Patents by Inventor Sakae Okazaki

Sakae Okazaki 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: 10912450
    Abstract: There is provided a control device including: an autofocus control section configured to execute an autofocus operation by moving at least one optical member; and an autofocus operation determination section configured to determine whether it is possible for the autofocus operation to bring biological tissue into focus, the biological tissue serving as an object. In a case where the autofocus operation determination section determines that it is not possible for the autofocus operation to bring the object into focus, the autofocus control section moves the at least one optical member to a predicted focal position set in advance in accordance with a purpose of imaging to make it possible to further improve convenience of a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignees: SONY CORPORATION, SONY OLYMPUS MEDICAL SOLUTIONS INC.
    Inventors: Sakae Okazaki, Hirotaka Hirano, Takahiro Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 10568492
    Abstract: [Object] To control the focal position of an optical system with a more favorable aspect, in accordance with the band targeted for observation. [Solution] A medical observation device includes: a computation section that applies, to an imaging signal corresponding to each of a plurality of different spectral components based on a light receiving result regarding observation target light from a subject in vivo from an image sensor, weights of the plurality of spectral components corresponding to a band targeted for observation from among bands in the observation target light, and computes an evaluation value indicating a degree of being in-focus on a basis of the imaging signal to which the weights are applied; and a control section that controls, on a basis of the evaluation value, a position of at least one optical member in an optical system that forms an image of the observation target light from the subject onto the image sensor, and thereby controls a focal position of the optical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignees: SONY CORPORATION, SONY OLYMPUS MEDICAL SOLUTIONS INC.
    Inventors: Sakae Okazaki, Toshio Katayama, Hirotaka Hirano, Takahiro Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20190216301
    Abstract: There is provided a control device including: an autofocus control section configured to execute an autofocus operation by moving at least one optical member; and an autofocus operation determination section configured to determine whether it is possible for the autofocus operation to bring biological tissue into focus, the biological tissue serving as an object. In a case where the autofocus operation determination section determines that it is not possible for the autofocus operation to bring the object into focus, the autofocus control section moves the at least one optical member to a predicted focal position set in advance in accordance with a purpose of imaging to make it possible to further improve convenience of a user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2019
    Publication date: July 18, 2019
    Applicants: SONY CORPORATION, SONY OLYMPUS MEDICAL SOLUTIONS INC.
    Inventors: Sakae OKAZAKI, Hirotaka HIRANO, Takahiro YAMAMOTO
  • Patent number: 10278566
    Abstract: [Object] To make it possible to further improve convenience of a user. [Solution] There is provided a control device including: an autofocus control section configured to execute an autofocus operation by moving at least one optical member; and an autofocus operation determination section configured to determine whether it is possible for the autofocus operation to bring biological tissue into focus, the biological tissue serving as an object. In a case where the autofocus operation determination section determines that it is not possible for the autofocus operation to bring the object into focus, the autofocus control section moves the at least one optical member to a predicted focal position set in advance in accordance with a purpose of imaging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignees: SONY CORPORATION, SONY OLYMPUS MEDICAL SOLUTIONS INC.
