Patents by Inventor Seiichiro Kimoto

Seiichiro Kimoto 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).

  • Publication number: 20100029236
    Abstract: A receiving apparatus is for selecting and receiving a radio signal in a frame structure having an information body part including at least information body and an additional part including information for receiving field intensity measurement by using a plurality of antennas. The apparatus includes a controller that measures a receiving field intensity of not a first antenna which has received the information body in a transmission period of the additional part in a current frame but a second antenna, and measures a receiving field intensity of the first antenna in a transmission period of the information body part in the current frame, and if the receiving field intensity of the second antenna exceeds the receiving field intensity of the first antenna, selects and changes to the second antenna as the first antenna of a next frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2009
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Applicant: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Seiichiro Kimoto, Toshiaki Shigemori, Ayako Nagase, Manabu Fujita, Akira Matsui, Kazutaka Nakatsuchi
  • Publication number: 20100030025
    Abstract: A capsule medical device includes a capsule casing that contains an illumination board, an imaging board, a transmission board, and a control board on which functional components are mounted, and a sheet-like battery that supplies power to the functional components. The sheet-like battery is rolled up to be a pole shape and located between cutout parts of the imaging board, the transmission board, and the control board and the inner wall of the capsule casing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2009
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Applicant: OLYMPUS MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORP.
    Inventors: Hidetake SEGAWA, Ayako NAGASE, Hironao KAWANO, Seiichiro KIMOTO
  • Publication number: 20100016661
    Abstract: An object of the invention is to receive, with a high sensitivity, a radio signal transmitted within a short time before a capsule endoscope reaches the stomach of a subject and acquire, in a satisfactory state, information on the interior of the subject such as image data picked up by the capsule endoscope. The receiving apparatus according to the invention includes a plurality of receiving antennas including a specified receiving antenna for receiving a radio signal from a capsule endoscope before the stomach is reached, a switching controller, an arrival determining unit and a mode switching unit. The switching controller performs a control operation for switching to and maintaining the receiving antenna in an initial mode or a control operation for switching to the receiving antennas in a normal mode. The arrival determining unit determines whether the capsule endoscope has reached the stomach or not.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2006
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Inventors: Ayako Nagase, Seiichiro Kimoto, Manabu Fujita, Toshiaki Shigemori, Akira Matsui, Kazutaka Nakatsuchi
  • Publication number: 20090312604
    Abstract: A portable simplified image display apparatus and a receiving system are provided, which can sensuously know the state of received strength of radio signals transmitted from a body-insertable apparatus, in either case of before examination or during examination. A viewer (7) includes a detector that detects received strength of a radio signal transmitted from a capsule endoscope (2) and a notifying unit that notifies the detected state of received strength in a display pattern such as a picture display of a capsule (41). Therefore, in either case of before examination or during examination, the state of received strength of radio signals transmitted from the capsule endoscope (2) can be sensuously known according to the notification result of the state of received strength. If it is during examination, supplementary observation can be performed based on an excellent received image by searching a site having strong received strength, thereby enabling contribution to satisfactory examination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2006
    Publication date: December 17, 2009
    Inventors: Seiichiro Kimoto, Manabu Fujita, Ayako Nagase, Kazutaka Nakatsuchi, Akira Matsui, Toshiaki Shigemori
  • Publication number: 20090292167
    Abstract: A capsule medical apparatus includes a function executing unit, a secondary battery, a power input unit, and a connecting circuit. The function executing unit performs a predetermined function. The secondary battery supplies electric power to the function executing unit. The power input unit receives electric power to charge the secondary battery. The connecting circuit releasably connects the secondary battery and the power input unit, and releases a connection between the secondary battery and the power input unit to inhibit charging the secondary battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2009
    Publication date: November 26, 2009
    Applicant: OLYMPUS MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORP.
    Inventor: Seiichiro KIMOTO
  • Patent number: 7603160
    Abstract: An intra-subject position display system for displaying a position of an intra-subject device, which is introduced into a subject and moves therein, wherein a relative position of the intra-subject device to an outer surface of the subject is detected and displayed. The position of the intra-subject device is displayed in a relation with the outer surface of the subject. Thereby, it is possible to easily determine in which site of the subject the intra-subject device exists. The present invention is effective to recognize a position of, for example, a capsule type endoscope or a test capsule therefor in the subject (e.g., a human body). To recognize the outer surface of the subject, for example, a plurality of radio devices are arranged on the outer surface of the subject and their radio signals are analyzed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Katsuya Suzuki, Katsuyoshi Sasagawa, Takemitsu Honda, Katsumi Hirakawa, Seiichiro Kimoto, Ayako Nagase, Kazutaka Nakatsuchi
  • Publication number: 20090253960
    Abstract: An antenna unit includes a receiving antenna which receives in-vivo information of a subject transmitted from a capsule medical apparatus, a wireless-signal generator which receives the in-vivo information of the subject received by the receiving antenna and generates a wireless signal including the received in-vivo information, a power supply unit which supplies power for the wireless signal generator, an outer covering on which the receiving antenna, the wireless-signal generator, the transmitting antenna, and the power supply unit are mounted. The power supply unit is flexible and can be transformed easily according to transformation of the outer covering.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2009
    Publication date: October 8, 2009
    Applicant: OLYMPUS MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORP.
