provided in each of the plurality of light sources, and which receives a part of the light of the plurality of light sources and obtains information on a light emitting quantity of the plurality of light sources, an image acquisition unit that acquires an image to be observed for each illumination light using at least first illumination light and second illumination light, composed of the light emitted from at least one of the plurality of light sources, and a control unit that makes a mutual image signal ratio constant in the plurality of images acquired by the image acquisition unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2019
    Publication date: March 5, 2020
    Applicant: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Kenichi OTANI
  • Patent number: 10194849
    Abstract: A control section performs first preliminary imaging in which an observation target is illuminated with first blue light at a wavelength band of 450±10 nm and an image of the observation target is captured. A yellow pigment concentration calculator calculates concentration of the yellow pigment based on an image signal obtained by performing the first preliminary imaging. A prescribed exposure amount calculator calculates a prescribed exposure amount of second blue light at a wavelength band of 470±10 nm for second preliminary imaging based on the calculated concentration of the yellow pigment. A control section performs second preliminary imaging in which an observation target is illuminated with the second blue light and an image of the observation target is captured based on a prescribed exposure amount of the second blue light for the second preliminary imaging. An arithmetic value calculator calculates an arithmetic value based on an image signal obtained by performing the second preliminary imaging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Kenichi Otani
  • Patent number: 10045431
    Abstract: An endoscope system includes a color image sensor, having pixels sensitive to plural colors different from one another, for imaging an object. Plural LEDs discretely generate light of colors different from one another, to apply polychromatic light constituted by spectrally combining the light of the colors to the object. A light source controller controls the plural LEDs, to correct an intensity ratio of an integrated emission intensity between the plural colors according to receiving the first polychromatic light with respectively the pixels of the plural colors, so that the intensity ratio becomes equal to a target ratio of an integrated emission intensity between the plural colors according to receiving continuous spectrum light with respectively the pixels of the plural colors, the continuous spectrum light having an at least partial wavelength range of light emitted by a white light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Kenichi Otani, Makoto Sugizaki
  • Patent number: 9977232
    Abstract: A light source device for an endoscope comprises a light source unit and a light source controller. The light source unit has LEDs independently emitting light of respective different colors, and emits first multicolor spectrum light having a first multicolor spectrum, into which the light from the LEDs is combined. The light source controller makes a light quantity integral of the first multicolor spectrum light in a first wavelength band equal to a light quantity integral of continuous-spectrum light in the first wavelength band and makes a light quantity integral of the first multicolor spectrum light in a second wavelength band equal to a light quantity integral of the continuous-spectrum light in the second wavelength band. The continuous-spectrum light includes at least a part of a wavelength band of light emitted from a white light source. The second wavelength band is different from the first wavelength band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Kenichi Otani
  • Publication number: 20170014055
    Abstract: A control section performs first preliminary imaging in which an observation target is illuminated with first blue light at a wavelength band of 450±10 nm and an image of the observation target is captured. A yellow pigment concentration calculator calculates concentration of the yellow pigment based on an image signal obtained by performing the first preliminary imaging. A prescribed exposure amount calculator calculates a prescribed exposure amount of second blue light at a wavelength band of 470±10 nm for second preliminary imaging based on the calculated concentration of the yellow pigment. A control section performs second preliminary imaging in which an observation target is illuminated with the second blue light and an image of the observation target is captured based on a prescribed exposure amount of the second blue light for the second preliminary imaging. An arithmetic value calculator calculates an arithmetic value based on an image signal obtained by performing the second preliminary imaging.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2016
    Publication date: January 19, 2017
    Applicant: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Kenichi OTANI
  • Publication number: 20170006202
    Abstract: An endoscope system includes a color image sensor, having pixels sensitive to plural colors different from one another, for imaging an object. Plural LEDs discretely generate light of colors different from one another, to apply polychromatic light constituted by spectrally combining the light of the colors to the object. A light source controller controls the plural LEDs, to correct an intensity ratio of an integrated emission intensity between the plural colors according to receiving the first polychromatic light with respectively the pixels of the plural colors, so that the intensity ratio becomes equal to a target ratio of an integrated emission intensity between the plural colors according to receiving continuous spectrum light with respectively the pixels of the plural colors, the continuous spectrum light having an at least partial wavelength range of light emitted by a white light source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2016
    Publication date: January 5, 2017
    Applicant: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Kenichi OTANI, Makoto SUGIZAKI
  • Publication number: 20160223807
    Abstract: A light source device for an endoscope comprises a light source unit and a light source controller. The light source unit has LEDs independently emitting light of respective different colors, and emits first multicolor spectrum light having a first multicolor spectrum, into which the light from the LEDs is combined. The light source controller makes a light quantity integral of the first multicolor spectrum light in a first wavelength band equal to a light quantity integral of continuous-spectrum light in the first wavelength band and makes a light quantity integral of the first multicolor spectrum light in a second wavelength band equal to a light quantity integral of the continuous-spectrum light in the second wavelength band. The continuous-spectrum light includes at least a part of a wavelength band of light emitted from a white light source. The second wavelength band is different from the first wavelength band.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2016
