Patents by Inventor Suguru Dowaki

Suguru Dowaki 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: 11513330
    Abstract: Disclosed is a technology for illuminating a specimen in a desired uniform illumination pattern and capturing an image of a wide field of view in a low background illumination environment. Provided, for example, is a fluorescence microscope apparatus including a first illumination optics, a second illumination optics, and an imaging optics. The first illumination optics includes a first light source for exciting fluorescence in a specimen, a spatial light modulation element, and a first illumination optical member for uniformly illuminating the spatial light modulation element. The second illumination optics includes a second illumination optical member for forming an image of a light beam from the spatial light modulation element on a specimen surface. The imaging optics includes an imaging optical member and an imaging element. The imaging optical member captures an image of the specimen surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Suguru Dowaki
  • Patent number: 11487095
    Abstract: An optical microscope device includes: a first illumination optical system including a light source that emits illumination light for illuminating a specimen an LCOS spatial light modulation element that controls a polarization state of the illumination light, a first illumination optical member that uniformly illuminates the LCOS spatial light modulation element, and a polarization optical element that controls a transmission state of the illumination light directed to the specimen from the LCOS spatial light modulation element in response to the polarization state of the illumination light; a second illumination optical system including a second illumination optical member that images a light flux from the first illumination optical system on a specimen surface; and an imaging optical system for imaging the specimen surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Suguru Dowaki
  • Publication number: 20220028501
    Abstract: A medical support system (1000) according to an embodiment includes: a scanner (110) configured to scan an evaluation piece into which a specimen is processed and acquire an evaluation piece image; a server (120) configured to compare specimen information on the specimen and evaluation piece information that is obtained from the evaluation piece image and output a comparison result; and a display device (130) configured to present the comparison result to a user is provided. This makes it possible to reduce work of an operator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2019
    Publication date: January 27, 2022
    Inventor: SUGURU DOWAKI
  • Publication number: 20210294085
    Abstract: An optical microscope device (10) according to the present disclosure includes: a first illumination optical system (13A) including a light source (101) that emits illumination light for illuminating a specimen including biomaterials changing their functions in response to light, an LCOS spatial light modulation element (113) that controls a polarization state of the illumination light, a first illumination optical member that uniformly illuminates the LCOS spatial light modulation element, and a polarization optical element that controls a transmission state of the illumination light directed to the specimen from the LCOS spatial light modulation element in response to the polarization state of the illumination light; a second illumination optical system (13B) including a second illumination optical member that images a light flux from the first illumination optical system (13A) on a specimen surface; and an imaging optical system (13C) for imaging the specimen surface, the imaging optical including an imagi
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2019
    Publication date: September 23, 2021
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Suguru Dowaki
  • Patent number: 10890750
    Abstract: An observation system includes a microscope optical system, an image pickup unit, an image pickup control unit, a detection unit, and an observation control unit. The image pickup unit is configured to take an image of a field-of-view range of the microscope optical system. The image pickup control unit is configured to cause the image pickup unit to take images of an observation sample in the field-of-view range at a plurality of focal positions and generate detection images. The detection unit is configured to detect a three-dimensional position of an observation target object in the observation sample from the detection images. The observation control unit is configured to fit the field-of-view range of the microscope optical system to the three-dimensional position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Kyoto University
    Inventors: Suguru Dowaki, Shiori Oshima, Eriko Matsui, Tatsutoshi Nakahata, Megumu Saito, Akira Niwa
  • Patent number: 10852695
    Abstract: There is provided an image processing apparatus including a motion detector that detects motion of an observation target from a hologram of the observation target, a hologram processing unit that extracts a portion of the hologram based on a result obtained by detecting the motion of the observation target, and a reconstruction unit that reconstructs an image from a portion of the extracted hologram.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hirokazu Tatsuta, Takeshi Kunihiro, Suguru Dowaki, Eriko Matsui
  • Publication number: 20200225456
    Abstract: Disclosed is a technology for illuminating a specimen in a desired uniform illumination pattern and capturing an image of a wide field of view in a low background illumination environment. Provided, for example, is a fluorescence microscope apparatus including a first illumination optics, a second illumination optics, and an imaging optics. The first illumination optics includes a first light source for exciting fluorescence in a specimen, a spatial light modulation element, and a first illumination optical member for uniformly illuminating the spatial light modulation element. The second illumination optics includes a second illumination optical member for forming an image of a light beam from the spatial light modulation element on a specimen surface. The imaging optics includes an imaging optical member and an imaging element. The imaging optical member captures an image of the specimen surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2018
    Publication date: July 16, 2020
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Suguru Dowaki
  • Publication number: 20190049897
    Abstract: There is provided an image processing apparatus including: a motion detector configured to detect motion of an observation target from a hologram of the observation target; a hologram processing unit configured to extract a portion of the hologram based on a result obtained by detecting the motion of the observation target; and a reconstruction unit configured to reconstruct an image from a portion of the extracted hologram.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2017
