Patents by Inventor Masami Shirai

Masami Shirai 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: 7218384
    Abstract: A surveying system is provided that comprises a position relation calculating processor and a correspondence obtaining processor. The position relation calculating processor calculates a position relation between a coordinate system to which three-dimensional coordinates of a measurement point refer and a schematic image of a surveying field. Here, the schematic image includes the measurement point. The correspondence obtaining processor obtains a correspondence between the three-dimensional coordinates of the measurement point and the two-dimensional coordinates on the schematic image, corresponding to the measurement point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: PENTAX Corporation
    Inventors: Masami Shirai, Koji Tsuda, Atsumi Kaneko, Shinobu Uezono, Ryota Ogawa
  • Patent number: 7098997
    Abstract: A surveying system that comprises a position relation calculating processor, a correspondence establishing processor, and an image processor is provided. The position relation calculating processor calculates a positional relation between a coordinate system to which measurement information of a measurement point refers and an image of a surveying field, where a staking point is included. The correspondence establishing processor establishes correspondence between three-dimensional position information of the staking point and two-dimensional position information of a point corresponding to the staking point on the schematic image. The image processor superimposes a symbol that indicates the position of the staking point on the schematic image in accordance with the above correspondence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: PENTAX Corporation
    Inventors: Masami Shirai, Shinobu Uezono, Koji Tsuda, Atsumi Kaneko, Ryota Ogawa, Takeshi Mimura, Tetsuya Kata, Kenichi Nakamura
  • Patent number: 7075634
    Abstract: An automatic surveying system is provided that comprises a surveying device, a collinear-line calculating processor, a sighting direction control processor, and an object-point searching processor. The collinear line calculating processor obtains a collinear line for an arbitrarily designated point on a schematic image of which the positional relation to the surveying device is known. The sighting direction control processor controls the surveying device to sight along the collinear line. The object point searching processor searches for an object point where the position of the object point can be determined as a point on the collinear line. This is executed by measuring the sighting direction with the surveying device while carrying out the sighting direction control process. Further, a position obtained by the object point searching processor coincides with an object point that corresponds to the designated point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: PENTAX Corporation
    Inventors: Shinobu Uezono, Masami Shirai, Koji Tsuda, Atsumi Kaneko, Ryota Ogawa
  • Patent number: 6945657
    Abstract: A surveying instrument includes a sighting telescope having an objective lens and an eyepiece; an erecting optical system functioning so that an image formed by said objective lens is viewed as an erect image through the eyepiece; and a light shield device, positioned in an optical path extending from an incident surface of the erecting optical system to an exit surface of the erecting optical system, for preventing an off-field light bundle which is incident on the erecting optical system from reaching the eyepiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: PENTAX Corporation
    Inventors: Masami Shirai, Shunichiro Wakamiya, Homu Takayama, Kenji Kaneko
  • Publication number: 20050200949
    Abstract: A surveying instrument includes a sighting telescope having an objective lens and an eyepiece; an erecting optical system functioning so that an image formed by said objective lens is viewed as an erect image through the eyepiece; and a light shield device, positioned in an optical path extending from an incident surface of the erecting optical system to an exit surface of the erecting optical system, for preventing an off-field light bundle which is incident on the erecting optical system from reaching the eyepiece.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2005
    Publication date: September 15, 2005
    Applicant: PENTAX Corporation
    Inventors: Masami Shirai, Shunichiro Wakamiya, Homu Takayama, Kenji Kaneko
  • Patent number: 6914636
    Abstract: In an optical viewer instrument with a photographing function, a telescopic lens system for observing an object and a digital camera system for photographing the object are housed in a casing. A manually-operable rotary wheel is rotatably provided in the casing such that a portion of the rotary wheel is exposed to the outside from the casing to bring the object into focus through the telescopic lens system. A display panel unit for displaying the object as a motion picture on a display screen thereof is mounted on the casing so as to be movable between a retracted position, where the display screen of the display panel unit is close to a wall surface of the casing, and a display position, where the display screen of the display panel unit is directed to the ocular-lens-system side of the telescopic lens system. The rotary wheel is arranged such that the exposed portion of the manually-operable rotary wheel is hidden behind the display panel unit when being at the retracted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Assignee: PENTAX Corporation
    Inventors: Ken Hirunuma, Atsumi Kaneko, Shuji Yoneyama, Moriyasu Kanai, Gouji Funatsu, Masami Shirai
  • Publication number: 20050069195
    Abstract: An apparatus for establishing correspondence between a first and a second image which includes the same object is provided. The apparatus comprises a point designator, a first image extractor, and a corresponding point searcher. The point designator is used to designate a point on the first image. The first image extractor extracts a predetermined area of an image surrounding the designated point as a first extracted image. The corresponding point searcher searches a point on the second image, which corresponds to the designated point on the first image by image matching between the first extracted image and the second image. Further, the resolutions of the first and second images are different from each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2004
