Patents by Inventor Norimasa Satake

Norimasa Satake 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: 8593514
    Abstract: A method for judging whether obtainment of information on a three-dimensional image of a given portion of an examinee's eye that is obtained by OCT (Optical Coherent Tomography) is successful or not, the method involves processing the three-dimensional image information on the given portion that is obtained using an OCT optical system, where the OCT optical system is arranged to obtain a tomographic image of the examinee's eye, and obtaining an OCT front image of the given portion; and detecting a positional deviation of the OCT front image by image processing to judge whether the obtainment of the three-dimensional image information is successful or not based on a result of the detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Nidek Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Norimasa Satake
  • Patent number: 8540368
    Abstract: An ophthalmic photographing apparatus including an interference optical system for dividing light from a first light source into measurement light and reference light, directing measurement light to a fundus and reference light to a reference optical system, and photo-receiving by a first photodetector interference light, a first optical scanner disposed in a measurement light optical path and scanning measurement light in two dimensional directions, a driving unit moving an optical member in an optical path of measurement light or reference light to change an optical path length, a control unit controlling the driving unit to adjust an optical path length difference, controlling the optical scanner to scan measurement light at a given photographing view angle, and obtaining a tomographic image based on a photodetector signal, and a calculation unit converting a photographing range into an actual distance based on optical member positional information and view angle information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Nidek Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsuo Yamamoto, Seiji Taki, Norimasa Satake
  • Publication number: 20130229622
    Abstract: An ophthalmologic photographing apparatus includes: a photographing optical system that includes a scanning unit for scanning an examinee's eye with measurement light to obtain a tomographic image of the examinee's eye; an observing optical system that includes a light-receiving device for receiving reflected light from the examinee's eye to obtain a moving image of a front image of the examinee's eye based on a light-receiving signal from the light-receiving device; a display controller for displaying the front image acquired by the observing optical system in a still state on a monitor as well as enabling setting of a capturing position of the tomographic image, the setting using the front image; and a drive controller for controlling the scanning unit to acquire the tomographic image in accordance with the capturing position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2013
    Publication date: September 5, 2013
    Applicant: NIDEK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuji MURASE, Yukihiro HIGUCHI, Norimasa SATAKE
  • Patent number: 8330808
    Abstract: An ophthalmic photographing apparatus having a photographing unit having a projection optical system having a light source and a scanner changing a reflection direction of light and scanning an eye portion in X,Y-directions with measurement light, and an optical system having photodetectors and making the reflected light enter the photodetectors, a unit controlling the photographing unit to scan the given portion plural times in a scanning region and obtain image information pieces based on a photodetector signal, and a unit dividing the region in the X,Y-directions of each information into regions and obtain information on deviation between the image information pieces for each divided region, obtain image information for each divided region, in which deviation has been corrected, with reference to one of the image information pieces based on the deviation information, add and average the image information pieces for each corresponding divided region to obtain image information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Nidek Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Norimasa Satake
  • Publication number: 20120281184
    Abstract: A method for monitoring an image of an examinee's eye includes: obtaining first image data including a first examinee's eye image captured by a first ophthalmologic photographing apparatus, and additional information including type information on the first examinee's eye image; obtaining second image data including a second examinee's eye image captured by a second ophthalmologic photographing apparatus different from the first ophthalmologic photographing apparatus, and additional information including type information on the second examinee's eye image; recognizing the first examinee's eye image and the second examinee's eye image as the same type of images, based on the additional information; and correcting a difference between the first examinee's eye image and the second examinee's eye image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2012
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Applicant: NIDEK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hisanari TORII, Yukihiro HIGUCHI, Norimasa SATAKE
  • Publication number: 20120200824