    Inventors: Tomoya TAKENAKA, Masatoshi HOMAN, Seiichiro KIMOTO
  • Patent number: 7596359
    Abstract: A receiving apparatus is for selecting and receiving a radio signal in a frame structure having an information body part including at least information body and an additional part including information for receiving field intensity measurement by using a plurality of antennas. The apparatus includes a controller that measures a receiving field intensity of not a first antenna which has received the information body in a transmission period of the additional part in a current frame but a second antenna, and measures a receiving field intensity of the first antenna in a transmission period of the information body part in the current frame, and if the receiving field intensity of the second antenna exceeds the receiving field intensity of the first antenna, selects and changes to the second antenna as the first antenna of a next frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Seiichiro Kimoto, Toshiaki Shigemori, Ayako Nagase, Manabu Fujita, Akira Matsui, Kazutaka Nakatsuchi
  • Publication number: 20090225158
    Abstract: An in-vivo image acquiring apparatus includes an operation control unit which controls a black image acquiring operation, in which the operation control unit controls an imaging unit and an illuminating unit in such a manner the imaging unit conducts an image acquiring operation in a state the illuminating unit does not conduct an illuminating operation. The in-vivo image acquiring apparatus also includes an average calculating unit which calculates the average value of pixel value in a predetermined determining area, and a black image determining unit, which determines whether the image information acquired by the image acquiring operation is the black image by comparing the average value with a predetermined threshold value. The image information determined as the black image by the black image determining unit is transmitted, as the black image information, to an external apparatus by radio.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2009
    Publication date: September 10, 2009
    Applicant: OLYMPUS MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORP.
    Inventor: Seiichiro KIMOTO
  • Patent number: 7570171
    Abstract: The invention provides a receiving apparatus that can suppress data loss when an antenna is detached. When a non-connection of an antenna is detected (step S103: Yes) after a recording operation is started (step S101: Yes), the receiving apparatus operates a warning unit to issue a warning to a user to the effect that the antenna is detached (step S105). Therefore, the receiving apparatus does not issue a warning (step S102) when there is no problem even when the antenna is detached, such as when an examination is not yet started (step S101: No). When the antenna is detached in a state that the use of the antenna is essential during an examination, the receiving apparatus notifies the user such as a subject about this fact, thereby prompting the user to correct the connection of the antenna. As a result, the data loss when the antenna is detached can be suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Seiichiro Kimoto, Toshiaki Shigemori, Manabu Fujita, Akira Matsui, Kazutaka Nakatsuchi, Ayako Nagase
  • Publication number: 20090163771
    Abstract: A communication apparatus (3) arranged outside a subject (1) has an external device (32) which sequentially transmits control signals. A capsule endoscope (2) is introduced inside the subject (1). Thereafter, a system control circuit controls a driving of an intra-capsule function executing circuit so as to start driving at a previously set given time, by supplying driving power to the intra-capsule function executing circuit to control the driving thereof based on a result of detection by a control-signal detecting circuit which is provided in the capsule endoscope (2) and which detects a discontinuous state of input of the control signals. Thus, a collection and transmission of images inside the subject can be performed accurately.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2005
    Publication date: June 25, 2009
    Applicant: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Seiichiro Kimoto, Takeshi Mori, Noriyuki Fujimori
  • Publication number: 20090099418
    Abstract: An in-vivo information acquiring apparatus includes an information acquiring unit that acquires in-vivo information; a power source that supplies a power to the information acquiring unit; a magnetic sensor unit that outputs a control signal corresponding to a state in which a magnetic signal externally input is detected; a pulse number counting unit that counts the number of pulses of pulse signals from the magnetic sensor unit. When the number of pulses counted by the pulse counting unit is not smaller than a predetermined number, a state in which the power from the power source is supplied to the information acquiring unit is switched to a state in which the power from the power source to the information acquiring unit is cut off.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2008
    Publication date: April 16, 2009
    Applicant: OLYMPUS MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORP.