    Publication date: March 31, 2005
    Applicant: PENTAX Corporation
    Inventors: Shinobu Uezono, Masami Shirai
  • Publication number: 20040234123
    Abstract: A surveying system that comprises a position relation calculating processor, a correspondence establishing processor, and an image processor is provided. The position relation calculating processor calculates a positional relation between a coordinate system to which measurement information of a measurement point refers and an image of a surveying field, where a staking point is included. The correspondence establishing processor establishes correspondence between three-dimensional position information of the staking point and two-dimensional position information of a point corresponding to the staking point on the schematic image. The image processor superimposes a symbol that indicates the position of the staking point on the schematic image in accordance with the above correspondence.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2003
    Publication date: November 25, 2004
    Applicants: PENTAX Corporation, PENTAX Precission Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masami Shirai, Shinobu Uezono, Koji Tsuda, Atsumi Kaneko, Ryota Ogawa, Takeshi Mimura, Tetsuya Kata, Kenichi Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20040150816
    Abstract: A target, which is photographed with an object at a spot for a photogrammetric analytical measurement, includes a first bar and a second bar that are connected to each other; at least three standard point members, lying on one plane, and fixed on the first bar and the second bar; and non-reflecting members that are respectively attachable to and removable from said at least three standard points. The at least three standard point members may respectively include a circular portion, a diameter of which substantially equals a width of the first bar and the second bar. Each of the non-reflecting members includes a circular plate defining a circular opening, a diameter of which substantially equals the diameter of the circular portion of the three standard point members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2004
    Publication date: August 5, 2004
    Applicant: PENTAX Corporation
    Inventors: Shigeru Wakashiro, Atsumi Kaneko, Masami Shirai, Kiyoshi Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 6765653
    Abstract: An electronic distance meter includes a sighting telescope having an objective lens for sighting an object; a reflection member provided behind the objective lens, wherein the reflection member is positioned so as to be eccentric with respect to an optical axis of the objective lens; and an optical distance meter which includes a light-transmitting optical system for transmitting a measuring light via the reflection member and the objective lens, and a light-receiving optical system for receiving a portion of the measuring light which is reflected by the object, subsequently passed through the objective lens, and not obstructed by the reflection member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignees: PENTAX Corporation, PENTAX Precision Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Masami Shirai, Shinichi Suzuki, Homu Takayama
  • Patent number: 6747733
    Abstract: An electronic distance meter includes a sighting telescope optical system having an objective lens for sighting an object, and an optical distance meter which includes a light-transmitting optical system for transmitting a measuring light toward the object via the objective lens, and a light-receiving optical system for receiving a portion of the measuring light which is reflected by the object. The light-transmitting optical system includes a light-shield mask having a translucent portion to define a beam profile of the measuring light. The translucent portion comprises a filter having an uneven density, light transmittance of a central portion of the filter being greater than light transmittance of a peripheral portion of the filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Assignees: PENTAX Corporation, PENTAX Precision Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masami Shirai, Shinichi Suzuki, Homu Takayama, Masayuki Ueno
  • Patent number: 6717683
    Abstract: A target, which is photographed with an object at a spot for a photogrammtric analytical measurement, comprises first, second, third standard point members and assistant point members. The standard point members and the assistant point members are covered by a reflecting sheet. A distance between the first and second standard point members equals a distance between the second and third standard point members. Two assistant point members are positioned on a first straight line connecting the first and second standard point members. One assistant point member is positioned on a second straight line connecting the second and third standard point members. The distance between the first and second standard point members, the distance between the second and third standard point members, and an angle defined by the first and second straight lines, are predetermined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: PENTAX Corporation
    Inventors: Shigeru Wakashiro, Masato Hara, Atsumi Kaneko, Toshihiro Nakayama, Atsushi Kida, Masami Shirai, Kiyoshi Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20040012852
    Abstract: An observation optical device comprises first and second focusing mechanisms, an association mechanism, and a reticle. The first focusing mechanism focuses an observation optical system. The second focusing mechanism focuses a photographing optical system. The association mechanism keeps the observation optical system and the photographing optical system in a focused state. The reticle is provided for focusing the observation optical system with a predetermined dioptric power during an operation of the association mechanism. The second focusing mechanism is constructed in such a manner that a measured dioptric power difference between a first dioptric power of an ocular lens system of the observation optical system and a second dioptric power of a combination of the observation optical system and the photographing optical system is cancelled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2003
    Publication date: January 22, 2004
    Applicant: PENTAX Corporation
    Inventors: Masami Shirai, Ken Hirunuma, Gouji Funatsu, Shuji Yoneyama
  • Patent number: 6677568
