Patents by Inventor Masamoto Nakazawa

Masamoto Nakazawa 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: 11317000
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a light source, an image sensor, and an invisible component remover. The light source emits visible component light and invisible component light to a target object. The image sensor receives reflected light from the target object to detect a visible invisible mixture image including an invisible component and a visible component and an invisible image including an invisible component. The invisible component remover, based on the visible invisible mixture image and the invisible image which have been detected, removes the invisible component from the visible invisible mixture image to generate a visible image. The invisible component remover includes a removal calculator performing a removal calculation process of an invisible component with respect to the visible invisible mixture image, and a noise reducer performing a noise reduction process on at least one of images to be input to and output from the removal calculator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Ayumu Hashimoto, Masamoto Nakazawa
  • Publication number: 20220109778
    Abstract: A reading device includes a first light source, a second light source, a first reading unit, a second reading unit, a comparison unit, and a correction unit. The first source irradiates an object to be read, with first light having a first transmittance to the object. The second source irradiates the object with second light having a second transmittance to the object. The first reading unit reads the first light from the object to output first image data. The second reading unit reads the second light from the object to output second image data. The comparison unit compares a data difference between the first and second image data. In a case where the data difference is equal to or larger than a threshold, the correction unit corrects data of an image area having the data difference equal to or larger than the threshold in the first or second image data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2021
    Publication date: April 7, 2022
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kohsuke NAMBARA, Tadaaki OYAMA, Ayumu HASHIMOTO, Masamoto NAKAZAWA
  • Publication number: 20220109769
    Abstract: A reading device includes an illuminator, an imaging device, a memory, and a detector. The illuminator illuminates an object to be read with light in an invisible wavelength range. The imaging device captures an image of the light reflected from the object to be read, within the invisible wavelength range. The memory holds a reference value of the object to be read. The detector detects a state of the object to be read, based on a difference between a level of a reading value of an invisible image captured within the invisible wavelength range and a level of the reference value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2021
    Publication date: April 7, 2022
    Inventors: Kazuki ISHIKURA, Masamoto NAKAZAWA
  • Publication number: 20220109779
    Abstract: A reading device, an image forming apparatus, and a method of correction. The reading device includes a scanner configured to read an image in a first wavelength range and an image in a second wavelength range from light reflected by a surface of a recording medium, a detector configured to detect a change from a reference position in a reading-depth direction when the surface of the recording medium is read by the scanner, based on an amount of characteristic read from the image in the second wavelength range, and a corrector configured to correct the image in the first wavelength range based on the change detected by the detector. The image forming apparatus includes the reading device, and an image forming device configured to form an image corrected by the corrector of the reading device on a recording medium. The method includes reading the image in the first wavelength.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2021
    Publication date: April 7, 2022
    Inventors: Hideki HASHIMOTO, Masamoto NAKAZAWA, Daisuke NIKAKU, Yutaka OHMIYA
  • Publication number: 20210409622
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging element includes a pixel section including a plurality of pixels that are arranged in a matrix and to perform photoelectric conversion, and circuitry to perform reading control on pixels in the pixel section, such that reading control is not performed on at least one pixel included in the pixel section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2021
    Publication date: December 30, 2021
    Inventors: Shinji SAKAGUCHI, Masamoto NAKAZAWA
  • Publication number: 20210400159
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an invisible light source configured to emit invisible light to a subject, a visible light source configured to emit visible light to the subject, an invisible image reading sensor configured to read invisible reflection light reflected from the subject and acquire an invisible image, and a visible image reading sensor configured to read visible reflection light reflected from the subject and acquire a visible image. The invisible reflection light is a part of the invisible light emitted from the invisible light source. The visible reflection light is a part of the visible light emitted from the visible light source. The image processing apparatus further includes circuitry configured to restore information lost in the invisible image acquired by the invisible image reading sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2021
    Publication date: December 23, 2021
    Inventors: Tadaaki OYAMA, Masamoto NAKAZAWA, Yuichiro SHUKUYA
  • Patent number: 11190666