    Abstract: An ophthalmic photographing apparatus includes: an interference optical system having a light source, a splitter for splitting light from the light source into measurement light traveling toward an examinee's eye and reference light, and an optical detector for receiving combined light of the measurement light reflected by the examinee's eye and the reference light; an optical scanner arranged in an optical path of the measurement light to scan a photographing region of the examinee's eye with the measurement light; a controller for obtaining a tomographic image of the photographing region by controlling the optical scanner and processing an output signal from the optical detector; and an image processor for obtaining a combined tomographic image by combining a plurality of tomographic images corresponding to a plurality of different incident angles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2012
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Applicant: NIDEK CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Norimasa SATAKE
  • Patent number: 8220924
    Abstract: An apparatus for generating a two-dimensional image of an object using an optical coherence tomography (OCT) optical system, includes: the OCT optical system including: a light source; a splitter for splitting light emitted from the light source into a measurement optical path and a reference optical path; a scanner arranged in the measurement optical path for scanning the object in at least one of XY directions with the split light; and a detector for detecting a spectrum of combined light of the split light from the measurement optical path reflected on the object and the split light from the reference optical path each XY position of the light on the object, and a processor for generating the two-dimensional image of the object in the XY directions by converting the number of zero cross points of an interference signal contained in the spectrum at each XY position into a luminance value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Nidek Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaaki Hanebuchi, Yasuhiro Furuuchi, Norimasa Satake
  • Publication number: 20120127428
    Abstract: An ophthalmic photographing apparatus of the present invention is capable of favorably assisting an examiner when a three-dimensional tomographic image is obtained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Applicant: NIDEK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Naoki ISOGAI, Toshio MURATA, Mitsuo YAMAMOTO, Norimasa SATAKE
  • Publication number: 20110228221
    Abstract: An apparatus for generating a two-dimensional image of an object using an optical coherence tomography (OCT) optical system, includes: the OCT optical system including: a light source; a splitter for splitting light emitted from the light source into a measurement optical path and a reference optical path; a scanner arranged in the measurement optical path for scanning the object in at least one of XY directions with the split light; and a detector for detecting a spectrum of combined light of the split light from the measurement optical path reflected on the object and the split light from the reference optical path each XY position of the light on the object, and a processor for generating the two-dimensional image of the object in the XY directions by converting the number of zero cross points of an interference signal contained in the spectrum at each XY position into a luminance value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2011
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Applicant: NIDEK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masaaki HANEBUCHI, Yasuhiro FURUUCHI, Norimasa SATAKE
  • Patent number: 7880895
    Abstract: An apparatus has an optical system detecting spectral information and having an optical scanner and a driving unit changing the optical path length by moving an optical member, a monitor, a control unit obtaining a tomographic image by performing Fourier analysis on the information and displaying the obtained image, and a unit previously setting an image on the monitor, in which the member is moved from an initial position and presence or absence of the tomographic image is determined, when the presence is detected, whether the tomographic image is normal or inverted is determined, and when the tomographic image is not the set image, the member is moved to obtain the set image, and when the tomographic image is the set image, the member is moved so that a position of the tomographic image in the depth direction coincides with a predetermined adjustment position and the driving unit is stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Nidek Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Yamada, Yukihiro Higuchi, Norimasa Satake, Hisanari Torii
  • Publication number: 20100302508
    Abstract: An ophthalmic photographing apparatus including an interference optical system for dividing light from a first light source into measurement light and reference light, directing measurement light to a fundus and reference light to a reference optical system, and photo-receiving by a first photodetector interference light, a first optical scanner disposed in a measurement light optical path and scanning measurement light in two dimensional directions, a driving unit moving an optical member in an optical path of measurement light or reference light to change an optical path length, a control unit controlling the driving unit to adjust an optical path length difference, controlling the optical scanner to scan measurement light at a given photographing view angle, and obtaining a tomographic image based on a photodetector signal, and a calculation unit converting a photographing range into an actual distance based on optical member positional information and view angle information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2010
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Applicant: NIDEK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mitsuo Yamamoto, Seiji Taki, Norimasa Satake
  • Patent number: 7824035