    Publication date: August 4, 2016
    Applicant: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Kenichi OTANI
  • Patent number: 9222915
    Abstract: An eddy current flaw detection system includes an eddy current flaw detection probe having a substrate facing an inspection surface, and at least one exciting coil and at least two detecting coils provided on the substrate, a scanning device which scans the probe on the inspection surface, a scan control device which drives and controls the scanning device, an eddy current flaw detection device which acquires results of detection of a plurality of detection points corresponding to combinations of the exciting and detecting coils for each scan position of the probe, and a data processing/display device which processes data from the scan control device and the eddy current flaw detection device and thereby displays a result of flaw detection. The data processing/display device acquires three-dimensional coordinates of the detection points for each scan position of the probe and thereby creates three-dimensional flaw detection data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Hitachi-GE Nuclear Energy, Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Nishimizu, So Kitazawa, Naoyuki Kono, Hisashi Endo, Kenichi Otani, Taiichiro Yamada, Hirofumi Ouchi, Isao Yoshida, Yoshio Nonaka, Masafumi Imai
  • Patent number: 8616062
    Abstract: In an ultrasonic inspection method or ultrasonic inspection system in which an ultrasonic wave is propagated to an test object via a medium such as a liquid or a gas, an incident position of the ultrasonic wave is accurately and reliably identified. In an ultrasonic inspection method based on an immersion technique, an optical irradiator is mounted on an ultrasonic wave transmitting/receiving unit, an optical marker is irradiated from the optical irradiator to the test object, and an irradiated position of the optical marker is imaged using imaging equipment in order to perform inspection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Hitachi-GE Nuclear Energy, Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoyuki Kono, Isao Yoshida, Masahiro Koike, Yoshio Nonaka, Hiroyuki Nakano, Kenichi Otani, Chihiro Matsuoka, Masafumi Imai
  • Patent number: 8353816
    Abstract: A capsule endoscope is swallowed by a patient, to capture images from inner wall surfaces of patient's digestive tract, while detecting imaging positions of the capsule endoscope. A doctor observes the images captured by the capsule endoscope, to select an aimed point image that contains a portion suspected of a lesion, and some images that represent pass points on an insertion route of a balloon endoscope. While a probing tip of the balloon endoscope is being inserted into the patient for the sake of thorough examination of the suspected portion, a degree of similarity between an image captured by the balloon endoscope and an image of a destination point, which is one of the pass points and the aimed point, is detected to judge by the similarity whether the probing tip has reached the destination point or not. So the doctor can get the probing tip to the aimed point easily.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Kunimasa Shimizu, Kenichi Otani, Naoto Kinjo
  • Publication number: 20120073614
    Abstract: An endoscope cleaning system of one aspect of the subject matter includes: a first cleaning device configured to clean an endoscope; a second cleaning device configured to clean the endoscope according to a method different from that of the first cleaning device; and a cleaning evaluation device configured to determine whether or not a cleaning level of the endoscope cleaned by one of the first cleaning device and the second cleaning device satisfies a predetermined criterion, wherein one of the first cleaning device and the second cleaning device cleans the endoscope in accordance with a determination result of the cleaning evaluation device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2011
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Applicant: FUJIFILM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenichi Otani, Mitsuhiko Serizawa, Kazuya Takeuchi, Seiichi Yamamoto, Nobuyuki Torisawa, Hirofumi Katsura, Maki Saito, Shozo Iyama, Issei Suzuki, Yasunori Ohta, Yasuyuki Hosono
  • Publication number: 20120051483
    Abstract: A welded portion inspection apparatus of a reactor pressure vessel moves on an outside surface of the reactor pressure vessel, and is provided with a scan portion having a sensor for detecting a state of the welded portion to be inspected. The apparatus has a first scan axis with a pedestal having the sensor installed for moving the sensor in a predetermined first direction to perform scanning, and a second scan axis orthogonal to the first scan axis for moving the first scan axis in a predetermined second direction. Drive portions are installed removably on both sides of the scan portion for moving the scan portion to a position of the welded portion to be inspected, and a motor is provided for driving the drive portions. The drive portions include a plurality of magnets which are endlessly formed in a line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2011
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: HITACHI-GE NUCLEAR ENERGY, LTD.
    Inventors: Yosuke TAKATORI, Kenichi OTANI, Hidetaka KOMURO, Satoshi OKADA, Ryosuke KOBAYASHI
  • Publication number: 20110197679
    Abstract: In an ultrasonic inspection method or ultrasonic inspection system in which an ultrasonic wave is propagated to an test object via a medium such as a liquid or a gas, an incident position of the ultrasonic wave is accurately and reliably identified. In an ultrasonic inspection method based on an immersion technique, an optical irradiator is mounted on an ultrasonic wave transmitting/receiving unit, an optical marker is irradiated from the optical irradiator to the test object, and an irradiated position of the optical marker is imaged using imaging equipment in order to perform inspection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2011
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Applicant: HITACHI-GE NUCLEAR ENERGY, LTD.
    Inventors: Naoyuki KONO, Isao YOSHIDA, Masahiro KOIKE, Yoshio NONAKA, Hiroyuki NAKANO, Kenichi OTANI, Chihiro MATSUOKA, Masafumi IMAI