Patents by Inventor Koichi Sakamoto

Koichi Sakamoto 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: 20120206619
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus comprising an image acquiring section that acquires a plurality of images captured in time sequence; a subject extracting section that extracts a plurality of different subjects contained in the plurality of images; and a main subject inferring section that determines the position of each subject in each of the images, and infers which of the subjects is a main subject in the images based on position information for each of the subjects in the images.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2012
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keiichi NITTA, Koichi SAKAMOTO, Akihiko TAKAHASHI, Fumihiko FUTABA
  • Patent number: 8192565
    Abstract: The present invention provides a steel for machine and structural use which is capable of maintaining mechanical characteristics such as strength by reducing a S content as well as of exhibiting excellent machinability (particularly tool life) in intermittent cutting (such as hobbing) with the high speed tool, and a method useful for producing the steel for machine and structural use. The steel for machine and structural use according to the invention secures 0.002% or more of solute N in the steel and has a chemical composition which is appropriately adjusted and satisfies a relationship of the following expression (1): (0.1×[Cr]+[Al])/[O]?150 . . . (1), in which [Cr], [Al], and [0] represent a Cr content (mass %), an Al content (mass %), and an O content (mass %), respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomokazu Masuda, Takehiro Tsuchida, Masaki Shimamoto, Motohiro Horiguchi, Shinsuke Masuda, Koichi Akazawa, Shogo Murakami, Mutsuhisa Nagahama, Hiroshi Yaguchi, Koichi Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 8187530
    Abstract: An object of this invention is to provide a steel for high-cleanliness spring which is useful for the production of a spring excellent in fatigue characteristics in high Si steels. The steel for high-cleanliness spring with excellent fatigue characteristics according to the invention contains: in terms of mass %, C: 1.2% or less (excluding 0%); Si: 1.8% to 4%; Mn: 0.1% to 2.0%; and total Al: 0.01% or less (excluding 0%), with the remainder being iron and inevitable impurities, in which the Si amount and a solute (SIMS) Ca amount in the steel satisfy a relationship of the following expression (1): Si×10?7?solute (SIMS) Ca?Si×5×10?7??(1) (in which each of the solute (SIMS) Ca and Si represents the amount thereof (mass %) in the steel).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoko Sugimura, Koichi Sakamoto, Yoshio Fukuzaki, Atsuhiko Yoshida, Takeshi Inoue
  • Publication number: 20120121454
    Abstract: A low-carbon resulfurized free-machining steel is excellent in machinability and contains 0.02% to 0.15% by mass of C; 0.004% by mass or less (exclusive of 0%) of Si; 0.6% to 3% by mass of Mn; 0.02% to 0.2% by mass of P; 0.35% to 1% by mass of S; 0.005% by mass or less (exclusive of 0% by mass) of Al; 0.008% to 0.03% by mass of 0; and 0.007% to 0.03% by mass of N, with the remainder being iron and inevitable impurities, in which the ratio [Mn]/[S] of the manganese content [Mn] to the sulfur content [S] is within the range of 3 to 4, and the carbon content [C], the manganese content [Mn] and the nitrogen content [N] satisfy the following Expression (1): 10[C]×[Mn]?0.94+1226 [N]2?1.2, wherein [C], [Mn] and [N] represent the contents on the percent by mass basis of carbon, manganese, and nitrogen, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2011
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho (Kobe Steel, Ltd.)
