Patents by Inventor Minoru Watanabe

Minoru Watanabe 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: 11067706
    Abstract: A radiation image sensing apparatus is provided. The apparatus comprises an image sensing area where conversion elements are arranged and used in an image sensing operation of acquiring a radiation image, a detection element configured to detect a radiation dose of radiation entering the image sensing area, a readout unit and a controller. The controller corrects a detection signal read out from the detection element by the readout unit during incidence of radiation in a second image sensing operation performed next to a first image sensing operation, based on a correction amount acquired based on a correction signal read out from the detection element by the readout unit after an end of the incidence of the radiation in the first image sensing operation, and detects a dose of incident radiation in the second image sensing operation based on the corrected detection signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuya Furumoto, Minoru Watanabe, Kentaro Fujiyoshi
  • Patent number: 11045160
    Abstract: A radiation imaging apparatus is provided. The apparatus comprises: an imaging region in which a plurality of conversion elements are arranged, wherein the plurality of conversion elements includes a first conversion element configured to obtain a radiation image and a second conversion element configured to obtain irradiation information of incident radiation during radiation irradiation; a storage unit configured to store correction data for correcting a signal output from the first conversion element; and a control unit. The control unit determines a period to cause the first conversion element to perform an accumulation operation in accordance with the irradiation information, determines a correction amount corresponding to the period based on the correction data, and generates a radiation image signal by correcting a signal output from the first conversion element in accordance with the correction amount after the radiation irradiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Minoru Watanabe, Kentaro Fujiyoshi, Sho Sato
  • Publication number: 20210141105
    Abstract: An apparatus comprises a plurality of pixels each including a conversion element and a switch, a driving circuit configured to control the switches via drive lines, a bias power supply unit configured to supply a bias potential to the conversion element via a bias line, column signal lines to which signals are output from the plurality of pixels, and a detection unit. The plurality of pixels include a first pixel and a second pixel, which are adjacent to each other in the row direction and are connected to a common column signal line. The switch of the first pixel and the switch of the second pixel are connected to drive lines different from each other. The detection unit determines presence/absence of radiation irradiation based on a current flowing to the bias line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2020
    Publication date: May 13, 2021
    Inventors: Masato Ofuji, Jun Kawanabe, Kentaro Fujiyoshi, Minoru Watanabe, Kai Suzuki, Hideyuki Okada
  • Publication number: 20210126314
    Abstract: An energy storage apparatus includes an energy storage device, a first wiring electrically connected to the energy storage device, a harness plate holding the first wiring, and a first connector connected to the first wiring, the first connector being located at a central portion of the harness plate and capable of detachably attaching an external wiring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2018
    Publication date: April 29, 2021
    Inventors: Yoshihiro MASUDA, Shinpel ONO, Yasuyuki IWASHIMA, Yo HASEGAWA, Yuki MATSUDA, Shun SASAKI, Minoru WATANABE
  • Patent number: 10921466
    Abstract: A radiation imaging apparatus includes a first detection pixel including a first switch element, a second detection pixel including a second switch element and having sensitivity which is different from that of the first detection pixel, a first signal line, a second signal line, a reading circuit which performs a first operation of reading first and second signals which appear in the first and second signal lines in a state in which the first and second switch elements are in a non-conductive state while the radiation imaging apparatus is irradiated with a radial ray and a second operation of reading third and fourth signals which appear in the first and second signal lines when the first and second switch elements are brought into a conductive state, and an information processing circuit which performs a process of generating information based on the first to fourth signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ryosuke Miura, Minoru Watanabe, Keigo Yokoyama, Masato Ofuji, Kentaro Fujiyoshi, Jun Kawanabe, Sho Sato, Kazuya Furumoto
  • Publication number: 20210043896
    Abstract: An energy storage apparatus includes an energy storage device and a spacer, in which the spacer has a first member that abuts on a side surface of the energy storage device that faces a first direction, and a second member that is disposed on the first member in a second direction, the second direction intersecting the first direction, the second member supporting an end portion of the first member in the second direction, and the first member has higher heat resistance than the second member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2019
