Patents by Inventor Shuzo Seo
Shuzo Seo 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).
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Patent number: 6822687Abstract: A three-dimensional image capturing device comprises a plurality of laser devices, and an imaging device, such as a CCD, having a plurality of photo-diodes. Each of the laser devices radiates a pulse modulated laser beam so as to detect distance information or data relating to a topography of a measurement subject. The laser beam is radiated onto the measurement subject and a reflected light beam is sensed by the CCD. Signal charge corresponding to a distance from the image capturing device to the measurement subject is accumulated in each of the photo-diodes, and thus the above distance information is sensed. Each laser beam, respectively radiated from each of the laser devices, shares illuminating area at the distance of the measurement subject, so that radiant energy of each laser beam can be reduced by sharing a single distance measurement operation among the plurality of laser devices.Type: GrantFiled: July 7, 2000Date of Patent: November 23, 2004Assignee: PENTAX CorporationInventors: Shinichi Kakiuchi, Shuzo Seo, Nobuhiro Tani
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Patent number: 6819869Abstract: A three-dimensional image-capturing device using a pattern projection method is provided. The device is comprised of a camera and an adapter mounted on the lens barrel of the camera. The first-half area of the camera's CCD captures a pattern image in the invisible range. The second-half area of the CCD captures a texture image in the visible range. The adapter bifurcates the light path of the camera into first and second light paths. A first filter cuts off visible light rays and is disposed in the first light path. A second filter cuts off invisible light rays and is disposed in the second light path. The first and second light paths lead light to the first and second-half areas, respectively. A pattern and texture image are captured simultaneously while a predetermined pattern in the invisible range is projected onto a subject from a pattern projection device of the adapter.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 2002Date of Patent: November 16, 2004Assignee: PENTAX CorporationInventor: Shuzo Seo
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Patent number: 6812964Abstract: A three-dimensional image capturing device comprises an imaging device, such as a CCD, having a plurality of photo-diodes, a vertical transfer unit and a substrate. An electric charge discharging signal and an electric charge transfer signal are periodically output, respectively. Due to the electric charge discharging signal, unwanted charge accumulated in the photo-diodes is discharged to the substrate. A distance measuring light beam is radiated on a measurement subject, and a reflected light beam from the measurement subject is sensed by the CCD, so that electric charge, corresponding to distance information from the device to the measurement subject, is accumulated in the photo-diodes. The electric charge is transferred to a vertical transfer unit due to the electric charge transfer signal.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2000Date of Patent: November 2, 2004Assignee: PENTAX CorporationInventors: Nobuhiro Tani, Shuzo Seo, Shinichi Kakiuchi
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Patent number: 6778219Abstract: A three-dimensional image capturing device obtains distance information of a standard subject, to which the distance from the device to each point of a surface of the standard subject is known. Based on the distance information of the standard subject, correction data is sensed, which is an error of distance information sensed when using a measurement subject, to which the distance from the device to each point of a surface of the standard subject is unknown. A distance measurement is performed for the measurement subject, so that distance information is obtained. The distance information of the measurement subject is corrected using the correction data.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 2000Date of Patent: August 17, 2004Assignee: PENTAX CorporationInventors: Shuzo Seo, Nobuhiro Tani, Shinichi Kakiuchi
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Patent number: 6741287Abstract: An electronic still camera includes a camera body having a photographic optical system, and a monitor device detachably attached to the camera body. The monitor device has an image indication portion in which an object image obtained by the photographic optical system can be indicated. The monitor device can be electrically connected to the camera body when the monitor device is attached to the camera body and is rotatable about a rotation axis provided in the camera body within a predetermined range of angular displacement. The monitor device can be detachably attached to the camera body in any direction within the predetermined angular displacement range.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2000Date of Patent: May 25, 2004Assignee: PENTAX CorporationInventors: Atsushi Fuchimukai, Shuzo Seo
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Patent number: 6734450Abstract: A three-dimensional image capturing device comprises a light source for irradiating a distance measuring light beam to a subject. The light source has a plurality of light source rings, each of which is formed of a plurality of LEDs. The LEDs are annularly disposed along an outer periphery of a lens barrel. The ratio of the intensities of light beams irradiated by the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth light source rings is 1:2:4:8:16. The intensity of the distance measuring light beam irradiated by the light source rings is modulated by selecting the light source rings to be turned ON, so that the intensity of the distance measuring light beam changes in accordance with the time.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 2002Date of Patent: May 11, 2004Assignee: PENTAX CorporationInventors: Shinichi Kakiuchi, Shuzo Seo, Nobuhiro Tani, Kiyoshi Yamamoto