    Inventor: Seiichiro KIMOTO
  • Publication number: 20090076352
    Abstract: A receiving apparatus that can prevent beforehand that a portable recording medium is erroneously ejected during examination, and can prevent body cavity image data from being lost and the portable recording medium from being damaged is provided. When an ejection operation of the portable recording medium is detected (step S103: Yes) during a recording operation (step S101: Yes), a warning unit is operated before the portable recording medium is ejected to give a warning to a user so as not to perform the ejection operation (step S105). Accordingly, the portable recording medium can be prevented beforehand from being ejected during the recording operation, thereby preventing body cavity image data from being lost and the portable recording medium from being damaged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2006
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Applicant: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Manabu Fujita, Toshiaki Shigemori, Seiichiro Kimoto, Ayako Nagase, Akira Matsui, Kazutaka Nakatsuchi
  • Publication number: 20090077128
    Abstract: An object of this invention is to enable prohibiting an editing processing and an update processing from being performed on original data held while copy data obtained by copying the held original data is being output to the outside. An image display apparatus according to this invention includes an image display function of displaying a series of images obtained by imaging an interior of a digestive canal of a subject at time series, and includes a storage unit 15 that stores therein a dataset including in-vivo information on the subject, an output processor 16f, and a lock processor 16g. The output processor 16f outputs the copy data obtained by copying a part of or all of the dataset. The lock processor 16g performs a data lock processing for prohibiting change in the dataset stored in the storage unit 15 if the copy data is output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2006
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Inventor: Seiichiro Kimoto
  • Publication number: 20090051691
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to be able to output moving image data that enables a desired image group partially included in all intra-subject images to be played as a moving image. An image display apparatus according to the present invention includes an image display function of displaying a series of images obtained by picking up an interior of a digestive canal of a subject at time series, and includes an input unit 11, an image extracting unit 16e, and an image file generator 16b. The input unit 11 inputs image designation information for designating one or more central images from among the series of images. The image extracting unit 16e extracts one or more partial image groups in which the central images designated by the image designation information are arranged at respective centers, from the series of images.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2006
    Publication date: February 26, 2009
    Inventor: Seiichiro Kimoto
  • Patent number: 7492320
    Abstract: A coaxial cable A12 of a receiving antenna A1, a resin plate A13, and a connecting unit cover A15 are fused by thermal treatment, so that a gap between the outer coating of the coaxial cable A12 and the connecting unit cover A15, and a gap between the resin plate A13 and the connecting unit cover A15 are eliminated, whereby they are integrally configured. An antenna of the antenna unit, a coaxial cable, and a connecting unit cover are fused for coverage, and thereby it becomes possible to improve drip-proofness of the antenna unit by preventing water from entering from the gap between these materials when disinfectant is sprayed by misting, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventor: Seiichiro Kimoto
  • Publication number: 20090027486
    Abstract: An image display apparatus 4 includes a control unit 15 having an image display controller 15a and an image processing controller 15b so that an imaging period where an image of interest is present can be recognized easily. The image display controller 15a displays a time bar 27 as a time scale indicating an imaging period of a series of intra-subject images; and a landmark button 29 as an appending unit that appends marker information indicating an image of interest to a main display image 23 displayed in a main display area 22. The image display controller 15a controls, based on the imaging time point of the image of interest appended with the marker information, to display a display area before the imaging point or a display area after the imaging point on the time bar 27 so as to be discriminable from other display areas on the time bar 27.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2006
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Inventors: Katsumi Hirakawa, Seiichiro Kimoto
  • Publication number: 20090019381
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to simplify an input operation for creating a report for a subject. An image display apparatus according to the present invention has an image display function for displaying a series of images capturing the alimentary canal of the subject along a time-series, and includes a group processor 16d and a report preparing unit 16c. The group processor 16d sets a plurality of images selected from the series of images to be one group to enable a predetermined process per unit of such group. The report preparing unit 16c, with respect to the plurality of images which are grouped by the group processor 16d, appends a desired comment on the plurality of images by performing a predetermined process per unit of the group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2006
    Publication date: January 15, 2009
    Inventor: Seiichiro Kimoto
  • Publication number: 20090012360
    Abstract: To provide a receiving apparatus capable of dealing with various uses with a simple configuration. The receiving apparatus includes an antenna unit and a receiving apparatus main body. The antenna unit includes a receiving antenna that receives a radio signal including image data transmitted by a capsule endoscope inserted in a subject, and the receiving apparatus main body is detachably attached to the antenna unit. The antenna unit functions such that it demodulates the radio signal received via the receiving antenna into a baseband signal. The receiving apparatus main body acquires the image data based on at least the baseband signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2005
    Publication date: January 8, 2009
    Inventors: Seiichiro Kimoto, Akira Matsui
  • Publication number: 20090002177
    Abstract: The invention provides a receiving apparatus that can suppress data loss when an antenna is detached. When a non-connection of an antenna is detected (step S103: Yes) after a recording operation is started (step S101: Yes), the receiving apparatus operates a warning unit to issue a warning to a user to the effect that the antenna is detached (step S105). Therefore, the receiving apparatus does not issue a warning (step S102) when there is no problem even when the antenna is detached, such as when an examination is not yet started (step S101: No). When the antenna is detached in a state that the use of the antenna is essential during an examination, the receiving apparatus notifies the user such as a subject about this fact, thereby prompting the user to correct the connection of the antenna. As a result, the data loss when the antenna is detached can be suppressed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2006
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Inventors: Seiichiro Kimoto, Toshiaki Shigemori, Manabu Fujita, Akira Matsui, Kazutaka Nakatsuchi, Ayako Nagase