    Abstract: An ophthalmic photographing apparatus comprising a photographing optical system for obtaining a regional image of an examinee's eye, comprising a light source, a focusing optical element movable in an optical-axis direction by a driving mechanism, and a photodetector, and a control unit controlling driving of the mechanism and obtain the image based on a signal from the photodetector, wherein the control unit further moves the optical element in predetermined steps/continuously to obtain the image at each position, calculates frequency distribution of luminance of each of the images to detect a change characteristic of luminance values having frequencies equal or exceeding a threshold value in the frequency distribution with respect to the optical element position, and detects a focus position of the optical element based on the change characteristics to move the optical element to a position corresponding to the detected focus position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Nidek Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Yamada, Yuji Murase, Mitsuo Yamamoto, Yukihiro Higuchi, Norimasa Satake
  • Publication number: 20100110171
    Abstract: An ophthalmic photographing apparatus having a photographing unit having a projection optical system having a light source and a scanner changing a reflection direction of light and scanning an eye portion in X,Y-directions with measurement light, and an optical system having photodetectors and making the reflected light enter the photodetectors, a unit controlling the photographing unit to scan the given portion plural times in a scanning region and obtain image information pieces based on a photodetector signal, and a unit dividing the region in the X,Y-directions of each information into regions and obtain information on deviation between the image information pieces for each divided region, obtain image information for each divided region, in which deviation has been corrected, with reference to one of the image information pieces based on the deviation information, add and average the image information pieces for each corresponding divided region to obtain image information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2009
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Applicant: NIDEK CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Norimasa Satake
  • Publication number: 20100110172
    Abstract: An ophthalmic photographing apparatus having a photographing unit having an optical system having a first light source and dividing light into measurement light and reference light, guiding reference light to an optical system and measurement light to an optical system scanning an eye portion, and combining reference and measurement light into interference light, and making interference light enter a photodetector to obtain a tomographic image, a unit having an optical system having a second light source and illuminating with illumination light, and an optical system making illumination light enter a photo-detector, and obtaining a front image, a unit controlling the photographing unit to scan an X-Y scanning region and obtain 3D image information, a unit obtaining a front image based on accumulation information in a depth direction or image information on a surface portion, and comparing the images to detect a positional deviation, and means displaying deviation information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2009
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Applicant: NIDEK CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Norimasa Satake
  • Publication number: 20100014089
    Abstract: An apparatus has an optical system detecting spectral information and having an optical scanner and a driving unit changing the optical path length by moving an optical member, a monitor, a control unit obtaining a tomographic image by performing Fourier analysis on the information and displaying the obtained image, and a unit previously setting an image on the monitor, in which the member is moved from an initial position and presence or absence of the tomographic image is determined, when the presence is detected, whether the tomographic image is normal or inverted is determined, and when the tomographic image is not the set image, the member is moved to obtain the set image, and when the tomographic image is the set image, the member is moved so that a position of the tomographic image in the depth direction coincides with a predetermined adjustment position and the driving unit is stopped.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2009
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Applicant: NIDEK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Yamada, Yukihiro Higuchi, Norimasa Satake, Hisanari Torii
  • Publication number: 20090303438
    Abstract: An ophthalmic photographing apparatus comprising a photographing optical system for obtaining a regional image of an examinee's eye, comprising a light source, a focusing optical element movable in an optical-axis direction by a driving mechanism, and a photodetector, and a control unit controlling driving of the mechanism and obtain the image based on a signal from the photodetector, wherein the control unit further moves the optical element in predetermined steps/continuously to obtain the image at each position, calculates frequency distribution of luminance of each of the images to detect a change characteristic of luminance values having frequencies equal or exceeding a threshold value in the frequency distribution with respect to the optical element position, and detects a focus position of the optical element based on the change characteristics to move the optical element to a position corresponding to the detected focus position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2009
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Applicant: NIDEK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Yamada, Yuji Murase, Mitsuo Yamamoto, Yukihiro Higuchi, Norimasa Satake