Patents by Inventor Makoto Fukuhara

Makoto Fukuhara 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: 10653310
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus including: a first scanning unit and a second scanning unit, subjecting a measuring beam, which is obtained by splitting a light source beam, to a back-and-forth scan in a predetermined area on a fundus in a first direction and a second direction, respectively; a scanning control unit controlling the first scanning unit and the second scanning unit so as to simultaneously execute scans; a depth information acquisition unit obtaining information on the fundus in a depth direction based on interference beam between return beam from the fundus and a reference beam; an image generation unit generating a tomographic image in the predetermined area through use of output from the depth information acquisition unit and a control signal supplied by the scanning control unit; and a display unit displaying the generated image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Makoto Fukuhara, Wataru Sakagawa, Takashi Yuasa
  • Patent number: 10555668
    Abstract: Provided is an information processing apparatus configured to acquire more optical coherence tomographic images in a smaller amount of imaging time while suppressing reduction in longitudinal resolution. The information processing apparatus includes: a sampling unit configured to sample interference light between return light from an object to be inspected which has been scanned with measuring light and reference light corresponding to the measuring light; a data extracting unit configured to partially extract, from an output from the sampling unit, data included in the output at a longer sampling interval than an interval for sampling the interference light by the sampling unit so as to generate a plurality of data sets; and a forming unit configured to form tomographic information on the object to be inspected based on the generated plurality of data sets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Makoto Fukuhara, Hiroki Uchida
  • Patent number: 10244937
    Abstract: To provide pathological support for users to effectively perform follow up on diseases, using polarization information obtained from polarization-sensitive tomographic images. An image processing apparatus includes a positioning unit configured to position multiple polarization-sensitive tomographic images corresponding to multiple tomographic luminance images, based on the plurality of tomographic luminance images obtained by photographing an object at different times; and a comparing unit configured to compare the plurality of polarization-sensitive tomographic images which are positioned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Makoto Fukuhara, Makoto Sato, Yoshihiko Iwase, Nobuhiro Tomatsu, Tomoyuki Makihira, Kazuhide Miyata, Hiroyuki Shinbata, Ritsuya Tomita, Daisuke Kibe
  • Patent number: 10126112
    Abstract: An object is to enable removal fixed pattern noise even if the intensity of interference light changes during measurement. An image capturing apparatus comprises a light splitting unit that splits light emitted from a light source into reference light and measurement light, an interference signal detection unit that acquires an interference signal from interference light resulting from interference of the reference light and return light generated by irradiating an object to be inspected with the measurement light, a noise signal acquisition unit that acquires a noise signal containing a noise component contained in the interference light, a correction unit that corrects the intensity of one of the interference signal and the noise signal, and a noise removal unit that removes the noise component contained in the interference signal using the interference signal and the noise signal one of which is corrected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshiharu Sumiya, Makoto Fukuhara, Makoto Sato
  • Publication number: 20180310818
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus that processes a plurality of tomographic signals corresponding to light of mutually different polarization, acquired from an object using light interference, extracts candidate regions for depolarization regions of the object in a retardation image of the object, based on retardation values of the object obtained using the plurality of tomographic signals, and extracts depolarization regions of the object in an image indicating uniformity of polarized light in candidate regions, based on a value indicating uniformity of polarized light of the candidate regions, obtained using the plurality of tomographic signals of the candidate regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2016
    Publication date: November 1, 2018
    Inventors: Makoto Fukuhara, Toshiharu Sumiya
  • Publication number: 20180242839
    Abstract: Provided is an imaging apparatus including: a first scanning unit and a second scanning unit, subjecting a measuring beam, which is obtained by splitting a light source beam, to a back-and-forth scan in a predetermined area on a fundus in a first direction and a second direction, respectively; a scanning control unit controlling the first scanning unit and the second scanning unit so as to simultaneously execute scans; a depth information acquisition unit obtaining information on the fundus in a depth direction based on interference beam between return beam from the fundus and a reference beam; an image generation unit generating a tomographic image in the predetermined area through use of output from the depth information acquisition unit and a control signal supplied by the scanning control unit; and a display unit displaying the generated image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2018
    Publication date: August 30, 2018
    Inventors: Makoto Fukuhara, Wataru Sakagawa, Takashi Yuasa
  • Publication number: 20180232914