    Publication date: February 11, 2021
    Inventors: Shun SASAKI, Yoshimasa TOSHIOKA, Yo HASEGAWA, Yasuyuki IWASHIMA, Tsuyoshi HIDAKA, Yuta YAMAMOTO, Minoru WATANABE
  • Patent number: 10914849
    Abstract: A radiation imaging apparatus includes a pixel portion in which a plurality of pixels, each pixel including a conversion element configured to convert radiation into charge, are arranged in a matrix, a driving circuit configured to drive a plurality of driving lines and a processing unit configured to process a signal from the pixel portion. The driving circuit performs a reset operation in which the conversion elements of the plurality of pixels are repetitively reset. The pixel portion includes rows in which the pixels have been divided into a plurality of groups. The conversion elements of the plurality of groups are reset at different timings in the reset operation, and the processing unit corrects, by using a signal of a pixel of another group, a signal of a pixel of a group with data deficiency caused by the reset operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masato Ofuji, Minoru Watanabe, Kentaro Fujiyoshi, Sho Sato
  • Patent number: 10913251
    Abstract: A buffer material including a skinned polyurethane foam including a foam layer and a skin layer formed on the surface of the foam layer, wherein the skinned polyurethane foam essentially contains no silicone compound, the foam layer is polyurethane foam, the skin layer is a polyurethane resin layer produced by reaction of a skin-isocyanate component containing an aliphatic and/or an alicyclic polyisocyanate with a skin-active hydrogen group-containing component, the skin layer has a storage modulus at 23° C. (E?coat) of 1×107 Pa or more and 3×108 Pa or less, the foam layer has a storage modulus at 23° C. (E?foam) of 1×105 Pa or more and 5×106 Pa or less, and the ratio (E?coat/E?foam) of the storage modulus at 23° C. (E?coat) of the skin layer relative to the storage modulus at 23° C. (E?foam) of the foam layer is 10 or more and 500 or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: MITSUI CHEMICALS, INC.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kanayama, Minoru Watanabe, Makoto Kajiura, Satoshi Yamasaki
  • Publication number: 20200371259
    Abstract: A radiation imaging apparatus comprises at least one first detection element including a first conversion element configured to convert radiation into an electrical signal and a first switch configured to connect an output from the first conversion element to a first signal line, at least one second detection element including a second conversion element configured to convert radiation into an electrical signal and a second switch configured to connect an output from the second conversion element to a second signal line, a readout unit configured to read out signals appearing on the first signal line and the second signal line, and a signal processing circuit configured to process a signal read out from the readout unit. A sensitivity of the first conversion element for the radiation is set to be different from a sensitivity of the second conversion element for the radiation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2020
    Publication date: November 26, 2020
    Inventors: Ryosuke Miura, Minoru Watanabe, Kentaro Fujiyoshi
  • Publication number: 20200348424
    Abstract: An imaging region including a plurality of detection elements each including a conversion element configured to convert radiation into an electric signal, a first signal line, and a signal processing circuit configured to process a signal output via the first signal line, wherein the plurality of detection elements include a first detection element and a second detection element which are connected to the first signal line, a sensitivity of the first detection element to radiation is set to be different from a sensitivity of the second detection element to radiation, and the signal processing circuit generates information related to irradiation of radiation to the imaging region based on signals from the first detection element and the second detection element which are connected to the first signal line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2020
    Publication date: November 5, 2020
    Inventors: Minoru Watanabe, Kentaro Fujiyoshi, Ryosuke Miura
  • Publication number: 20200308336
    Abstract: The polyurethane resin composition contains a polyisocyanate component containing p-MDI, a polyol component, an organic metal catalyst, and a reaction retardant represented by general formula (1) below, wherein the mole ratio of the reaction retardant relative to 1 mol of the organic metal catalyst is 0.50 or more and 2.50 or less, (in general formula (1), A represents an aliphatic ring or an aromatic ring. R1 represents a hydrocarbon group composing ring A. R2 represents an aliphatic hydrocarbon group bonded to ring A. R3 represents a hydrogen atom or alkyl group bonded to nitrogen atom included in ring A. R4 represents a hydrogen atom or carboxyl group bonded to ring A. m is 1 or 2, n is 0 or 1, and total of n and m is 2 or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2018
    Publication date: October 1, 2020
    Applicant: MITSUI CHEMICALS, INC.