    Abstract: A surveying instrument includes a sighting telescope having an objective lens and an eyepiece; a Porro-prism erecting system; a semitransparent surface formed on a reflection surface of the Porro-prism erecting system; a beam splitting prism adhered to the semitransparent surface; and a focus detecting device which detects a focus state from a correlation between a pair of images respectively formed by two light bundles which are respectively passed through two different pupil areas of the objective lens and passed through two separate areas on the semitransparent surface. An area of a surface of the beam splitting prism which is adhered to the semitransparent surface is smaller than an effective area of the reflection surface of the Porro-prism erecting system. The semitransparent surface and the beam splitting prism are positioned so that the two light bundles are incident on the semitransparent surface at the same incident angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignees: Pentax Corporation, Pentax Precision Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masami Shirai, Homu Takayama, Kenji Kaneko
  • Publication number: 20040004706
    Abstract: An automatic surveying system is provided that comprises a surveying device, a collinear-line calculating processor, a sighting direction control processor, and an object-point searching processor. The collinear line calculating processor obtains a collinear line for an arbitrarily designated point on a schematic image of which the positional relation to the surveying device is known. The sighting direction control processor controls the surveying device to sight along the collinear line. The object point searching processor searches for an object point where the position of the object point can be determined as a point on the collinear line. This is executed by measuring the sighting direction with the surveying device while carrying out the sighting direction control process. Further, a position obtained by the object point searching processor coincides with an object point that corresponds to the designated point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2003
    Publication date: January 8, 2004
    Applicant: PENTAX Corporation of Tokyo, Japan
    Inventors: Shinobu Uezono, Masami Shirai, Koji Tsuda, Atsumi Kaneko, Ryota Ogawa
  • Publication number: 20030189752
    Abstract: A portable optical device comprises an optical-system mount plate, a control circuit board, and an inner frame. The inner frame has first pillar elements, and second pillar elements. The first pillar elements are provided for supporting the optical-system mount plate. The second pillar elements are provided for supporting the control circuit board. The first and second pillar elements are constructed in such a manner that the optical-system mount plate is disposed between the inner frame and the control circuit board.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2003
    Publication date: October 9, 2003
    Applicant: PENTAX Corporation
    Inventors: Ken Hirunuma, Masami Shirai, Gouji Funatsu, Keiichi Hotta
  • Patent number: 6629371
    Abstract: A surveying instrument which incorporates a magnetic incremental rotary encoder includes a rotary magnetic drum provided on an outer peripheral surface thereof with a multi-pole magnetized layer having a plurality of equally-divided magnetized divisions, a pair of magnetic sensors located on opposite sides of said rotary magnetic drum so that each of said pair of magnetic sensors faces said multi-pole magnetized layer, and at least one magnet, positioned in the vicinity of at least one of said pair of magnetic sensors, for reducing an error in detection of said magnetic incremental rotary encoder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2003
    Assignees: Pentax Corporation, Pentax Precision Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masami Shirai, Katsuhiko Kenjo
  • Patent number: 6622391
    Abstract: An incremental rotary encoder includes a rotary portion, a first sensor and a second sensor, the first and second sensors being arranged so as to be opposite from each other with respect to the axis of the rotary portion. The second sensor is offset from the first sensor so that the phase of output voltage of the second sensor advances or delays with respect to the phase of output voltage of the first sensor by &pgr;/X, wherein “X” represents a real number of one or more than one.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Assignees: Pentax Corporation, Pentax Precision Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masami Shirai, Masato Noguchi, Katsuhiko Kenjo
  • Patent number: 6618126
    Abstract: A surveying instrument having a sighting optical system and a phase-difference detection type focus detection device which detects a focus state of the sighting optical system from a correlation between a pair of images respectively formed by two light bundles which are respectively passed through two different pupil areas on an objective lens of the sighting optical system, the phase-difference detection type focus detection device includes a pair of line sensors, a condenser lens group for condensing the two light bundles which are respectively passed through the two different pupil areas, and a pair of separator lens groups for forming two images of the two light bundles which are passed through the condenser lens group on the pair of line sensors, respectively. The condenser lens group includes more than one sub lens group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Pentax Corporation
    Inventors: Masami Shirai, Masayuki Murata, Takayuki Ito
  • Publication number: 20030160757
    Abstract: A surveying system is provided that comprises a position relation calculating processor and a correspondence obtaining processor. The position relation calculating processor calculates a position relation between a coordinate system to which three-dimensional coordinates of a measurement point refer and a schematic image of a surveying field. Here, the schematic image includes the measurement point. The correspondence obtaining processor obtains a correspondence between the three-dimensional coordinates of the measurement point and the two-dimensional coordinates on the schematic image, corresponding to the measurement point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2003
    Publication date: August 28, 2003
    Applicant: PENTAX Corporation
    Inventors: Masami Shirai, Koji Tsuda, Atsumi Kaneko, Shinobu Uezono, Ryota Ogawa