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an image generating unit configured to generate a polarization sensitive tomographic image indicating polarization characteristics of an object based on tomographic signals acquired from the object using light interference, an extracting unit configured to extract a depolarization region of the object, based on the tomographic signals, and a display control unit configured to display, on a display unit, a region on the polarization sensitive tomographic image corresponding to the depolarization region, in a state distinguishable from other regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2016
    Publication date: August 16, 2018
    Inventors: Toshiharu Sumiya, Makoto Fukuhara
  • Publication number: 20180000341
    Abstract: A alteration caused in a nerve fiber layer could not accurately be displayed. There is provided a tomographic imaging apparatus including a generation means for generating a nerve fiber bundle map, a designation means for designating an arbitrary nerve fiber bundle in the nerve fiber bundle map, and a display control means for causing display means to display a parameter of the designated nerve fiber bundle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Publication date: January 4, 2018
    Inventors: Nobuhiro Tomatsu, Yoshihiko Iwase, Makoto Sato, Toshiharu Sumiya, Makoto Fukuhara, Atsushi Goto, Mitsuro Sugita, Michael Pircher, Clemens Vass, Christoph Hitzenberger
  • Patent number: 9841268
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus configured to image an object to be examined is provided. The apparatus includes a splitting unit configured to split light obtained by combining the returned light and the reference light into a plurality of lights having different polarization components; and a detecting unit configured to detect the plurality of lights. The apparatus further includes a correcting unit configured to correct a phase difference between different polarization components generated by an optical member provided on an optical path of the measurement light or an optical path of the reference light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Makoto Fukuhara, Nobuhiro Tomatsu, Toshiharu Sumiya, Makoto Sato
  • Publication number: 20170280993
    Abstract: Provided is an information processing apparatus configured to acquire more optical coherence tomographic images in a smaller amount of imaging time while suppressing reduction in longitudinal resolution. The information processing apparatus includes: a sampling unit configured to sample interference light between return light from an object to be inspected which has been scanned with measuring light and reference light corresponding to the measuring light; a data extracting unit configured to partially extract, from an output from the sampling unit, data included in the output at a longer sampling interval than an interval for sampling the interference light by the sampling unit so as to generate a plurality of data sets; and a forming unit configured to form tomographic information on the object to be inspected based on the generated plurality of data sets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2017
    Publication date: October 5, 2017
    Inventors: Makoto Fukuhara, Hiroki Uchida
  • Publication number: 20170074638
    Abstract: A polarization-sensitive OCT apparatus includes an interference unit configured to split light emitted from a light source into measurement light and reference light and to generate interfered light by causing returning light of the measurement light that has irradiated a subject to interfere with the reference light that has traveled through a reference arm, a splitting unit configured to split the interfered light into different polarization components, a generation unit configured to detect the polarization components split by the splitting unit and to generate a signal, detection units configured to detect respective polarization states of the measurement light in a sample arm, the returning light of the measurement light that has passed through the interference unit, and the reference light that has passed through the interference unit, and polarization control units configured to control the respective polarization states on the basis of the respective polarization states that have been detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2015
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Makoto Fukuhara, Makoto Sato, Nobuhiro Tomatsu, Toshiharu Sumiya
  • Patent number: 9475303
    Abstract: There is provided a liquid ejection device including a head for ejecting a liquid, a liquid containing unit, a liquid filler, and a pressure adjusting unit, in which the liquid containing unit includes a sealed housing and a flexible member provided in the housing, the housing includes a first containing space communicating with the head and a second containing space partitioned from the first containing space through use of the flexible member, the first containing space contains the liquid, and the liquid filler is filled into the second containing space, the pressure adjusting unit communicates with the second containing space, and adjusts the pressure of the liquid filler filled into the second containing space so as to maintain a negative pressure with respect to the head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshimasa Araki, Yasuyuki Tamura, Akio Saito, Makoto Fukuhara, Hiroyuki Ozaki
  • Publication number: 20160229194
    Abstract: There is provided a liquid ejection device including a head for ejecting a liquid, a liquid containing unit, a liquid filler, and a pressure adjusting unit, in which the liquid containing unit includes a sealed housing and a flexible member provided in the housing, the housing includes a first containing space communicating with the head and a second containing space partitioned from the first containing space through use of the flexible member, the first containing space contains the liquid, and the liquid filler is filled into the second containing space, the pressure adjusting unit communicates with the second containing space, and adjusts the pressure of the liquid filler filled into the second containing space so as to maintain a negative pressure with respect to the head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2016