    Inventors: Toshihiro TANAKA, Hiroshi KANAYAMA, Minoru WATANABE, Hiroki INOUE, Junji SAITO
  • Patent number: 10729393
    Abstract: A radiographic imaging apparatus includes a pixel, a readout unit, and a signal processing unit. The pixel includes a switch configured to connect a conversion element configured to convert radiation into an electric signal to a signal line. The readout unit is configured to perform a first operation of reading out a first signal appearing in the signal line when the switch is not in a conductive state and a second operation of reading out a second signal appearing in the signal line when the switch is in a conductive state. The read out unit is configured to perform the first operation before performing the second operation a plurality of times consecutively. The signal processing unit is configured to perform signal processing for outputting information indicating irradiation of the radiographic imaging apparatus by the radiation based on the first signal and the second signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kentaro Fujiyoshi, Minoru Watanabe, Keigo Yokoyama, Masato Ofuji, Jun Kawanabe, Sho Sato, Kazuya Furumoto, Ryosuke Miura
  • Publication number: 20200166659
    Abstract: A radiation imaging apparatus includes a first pixel, and a second pixel whose sensitivity for radiation is lower than sensitivity of the first pixel; and a decision unit configured to execute a reset operation of resetting charges in the pixels and a decision operation of deciding a radiation dose during irradiation to the apparatus. In the decision operation, the decision unit reads out signals from the first and second pixels at least once, and decides first and second correction values based on the signal read out from the first and second pixel respectively, and reads out signals from the first and second pixels after receiving a radiation irradiation start request, and decides the radiation dose during irradiation to the apparatus using values of the signals read out from the first and second pixels and the first and second correction values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2019
    Publication date: May 28, 2020
    Inventors: Kentaro Fujiyoshi, Minoru Watanabe, Ryosuke Miura
  • Patent number: 10653372
    Abstract: A radiation imaging system includes pixel array, scanning circuit to scan rows of the pixel array, and readout circuit to read signals from the pixel array. Each pixel includes converter to generate electric signal corresponding to radiation and transistor connected to the converter. The readout circuit reads signal from the converter via the transistor. The system performs image capturing modes and conditioning mode of conditioning a threshold voltage of the transistor. In the conditioning mode, the scanning circuit supplies, to a gate of the transistor, an OFF voltage different from OFF voltages in the image capturing modes. The scanning circuit scans the rows in units of at least one row in the image capturing modes, and scans the rows in units of at least two rows in the conditioning mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroshi Wayama, Minoru Watanabe, Keigo Yokoyama, Satoru Sawada, Kazuya Furumoto
  • Patent number: 10634800
    Abstract: A radiation imaging apparatus comprises a sensor portion including a pixel array configured to acquire an image signal corresponding to radiation, and a plurality of detection elements arranged in the pixel array and configured to detect the radiation, and a readout circuit configured to read out the image signal from the sensor portion, wherein the readout circuit includes a signal processing circuit arranged to combine and process signals from the plurality of detection elements if determining the presence or absence of radiation irradiation, and to process a signal for each detection element or combine and process signals from a number of detection elements from among the plurality of detection elements, the number being less than the number of detection elements that include the plurality of detection elements, if determining a radiation dose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Keigo Yokoyama, Minoru Watanabe, Masato Ofuji, Jun Kawanabe, Kentaro Fujiyoshi, Hiroshi Wayama
  • Publication number: 20200060639
    Abstract: The present invention provides a technique advantageous in suitably determining the irradiation end timing in a radiation imaging apparatus that can perform AEC. The radiation imaging apparatus comprises a sensor configured to detect radiation and a control unit, wherein the control unit generates, after the start of radiation irradiation, an evaluation value indicating the stability of a radiation irradiation intensity based on a sensor signal from the sensor, and the control unit outputs, in response to the evaluation value satisfying a predetermined condition, a signal indicating that the radiation irradiation intensity has stabilized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2019