    Inventors: Sakae Okazaki, Hirotaka Hirano, Takahiro Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20180278785
    Abstract: A communication control device includes a communication unit, an acquiring unit, and an adjusting unit. The communication unit transfers first image data acquired from a first processing unit to an external controller of a system, receives second image data transferred from the external controller during an interval between pieces of the first image data transferred in predetermined units, and transfers the received second image data to a second processing unit. The system includes the communication control device and the external controller connected to the communication control device by a half-duplex communication line. The acquiring unit acquires a length of a transfer period for transferring the second image data. The adjusting unit adjusts timing of acquiring the first image data in accordance with the length of the transfer period acquired by the acquiring unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2017
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masatoshi SUZUKI, Sakae OKAZAKI, Yuichi SUGIYAMA, Masahiro SUZUKI, Yoshiaki MORITA, Toshitsugu KIKUCHI, Yasunori ASADA, Shunsuke KASAHARA
  • Publication number: 20180278784
    Abstract: A communication control device includes a communication unit, a reception unit, and a controller. The communication unit transfers first image data obtained from a first processing device to an external control device for each portion among portions that are predetermined transfer units, and transfers second image data transferred from the external control device to a second processing device, the communication control device and the external control device being included in a system and being connected to each other via a communication line for half-duplex communication. The reception unit receives a signal that is transmitted during an interval between the portions of the first image data. The controller performs control so as to start obtaining the second image data transferred from the external control device in a case where the signal is received by the reception unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2017
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masatoshi SUZUKI, Sakae OKAZAKI, Yuichi SUGIYAMA, Masahiro SUZUKI, Yoshiaki MORITA, Toshitsugu KIKUCHI, Yasunori ASADA, Shunsuke KASAHARA
  • Publication number: 20180270390
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a switching unit and a controller. The information processing apparatus performs a data sending and receiving operation with an external apparatus via a data line which is compliant with a predetermined standard. The switching unit switches the information processing apparatus to a host device or a non-host device in accordance with a state of the information processing apparatus. The controller controls a data sending and receiving operation performed with the external apparatus. The controller controls a data sending and receiving operation for a host device when the information processing apparatus is switched to the host device. The controller controls a data sending and receiving operation for a non-host device when the information processing apparatus is switched to the non-host device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2017
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sakae OKAZAKI, Shunsuke KASAHARA, Yuichi SUGIYAMA, Masahiro SUZUKI, Masatoshi SUZUKI, Yasunori ASADA, Yoshiaki MORITA, Toshitsugu KIKUCHI
  • Publication number: 20180146844
    Abstract: [Object] To control the focal position of an optical system with a more favorable aspect, in accordance with the band targeted for observation. [Solution] A medical observation device includes: a computation section that applies, to an imaging signal corresponding to each of a plurality of different spectral components based on a light receiving result regarding observation target light from a subject in vivo from an image sensor, weights of the plurality of spectral components corresponding to a band targeted for observation from among bands in the observation target light, and computes an evaluation value indicating a degree of being in-focus on a basis of the imaging signal to which the weights are applied; and a control section that controls, on a basis of the evaluation value, a position of at least one optical member in an optical system that forms an image of the observation target light from the subject onto the image sensor, and thereby controls a focal position of the optical system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2016
    Publication date: May 31, 2018
    Applicants: SONY CORPORATION, SONY OLYMPUS MEDICAL SOLUTIONS INC.
    Inventors: Sakae OKAZAKI, Toshio KATAYAMA, Hirotaka HIRANO, Takahiro YAMAMOTO
  • Publication number: 20180084979
    Abstract: [Object] To make it possible to further improve convenience of a user. [Solution] There is provided a control device including: an autofocus control section configured to execute an autofocus operation by moving at least one optical member; and an autofocus operation determination section configured to determine whether it is possible for the autofocus operation to bring biological tissue into focus, the biological tissue serving as an object. In a case where the autofocus operation determination section determines that it is not possible for the autofocus operation to bring the object into focus, the autofocus control section moves the at least one optical member to a predicted focal position set in advance in accordance with a purpose of imaging.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2016
    Publication date: March 29, 2018
    Applicants: SONY CORPORATION, SONY OLYMPUS MEDICAL SOLUTIONS INC.
