Patents by Inventor Naoto Miura

Naoto Miura 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: 7680305
    Abstract: Provided in this invention is a vein authentication device comprising: an interface on which a part of a living body; one or more light sources for emitting infrared light; an image pickup unit for picking up a blood vessel image of the part of the living body using infrared light emitted from the light sources; an image computing unit for processing the blood vessel image picked up by the image pickup unit; and a light shielding unit for shielding infrared light emitted from the light sources and preventing the infrared light from traveling in an image pickup direction of the image pickup unit, wherein the interface has an opening opened in the image pickup direction of the image pickup unit, and wherein the light sources irradiates the part of the living body with infrared light from an image pickup side of the part of the living body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoto Miura, Akio Nagasaka, Takafumi Miyatake
  • Publication number: 20100053315
    Abstract: The invention aims at providing personal identification in environments where non-contact is required, with high accuracy even though using a finger vein pattern images unclear and susceptible to positional deviations, wherein it has: a means for acquiring finger vein patterns without contact; a means for carrying out rotational correction using the outline of a finger as a method of taking out a vein pattern contained in the acquired image; a means for normalizing the position of the finger image with reference to the fingertip; a means for acquiring an overall vein pattern statistically by repetitively tracking regions of dark luminance intensities for a desired length from a desired position in the image; a matching means for comparing regions where vein patterns manifest vivid features; and a means for independent matching of subregions and evaluating positional deviations where matching is recognized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2009
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Applicant: HITACHI, LTD.
    Inventors: Naoto Miura, Akio Nagasaka, Takafumi Miyatake
  • Patent number: 7672488
    Abstract: A personal identification device including: an image pickup unit; a light source which emits the light adapted to be transmitted through a finger and incident on said image pickup unit; an image operating unit which generates a pattern from an image picked up by said image pickup unit and matching the pattern of said image with a pattern registered in advance; a storage which holds said registered pattern; a guide unit which indicates the position where the image of said finger is picked up; and a detection unit which detects a contact between said finger and said guide unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoto Miura, Akio Nagasaka, Takafumi Miyatake
  • Publication number: 20100045428
    Abstract: The invention aims at providing personal identification in environments where non-contact is required, with high accuracy even though using a finger vein pattern images unclear and susceptible to positional deviations, wherein it has: a means for acquiring finger vein patterns without contact; a means for carrying out rotational correction using the outline of a finger as a method of taking out a vein pattern contained in the acquired image; a means for normalizing the position of the finger image with reference to the fingertip; a means for acquiring an overall vein pattern statistically by repetitively tracking regions of dark luminance intensities for a desired length from a desired position in the image; a matching means for comparing regions where vein patterns manifest vivid features; and a means for independent matching of subregions and evaluating positional deviations where matching is recognized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2009
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Applicant: HITACHI, LTD.
    Inventors: Naoto Miura, Akio Nagasaka, Takafumi Miyatake
  • Publication number: 20100021024
    Abstract: An image pickup scheme capable of always providing an optimum quality of a blood vessel pattern, in image pickup of a blood vessel pattern of a finger using transmitted light, without being affected by a difference, if any, in an external environment. A personal identification apparatus includes light sources for irradiating light to be transmitted by a finger, an image pickup unit for picking up an image using light transmitted by the finger, finger detection unit for detecting that the finger exists in a predetermined position, finger region extraction unit for extracting a region occupied by the finger from an image picked up by the image pickup unit, and gain changing unit for changing an amplification factor of image pickup elements in the image pickup unit on the basis of a picture quality of a specific region within the extracted region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2009
    Publication date: January 28, 2010
    Inventors: Akio NAGASAKA, Naoto MIURA, Takafumi MIYATAKE
  • Patent number: 7627145
    Abstract: The invention aims at providing personal identification in environments where non-contact is required, with high accuracy even though using a finger vein pattern images unclear and susceptible to positional deviations, wherein it has: a means for acquiring finger vein patterns without contact; a means for carrying out rotational correction using the outline of a finger as a method of taking out a vein pattern contained in the acquired image; a means for normalizing the position of the finger image with reference to the fingertip; a means for acquiring an overall vein pattern statistically by repetitively tracking regions of dark luminance intensities for a desired length from a desired position in the image; a matching means for comparing regions where vein patterns manifest vivid features; and a means for independent matching of subregions and evaluating positional deviations where matching is recognized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoto Miura, Akio Nagasaka, Takafumi Miyatake
  • Patent number: 7609864
    Abstract: An image pickup scheme capable of always providing an optimum quality of a blood vessel pattern, in image pickup of a blood vessel pattern of a finger using transmitted light, without being affected by a difference, if any, in an external environment. A personal identification apparatus includes light sources for irradiating light to be transmitted by a finger, an image pickup unit for picking up an image using light transmitted by the finger, finger detection unit for detecting that the finger exists in a predetermined position, finger region extraction unit for extracting a region occupied by the finger from an image picked up by the image pickup unit, and gain changing unit for changing an amplification factor of image pickup elements in the image pickup unit on the basis of a picture quality of a specific region within the extracted region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Akio Nagasaka, Naoto Miura, Takafumi Miyatake
