Patents by Inventor Koji Ichie

Koji Ichie 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: 8184920
    Abstract: A microscope system is constructed by a light guiding optical system 20 having an objective lens 21 and beam splitters 27a and 27b for splitting an optical image of a sample S, a photodetector 31 for acquiring an image of the sample S, and two CCD cameras 33 and 34 for focus control disposed on optical paths split by the beam splitters 27a and 27b. The cameras 33 and 34 are disposed being inclined with respect to the optical path so that the optical paths thereof in the light guiding optical system 20 vary along a z-axis direction in opposite directions to each other. Images acquired by these cameras 33 and 34 are analyzed in a focus controller 37, and the image pickup focal point to the sample S is controlled on the basis of the analysis result, whereby the focus control when an image of the sample is acquired can be suitably performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Hamamatsu Photonics K.K.
    Inventors: Masafumi Oshiro, Koji Ichie
  • Publication number: 20110298914
    Abstract: A microscope system is constructed by a light guiding optical system 20 having an objective lens 21 and beam splitters 27a and 27b for splitting an optical image of a sample S, a photodetector 31 for acquiring an image of the sample S, and two CCD cameras 33 and 34 for focus control disposed on optical paths split by the beam splitters 27a and 27b. The cameras 33 and 34 are disposed being inclined with respect to the optical path so that the optical paths thereof in the light guiding optical system 20 vary along a z-axis direction in opposite directions to each other. Images acquired by these cameras 33 and 34 are analyzed in a focus controller 37, and the image pickup focal point to the sample S is controlled on the basis of the analysis result, whereby the focus control when an image of the sample is acquired can be suitably performed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2011
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Applicant: HAMAMATSU PHOTONICS K.K.
    Inventors: Masafumi OSHIRO, Koji Ichie
  • Patent number: 8027548
    Abstract: A microscope system is constructed by a light guiding optical system 20 having an objective lens 21 and beam splitters 27a and 27b for splitting an optical image of a sample S, a photodetector 31 for acquiring an image of the sample S, and two CCD cameras 33 and 34 for focus control disposed on optical paths split by the beam splitters 27a and 27b. The cameras 33 and 34 are disposed being inclined with respect to the optical path so that the optical paths thereof in the light guiding optical system 20 vary along a z-axis direction in opposite directions to each other. Images acquired by these cameras 33 and 34 are analyzed in a focus controller 37, and the image pickup focal point to the sample S is controlled on the basis of the analysis result, whereby the focus control when an image of the sample is acquired can be suitably performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: Hamamatsu Photonics K.K.
    Inventors: Masafumi Oshiro, Koji Ichie
  • Publication number: 20100328445
    Abstract: A microscope system is constructed by a light guiding optical system 20 having an objective lens 21 and beam splitters 27a and 27b for splitting an optical image of a sample S, a photodetector 31 for acquiring an image of the sample S, and two CCD cameras 33 and 34 for focus control disposed on optical paths split by the beam splitters 27a and 27b. The cameras 33 and 34 are disposed being inclined with respect to the optical path so that the optical paths thereof in the light guiding optical system 20 vary along a z-axis direction in opposite directions to each other. Images acquired by these cameras 33 and 34 are analyzed in a focus controller 37, and the image pickup focal point to the sample S is controlled on the basis of the analysis result, whereby the focus control when an image of the sample is acquired can be suitably performed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2010
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Applicant: HAMAMATSU PHOTONICS K.K.
    Inventors: Masafumi OSHIRO, Koji ICHIE
  • Patent number: 7813579
    Abstract: A microscope system is constructed by a light guiding optical system 20 having an objective lens 21 and beam splitters 27a and 27b for splitting an optical image of a sample S, a photodetector 31 for acquiring an image of the sample S, and two CCD cameras 33 and 34 for focus control disposed on optical paths split by the beam splitters 27a and 27b. The cameras 33 and 34 are disposed being inclined with respect to the optical path so that the optical paths thereof in the light guiding optical system 20 vary along a z-axis direction in opposite directions to each other. Images acquired by these cameras 33 and 34 are analyzed in a focus controller 37, and the image pickup focal point to the sample S is controlled on the basis of the analysis result, whereby the focus control when an image of the sample is acquired can be suitably performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Hamamatsu Photonics K.K.
    Inventors: Masafumi Oshiro, Koji Ichie
  • Patent number: 7232980
    Abstract: A microscope system comprises a light guiding optical system 20 containing an objective lens 21 and a beam splitter 25 for splitting an optical image of a sample S to a first optical path and a second optical path, a photodetector 31 disposed on the first optical path used to acquire an image of the sample S, and a CCD camera 32 disposed on the second optical path for acquiring a two-dimensional image for focus control. The camera 32 is disposed being inclined at an angle of ? with respect to the optical path so that the optical path length in the light guiding optical system 20 varies along the z-axis direction. The image acquired by the camera 32 is analyzed by a focus controller 37, and the focal point for image pickup with respect to the sample S is controlled on the basis of the analysis result. Accordingly, there can be implemented a microscope system in which image acquisition of the sample and focus control for image pickup can be simultaneously performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2007
    Assignee: Hamamatsu Photonics K.K.