    Inventors: Sakae OKAZAKI, Hirotaka HIRANO, Takahiro YAMAMOTO
  • Patent number: 9091984
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes the following elements. An apparatus body implements plural functions including an image reading function, an image forming function, and a display function in accordance with operations requested by a user. A controller controls first, second, and third power states. An obtaining unit obtains information concerning paper. A first control unit controls the plural functions so that, when the plural functions are returned from the third to the second power state, the display function is returned to the second power state without being synchronized with the other functions and an operation requested by the user is received before the other functions are returned to the second power state. A second control unit controls the other functions so that, if the image forming function is required for executing an operation requested by the user, the operation is executed after the obtaining unit obtains the information concerning paper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masafumi Ono, Masayuki Isogai, Shinichi Kinoshita, Hidenobu Kanda, Keita Kumokiri, Yohei Hirota, Kazuo Fukawa, Hiroyuki Tanaka, Sakae Okazaki, Kenji Kuroishi
  • Patent number: 9069303
    Abstract: Provided is an image processing apparatus including a mode switching unit that selectively switches a mode between a rapid heating mode and a heat accumulating mode in a fixing unit, a receiving unit that receives an image formation request received from the outside, an extracting unit that extracts mode switching determination information at the earliest from the image formation request received by the receiving unit, a selecting unit that selects the mode based on the mode switching determination information extracted by the extracting unit, specifications of the fixing device, and a current temperature, and a switching control unit that controls the mode switching unit based on the mode selected by the selecting unit to switch the mode to the rapid heating mode or the heat accumulating mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kenji Kuroishi, Sakae Okazaki, Masafumi Ono, Yohei Hirota, Hidenobu Kanda, Hiroyuki Tanaka, Keita Kumokiri, Shinichi Kinoshita, Kazuo Fukawa
  • Patent number: 8755703
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an image forming section, a fixing section, a mode switching section that selectively switches a fixing mode between a fast heating mode and a heat accumulation mode, a selecting section that selects the fast heating mode or heat accumulation mode based on the relationship between operation expressions F1+P1×N and W+F2+P2×N, where N is the number of sheets to process, F1 is the time from instruction of processing in fast heating mode to processing start, P1 is the per-sheet processing time in fast heating mode, W is the warm-up time for the heat accumulation mode, F2 is the time from instruction of processing in heat accumulation mode to processing start, and P2 is the per-sheet processing time in heat accumulation mode, and a switching controller that controls the mode switching section to switch to the fast heating or heat accumulation mode based on the selected mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinichi Kinoshita, Masafumi Ono, Kenji Kuroishi, Kazuo Fukawa, Keita Kumokiri, Hiroyuki Tanaka, Yohei Hirota, Sakae Okazaki, Hidenobu Kanda
  • Patent number: 8565589
    Abstract: A zoom tracking controller includes a lens position acquiring unit that acquires the positions of a first zoom lens and a first focus lens, a cam curve storage unit that stores at least one reference cam curve, a normalizing unit that normalizes the acquired first zoom lens position and first focus lens position to a zoom lens position and a focus lens position on one of at least one reference cam curve according to a first cam curve and the reference cam curve, a focused lens position determining unit that determines second zoom lens and second focus lens positions on a second cam curve from the normalized zoom lens and focus lens positions according to the second cam curve and reference cam curve, and a lens controller that respectively moves the second zoom lens and second focus lens to the determined second zoom lens position and second focus lens position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Sakae Okazaki
  • Publication number: 20130216252
    Abstract: Provided is an image processing apparatus including a mode switching unit that selectively switches a mode between a rapid heating mode and a heat accumulating mode in a fixing unit, a receiving unit that receives an image formation request received from the outside, an extracting unit that extracts mode switching determination information at the earliest from the image formation request received by the receiving unit, a selecting unit that selects the mode based on the mode switching determination information extracted by the extracting unit, specifications of the fixing device, and a current temperature, and a switching control unit that controls the mode switching unit based on the mode selected by the selecting unit to switch the mode to the rapid heating mode or the heat accumulating mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2012
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kenji KUROISHI, Sakae OKAZAKI, Masafumi ONO, Yohei HIROTA, Hidenobu KANDA, Hiroyuki TANAKA, Keita KUMOKIRI, Shinichi KINOSHITA, Kazuo FUKAWA
  • Publication number: 20130164012
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an image forming section, a fixing section, a mode switching section that selectively switches a fixing mode between a fast heating mode and a heat accumulation mode, a selecting section that selects the fast heating mode or heat accumulation mode based on the relationship between operation expressions F1+P1×N and W+F2+P2×N, where N is the number of sheets to process, F1 is the time from instruction of processing in fast heating mode to processing start, P1 is the per-sheet processing time in fast heating mode, W is the warm-up time for the heat accumulation mode, F2 is the time from instruction of processing in heat accumulation mode to processing start, and P2 is the per-sheet processing time in heat accumulation mode, and a switching controller that controls the mode switching section to switch to the fast heating or heat accumulation mode based on the selected mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2012