  • Publication number: 20090252388
    Abstract: An identification apparatus that keeps the conditions for imaging uniform among successive identifications and requires a user to perform only a series of simple maneuvers. An identification apparatus comprising a guide member, a light source, and an imaging unit. The guide member includes a pattern or a structure that inspires a user to position his/her finger thereon or to approach his/her specific finger region thereto. A contact member such as a button switch is preferably located at a position in the guide member at which a fingertip is to be positioned. An optical opening is formed at a position coincident with a position at which a portion of a finger to be imaged for identification should be placed. The light source radiates near-infrared light through the portion of the finger to be imaged. The imaging means acquires an image of the finger, and the apparatus compares the image to previously registered images.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2009
    Publication date: October 8, 2009
    Inventors: Akio NAGASAKA, Takafumi MIYATAKE, Naoto MIURA, Yoshiaki AMANO, Yoshimi KASAI, Shinichiro Umemura, Miyuki Kono
  • Patent number: 7599523
    Abstract: The invention aims at providing personal identification in environments where non-contact is required, with high accuracy even though using a finger vein pattern images unclear and susceptible to positional deviations, wherein it has: a means for acquiring finger vein patterns without contact; a means for carrying out rotational correction using the outline of a finger as a method of taking out a vein pattern contained in the acquired image; a means for normalizing the position of the finger image with reference to the fingertip; a means for acquiring an overall vein pattern statistically by repetitively tracking regions of dark luminance intensities for a desired length from a desired position in the image; a matching means for comparing regions where vein patterns manifest vivid features; and a means for independent matching of subregions and evaluating positional deviations where matching is recognized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoto Miura, Akio Nagasaka, Takafumi Miyatake
  • Patent number: 7561257
    Abstract: An identification apparatus that keeps the conditions for imaging uniform among successive identifications and requires a user to perform only a series of simple maneuvers. An identification apparatus comprising a guide member, a light source, and an imaging unit. The guide member includes a pattern or a structure that inspires a user to position his/her finger thereon or to approach his/her specific finger region thereto. A contact member such as a button switch is preferably located at a position in the guide member at which a fingertip is to be positioned. An optical opening is formed at a position coincident with a position at which a portion of a finger to be imaged for identification should be placed. The light source radiates near-infrared light through the portion of the finger to be imaged. The imaging means acquires an image of the finger, and the apparatus compares the image to previously registered images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Akio Nagasaka, Takafumi Miyatake, Naoto Miura, Yoshiaki Amano, Yoshimi Kasai, Shinichiro Umemura, Miyuki Kono
  • Publication number: 20090174766
    Abstract: In a finger vein authentication unit and an information processing unit using the same, in order to realize a small size and high accuracy such that the finger vein authentication unit is applied to a small-sized information processing unit such as a mobile telephone, the finger vein authentication unit includes a light source which irradiates infrared light to a finger, an imaging sensor which images a vein image by the light which is diffused in the finger and transmitted through the front side of the finger, and an image processing unit which processes the image. The light source is mounted on the front side of the finger and emits the light toward the side surfaces of the finger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2008
    Publication date: July 9, 2009
    Inventors: Harumi Kiyomizu, Naoto Miura, Takafumi Miyatake, Akio Nagasaka, Souichi Sakurai, Hitoshi Takizawa
  • Publication number: 20090110249
    Abstract: The invention provides a finger vein authentication device using plural fingers that enables the plural fingers to be easily presented while maintaining high authentication precision. A finger vein authentication device according to an embodiment of the invention includes light sources that irradiate light onto fingers; imaging elements that photograph light transmitted through the fingers; and an image processing unit that processes the obtained images. The finger vein authentication device further includes a finger placement table that defines a presentation location of the first finger in an anteroposterior direction and other finger placement tables that define locations of all the fingers in a horizontal direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2008
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Inventors: Naoto Miura, Takafumi Miyatake, Akio Nagasaka, Harumi Kiyomizu
  • Patent number: 7526111
    Abstract: A personal identification device and method prevent the reduction in the finger vein recognition rate which otherwise occur due to erroneous insertion of a finger by a user not accustomed to operation or insertion of a false finger at low cost. The device includes an imager picking up an image of a finger vein pattern, a light source emitting light adapted to be transmitted through the finger, an image operating unit matches the image, guides indicating the position of picking up the finger image, a detector detecting the contact between the finger and the guides, another light source radiating light reflected from the thick of the finger, a switch which is depressed by the forward end of the finger, a further light source emitting light transmitted through the forward end of the finger, and a light-sensor receiving the light from the further light source through the finger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoto Miura, Akio Nagasaka, Takafumi Miyatake
  • Publication number: 20090092291
