Patents by Inventor Kouichi Kitano

Kouichi Kitano 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: 12033310
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes at least one processor. The processor is configured to execute processing of acquiring a first image as a radiographic image including an image of a subject generated by radioscopy for continuously irradiating the subject with radiation to perform imaging, acquiring a second image different from the radiographic image including the image of the subject before acquiring the first image, specifying a subject region as a region where the image of the subject is formed in the first image, based on the second image, and executing image processing of enhancing contrast of the specified subject region on the first image and outputting the first image after the image processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: FUJIFILM CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kouichi Kitano
  • Patent number: 11313979
    Abstract: A control unit of an electronic cassette switches the power supply state of a plurality of blocks BL which share a signal processing of a signal processing circuit between an operating state and a non-operating state. The control unit switches the block BL from the non-operating state to the operating state before a predetermined time TW necessary for stable operation of the block BL from a timing when the reading of charge starts in the block BL.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Syo Shimizukawa, Naoto Iwakiri, Kouichi Kitano
  • Patent number: 11206366
    Abstract: In a case where power P_C supplied to CA during the image reading operation is normal power PN_C, in an AED operation of detecting irradiation start of X-rays, a control unit of an electronic cassette causes at least one of non-detection CAs other than a detection CA that is the charge amplifier connected to a detection channel of a detection pixel for irradiation start detection, among the plurality of CAs connected to a MUX to be in a power saving state in which the supply power P_C is lower than the normal power PN_C during the image reading operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Naoto Iwakiri, Kouichi Kitano, Syo Shimizukawa
  • Publication number: 20210383514
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes at least one processor. The processor is configured to execute processing of acquiring a first image as a radiographic image including an image of a subject generated by radioscopy for continuously irradiating the subject with radiation to perform imaging, acquiring a second image different from the radiographic image including the image of the subject before acquiring the first image, specifying a subject region as a region where the image of the subject is formed in the first image, based on the second image, and executing image processing of enhancing contrast of the specified subject region on the first image and outputting the first image after the image processing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2021
    Publication date: December 9, 2021
    Inventor: Kouichi KITANO
  • Patent number: 11179123
    Abstract: In a case in which an imaging mode continuously acquiring a plurality of energy subtraction images is performed, a radiation source control unit of a control device performs radiation source control for performing a one-shot imaging operation, in which only one of first radiation and second radiation is emitted, at least once for one two-shot imaging operation in which the first radiation and the second radiation are continuously emitted. In a case in which the imaging mode is performed, a detector control unit performs detector control to direct a radiation detector to output a first radiographic image based on the first radiation and a second radiographic image based on the second radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: FUJIFILM CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kouichi Kitano
  • Patent number: 11125892
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a radiation detection system, a radiation output device, and a radiation detection device. The radiation detection system includes a radiation output device having an output control unit, and a radiation detection device having a recognition unit that recognizes whether radiation has been output from the radiation output device on the basis of a radiation detection signal. The output control unit causes radiation to be output at a first intensity from a time point of the start of outputting of radiation, and then causes the radiation to be output at a second intensity. The first intensity is an intensity higher than the second intensity and satisfying a threshold value condition set in advance in the recognition unit. The recognition unit recognizes that a detection signal of the radiation with the first intensity satisfies the threshold value condition, thereby recognizing the start of outputting of the radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Nakamura, Kouichi Kitano
  • Patent number: 11064966
    Abstract: In an AED operation of detecting irradiation start of X-rays, a control unit of an electronic cassette selectively outputs the analog voltage signal from a part of the charge amplifiers including a detection CA connected to the detection channel of a detection pixel for irradiation start detection among the plurality of CAs connected to the MUX, to the ADC, causes the ADC to perform only the AD conversion process for the analog voltage signal selectively output from the multiplexer, and reduces the number of pulses NPU_A per unit time in a clock signal defining an operation timing of the ADC compared to that in the image reading operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Naoto Iwakiri, Kouichi Kitano, Syo Shimizukawa
