Patents by Inventor Makoto Tsunakawa
Makoto Tsunakawa 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).
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Publication number: 20240000303Abstract: An endoscope device includes a processor configured to calculate light source control information based on first information regarding a scope and second information regarding a light source device, and to control a light source of the light source device based on the light source control information. The second information includes a ratio of an amount of light emitted from a distal end of a reference scope to an amount of light emitted from the light source device to the reference scope.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 13, 2023Publication date: January 4, 2024Applicant: OLYMPUS MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORP.Inventors: Takeshi ITO, Susumu HASHIMOTO, Ryuichi YAMAZAKI, Ryu OTA, Makoto TSUNAKAWA, Jumpei ISHIKAWA, Nobuyoshi ASAOKA, Masahiro NISHIO, Kazuto FUJIWARA, Hideyuki NAGAOKA, Masato TODA
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Publication number: 20220386849Abstract: An endoscope apparatus capable of transmitting an endoscope image as an optical signal includes: an electronic component that includes a reception circuit configured to receive an electric signal outputted from an image pickup device and supply the electric signal to a conversion device; a printed board provided with the electronic component; a shielding member that covers at least the reception circuit; a first path via a ground connection line that is provided for the electronic component, and electrically connects the shielding member to a ground; and a second path via a conductive portion that electrically connects the shielding member to the ground, wherein an impedance of the second path is lower than an impedance of the first path.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 1, 2022Publication date: December 8, 2022Applicant: OLYMPUS CORPORATIONInventors: Takehide FUJIMOTO, Makoto TSUNAKAWA, Keisuke TSUTSUI, Nanako UBAYAMA
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Patent number: 8189041Abstract: An endoscope signal processing apparatus has a first video signal generating circuit and a second video signal generating circuit which respectively generate a first video signal and a second video signal offering different resolutions depending on a first image capturing device and a second image capturing device respectively which are mounted in an endoscope removably connected to an endoscope connecting portion. The first and second video signals can be selectively output to an exterior through a common video signal output connector.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2007Date of Patent: May 29, 2012Assignee: Olympus CorporationInventors: Jun Konishi, Kentaro Hase, Tsutomu Hirai, Shoichi Amano, Tomoki Iwasaki, Katsuyuki Saito, Makoto Tsunakawa, Takehiro Nakagawa
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Patent number: 7951074Abstract: An endoscope device is proposed for dealing with an erroneous operation of a surgeon. An endoscope device has an endoscope and a processor, wherein the endoscope has a switch unit and the processor has a CPU and an operating panel. In the event that the CPU of the processor detects that, of a first instruction signal transmitted from the switch unit and a second instruction signal transmitted from the operating panel, the instructions for performing the predetermined operation are not performed normally with one of the instruction signals, and instructions for performing an operation other than the predetermined operation is performed normally with the other instruction signal, the CPU stops the transmission of one of the instruction signals, and validates the operation content instructed by the other instruction signal.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2007Date of Patent: May 31, 2011Assignee: Olympus CorporationInventors: Tomoki Iwasaki, Tsutomu Hirai, Yutaka Fujisawa, Akihito Kawamura, Akihiko Mochida, Shoichi Amano, Kotaro Ogasawara, Katsuyuki Saito, Susumu Hashimoto, Makoto Tsunakawa, Takehiro Nakagawa
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Patent number: 7821529Abstract: To provide an image pickup system having CCDs 25 driven at different frequencies respectively which can drive each CCD 25 with a predetermined frequency if a detachable camera head (or electronic endoscope) 28 is used and also can process a signal processing clock of a video processing circuit 29 with one type of clock. A drive signal of the predetermined frequency supplied to the CCD is produced via a generating circuit CXO 155 in the video processing circuit 29, a frequency dividing circuit 132 and a timing generator (T.G.) 131. A CCD signal outputted from the CCD 25 is inputted to a line memory 139 in a floating circuit 135. As a writing clock (WCK) of the line memory 139, the one which is divided in the frequency dividing circuit 132 to a frequency in accordance with the CCD 25 to be used is used, and as a reading clock (RCK), the one of one type of frequency is used without regard to the CCD 25 to be used.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2003Date of Patent: October 26, 2010Assignee: Olympus CorporationInventors: Akihiko Mochida, Katsuyuki Saito, Makoto Tsunakawa, Noboru Kusamura, Kotaro Ogasawara, Hideki Tashiro