    Abstract: An image processing device includes a light source, a reader, and circuitry. The light source is configured to irradiate an object at least with invisible light. The reader is configured to read a first image from the object irradiated with the invisible light. The circuitry is configured to generate a second image from the first image read by the reader. The circuitry is configured to recognize first information in the second image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Yutaka Ohmiya, Masamoto Nakazawa, Tadaaki Oyama
  • Patent number: 11170243
    Abstract: An image processing device includes a light source, an image reader, and circuitry. The light source is configured to irradiate an object at least with invisible light. The image reader is configured to read first information and second information. The first information is included in the object and indicating a first characteristic in response to the object being irradiated with the invisible light. The second information is included in the object and indicating a second characteristic in response to the object being irradiated with the invisible light. The circuitry is configured to selectively output the first information read by the image reader.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Masamoto Nakazawa, Tadaaki Oyama, Yutaka Ohmiya
  • Publication number: 20210281712
    Abstract: A reading device includes a light source, an image sensor, a background board, and an image processing circuitry. The light source irradiates visible light and invisible light to a subject. The image sensor receives the visible light and the invisible light, each of which is reflected from the subject, to capture a visible image and an invisible image. The background board is provided in an image capturing range of the image sensor. The background board is a background portion. The image processing circuitry detects a feature amount of the subject and the background portion from at least one of the visible image and the invisible image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2021
    Publication date: September 9, 2021
    Inventors: Shogo NAKAMURA, Ayumu HASHIMOTO, Masamoto NAKAZAWA, Tadaaki OYAMA
  • Patent number: 11095788
    Abstract: A document size detection device includes: a light source that irradiates a document placed on placing means with scanning light via the placing means; a reading unit that receives reflection light from the document via the placing means to acquire image data of the document; and circuitry to set an illumination depth of the scanning light at a size detection time when the size is detected, shallower than an illumination depth of the scanning light at an image reading time when an image of the document is read, and detects, at the size detection time, the size based on a difference between first image data acquired in a state in which the scanning light is switched off and second image data acquired in a state in which the scanning light is switched on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tadaaki Oyama, Masamoto Nakazawa, Hiroki Shirado, Tomohiro Sasa, Tatsuya Ozaki, Kohsuke Nambara
  • Patent number: 11089177
    Abstract: A reading device includes: a light source that irradiates a subject with scanning light; a light receiving section that receives reflection light from the subject; and circuitry to: control the light source to switch on and off of the scanning light; control the light receiver to receive the reflection light from the subject for a predetermined acquisition time at a predetermined acquisition interval so as to acquire data; and calculate a difference between the data acquired while the scanning light is switched on and the data acquired while the scanning light is switched off. The predetermined acquisition time and the predetermined acquisition interval are set such that the acquisition time or a total time of the acquisition time and the acquisition interval become an integer multiple of a fluctuation cycle of a fluctuation factor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsuya Ozaki, Tadaaki Oyama, Tomohiro Sasa, Hiroki Shirado, Kohsuke Nambara, Masamoto Nakazawa
  • Publication number: 20210227087
    Abstract: An authentication apparatus includes circuitry that selects at least one of a first light emitting device and a second light emitting device. The first light emitting device emits light in a certain wavelength region. The second light emitting device emits light in a wavelength region different from the certain wavelength region of the light emitted from the first light emitting device. The circuitry further reads embedded information based on a reading result obtained in an imaging device that receives the light emitted from the selected at least one of the first light emitting device and the second light emitting device and reflected by an authentication medium. The embedded information includes information for authentication, and is embedded in the authentication medium and obtained with light in a range of light receiving sensitivity of silicon forming the imaging device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2020
    Publication date: July 22, 2021
    Inventors: Tatsuya OZAKI, Tadaaki OYAMA, Masamoto NAKAZAWA, Yutaka OHMIYA
  • Patent number: 11019293
    Abstract: A photoelectric conversion element comprises: a plurality of pixels, each of which performs photoelectric conversion and outputs an analog signal; and analog processing unit that sequentially processes, on a pixel-to-pixel basis, the analog signals output from a pixel group including the pixels; and a signal supply unit that supplies a signal needed fro preliminary operation to the analog processing unit so as to enable the analog processing unit to perform the preliminary operation before the analog processing unit starts to process the analog signals output from the pixel group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Naoki Asaba, Masamoto Nakazawa