  • Patent number: 11009610
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a radiation detection system, a radiation output device, and a radiation detection device. The radiation detection system includes a radiation output device having a radiation generation unit and an output control unit that controls output of radiation, and a radiation detection device having a radiographic image detector that detects radiation output from the radiation output device, and a recognition unit that recognizes whether radiation has been output from the radiation output device on the basis of a radiation detection signal output from the radiographic image detector. The output control unit causes radiation with a preset waveform pattern to be output from a time point of the start of outputting of the radiation, and the recognition unit recognizes the waveform pattern, thereby recognizing the start of outputting of the radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Nakamura, Kouichi Kitano
  • Patent number: 10992885
    Abstract: A control unit of an electronic cassette has a function of switching a power supply state to an ADC between an operating state corresponding to a first state in which first power is supplied and a non-operating state corresponding to a second state in which second power that is lower than the first power per unit time is supplied. The control unit reduces the number of ADCs in the operating state per unit time T in an AED operation for detecting the start of the emission of X-rays to be less than that in an image reading operation for outputting an X-ray image provided for diagnosis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Naoto Iwakiri, Kouichi Kitano, Syo Shimizukawa
  • Patent number: 10925555
    Abstract: A radiation imaging apparatus includes: a radiation irradiating apparatus that emits radiation onto a subject; a photography unit that photographs the subject to obtain a photographed image of the subject; and a radiation detector that generates radiation images of the subject, provided with a marker that represents identifying information of the radiation detector on the side thereof that includes a radiation detecting surface. The marker of the radiation detector is detected. The identifying information of the radiation detector is obtained from a marker in the case that the marker is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Ryo Imamura, Kouichi Kitano
  • Publication number: 20200305817
    Abstract: In a case in which an imaging mode continuously acquiring a plurality of energy subtraction images is performed, a radiation source control unit of a control device performs radiation source control for performing a one-shot imaging operation, in which only one of first radiation and second radiation is emitted, at least once for one two-shot imaging operation in which the first radiation and the second radiation are continuously emitted. In a case in which the imaging mode is performed, a detector control unit performs detector control to direct a radiation detector to output a first radiographic image based on the first radiation and a second radiographic image based on the second radiation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2020
    Publication date: October 1, 2020
    Inventor: Kouichi KITANO
  • Patent number: 10667670
    Abstract: In a portable apparatus of a medical system, in a case where an operation unit receives an operation from a physician on the basis of the display contents of a display unit, the medical apparatus controlled as a result of the operation of the operation unit by an operator is defined by an operation control unit, and a signal in response to the operation contents received by the operation unit is transmitted from a transmission unit to the defined medical apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Yasunori Ohta, Naoyuki Nishino, Haruyasu Nakatsugawa, Naoto Iwakiri, Kouichi Kitano
  • Publication number: 20200145591
    Abstract: In a case where power P_C supplied to CA during the image reading operation is normal power PN_C, in an AED operation of detecting irradiation start of X-rays, a control unit of an electronic cassette causes at least one of non-detection CAs other than a detection CA that is the charge amplifier connected to a detection channel of a detection pixel for irradiation start detection, among the plurality of CAs connected to a MUX to be in a power saving state in which the supply power P_C is lower than the normal power PN_C during the image reading operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2019
    Publication date: May 7, 2020
    Applicant: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Naoto IWAKIRI, Kouichi KITANO, Syo SHIMIZUKAWA
  • Publication number: 20200145592
    Abstract: A control unit of an electronic cassette has a function of switching a power supply state to an ADC between an operating state corresponding to a first state in which first power is supplied and a non-operating state corresponding to a second state in which second power that is lower than the first power per unit time is supplied. The control unit reduces the number of ADCs in the operating state per unit time T in an AED operation for detecting the start of the emission of X-rays to be less than that in an image reading operation for outputting an X-ray image provided for diagnosis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2019