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Publication number: 20090027490Abstract: This is an endoscope apparatus which has an endoscope which picks up an image of a sample using a solid state image pickup element and outputs an image pickup signal, and a processor which processes the above-mentioned image pickup signal, generates HDTV and SDTV serial digital video signals, switches one side of those selectively, and performs a serial output, in which the serial digital video signal switched selectively by the above-mentioned processor is output through a first connector, the above-mentioned processor is equipped with a discrimination signal generating section which is linked with selection switching of the above-mentioned HDTV or SDTV serial digital video signal to generate an HDTV/SDTV discrimination signal which can discriminate the above-mentioned HDTV or SDTV serial digital video signal, and the discrimination signal is output through a second connector different from the above-mentioned first connector.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 2, 2006Publication date: January 29, 2009Applicant: OLYMPUS MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORP.Inventors: Tsutomu Hirai, Tomoki Iwasaki, Kazumasa Takahashi, Hidenori Hashimoto, Akihiko Mochida, Katsuyuki Saito, Makoto Tsunakawa, Kentaro Hase, Kotaro Ogasawara, Tadao Eto, Akihito Kawamura, Shin Liu, Shoichi Amano, Jun Konishi
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Patent number: 7355625Abstract: An imaging apparatus having an imaging device for imaging an object in cooperation with an endoscope is connected to a video processing unit for producing a standard video signal so that it can be disconnected freely. A signal delay occurs over a signal line linking the imaging device and the video processing unit. For this reason, a timing generator and a phase adjustment circuit are incorporated in the imaging apparatus. The timing generator generates driving signals used to drive the imaging device, and the phase adjustment circuit adjusts the phases of the driving signals so that an output signal of the imaging device will be input to the video processing unit according to predetermined timing. Even when the signal line has a different length from any other or the imaging device offers a different number of pixels from any other, the difference can be readily coped with owing to the imaging apparatus. This leads to alleviation of a load incurred by the video processing unit.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2000Date of Patent: April 8, 2008Assignee: Olympus CorporationInventors: Akihiko Mochida, Katsuyuki Saito, Hideki Tashiro, Kotaro Ogasawara, Makoto Tsunakawa, Noboru Kusamura
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Publication number: 20070139522Abstract: An endoscope signal processing apparatus has a first video signal generating circuit and a second video signal generating circuit which respectively generate a first video signal and a second video signal offering different resolutions depending on a first image capturing device and a second image capturing device respectively which are mounted in an endoscope removably connected to an endoscope connecting portion. The first and second video signals can be selectively output to an exterior through a common video signal output connector.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 1, 2007Publication date: June 21, 2007Applicant: OLYMPUS CORPORATIONInventors: Jun Konishi, Kentaro Hase, Tsutomu Hirai, Shoichi Amano, Tomoki Iwasaki, Katsuyuki Saito, Makoto Tsunakawa, Takehiro Nakagawa
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Publication number: 20070123749Abstract: An endoscope device is proposed for dealing with an erroneous operation of a surgeon. An endoscope device has an endoscope and a processor, wherein the endoscope has a switch unit and the processor has a CPU and an operating panel. In the event that the CPU of the processor detects that, of a first instruction signal transmitted from the switch unit and a second instruction signal transmitted from the operating panel, the instructions for performing the predetermined operation are not performed normally with one of the instruction signals, and instructions for performing an operation other than the predetermined operation is performed normally with the other instruction signal, the CPU stops the transmission of one of the instruction signals, and validates the operation content instructed by the other instruction signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 26, 2007Publication date: May 31, 2007Inventors: Tomoki Iwasaki, Tsutomu Hirai, Yutaka Fujisawa, Akihito Kawamura, Akihiko Mochida, Shoichi Amano, Kotaro Ogasawara, Katsuyuki Saito, Susumu Hashimoto, Makoto Tsunakawa, Takehiro Nakagawa
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Patent number: 7167196Abstract: In an endoscopic imaging system, a signal representing an object image produced by a scope and projected by a camera head is processed by a CCU and displayed as an endoscopic image on a TV monitor. The object image is stored as digital image data on a memory in the CCU, read as image data of a still image, and recorded on a PC card mounted in a PC card slot. The PC card slot is formed in the front panel or the like of the CCU. A lid member or the like functioning as an anti-liquid invasion member and shield can be located at an opening of the slot.Type: GrantFiled: January 17, 2002Date of Patent: January 23, 2007Assignee: Olympus CorporationInventors: Katsuyuki Saito, Akihiko Mochida, Noboru Kusamura, Makoto Tsunakawa, Hideki Tashiro, Shinji Yamashita, Kanichi Matsumoto, Wataru Ohno, Masahiro Hagihara, Kazutaka Nakatsuchi, Kuniaki Kami, Kotaro Ogasawara