    Inventors: Masafumi Oshiro, Koji Ichie
  • Publication number: 20050270611
    Abstract: A microscope system is constructed by a light guiding optical system 20 having an objective lens 21 and beam splitters 27a and 27b for splitting an optical image of a sample S, a photodetector 31 for acquiring an image of the sample S, and two CCD cameras 33 and 34 for focus control disposed on optical paths split by the beam splitters 27a and 27b. The cameras 33 and 34 are disposed being inclined with respect to the optical path so that the optical paths thereof in the light guiding optical system 20 vary along a z-axis direction in opposite directions to each other. Images acquired by these cameras 33 and 34 are analyzed in a focus controller 37, and the image pickup focal point to the sample S is controlled on the basis of the analysis result, whereby the focus control when an image of the sample is acquired can be suitably performed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2004
    Publication date: December 8, 2005
    Inventors: Masafumi Oshiro, Koji Ichie
  • Publication number: 20050258335
    Abstract: A microscope system comprises a light guiding optical system 20 containing an objective lens 21 and a beam splitter 25 for splitting an optical image of a sample S to a first optical path and a second optical path, a photodetector 31 disposed on the first optical path used to acquire an image of the sample S, and a CCD camera 32 disposed on the second optical path for acquiring a two-dimensional image for focus control. The camera 32 is disposed being inclined at an angle of ? with respect to the optical path so that the optical path length in the light guiding optical system 20 varies along the z-axis direction. The image acquired by the camera 32 is analyzed by a focus controller 37, and the focal point for image pickup with respect to the sample S is controlled on the basis of the analysis result. Accordingly, there can be implemented a microscope system in which image acquisition of the sample and focus control for image pickup can be simultaneously performed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2004
    Publication date: November 24, 2005
    Inventors: Masafumi Oshiro, Koji Ichie
  • Patent number: 6808523
    Abstract: This apparatus includes a laser light source S2 which irradiates a spatial light modulator (SLM) 11 with a laser beam LR. Individual optical systems are arranged such that the laser beam reflected by the SLM 11 irradiates a region to be treated. When this configuration is used, the laser beam reflectivity can be made much higher than when a transmitting device is used. This allows high-efficiency laser beam irradiation. A predetermined pattern is written in the SLM 11, and this predetermined pattern is preferably a hologram pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Assignee: Hamamatsu Photonics K.K.
    Inventors: Shinichi Fujisaka, Sueo Miyaki, Tsutomu Hara, Koji Ichie
  • Publication number: 20030120325
    Abstract: This apparatus includes a laser light source S2 which irradiates a spatial light modulator (SLM) 11 with a laser beam LR. Individual optical systems are arranged such that the laser beam reflected by the SLM 11 irradiates a region to be treated. When this configuration is used, the laser beam reflectivity can be made much higher than when a transmitting device is used. This allows high-efficiency laser beam irradiation. A predetermined pattern is written in the SLM 11, and this predetermined pattern is preferably a hologram pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2002
    Publication date: June 26, 2003
    Applicant: HAMAMATSU PHOTONICS K.K.
    Inventors: Shinichi Fujisaka, Sueo Miyaki, Tsutomu Hara, Koji Ichie
  • Patent number: 5982535
    Abstract: A centrifuge microscope includes a disk which is rotatable around a rotation axis and which is provided with a sample chamber for accommodating a sample. An observation optical system is provided which includes an objective lens which is positioned such that the sample chamber crosses an optical axis of the objective lens as the disk rotates. A pulsed laser source is provided for emitting a pulsed laser to the sample at a timing at which the sample chamber crosses the optical axis of the objective lens. And a delay time adjusting section is provided for adjusting a delay time of an emission timing of the pulsed laser in accordance with a rotational speed of the disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignees: Marine Biological Laboratory, Olympus Optical Co., Ltd., Hamamatsu Photonics K.K.
    Inventors: Shinya Inoue, Keisuke Suzuki, Koji Ichie, Chikara Nagano, Naobumi Okada, Hajime Takahashi
  • Patent number: 5796112
    Abstract: A fluorescent microscope includes a laser scanning unit having a stage for supporting a fluorescent sample, a laser beam generator and a beam scanning unit for causing a laser beam from the generator to spot scan a sample to cause fluorescence generated by multi-photon absorption. A first detector detects fluorescence emitted from a side of the sample on which the laser beam is incident to output a first signal corresponding to detected fluorescence. A second detector detects fluorescence emitted from a side of the sample from which the laser beam, having been transmitted through the sample, is emitted from the sample. The second detector produces a second signal corresponding to the detected fluorescence. The first and second signals are summed and amplified. A display is provided for a microscopic image of the sample in synchronization with the scanning of the laser beam, based on the amplified summed signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1998
    Assignee: Hamamatsu Photonics K.K.