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinichi KINOSHITA, Masafumi ONO, Kenji KUROISHI, Kazuo FUKAWA, Keita KUMOKIRI, Hiroyuki TANAKA, Yohei HIROTA, Sakae OKAZAKI, Hidenobu KANDA
  • Publication number: 20120182567
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes the following elements. An apparatus body implements plural functions including an image reading function, an image forming function, and a display function in accordance with operations requested by a user. A controller controls first, second, and third power states. An obtaining unit obtains information concerning paper. A first control unit controls the plural functions so that, when the plural functions are returned from the third to the second power state, the display function is returned to the second power state without being synchronized with the other functions and an operation requested by the user is received before the other functions are returned to the second power state. A second control unit controls the other functions so that, if the image forming function is required for executing an operation requested by the user, the operation is executed after the obtaining unit obtains the information concerning paper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2011
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masafumi ONO, Masayuki ISOGAI, Shinichi KINOSHITA, Hidenobu KANDA, Keita KUMOKIRI, Yohei HIROTA, Kazuo FUKAWA, Hiroyuki TANAKA, Sakae OKAZAKI, Kenji KUROISHI
  • Publication number: 20120170921
    Abstract: A zoom tracking controller includes a lens position acquiring unit that acquires the positions of a first zoom lens and a first focus lens, a cam curve storage unit that stores at least one reference cam curve, a normalizing unit that normalizes the acquired first zoom lens position and first focus lens position to a zoom lens position and a focus lens position on one of at least one reference cam curve according to a first cam curve and the reference cam curve, a focused lens position determining unit that determines second zoom lens and second focus lens positions on a second cam curve from the normalized zoom lens and focus lens positions according to the second cam curve and reference cam curve, and a lens controller that respectively moves the second zoom lens and second focus lens to the determined second zoom lens position and second focus lens position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2011
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Sakae OKAZAKI
  • Publication number: 20070273783
    Abstract: The present invention allows for increasing an autofocus-response characteristic. An image-pickup sensor makes exposures ex 11 and ex12 (FIG. 7C) in synchronization with a video-vertical-synchronization signal VP1 (FIG. 7A). A camera-signal processing unit reads video signals obtained through the exposures ex11 and ex12 at timings VR12 and VR 21, respectively (FIG. 7D). An AF-detection unit captures a high-frequency component of a video signal corresponding to an AF-detection-reduction gate frame (hereinafter simply referred to as a gate frame) at the timing of the gate frame, rectifies and detects the high-frequency component, and generates a focus-evaluation value immediately after the gate-frame timing. An AF module captures a plurality of the focus-evaluation values at the timing of an AF module AF 2 (FIG. 7F), generates an autofocus-control signal LD3 which brings a focus position near to a focusing position (FIG. 7G), and moves a focus lens on the basis of the autofocus-control signal LD3.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2005
    Publication date: November 29, 2007
    Inventors: Sakae Okazaki, Makibi Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20070216795
    Abstract: The present invention makes it possible to enhance the automatic focusing response characteristic. An image pickup sensor performs light exposure ex11 and ex12 in synchronization with an image vertical synchronizing signal VP (waveform A in FIG. 7). A camera signal processing section reads out the image signal obtained by the light exposure ex11 at a timing VR12 (waveform D in FIG. 7). An AF detection section extracts high-frequency components of an image signal corresponding to an AF detection reduction gate frame (hereinafter referred to simply as gate frame) at a timing of the gate frame and performs rectification detection. Then the AF detection section produces a focus evaluation value just after the timing of the gate frame. An AF module fetches the produced focus evaluation value at a timing of an AF module 21 (waveform F in FIG. 7), and produces an automatic focusing control signal LD22 for bringing a focusing position close to an in-focus position (waveform G in FIG.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2005
    Publication date: September 20, 2007
    Inventor: Sakae Okazaki
  • Patent number: 5930401
    Abstract: A detecting unit generates defference data between optical black level of digital input data and a predetermined black level and generates .gamma. characteristics selection signal. An offset signal obtained from the difference is added to the input data by an adding circuit. A .gamma. characteristics setting unit is supplied with the difference data and the output signal of the adding circuit and outputs a signal in which a white level, black level and .gamma. characteristics are corrected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tadashi Morishige, Tadashi Yokouchi, Toshiya Akiba, Sakae Okazaki, Toshiyuki Iijima, Kazumasa Miyazaki, Kayo Ishii