    Publication date: May 7, 2020
    Applicant: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Naoto IWAKIRI, Kouichi KITANO, Syo SHIMIZUKAWA
  • Publication number: 20200132864
    Abstract: A control unit of an electronic cassette switches the power supply state of a plurality of blocks BL which share a signal processing of a signal processing circuit between an operating state and a non-operating state. The control unit switches the block BL from the non-operating state to the operating state before a predetermined time TW necessary for stable operation of the block BL from a timing when the reading of charge starts in the block BL.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2019
    Publication date: April 30, 2020
    Applicant: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Syo SHIMIZUKAWA, Naoto IWAKIRI, Kouichi KITANO
  • Publication number: 20200129138
    Abstract: In an AED operation of detecting irradiation start of X-rays, a control unit of an electronic cassette selectively outputs the analog voltage signal from a part of the charge amplifiers including a detection CA connected to the detection channel of a detection pixel for irradiation start detection among the plurality of CAs connected to the MUX, to the ADC, causes the ADC to perform only the AD conversion process for the analog voltage signal selectively output from the multiplexer, and reduces the number of pulses NPU_A per unit time in a clock signal defining an operation timing of the ADC compared to that in the image reading operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2019
    Publication date: April 30, 2020
    Applicant: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Naoto IWAKIRI, Kouichi KITANO, Syo SHIMIZUKAWA
  • Patent number: 10617304
    Abstract: This radiography system has a switching processing unit that switches the device that controls a radiation source and a radiography device to a control device or a portable apparatus. In a case where penetrative imaging has started, the switching processing unit switches the device that controls the radiation source and the radiography device from the control device to the portable apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Yasunori Ohta, Naoyuki Nishino, Haruyasu Nakatsugawa, Naoto Iwakiri, Kouichi Kitano
  • Publication number: 20200025947
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a radiation detection system, a radiation output device, and a radiation detection device. The radiation detection system includes a radiation output device having a radiation generation unit and an output control unit that controls output of radiation, and a radiation detection device having a radiographic image detector that detects radiation output from the radiation output device, and a recognition unit that recognizes whether radiation has been output from the radiation output device on the basis of a radiation detection signal output from the radiographic image detector. The output control unit causes radiation with a preset waveform pattern to be output from a time point of the start of outputting of the radiation, and the recognition unit recognizes the waveform pattern, thereby recognizing the start of outputting of the radiation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2019
    Publication date: January 23, 2020
    Applicant: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji NAKAMURA, Kouichi KITANO
  • Publication number: 20190383951
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a radiation detection system, a radiation output device, and a radiation detection device. The radiation detection system includes a radiation output device having an output control unit, and a radiation detection device having a recognition unit that recognizes whether radiation has been output from the radiation output device on the basis of a radiation detection signal. The output control unit causes radiation to be output at a first intensity from a time point of the start of outputting of radiation, and then causes the radiation to be output at a second intensity. The first intensity is an intensity higher than the second intensity and satisfying a threshold value condition set in advance in the recognition unit. The recognition unit recognizes that a detection signal of the radiation with the first intensity satisfies the threshold value condition, thereby recognizing the start of outputting of the radiation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2019
    Publication date: December 19, 2019
    Applicant: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji NAKAMURA, Kouichi KITANO
  • Patent number: 9753159
    Abstract: A radiographic imaging control device is provided with a radiation detector, amplifiers and a controller. A plurality of pixels are arrayed in the radiation detector, each pixel including a sensor portion that generates charges in accordance with irradiated radiation and a switching element that is for reading out the charges generated at the sensor portion. Each amplifier is provided in correspondence with a respective pixel of the radiation detector, is equipped with a resetter that resets charges remaining at an integration capacitor, and amplifies an electronic signal according to the charges read out by the switching element from the corresponding pixel by a pre-specified amplification factor. In accordance with pre-specified conditions, the controller controls so as to alter a bias current supplied to the amplifiers in at least some periods of resetting by the resetter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Naoto Iwakiri, Kouichi Kitano