    Publication date: August 11, 2016
    Inventors: Yoshimasa Araki, Yasuyuki Tamura, Akio Saito, Makoto Fukuhara, Hiroyuki Ozaki
  • Publication number: 20160198939
    Abstract: To provide pathological support for users to effectively perform follow up on diseases, using polarization information obtained from polarization-sensitive tomographic images. An image processing apparatus includes a positioning unit configured to position multiple polarization-sensitive tomographic images corresponding to multiple tomographic luminance images, based on the plurality of tomographic luminance images obtained by photographing an object at different times; and a comparing unit configured to compare the plurality of polarization-sensitive tomographic images which are positioned.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2014
    Publication date: July 14, 2016
    Inventors: Makoto Fukuhara, Makoto Sato, Yoshihiko Iwase, Nobuhiro Tomatsu, Tomoyuki Makihira, Kazuhide Miyata, Hiroyuki Shinbata, Ritsuya Tomita, Daisuke Kibe
  • Patent number: 9340032
    Abstract: There is provided a liquid ejection device including a head for ejecting a liquid, a liquid containing unit, a liquid filler, and a pressure adjusting unit, in which the liquid containing unit includes a sealed housing and a flexible member provided in the housing, the housing includes a first containing space communicating with the head and a second containing space partitioned from the first containing space through use of the flexible member, the first containing space contains the liquid, and the liquid filler is filled into the second containing space, the pressure adjusting unit communicates with the second containing space, and adjusts the pressure of the liquid filler filled into the second containing space so as to maintain a negative pressure with respect to the head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshimasa Araki, Yasuyuki Tamura, Akio Saito, Makoto Fukuhara, Hiroyuki Ozaki
  • Publication number: 20160097632
    Abstract: An object is to enable removal fixed pattern noise even if the intensity of interference light changes during measurement. An image capturing apparatus comprises a light splitting unit that splits light emitted from a light source into reference light and measurement light, an interference signal detection unit that acquires an interference signal from interference light resulting from interference of the reference light and return light generated by irradiating an object to be inspected with the measurement light, a noise signal acquisition unit that acquires a noise signal containing a noise component contained in the interference light, a correction unit that corrects the intensity of one of the interference signal and the noise signal, and a noise removal unit that removes the noise component contained in the interference signal using the interference signal and the noise signal one of which is corrected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2015
    Publication date: April 7, 2016
    Inventors: Toshiharu Sumiya, Makoto Fukuhara, Makoto Sato
  • Publication number: 20150369586
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus configured to image an object to be examined is provided. The apparatus includes a splitting unit configured to split light obtained by combining the returned light and the reference light into a plurality of lights having different polarization components; and a detecting unit configured to detect the plurality of lights. The apparatus further includes a correcting unit configured to correct a phase difference between different polarization components generated by an optical member provided on an optical path of the measurement light or an optical path of the reference light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2015
    Publication date: December 24, 2015
    Inventors: Makoto Fukuhara, Nobuhiro Tomatsu, Toshiharu Sumiya, Makoto Sato
  • Publication number: 20150097900
    Abstract: There is provided a liquid ejection device including a head for ejecting a liquid, a liquid containing unit, a liquid filler, and a pressure adjusting unit, in which the liquid containing unit includes a sealed housing and a flexible member provided in the housing, the housing includes a first containing space communicating with the head and a second containing space partitioned from the first containing space through use of the flexible member, the first containing space contains the liquid, and the liquid filler is filled into the second containing space, the pressure adjusting unit communicates with the second containing space, and adjusts the pressure of the liquid filler filled into the second containing space so as to maintain a negative pressure with respect to the head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Inventors: Yoshimasa Araki, Yasuyuki Tamura, Akio Saito, Makoto Fukuhara, Hiroyuki Ozaki
  • Patent number: 6691439
    Abstract: A full-shrink labeled container has an opening sealed with a plug provided with a pull-up part for unsealing, a body to which a shrink label having a heat shrinkability is applied, and a neck having the circumference shorter than that of the body. The shrink label covers the container from the lower end part to the upper end part, also the pull-up part, and is formed with tear-off means capable of exposing the pull-up part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignees: Asahi Breweries, Ltd., Fuji Seal, Inc.
    Inventors: Takashi Miyashita, Takeshi Haraya, Kazunori Kunitake, Kazuo Okada, Eiji Sawa, Makoto Fukuhara, Tetsuo Hata