    Inventors: Koichi SAKAMOTO, Atsuhiko Yoshida
  • Patent number: 8153451
    Abstract: A semiconductor process system (10) includes a measuring section (40), an information processing section (51), and a control section (52). The measuring section (40) measures a characteristic of a test target film formed on a target substrate (W) by a semiconductor process. The information processing section (51) calculates a positional correction amount of the target substrate (W) necessary for improving planar uniformity of the characteristic, based on values of the characteristic measured by the measuring section (40) at a plurality of positions on the test target film. The control section (52) controls a drive section (30A, 32A) of a transfer device (30), based on the positional correction amount, when the transfer device (30) transfers a next target substrate (W) to the support member (17) to perform the semiconductor process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Koichi Sakamoto, Yamato Tonegawa, Takehiko Fujita
  • Publication number: 20120082389
    Abstract: An image processing device includes: a first arithmetic operation unit that individually calculates an evaluation value based upon first factors, in correspondence to each of a plurality of images included in an image batch input thereto; an exclusion unit that executes exclusion processing based upon calculation results provided by the first arithmetic operation unit so as to exclude an image, the calculation results for which satisfy a predetermined condition, from the image batch; a second arithmetic operation unit that individually calculates an evaluation value based upon second factors, which include a factor different from the first factors, in correspondence to each image in the image batch having undergone the exclusion processing; and an evaluation processing unit that ranks individual images in the image batch having undergone the exclusion processing based upon calculation results provided by the second arithmetic operation unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2011
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Koichi SAKAMOTO
  • Patent number: 8052925
    Abstract: A low carbon resulfurized free-machining steel having a high machinability is provided. This steel comprises 0.02 to 0.15% by mass of C, up to 0.004% by mass (more than 0% by mass) of Si, 0.6 to 3% by mass of Mn, 0.02 to 0.2% by mass of P, 0.2 to 1% by mass of S, up to 0.005% by mass (more than 0%) of Al, 0.008 to 0.04% by mass of O, and 0.002 to 0.03% by mass of N; and the average oxygen concentration in the MnS in the steel is at least 0.4% by mass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Koichi Sakamoto, Hiroshi Yaguchi, Atsuhiko Yoshida, Goro Anan, Yoshiteru Fukuoka
  • Publication number: 20110229363
    Abstract: The present invention provides a steel for machine and structural use which sustains mechanical properties such as strength by reducing S content, and exerts excellent machinability (in particular, tool life) in both of intermittent cutting with HSS tools and continuous cutting with carbide tools. The invention relates to a steel for machine and structural use which contains an oxide inclusion containing, wherein a total mass of an average composition of the oxide inclusions is 100%: CaO: 10 to 55 mass %; SiO2: 20 to 70 mass %; Al2O3: more than 0 and 35 mass % or less; MgO: more than 0 and 20 mass % or less; MnO: more than 0 and 5 mass % or less; and one or more members selected from the group consisting of Li2O, Na2O, K2O, BaO, SrO and TiO2: 0.5 to 20 mass % in total.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2009
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA KOBE SEIKO SHO (KOBE STEEL, LTD.)
    Inventors: Koichi Sakamoto, Motohiro Horiguchi, Shogo Murakami, Hiroshi Yaguchi, Shinsuke Masuda, Koichi Akazawa
  • Publication number: 20110179602
    Abstract: In a vehicle door handle system, a handle is pivotally supported by a base member, at least one portion of the base member being attached to an outer panel; and a lever member is pivotally supported by a spindle fixed to the base member and having an axis at a right angle to a plane extending along the outer panel, the lever member being interlocked and connected with a handle arm configured to pivot with the handle and the lever member being linked to a latch device. An attachment part which attaches the base member to the outer panel is disposed coaxially with the spindle. Accordingly, it is possible to attach the base member to the outer panel while avoiding the bulkiness of conventional systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2011
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Applicants: KABUSHIKI KAISHA HONDA LOCK, HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroto FUJIWARA, Koichi SAKAMOTO, Yuujiro TASHIMA
  • Patent number: 7944500
    Abstract: An image processing system for properly correcting brightness of a subject area and a background area of a captured image. The image processing system includes an image capturing apparatus, including: an image capturing instruction unit for generating a first instruction signal and a second instruction signal for instructing a capturing of the subject; and an image pick-up unit for capturing a first image of the subject in response to the first instruction signal, and a second image of the subject in response to the second instruction signal. The image processing system also includes an image processing apparatus, including: a backlight status detector for detecting backlight status based on the first image and the second image; and a correction unit for correcting the second image when the backlight status detector detects the backlight status.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventors: Kaname Nihei, Kazuhiko Takemura, Masahiko Sugimoto, Koichi Sakamoto, Hiroshi Fukuda, Atsuhiko Ishihara
  • Patent number: 7808546
    Abstract: An image processing system for properly correcting brightness of a subject area and a background area of a captured image. The image processing system includes an image capturing apparatus, including: an image capturing instruction unit for generating a first instruction signal and a second instruction signal for instructing a capturing of the subject; and an image pick-up unit for capturing a first image of the subject in response to the first instruction signal, and a second image of the subject in response to the second instruction signal. The image processing system also includes an image processing apparatus, including: a backlight status detector for detecting backlight status based on the first image and the second image; and a correction unit for correcting the second image when the backlight status detector detects the backlight status.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Kaname Nihei, Kazuhiko Takemura, Masahiko Sugimoto, Koichi Sakamoto, Hiroshi Fukuda, Atsuhiko Ishihara
  • Publication number: 20100193090
    Abstract: The present invention provides a steel for machine and structural use which is capable of maintaining mechanical characteristics such as strength by reducing a S content as well as of exhibiting excellent machinability (particularly tool life) in intermittent cutting (such as hobbing) with the high speed tool, and a method useful for producing the steel for machine and structural use. The steel for machine and structural use according to the invention secures 0.002% or more of solute N in the steel and has a chemical composition which is appropriately adjusted and satisfies a relationship of the following expression (1): (0.1×[Cr]+[Al])/[O]?150 . . . (1), in which [Cr], [Al], and [0] represent a Cr content (mass %), an Al content (mass %), and an O content (mass %), respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2008
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho (Kobe Steel, Ltd.)