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Patent number: 7119830Abstract: In an endoscopic imaging system, a signal representing an object image produced by a scope and projected by a camera head is processed by a CCU and displayed as an endoscopic image on a TV monitor. The object image is stored as digital image data on a memory in the CCU, read as image data of a still image, and recorded on a PC card mounted in a PC card slot. The PC card slot is formed in the front panel or the like of the CCU. A lid member or the like functioning as an anti-liquid invasion member and shield can be located at an opening of the slot.Type: GrantFiled: January 7, 2002Date of Patent: October 10, 2006Assignee: Olympus CorporationInventors: Katsuyuki Saito, Akihiko Mochida, Kotaro Ogasawara, Noboru Kusamura, Makoto Tsunakawa, Hideki Tashiro, Shinji Yamashita, Kanichi Matsumoto, Wataru Ohno, Masahiro Hagihara, Kazutaka Nakatsuchi, Kuniaki Kami
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Publication number: 20050137909Abstract: A medical apparatus is provided which includes a usage detecting section which operates in connection with an operation of a medical device. A counting section stores a value corresponding to a number of operations of the usage detecting section.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 2, 2005Publication date: June 23, 2005Applicant: OLYMPUS OPTICAL CO., LTD.Inventors: Takao Tabata, Junichi Onishi, Makoto Tsunakawa, Norihiko Hareyama, Takashi Ozaki, Satoshi Honma, Kazunori Taniguchi, Takeaki Nakamura, Yoshia Hoshino
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Patent number: 6873352Abstract: When an endoscopic imaging system is employed in, for example, the department of otorhinology, a color processing expansion substrate, a still image production expansion substrate, and a still image compression/recording substrate are stacked on an expansion connector formed on a main substrate and are thus connected to the main substrate. A data bus and an address bus extending from a control unit mounted on the main substrate are linked to the expansion substrates. A sync signal generator outputs various kinds of sync signals including a clock signal CLK, a horizontal sync signal HD, a vertical sync signal VD, a field identification signal FLD, and a composite sync signal CSYNC to the expansion substrates.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2003Date of Patent: March 29, 2005Assignee: Olympus CorporationInventors: Akihiko Mochida, Katsuyuki Saito, Kotaro Ogasawara, Makoto Tsunakawa, Noboru Kusamura, Hideki Tashiro
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Patent number: 6774930Abstract: One expansion substrate or a plurality of expansion substrates that realize different facilities can be connected to a main substrate that realizes basic processing to be performed by a CCU. Based on an ID number produced by an ID generation unit mounted on a connected expansion substrate, a CPU incorporated in the CCU identifies the facility realized with the expansion substrate. A menu screen image presents item BOD Control under which the facilities are presented. When item BOD Control is designated, a BOD Control screen image that lists control items indicating the facilities realized with all the expansion substrates that are connected to the main substrate is displayed. When a concrete facility such as a P-in-P facility realized with an expansion substrate is selected or designated in the BOD Control screen image, a screen image concerning the designated P-in-P facility is displayed. Thus, the details of a facility that is realized with a connected expansion substrate can be set easily.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2002Date of Patent: August 10, 2004Assignee: Olympus CorporationInventors: Katsuyuki Saito, Akihiko Mochida, Makoto Tsunakawa, Kotaro Ogasawara, Noboru Kusamura, Hideki Tashiro
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Publication number: 20040141054Abstract: When an endoscopic imaging system is employed in, for example, the department of otorhinology, a color processing expansion substrate, a still image production expansion substrate, and a still image compression/recording substrate are stacked on an expansion connector formed on a main substrate and are thus connected to the main substrate. A data bus and an address bus extending from a control unit mounted on the main substrate are linked to the expansion substrates. A sync signal generator outputs various kinds of sync signals including a clock signal CLK, a horizontal sync signal HD, a vertical sync signal VD, a field identification signal FLD, and a composite sync signal CSYNC to the expansion substrates.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 22, 2003Publication date: July 22, 2004Applicant: Olympus CorporationInventors: Akihiko Mochida, Katsuyuki Saito, Kotaro Ogasawara, Makoto Tsunakawa, Noboru Kusamura, Hideki Tashiro