    Publication date: February 27, 2020
    Inventors: Sho Sato, Minoru Watanabe, Keigo Yokoyama, Kentaro Fujiyoshi, Jun Kawanabe
  • Publication number: 20200041664
    Abstract: A radiation image sensing apparatus is provided. The apparatus comprises an image sensing area where conversion elements are arranged and used in an image sensing operation of acquiring a radiation image, a detection element configured to detect a radiation dose of radiation entering the image sensing area, a readout unit and a controller. The controller corrects a detection signal read out from the detection element by the readout unit during incidence of radiation in a second image sensing operation performed next to a first image sensing operation, based on a correction amount acquired based on a correction signal read out from the detection element by the readout unit after an end of the incidence of the radiation in the first image sensing operation, and detects a dose of incident radiation in the second image sensing operation based on the corrected detection signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2019
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Inventors: Kazuya Furumoto, Minoru Watanabe, Kentaro Fujiyoshi
  • Patent number: 10537295
    Abstract: A radiation imaging apparatus is provided. The apparatus comprises pixels arranged in an image sensing region, a first and a second detecting elements configured to obtain radiation irradiation information, a first signal line to which a signal from the first detecting element is to be output and a second signal line to which a signal from the second detecting element is to be output, and a signal processing circuit configured to process the signals output from the first and the second detecting elements. The first the second signal lines are arranged in the image sensing region or arranged adjacent to the image sensing region, the first detecting element has a larger region to detect radiation than the second detecting element. The signal processing circuit generates the radiation irradiation information based on the signals from the first and the second signal lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Minoru Watanabe, Keigo Yokoyama, Masato Ofuji, Jun Kawanabe, Kentaro Fujiyoshi, Hiroshi Wayama, Kazuya Furumoto
  • Publication number: 20200008766
    Abstract: A radiation imaging apparatus is provided. The apparatus comprises: an imaging region in which a plurality of conversion elements are arranged, wherein the plurality of conversion elements includes a first conversion element configured to obtain a radiation image and a second conversion element configured to obtain irradiation information of incident radiation during radiation irradiation; a storage unit configured to store correction data for correcting a signal output from the first conversion element; and a control unit. The control unit determines a period to cause the first conversion element to perform an accumulation operation in accordance with the irradiation information, determines a correction amount corresponding to the period based on the correction data, and generates a radiation image signal by correcting a signal output from the first conversion element in accordance with the correction amount after the radiation irradiation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2019
    Publication date: January 9, 2020
    Inventors: Minoru Watanabe, Kentaro Fujiyoshi, Sho Sato
  • Publication number: 20190391629
    Abstract: A radiation imaging apparatus comprising an imaging unit configured to generate a radiation image, a detector configured to detect radiation to monitor an incident dose, a processor including an amplifier and configured to perform processing of reading out signals from the imaging unit and the detector and outputting a signal based on the readout signals, and a controller configured to control the processor is provided. The controller causes the processor to operate in a first power consumption mode before radiation irradiation and perform a reset operation, and causes the processor to operate in a second power consumption mode with higher power consumption than the first power consumption mode in accordance with information indicating a start of radiation irradiation, and causes the processor to start outputting a signal for monitoring an incident dose based on a signal read out from the detector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2019
    Publication date: December 26, 2019
    Inventors: Keigo Yokoyama, Minoru Watanabe, Kentaro Fujiyoshi