    Abstract: There is provided a finger-vein authentication apparatus including a light source for illuminating one surface of both side-surfaces of a fingertip of a finger with light, and an image sensor for imaging the other surface of the fingertip, the light source and the image sensor being positioned at both sides of a nail of the fingertip with the nail sandwiched therebetween, wherein a fingertip guidance jig for supporting the fingertip and a finger-root guidance jig for supporting a finger-root of the finger are disposed between the light source and the image sensor, a light-shielding unit being disposed on the light-source side, the light-shielding unit being used for shielding the illumination light such that the illumination light will not travel to a ball side of the finger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2008
    Publication date: April 9, 2009
    Inventors: Akio Nagasaka, Takafumi Matsumura, Masahide Hayashi, Takafumi Miyatake, Naoto Miura, Harumi Kiyomizu
  • Publication number: 20080317293
    Abstract: Provided is a finger vein authentication apparatus including a light source for emitting light toward a finger, an image sensor for taking an image of the transmitted light from the finger, a lens apparatus for imaging the transmitted light to the image sensor, and an image processor for processing the taken image. The lens apparatus includes a lens unit, and the image processor extracts a vein pattern of the finger upon correcting the strain of the taken image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 29, 2008
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Inventors: Soichi Sakurai, Hitoshi Takizawa, Naoto Miura, Harumi Kiyomizu, Hiroaki Ono, Shigeyuki Sudo, Shoichi Sato
  • Patent number: 7468787
    Abstract: An identification apparatus that keeps the conditions for imaging uniform among successive identifications and requires a user to perform only a series of simple maneuvers. An identification apparatus comprising a guide member, a light source, and an imaging unit. The guide member includes a pattern or a structure that inspires a user to position his/her finger thereon or to approach his/her specific finger region thereto. A contact member such as a button switch is preferably located at a position in the guide member at which a fingertip is to be positioned. An optical opening is formed at a position coincident with a position at which a portion of a finger to be imaged for identification should be placed. The light source radiates near-infrared light through the portion of the finger to be imaged. The imaging means acquires an image of the finger, and the apparatus compares the image to previously registered images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2008
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Akio Nagasaka, Takafumi Miyatake, Naoto Miura, Yoshiaki Amano, Yoshimi Kasai, Shinichiro Umemura, Miyuki Kono
  • Publication number: 20080152195
    Abstract: A compact authentication device that prevents user from feeling pressure and is strong against external light, when capturing an image of a finger blood vessel pattern with transmitted light. The device includes a guidance part for determining the finger position, a light source disposed on at least one side of the guidance part to emit light to be transmitted though the finger, an image capture part for capturing the transmitted light, a shading unit for limiting an irradiation region of the light, a finger thickness measuring unit, a unit for controlling a light amount of the light source based on a result of the measurement, a unit for recording registered image patterns of the finger, a unit for collating a captured image pattern from the image capture part with the registered patterns, and a unit for controlling different processing according to the collation result.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2007
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Inventors: Akio Nagasaka, Takafumi Miyatake, Naoto Miura, Yuichi Kashimura
  • Publication number: 20080137920
    Abstract: A personal identification device including: an image pickup unit; a light source which emits the light adapted to be transmitted through a finger and incident on said image pickup unit; an image operating unit which generates a pattern from an image picked up by said image pickup unit and matching the pattern of said image with a pattern registered in advance; a storage which holds said registered pattern; a guide unit which indicates the position where the image of said finger is picked up; and a detection unit which detects a contact between said finger and said guide unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2007
    Publication date: June 12, 2008
    Inventors: Naoto Miura, Akio Nagasaka, Takafumi Miyatake
  • Publication number: 20080117410
    Abstract: An identification apparatus that keeps the conditions for imaging uniform among successive identifications and requires a user to perform only a series of simple maneuvers. An identification apparatus comprising a guide member, a light source, and an imaging unit. The guide member includes a pattern or a structure that inspires a user to position his/her finger thereon or to approach his/her specific finger region thereto. A contact member such as a button switch is preferably located at a position in the guide member at which a fingertip is to be positioned. An optical opening is formed at a position coincident with a position at which a portion of a finger to be imaged for identification should be placed. The light source radiates near-infrared light through the portion of the finger to be imaged. The imaging means acquires an image of the finger, and the apparatus compares the image to previously registered images.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2007
    Publication date: May 22, 2008
    Inventors: Akio NAGASAKA, Takafumi Miyatake, Naoto Miura, Yoshiaki Amano, Yoshimi Kasai, Shinichiro Umemura, Miyuki Kono
  • Publication number: 20080117409
    Abstract: An identification apparatus that keeps the conditions for imaging uniform among successive identifications and requires a user to perform only a series of simple maneuvers. An identification apparatus comprising a guide member, a light source, and an imaging unit. The guide member includes a pattern or a structure that inspires a user to position his/her finger thereon or to approach his/her specific finger region thereto. A contact member such as a button switch is preferably located at a position in the guide member at which a fingertip is to be positioned. An optical opening is formed at a position coincident with a position at which a portion of a finger to be imaged for identification should be placed. The light source radiates near-infrared light through the portion of the finger to be imaged. The imaging means acquires an image of the finger, and the apparatus compares the image to previously registered images.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2007
    Publication date: May 22, 2008
    Inventors: Akio Nagasaka, Takafumi Miyatake, Naoto Miura, Yoshiaki Amano, Yoshimi Kasai, Shinichiro Umemura, Miyuki Kono