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Patent number: 6721007Abstract: A three-dimensional image capturing device comprises an imaging device, such as a CCD, having a plurality of photo-diodes, a vertical transfer unit and a substrate. First and second electric charge discharging signals and an electric charge transfer signal are periodically output, respectively. Due to the first electric charge discharging signal, unwanted charge accumulated in the photo-diodes is discharged to the substrate. An output of the electric charge transfer signal is started before the end of the output of the first electric charge discharging signal, and ends after the start of the output of the second electric charge discharging signal. A reflected light beam, generated by a measurement subject due to a distance measuring light beam, is sensed by the photo-diodes. Due to the second electric charge discharging signal, the electric charge accumulation in the photo-diodes ends.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2000Date of Patent: April 13, 2004Assignee: PENTAX CorporationInventors: Nobuhiro Tani, Shuzo Seo, Shinichi Kakiuchi
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Patent number: 6714324Abstract: A film scanner for scanning images formed on a film is provided with a film type identifying system that automatically identifies a type of a film to be scanned, and a scanning condition setting system that automatically sets a scanning condition in accordance with the type of the film identified by the film type identifying system.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2000Date of Patent: March 30, 2004Assignee: PENTAX CorporationInventors: Yuichi Kurosawa, Yasuhiro Yamamoto, Shuzo Seo
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Publication number: 20040042053Abstract: A film scanner includes a light source, an illumination optical system which illuminates a film surface of a film with a light bundle emitted from the light source after the light bundle is varied in accordance with a film size of the film, and an image pickup optical system which makes the light bundle transmitted through the film surface incident upon an image pickup element after the light bundle is varied in accordance with the size of an effective area of the image pickup element.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 22, 2003Publication date: March 4, 2004Applicant: PENTAX CorporationInventor: Shuzo Seo
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Publication number: 20040040410Abstract: A positioning mechanism includes a moving body which can be moved in accordance with a drive force supplied from a drive source, a stopper which defines a movement extremity of the moving body, and a biasing device which engages with the moving body when the moving body is moved to the vicinity of the movement extremity and which converts, after engagement, the force from the moving body into a force to bias the moving body toward the stopper.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 26, 2003Publication date: March 4, 2004Applicant: PENTAX CorporationInventor: Shuzo Seo
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Patent number: 6700621Abstract: A digital camera for electrically photographing an image, which includes an electrical photography unit and a display unit having a liquid crystal display (LCD). The display unit is disposed in a camera body and the electrical photography unit is disposed in a swing cover attached to the body. The swing cover is rotatable between an angle of complete closure of the LCD and an angle of disclosure of the LCD.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 1999Date of Patent: March 2, 2004Assignee: PENTAX CorporationInventor: Shuzo Seo
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Patent number: 6683676Abstract: A three-dimensional image capturing device comprises a light source irradiating a pulsed light beam, which is reflected by a measurement subject to generate a reflected light beam pulse. In a first distance information sensing operation, a first reflected light component (E1), which corresponds to a distance from the device to the measurement subject and contains a fall of said reflected light beam pulse, is sensed. In a second distance information sensing operation, a second reflected light component (E2), which corresponds to the distance and containing a rise of the reflected light beam pulse, is sensed. The lengths of periods for sensing the reflected light components are identical. A normalized distance information is obtained by calculating (E1)/(E2).Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 2000Date of Patent: January 27, 2004Assignee: Pentax CorporationInventor: Shuzo Seo
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Publication number: 20030072570Abstract: A stereo camera with an automatic convergence adjusting device is provided. A stereo-image is captured by a CCD through a stereo adapter. A fiducial light beam in a plane of symmetry which includes a perpendicular bisector line of a segment between the viewpoints of the right and left parallax images, is projected onto a subject from light-emitting equipment. A fiducial spot produced by the fiducial light beam is imaged on both the right and left parallax images and the image loci of the fiducial spot are detected. The convergence of the stereo adapter is adjusted with reference to the image loci of the fiducial mark.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 11, 2002Publication date: April 17, 2003Applicant: PENTAX CorporationInventor: Shuzo Seo
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Publication number: 20030072569Abstract: A three-dimensional image-capturing device using a pattern projection method is provided. The device is comprised of a camera and an adapter mounted on the lens barrel of the camera. The first-half area of the camera's CCD captures a pattern image in the invisible range. The second-half area of the CCD captures a texture image in the visible range. The adapter bifurcates the light path of the camera into first and second light paths. A first filter cuts off visible light rays and is disposed in the first light path. A second filter cuts off invisible light rays and is disposed in the second light path. The first and second light paths lead light to the first and second-half areas, respectively.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 11, 2002Publication date: April 17, 2003Applicant: PENTAX CorporationInventor: Shuzo Seo