    Inventors: Tomokazu Masuda, Takehiro Tsuchida, Masaki Shimamoto, Motohiro Horiguchi, Shinsuke Masuda, Koichi Akazawa, Shogo Murakami, Mutsuhisa Nagahama, Hiroshi Yaguchi, Koichi Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 7750941
    Abstract: Audio regeneration data indicating where sound during audio regeneration is stored is recorded in a recording medium together with captured image data when image-capturing. The image data recorded in the recording medium and the audio regeneration data is read during image regeneration process. The image is displayed in accordance with the image data while the sound during the image-capturing is regenerated in accordance with the audio regeneration data. Therefore, the image and the sound can be easily appreciated simultaneously and the image regeneration can be effectively enjoyed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventors: Koichi Sakamoto, Makoto Tsugita
  • Patent number: 7751921
    Abstract: In order to detect an abnormality of semiconductor manufacturing apparatus, a biaxial coordinate system having first and second axes respectively assigned two different monitoring parameters selected from plural apparatus status parameters representing statuses of semiconductor manufacturing apparatus is prepared. As monitoring parameters, for example, a cumulative film thickness for deposition processes that have previously been performed in deposition apparatus and an opening of the pressure control valve located in a vacuum exhaust path to control the internal pressure of a reaction vessel are selected. Values of monitoring parameters obtained when the semiconductor manufacturing apparatus was normally operating are plotted on the biaxial coordinate system. A boundary between a normal condition and an abnormality status is set around a plot group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Koichi Sakamoto, Minoru Obata, Noriaki Koyama
  • Patent number: 7750950
    Abstract: An image combined high sensitivity image and low sensitivity image is provided with well-adjusted white balance and broad dynamic range. The image is obtained by multiplying the combined data by total gain that depends on scene. A white balance is adjusted with gain value calculated from of high output image data. Lv value representing luminance is calculated and compared with a threshold to decide whether or not the high sensitivity image and the low sensitivity image should be combined. First gamma correction unit performs gamma-correction for the image signal derived from the high sensitivity signal with first gamma character, second gamma correction unit performs gamma-correction for the image signal derived from the low sensitivity signal with second gamma character that is different from the first gamma character, and addition unit combines the image signal from the first gamma correction unit and the image signal from the second gamma correction unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventors: Masaya Tamaru, Koichi Sakamoto, Koji Ichikawa, Masahiko Sugimoto, Manabu Hyodo, Kazuhiko Takemura, Hirokazu Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20100111748
    Abstract: High cleanliness spring steel useful in manufacturing a spring with SiO2-based inclusions being extremely controlled and excellent in fatigue properties is provided. High cleanliness spring steel which is steel containing; C: 1.2% (means mass %, hereafter the same with respect to the component) or below (not inclusive of 0%), Si: 1.2-4%, Mn: 0.1-2.0%, Al: 0.01% or below (not inclusive of 0%), and the balance comprising iron with inevitable impurities, wherein; the total of oxide-based inclusions of 4 or above of L (the large diameter of an inclusion)/D (the short diameter of an inclusion) and 25 ?m or above of D and oxide-based inclusions of less than 4 L/D and 25 ?m or above of L, in the oxide-based inclusions of 25 mass % or above of oxygen concentration and 70% (means mass %, hereafter the same with respect to inclusions) or above of SiO2 content when Al2O3+MgO+CaO+SiO2+MnO=100% is presumed, out of inclusions in the steel, is 20 nos./500 g or below.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2010
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho (Kobe Steel, Ltd.)
