Patents by Inventor Nobuyuki Satoh

Nobuyuki Satoh 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: 10093087
    Abstract: A distance measuring device includes: an imaging unit that captures a test pattern image including a pair of first markers and a second marker that is formed under a condition different from a condition applied to the first markers; a position detecting unit that detects a position of each of the pair of first markers and the second marker in a captured image captured by the imaging unit; a ratio calculating unit that calculates a ratio of a distance between the pair of the first markers in the captured image and an actual distance between the pair of the first markers; and an actual distance calculating unit that calculates an actual distance between one of the first markers as the pair and the second marker by multiplying a distance between the one of the first markers as the pair and the second marker in the captured image by the ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaya Kawarada, Nobuyuki Satoh, Kenji Morita, Yuichi Sakurada, Tomohiro Sasa, Daisaku Horikawa
  • Publication number: 20180167534
    Abstract: An image capturing unit includes a sensor unit that image-captures a predetermined area including a subject; and a reference chart unit that is arranged in the predetermined area and captured with the subject by the sensor unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2018
    Publication date: June 14, 2018
    Inventors: Nobuyuki SATOH, Yasuyuki SUZUKI, Masato KOBAYASHI, Suguru YOKOZAWA, Tatsuhiko OKADA, Mamoru YORIMOTO, Daisaku HORIKAWA, Yuichi SAKURADA
  • Publication number: 20180147835
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming device; an imaging device; and at least one processor including a pattern forming unit to cause a recording head to form a pair of first marks, with first and second nozzles disposed at a first distance from each other in a direction of conveyance of a recording medium, while the recording head moves in a first direction and cause the recording head to form a second mark while the recording head moves in a second direction, a position detector to detect positions of the first and second marks in a captured image, a ratio calculator to calculate a ratio between a distance between the first marks in the captured image and a deviation of the second mark in the captured image, and distance calculator to calculate a distance of the deviation based on the first distance and the ratio.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2017
    Publication date: May 31, 2018
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kahei Nakamura, Masaya Kawarada, Kohta Aoyagi, Suguru Yokozawa, Nobuyuki Satoh
  • Publication number: 20180141329
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a conveyor to convey a recording medium; an image forming device including a recording head to form a test pattern including a first mark and a pair of second marks; an imaging device; and a processor. The processor includes a pattern forming unit to cause the image forming device to form one of the first and second marks and form the other after the conveyor conveys the recording medium by a predetermined conveyance amount, a position detector to detect positions of the first and second marks in the captured image, a ratio calculator to calculate a ratio between a distance between the second marks and deviation of the first mark in the captured image, and a distance calculator to calculate an actual distance of the deviation based on a theoretical distance between the second marks and the ratio.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2017
    Publication date: May 24, 2018
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kohta Aoyagi, Suguru Yokozawa, Masaya Kawarada, Nobuyuki Satoh
  • Publication number: 20180141359
    Abstract: An imaging device includes an imaging unit to obtain a captured image of a test pattern and a reference mark to locate the test pattern and at least one processor. The test pattern includes a pair of first marks and a second mark. The processor includes a position detector configured to detect the reference mark in the captured image and locate the pair of first marks and the second mark in the captured image, and a ratio calculator configured to calculate one of a first ratio between a distance between the pair of first marks in the captured image and a deviation of the second mark in the captured image, and a second ratio between the distance between the pair of first marks in the captured image and a distance from one of the pair of first marks to the second mark in the captured image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2017
    Publication date: May 24, 2018
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaya Kawarada, Nobuyuki Satoh, Suguru Yokozawa, Kohta Aoyagi, Kenta Sasaki
  • Patent number: 9906688
    Abstract: An image capturing unit includes a sensor unit that image-captures a predetermined area including a subject; and a reference chart unit that is arranged in the predetermined area and captured with the subject by the sensor unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Satoh, Yasuyuki Suzuki, Masato Kobayashi, Suguru Yokozawa, Tatsuhiko Okada, Mamoru Yorimoto, Daisaku Horikawa, Yuichi Sakurada
  • Publication number: 20170361605
    Abstract: A distance measuring device includes: an imaging unit that captures a test pattern image including a pair of first markers and a second marker that is formed under a condition different from a condition applied to the first markers; a position detecting unit that detects a position of each of the pair of first markers and the second marker in a captured image captured by the imaging unit; a ratio calculating unit that calculates a ratio of a distance between the pair of the first markers in the captured image and an actual distance between the pair of the first markers; and an actual distance calculating unit that calculates an actual distance between one of the first markers as the pair and the second marker by multiplying a distance between the one of the first markers as the pair and the second marker in the captured image by the ratio.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2017