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Publication number: 20020186976Abstract: An image-capturing device comprises a photographing lens, a first imaging device, a second imaging device, and a diaphragm. The photographing lens forms subject images on the first and second imaging device. The first imaging device receives light rays of the infrared rays spectrum through the photographing lens and captures a subject images formed by the infrared rays spectrum. The second imaging device receives light rays of the visible rays spectrum through the photographing lens and captures a subject images formed by the visible rays spectrum. The diaphragm is mounted in the photographing optical system and forms a first area and a second area. The first area transmits light rays of the infrared and visible rays spectrum. The second area selectively transmits either of light rays of the infrared or visible rays spectrum.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 3, 2002Publication date: December 12, 2002Applicant: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Shuzo Seo
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Publication number: 20020171740Abstract: A stereo-image capturing device comprises an on-chip color filter attached CCD, a photographing optical system, and an aperture disk. The on-chip color filter comprises red (R), green (G), and blue (B) color filters, so that the CCD senses images in R, G, and B colors. The photographing optical system produces R, G, and B color images of a subject on the imaging surface of the CCD. The aperture disk has three apertures and they have R, G, and B color filters.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 15, 2002Publication date: November 21, 2002Applicant: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Shuzo Seo
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Publication number: 20020148947Abstract: A three-dimensional image capturing device comprises a light source for irradiating a distance measuring light beam to a subject. The light source has a plurality of light source rings, each of which is formed of a plurality of LEDs. The LEDs are annularly disposed along an outer periphery of a lens barrel. The ratio of the intensities of light beams irradiated by the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth light source rings is 1:2:4:8:16. The intensity of the distance measuring light beam irradiated by the light source rings is modulated by selecting the light source rings to be turned ON, so that the intensity of the distance measuring light beam changes in accordance with the time.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 1, 2002Publication date: October 17, 2002Applicant: ASAHI KOGAKU KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Shinichi Kakiuchi, Shuzo Seo, Nobuhiro Tani, Kiyoshi Yamamoto
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Publication number: 20020149694Abstract: A three-dimensional image-capturing device comprises R, G, and B light sources, a CCD, a light-source control processor, a CCD drive circuit, and a distance-information sensing processor. Each of the RGB light sources radiates pulse modulated R, G, and B distance-measurement light beams to a measurement subject. The R, G, and B color filtered pixels of the CCD senses RGB light beams. The RGB light sources are controlled to emit the B, G, and R distance-measurement light beams successively and continuously. The CCD drive circuit controls the CCD to accumulate electric charges of the reflected light beams in a predetermined accumulation period, so that the at least one of RGB distance-measurement light beams is sensed by the CCD. The distance-information sensing processor calculates distance information of the measurement subject by using electric charges accumulated in RGB pixels which are adjacently arranged.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 15, 2002Publication date: October 17, 2002Applicant: ASAHI KOGAKU KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Shuzo Seo
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Patent number: 6456368Abstract: A three-dimensional image capturing device performs sensing operations of a first reflected light beam component and a second reflected light beam component. In the sensing operation of the first reflected light beam component, the pulse shape of a distance measuring light beam is triangular. The electric charge accumulating period starts at the same time as the disappearance of a pulse of the distance measuring light beam, and ends after the disappearance of a pulse of the reflected light beam. In the sensing operation of the second reflected light beam component, the pulse shape of a correction light beam is rectangular. The electric charge accumulating period starts at the same time as the disappearance of a pulse of the correction light beam, and ends after the disappearance of a pulse of the reflected light beam. A signal charge obtained by the first reflected light beam component sensing operation is divided by a signal charge obtained by the second reflected light beam component sensing operation.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2001Date of Patent: September 24, 2002Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Shuzo Seo
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Patent number: 6437853Abstract: A three-dimensional image capturing device which performs a distance measurement in first and second modes. In the first distance measurement mode, an electric charge accumulation period starts at the fall of a pulse of a distance measuring light beam, and ends after the fall of a pulse of a reflected light beam. In the second distance measurement mode, an electric charge accumulation period starts earlier than the fall of a pulse of the distance measuring light beam, by a predetermined time, and ends after the fall of a pulse of the reflected light beam. Based on a ratio of a first accumulated electric charge amount, obtained by the first distance measurement mode, to a second accumulated electric charge amount, obtained by the second distance measurement mode, the three-dimensional image is obtained.Type: GrantFiled: December 26, 2000Date of Patent: August 20, 2002Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Shuzo Seo