    Inventors: Tomoko SUGIMURA, Sei Kimura, Koichi Sakamoto, Atsuhiko Yoshida, Takeshi Inoue
  • Publication number: 20100104468
    Abstract: A low-carbon sulfur-containing free-cutting steel having excellent cuttability which contains 0.02-0.15 mass % C, NT up to 0.004 mass % Si (excluding 0 mass %), 0.6-3 mass % Mn, 0.02-0.2 mass % P, 0.2-1 mass % S, up to 0.005 mass % Al (excluding 0 mass %), 0.008-0.04 mass % 0, and 0.002-0.03 mass % N and in which the average oxygen concentration in the MnS is 0.4 mass % or higher.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2006
    Publication date: April 29, 2010
    Applicant: KAB KAISHA KOBE SEIKO SHO(Kobe Steel, Ltd.)
    Inventors: Koichi Sakamoto, Hiroshi Yaguchi, Atsuhiko Yoshida, Goro Anan, Yoshiteru Fukuoka
  • Publication number: 20100098577
    Abstract: A Si-killed steel wire rod for obtaining a spring excellent in fatigue properties and a spring excellent in fatigue properties obtained from the steel wire rod are provided. The Si-killed steel wire rod of the present invention contains Sr: 0.03-20 ppm (means “mass ppm”, hereinafter the same), Al: 1-30 ppm and Si: 0.2-4% (means “mass %”, hereinafter the same) respectively, and contains Mg and/or Ca by a range of 0.5-30 ppm in total. Also, in the Si-killed steel wire rod of the present invention, oxide-based inclusions present in the wire rod contain SiO2: 30-90%, Al2O3: 2-50%, MgO: 35% or below (not inclusive of 0%), CaO: 50% or below (not inclusive of 0%), MnO: 20% or below (not inclusive of 0%) and SrO: 0.2-15% respectively, and total content of (CaO+MgO) is 3% or above. A spring excellent in fatigue properties can be obtained by forming the spring from such steel wire rod.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2007
    Publication date: April 22, 2010
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho (Kobe Steel, Ltd.)
    Inventors: Tomoko Sugimura, Koichi Sakamoto
  • Publication number: 20100086432
    Abstract: An object of this invention is to provide a steel for high-cleanliness spring which is useful for the production of a spring excellent in fatigue characteristics in high Si steels. The steel for high-cleanliness spring with excellent fatigue characteristics according to the invention contains: in terms of mass %, C: 1.2% or less (excluding 0%); Si: 1.8% to 4%; Mn: 0.1% to 2.0%; and total Al: 0.01% or less (excluding 0%), with the remainder being iron and inevitable impurities, in which the Si amount and a solute (SIMS) Ca amount in the steel satisfy a relationship of the following expression (1): Si×10?7?solute (SIMS) Ca?Si×5×10?7 ??(1) (in which each of the solute (SIMS) Ca and Si represents the amount thereof (mass %) in the steel).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Publication date: April 8, 2010
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho (Kobe Steel, Ltd.)
    Inventors: Tomoko Sugimura, Koichi Sakamoto, Yoshio Fukuzaki, Atsuhiko Yoshida, Takeshi Inoue
  • Patent number: 7679652
    Abstract: An image processing system includes: an image capturing apparatus for obtaining an image of a subject, having a setting unit, which sets an obtaining condition for the image according to user's operation, and an outputting unit, which outputs the obtaining condition in association with the image; and an image processing apparatus for performing an image processing for the image, having a receiving unit, which receives the image and the obtaining condition, an image processing unit, which performs an image processing for the image, and a controlling unit, which controls the image processing unit based on the obtaining conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Mikio Watanabe, Koichi Sakamoto, Hisayoshi Tsubaki, Yoshihiro Yamaguchi