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Publication number: 20040135883Abstract: When an endoscopic imaging system is employed in, for example, the department of otorhinology, a color processing expansion substrate, a still image production expansion substrate, and a still image compression/recording substrate are stacked on an expansion connector formed on a main substrate and are thus connected to the main substrate. A data bus and an address bus extending from a control unit mounted on the main substrate are linked to the expansion substrates. A sync signal generator outputs various kinds of sync signals including a clock signal CLK, a horizontal sync signal HD, a vertical sync signal VD, a field identification signal FLD, and a composite sync signal CSYNC to the expansion substrates.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 23, 2003Publication date: July 15, 2004Applicant: Olympus CorporationInventors: Akihiko Mochida, Katsuyuki Saito, Kotaro Ogasawara, Makoto Tsunakawa, Noboru Kusamura, Hideki Tashiro
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Publication number: 20040061776Abstract: To provide an image pickup system having CCDs 25 driven at different frequencies respectively which can drive each CCD 25 with a predetermined frequency if a detachable camera head (or electronic endoscope) 28 is used and also can process a signal processing clock of a video processing circuit 29 with one type of clock. A drive signal of the predetermined frequency supplied to the CCD is produced via a generating circuit CXO 155 in the video processing circuit 29, a frequency dividing circuit 132 and a timing generator (T.G.) 131. A CCD signal outputted from the CCD 25 is inputted to a line memory 139 in a floating circuit 135. As a writing clock (WCK) of the line memory 139, the one which is divided in the frequency dividing circuit 132 to a frequency in accordance with the CCD 25 to be used is used, and as a reading clock (RCK), the one of one type of frequency is used without regard to the CCD 25 to be used.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 24, 2003Publication date: April 1, 2004Applicant: OLYMPUS OPTICAL CO., LTD.Inventors: Akihiko Mochida, Katsuyuki Saito, Makoto Tsunakawa, Noboru Kusamura, Kotaro Ogasawara, Hideki Tashiro
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Patent number: 6690410Abstract: When an endoscopic imaging system is employed in, for example, the department of otorhinology, a color processing expansion substrate, a still image production expansion substrate, and a still image compression/recording substrate are stacked on an expansion connector formed on a main substrate and are thus connected to the main substrate. A data bus and an address bus extending from a control unit mounted on the main substrate are linked to the expansion substrates. A sync signal generator outputs various kinds of sync signals including a clock signal CLK, a horizontal sync signal HD, a vertical sync signal VD, a field identification signal FLD, and a composite sync signal CSYNC to the expansion substrates.Type: GrantFiled: April 7, 2000Date of Patent: February 10, 2004Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.Inventors: Akihiko Mochida, Katsuyuki Saito, Kotaro Ogasawara, Makoto Tsunakawa, Noboru Kusamura, Hideki Tashiro
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Patent number: 6677992Abstract: An object is imaged continuously during a first exposure time and a second exposure time shorter than the first exposure time. Weights, one of which decreases monotonously and the other of which increases monotonously, are applied to first and second resultant image signals under the condition that the sum of the weights is 1. The first and second image signals that have been weighted are added up, thus producing a synthetic picture signal. When a luminance level is low, the ratio of the first image signal, which has been produced during the longer exposure time, to the second image signal is increased. This results in an image demonstrating a high signal-to-noise ratio. When the luminance level is high, the ratio of the second image signal, which has been produced during the shorter exposure time, to the first image signal is increased.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 1998Date of Patent: January 13, 2004Assignee: Olympus CorporationInventors: Kanichi Matsumoto, Katsuyuki Saito, Kotaro Ogasawara, Kuniaki Kami, Shinji Yamashita, Noboru Kusamura, Akihiko Mochida, Wataru Ohno, Makoto Tsunakawa, Hideki Tashiro, Manabu Yajima
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Patent number: RE41467Abstract: A camera control unit for processing a signal output from an imaging device incorporated in an endoscope is provided with an analog video signal output terminal through which a video signal is output to a monitor, and a digital video signal output terminal to which a still image-specific or motion picture-specific expansion unit is coupled in a freely detachable manner. By handling a release switch, a still image or motion picture can be recorded digitally. Even when the recorded image data is edited or subjected to any other processing, deterioration of image quality can be prevented. An imaging system having these advantages can be realized on a small scale.Type: GrantFiled: May 9, 2002Date of Patent: August 3, 2010Assignee: Olympus CorporationInventors: Katsuyuki Saito, Akihiko Mochida, Kotaro Ogasawara, Noboru Kusamura, Makoto Tsunakawa, Hideki Tashiro, Shinji Yamashita, Kanichi Matsumoto, Wataru Ohno, Masahiro Hagihara, Kazutaka Nakatsuchi, Kuniaki Kami