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Inventors: Masaya Kawarada, Nobuyuki Satoh, Kenji Morita, Yuichi Sakurada, Tomohiro Sasa, Daisaku Horikawa
  • Patent number: 9782967
    Abstract: A distance measuring device includes: an imaging unit that captures a test pattern image including a pair of first markers and a second marker that is formed under a condition different from a condition applied to the first markers; a position detecting unit that detects a position of each of the pair of first markers and the second marker in a captured image captured by the imaging unit; a ratio calculating unit that calculates a ratio of a distance between the pair of the first markers in the captured image and an actual distance between the pair of the first markers; and an actual distance calculating unit that calculates an actual distance between one of the first markers as the pair and the second marker by multiplying a distance between the one of the first markers as the pair and the second marker in the captured image by the ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaya Kawarada, Nobuyuki Satoh, Kenji Morita, Yuichi Sakurada, Tomohiro Sasa, Daisaku Horikawa
  • Publication number: 20170272617
    Abstract: An image capturing system includes an imager, a detector, and a controller. The imager is configured to move relative to an object to be imaged and capture an image of the object. The detector is configured to detect a predetermined relative position of the object with respect to the imager. The controller is configured to switch from stop supplying a system clock to supplying the system clock based on the detected predetermined relative position. The system clock is used to control a timing to start capturing an image by the imager. After stops supplying the system clock, the controller resumes supplying the system clock to the imager according to a relative movement of the object, based on the detected predetermined relative position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2017
    Publication date: September 21, 2017
    Inventors: Nobuyuki SATOH, Junichi MORIBE
  • Patent number: 9744785
    Abstract: A medium identification device identifies a type of a recording medium used for image formation. The medium identification device includes: a two-dimensional image sensor that captures an image of the recording medium; and an identifying unit that obtains a glossiness evaluation value indicating glossiness of the recording medium, a surface roughness evaluation value indicating surface roughness of the recording medium, and a coloring evaluation value indicating coloring of the recording medium, using image data of a specular reflection region reflecting specular reflection light from the recording medium and image data of a diffused reflection region reflecting diffused reflection light from the recording medium, the regions being in the image of the recording medium, and identifies the type of the recording medium by combining determination using the glossiness evaluation value, determination using the surface roughness evaluation value, and determination using the coloring evaluation value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Suguru Yokozawa, Nobuyuki Satoh, Mamoru Yorimoto, Kenji Morita, Masayuki Fujii, Daisaku Horikawa
  • Patent number: 9716124
    Abstract: An apparatus includes: a light source; a two-dimensional image sensor that receives reflected light from a subject including specular light of the source and outputs an image of the subject; and an optical member arranged in an optical path of light emitted from the source to the subject. When a specular position of the source in the subject arranged apart from the two-dimensional image sensor by a certain distance is defined as a first specular position, whereas a specular position of the source in the optical member is defined as a second specular position, a relative positional relation of the optical member and the source with respect to the two-dimensional image sensor is determined so that a difference between an incident angle from the source toward the first specular position and an incident angle from the source toward the second specular position is a reference value or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Mamoru Yorimoto, Nobuyuki Satoh, Masato Kobayashi, Masayuki Fujii, Hiroshi Matsumoto, Daisaku Horikawa, Suguru Yokozawa, Kenji Morita
  • Patent number: 9654671
    Abstract: An imaging device including a light source; a two-dimensional image sensor that receives reflected light from a subject containing specular light of the light source and outputs an image of the subject; a light transmission member disposed in an optical path of light emitted from the light source to the subject; and a light shielding unit that, when a position on the subject at which light from the light source is regularly reflected and enters the two-dimensional image sensor is defined as a first specular position, whereas a position on the light transmission member at which light from the light source is regularly reflected and enters the two-dimensional image sensor is defined as a second specular position, shields the light directed from the light source toward the second specular position without shielding the light directed from the light source toward the first specular position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Mamoru Yorimoto, Nobuyuki Satoh, Kenji Morita, Masaya Kawarada, Masahiro Hiranuma, Daisaku Horikawa
  • Patent number: 9609163