  • Patent number: 11012585
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a sensor and circuitry. The sensor is configured to read a visible spectrum and an invisible spectrum of an image. The circuitry is configured to separate the image read into a visible image and an invisible image and perform different image correction processes on the visible image and the invisible image, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ayumu Hashimoto, Masamoto Nakazawa, Masashi Watanabe, Masahiro Itoh
  • Patent number: 10931845
    Abstract: A reading device including a position reference member having a reference pattern having a line extending along a first direction of the position reference member, the position reference member movable in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction; a reader including a plurality of sensor chips arranged along the first direction, each of the sensor chips having a length defined by a plurality of pixels; and circuitry. The circuitry is configured to detect the reference pattern of the position reference member using the reader; determine coordinates of at least two sensor chips in the second direction, based on the detected reference pattern of the position reference member; and correct a position of a reading target in the second direction based on the coordinates determined for the at least two sensor chips of the reader in the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsuya Ishii, Satoshi Iwanami, Daisuke Nikaku, Masamoto Nakazawa, Osamu Inage, Shinichiroh Wada, Ryohma Ikemoto
  • Patent number: 10924621
    Abstract: A reading device includes a light source, an imaging element, a controller, a correcting unit, and a notifying unit. The light source is configured to irradiate an object with light. The imaging element is configured to receive and read the light from the object. The controller is configured to control a second reading operation of reading the object with an invisible image. The correcting unit is configured to perform correction with respect to the invisible image. The notifying unit is configured to notify an outside of at least the invisible image corrected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masamoto Nakazawa, Ayumu Hashimoto, Masashi Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20210021729
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a light source, an image sensor, and an invisible component remover. The light source emits visible component light and invisible component light to a target object. The image sensor receives reflected light from the target object to detect a visible invisible mixture image including an invisible component and a visible component and an invisible image including an invisible component. The invisible component remover, based on the visible invisible mixture image and the invisible image which have been detected, removes the invisible component from the visible invisible mixture image to generate a visible image. The invisible component remover includes a removal calculator performing a removal calculation process of an invisible component with respect to the visible invisible mixture image, and a noise reducer performing a noise reduction process on at least one of images to be input to and output from the removal calculator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2020
    Publication date: January 21, 2021
    Inventors: Ayumu HASHIMOTO, Masamoto NAKAZAWA
  • Publication number: 20210014441
    Abstract: An abnormal-pixel detecting device includes an image sensor and an image processor. The image sensor is configured to capture an image of a subject. The image processor is configured to calculate: a ratio between a first plurality of pixel values captured by the image sensor and a second plurality of pixel values whose reference position is shifted relative to the first plurality of pixel values in a main scanning direction to obtain a third plurality of pixel values; and detect an abnormal pixel in the third plurality of pixel values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2020
    Publication date: January 14, 2021
    Inventors: Yutaka OHMIYA, Hideki HASHIMOTO, Masamoto NAKAZAWA
  • Publication number: 20200410271
    Abstract: An image processing device includes a light source, an image reader, and circuitry. The light source is configured to irradiate an object at least with invisible light. The image reader is configured to read first information and second information. The first information is included in the object and indicating a first characteristic in response to the object being irradiated with the invisible light. The second information is included in the object and indicating a second characteristic in response to the object being irradiated with the invisible light. The circuitry is configured to selectively output the first information read by the image reader.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2020
    Publication date: December 31, 2020
    Inventors: Masamoto NAKAZAWA, Tadaaki OYAMA, Yutaka OHMIYA
  • Publication number: 20200412904
    Abstract: An image processing device includes a light source, a reader, and circuitry. The light source is configured to irradiate an object at least with invisible light. The reader is configured to read a first image from the object irradiated with the invisible light. The circuitry is configured to generate a second image from the first image read by the reader. The circuitry is configured to recognize first information in the second image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2020
    Publication date: December 31, 2020
    Inventors: Yutaka OHMIYA, Masamoto NAKAZAWA, Tadaaki OYAMA