    Inventor: Koji Ichie
  • Patent number: 5583342
    Abstract: A laser scanning optical system is so arranged to comprise an optical converting unit, an optical scanning unit, and an optical converging unit. Here, the optical converting unit is composed of two axicon prisms which are arranged such that apexes thereof are opposed forward or backward to each other at a predetermined distance and optical axes thereof are coincident with each other and which are made of respective materials having a same refractive index and shaped with a same apical angle. By this, the laser beam incident into the optical converting unit becomes a cylindrical ray bundle having an annular cross-sectional intensity perpendicular to the optical axis. Therefore, the cylindrical ray bundle is changed in the traveling direction by the optical scanning unit to be scanned and is then converged by the optical converging unit to become a Bessel beam having a high energy utilization factor, a high resolution and a long focal depth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1996
    Assignee: Hamamatsu Photonics K.K.
    Inventor: Koji Ichie
  • Patent number: 5561460
    Abstract: Incident light is refracted by a planar plate 30 which is fixedly slanted with respect to the optical axis, before being imaged on an image receiving surface of an image sensor 10. The planar plate 30 rotates about the optical axis or an axis parallel to the optical axis. In accordance with the rotational movement of the planar plate, the incident light imaged position moves on the image receiving surface of the image sensor 10. Light portions originally imaged on gap areas between neighboring light pick up elements of the image sensor 10 move into the light pick up elements. The image sensor can therefore pick up those image portions which are originally imaged on the gap areas and therefore which may not be picked up by the image sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1996
    Assignee: Hamamatsu Photonics K.K.
    Inventors: Makoto Katoh, Koji Ichie
  • Patent number: 5044744
    Abstract: Times t.sub.1 and t.sub.2 required for two electromagnetic waves having different wavelengths to propagate from a reference point to a target point are measured. Necessary meteorological conditions along the path are also measured to determine refractivities N.sub.1 and N.sub.2 of the path for the two electromagnetic waves as:N.sub.1 =.alpha..sub.1 .multidot..rho..sub.s +.beta..sub.1 .multidot..rho..sub.wN.sub.2 =.alpha..sub.2 .multidot..rho..sub.s +.beta..sub.2 .multidot..rho..sub.wwhere .rho..sub.s and .rho..sub.w are densities of dry air and water vapor in the path, respectively. Length of the path D is calculated using the following formula:D=[t.sub.1 +{(.alpha..sub.1 +.beta..sub.1 .multidot..rho..sub.w /.rho..sub.s).multidot.(t.sub.2 -t.sub.1)}/{(.alpha..sub.1 +.beta..sub.1 .multidot..rho..sub.w /.rho..sub.s)-(.alpha..sub.2 +.beta..sub.2 .multidot..rho..sub.w /.rho..sub.s)}].multidot.C.where C is the speed of an electromagnetic wave in vacuum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1991
    Assignee: Hamamatsu Photonics K.K.
    Inventors: Ichizo Ogawa, Yoshihisa Warashina, Yoshihiko Mizushima, Koji Ichie, Morio Takeichi, Akira Takeshima
  • Patent number: 5035476
    Abstract: This invention relates to a confocal laser scanning transmission microscope including a deflecting element for deflecting a light beam at a set scanning frequency in a main scanning direction and an auxiliary scanning direction perpendicular to the main scanning direction to irradiate the light spot to a specimen, and the microscope further comprises an infinity compensating objective lens for collecting a transmitted light through the specimen to form into a parallel beam and a cube-corner-reflector disposed on the opposite side of the specimen across the objective lens and on the exit pupil position of the infinity compensating objective lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 30, 1991
    Assignee: Hamamatsu Photonics K.K.
    Inventors: Gordon W. Ellis, Koji Ichie
  • Patent number: 4763996
    Abstract: A crystal structure arrangement used in a spatial light modulator wherein an electrooptic crystal structure faces an electron beam source, such as a photocathode or an electron gun, within a vacuum envelope. Electrons emitted from the electron beam source in response to an image or image signal source are stored on the surface of the electrooptic crystal structure to form a charge image thereon and then to change the refractive index of the electrooptic crystal structure corresponding to the stored charge image. The refractive index change is read out using a laser beam or incandescent light beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1985
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1988
    Assignee: Hamamatsu Photonics Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tsutomu Hara, Yoshiharu Ooi, Kazunori Shinoda, Koji Ichie