    Abstract: An image capturing device includes: a two-dimensional image sensor that captures an image of a predetermined image capture area including a subject; a light source that illuminates the image capture area; and a light blocking member that blocks light traveling from the light source toward a specular reflection position, the specular reflection position being a position that is in the image capture area and where, if light travels from the light source, the light would be specularly reflected to the two-dimensional sensor. The light blocking member is arranged outside the image capture area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Masaya Kawarada, Nobuyuki Satoh, Mamoru Yorimoto, Kenji Morita, Masahiro Hiranuma, Daisaku Horikawa
  • Publication number: 20170034397
    Abstract: An image capturing unit includes a sensor unit that image-captures a predetermined area including a subject; and a reference chart unit that is arranged in the predetermined area and captured with the subject by the sensor unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2016
    Publication date: February 2, 2017
    Inventors: Nobuyuki SATOH, Yasuyuki SUZUKI, Masato KOBAYASHI, Suguru YOKOZAWA, Tatsuhiko OKADA, Mamoru YORIMOTO, Daisaku HORIKAWA, Yuichi SAKURADA
  • Patent number: 9549097
    Abstract: An imaging device comprises: a two-dimensional image sensor that includes a plurality of light receiving units capable of reading an output value individually according to a volume of received light thereof; a receiving unit that receives a control signal that specifies an operation mode of the two-dimensional image sensor that is predetermined according to a purpose of using the output value; and a sensor controller that sets, on the basis of the control signal received by the receiving unit, an imaging area representing an area of a light receiving unit that reads the output value from among the light receiving units of the two-dimensional image sensor and controls reading of the output value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Matsumoto, Nobuyuki Satoh, Mamoru Yorimoto, Masato Kobayashi, Masayuki Fujii, Satoshi Hirata
  • Publication number: 20160366288
    Abstract: An image capturing apparatus includes: a casing having an opening; a light source arranged inside the casing; a sensor arranged inside the casing and configured to capture, through the opening, an image of an object present outside the casing while the light source is on; and a distance calculator to calculate a distance between the casing and the object, based on an image that has been captured by the sensor and contains, within an image region of the object defined by the opening, a high-luminance region and low-luminance regions located more outside than the high-luminance region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2016
    Publication date: December 15, 2016
    Inventors: Tomohiro SASA, Nobuyuki SATOH, Yuichi SAKURADA, Kenji MORITA, Masaya KAWARADA, Daisaku HORIKAWA
  • Patent number: 9516179
    Abstract: An image capturing unit includes a sensor unit that image-captures a predetermined area including a subject; and a reference chart unit that is arranged in the predetermined area and captured with the subject by the sensor unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Satoh, Yasuyuki Suzuki, Masato Kobayashi, Suguru Yokozawa, Tatsuhiko Okada, Mamoru Yorimoto, Daisaku Horikawa, Yuichi Sakurada
  • Publication number: 20160347052
    Abstract: A distance measuring device includes: an imaging unit that captures a test pattern image including a pair of first markers and a second marker that is formed under a condition different from a condition applied to the first markers; a position detecting unit that detects a position of each of the pair of first markers and the second marker in a captured image captured by the imaging unit; a ratio calculating unit that calculates a ratio of a distance between the pair of the first markers in the captured image and an actual distance between the pair of the first markers; and an actual distance calculating unit that calculates an actual distance between one of the first markers as the pair and the second marker by multiplying a distance between the one of the first markers as the pair and the second marker in the captured image by the ratio.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2016
    Publication date: December 1, 2016
    Inventors: Masaya KAWARADA, Nobuyuki SATOH, Kenji MORITA, Yuichi SAKURADA, Tomohiro SASA, Daisaku HORIKAWA
  • Patent number: 9445062
    Abstract: An imaging device includes: a filter formed of four different filter regions with four different spectral transmittances that three different spectral transmittances having characteristics of a color matching function and a spectral transmittance for extracting metallic black have been linearly transformed thereinto by a linear transformation matrix; and an imaging unit that takes an image of light which has come out from a subject, and has been collected by an optical system, and then has passed through the filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Satoh, Yasufumi Yamada, Hiroaki Kotera
  • Publication number: 20160243866
    Abstract: A medium identification device identifies a type of a recording medium used for image formation. The medium identification device includes: a two-dimensional image sensor that captures an image of the recording medium; and an identifying unit that obtains a glossiness evaluation value indicating glossiness of the recording medium, a surface roughness evaluation value indicating surface roughness of the recording medium, and a coloring evaluation value indicating coloring of the recording medium, using image data of a specular reflection region reflecting specular reflection light from the recording medium and image data of a diffused reflection region reflecting diffused reflection light from the recording medium, the regions being in the image of the recording medium, and identifies the type of the recording medium by combining determination using the glossiness evaluation value, determination using the surface roughness evaluation value, and determination using the coloring evaluation value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2016
    Publication date: August 25, 2016
    Inventors: Suguru YOKOZAWA, Nobuyuki SATOH, Mamoru YORIMOTO, Kenji MORITA, Masayuki FUJII, Daisaku HORIKAWA