    Publication date: February 14, 2019
    Inventors: HIROKAZU TATSUTA, TAKESHI KUNIHIRO, SUGURU DOWAKI, ERIKO MATSUI
  • Patent number: 10202572
    Abstract: A culture container includes a first transparent member being capable of keeping a predetermined temperature; a second transparent member facing to the first transparent member; a housing member to which the first transparent member and the second transparent member are adhered forming a culture space being capable of housing a well plate together with the first transparent member and the second transparent member; and a sealing member for sealing a liquid injected into the culture space between the first transparent member and the housing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Eiichi Tanaka, Shinsuke Haga, Shin Hasegawa, Tatsuya Minakawa, Suguru Dowaki, Eriko Matsui
  • Patent number: 10200604
    Abstract: To provide an image processing apparatus, an image processing program, an image processing method, and a microscopic system that are capable of acquiring a high-resolution image that is suitable for scientific verification. An image processing apparatus according to the present technology includes an image conversion unit and an image generation unit. The image conversion unit converts a first picked-up image and a second picked-up image into frequency components, the first picked-up image being obtained by picking up an image of an observation target object with first illumination light via a microscope optical system, the second picked-up image being obtained by picking up an image of the observation target object with second illumination light via the microscope optical system, the second picked-up image having a contrast in a low frequency band lower than that of the first picked-up image and a contrast in a high frequency band higher than that of the first picked-up image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Hirokazu Tatsuta, Suguru Dowaki, Eriko Matsui
  • Patent number: 10175164
    Abstract: As a result of acquiring visible absorption spectra of red blood cells and analyses of the spectra, inventors of the present disclosure have discovered the fact that echinocytes show a characteristic spectrum pattern having an absorption peak in a wavelength region of 450 to 490 nm between Soret and Q bands. Then, the present disclosure provides a blood analysis apparatus having an analysis section for detecting the absorption peak of a visible absorption spectrum acquired for blood. In accordance with this blood analysis apparatus, on the basis of the absorption peak, it is possible to detect echinocytes contained in blood.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Eriko Matsui, Tomohiro Hayakawa, Suguru Dowaki, Hirokazu Tatsuta, Takeshi Kunihiro
  • Patent number: 10151910
    Abstract: An observation apparatus according to the present technology includes a microscope optical system, an imaging unit, a spectroscopic unit, and a detection unit. The imaging unit captures an image via the microscope optical system. The spectroscopic unit acquires an absorption spectrum or a Raman spectrum in an ultraviolet, visible, or infrared area via the microscope optical system. The detection unit detect an observation target object in an observed sample by using the absorption spectrum or the Raman spectrum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Suguru Dowaki, Eriko Matsui, Hirokazu Tatsuta, Masanobu Tamai, Kazuhiro Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 9930241
    Abstract: [Object] To provide an image processing apparatus, an image processing program, and an image processing method capable of obtaining three-dimensional information of an observation target object. [Solving Means] An image processing apparatus includes a difference calculation unit and a difference distribution generation unit. The difference calculation unit calculates, for each of pixels that constitute a pickup image in each of a plurality of pickup images taken at different focal depths, a difference of a luminance value from an adjacent pixel. A difference image generation unit generates, on the basis of the difference and the focal depth at which the pickup image including the pixel whose difference is calculated is taken, a distribution of the difference with respect to the focal depth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Shiori Oshima, Eriko Matsui, Suguru Dowaki, Tomohiro Hayakawa
  • Publication number: 20170351081
    Abstract: An observation system includes a microscope optical system, an image pickup unit, an image pickup control unit, a detection unit, and an observation control unit. The image pickup unit is configured to take an image of a field-of-view range of the microscope optical system. The image pickup control unit is configured to cause the image pickup unit to take images of an observation sample in the field-of-view range at a plurality of focal positions and generate detection images. The detection unit is configured to detect a three-dimensional position of an observation target object in the observation sample from the detection images. The observation control unit is configured to fit the field-of-view range of the microscope optical system to the three-dimensional position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2017
    Publication date: December 7, 2017
    Inventors: Suguru DOWAKI, Shiori OSHIMA, Eriko MATSUI, Tatsutoshi NAKAHATA, Megumu SAITO, Akira NIWA
  • Patent number: 9766174
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an optical measuring device including: a light applying section configured to apply exciting light to a sample flowing in a channel; and a scattered light detecting section configured to detect scattered light generated from the sample irradiated with the exciting light on the downstream side of the sample in the traveling direction of the exciting light; the scattered light detecting section including a scattered light separating mask for separating the scattered light into a low numerical aperture component having a numerical aperture not greater than a specific value and a high numerical aperture component having a numerical aperture greater than the specific value; a first detector for detecting the low numerical aperture component; and a second detector for detecting the high numerical aperture component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Shunpei Suzuki, Shingo Imanishi, Gakuji Hashimoto, Suguru Dowaki
  • Patent number: 9753267
    Abstract: An observation system includes a microscope optical system, an image pickup unit, an image pickup control unit, a detection unit, and an observation control unit. The image pickup unit is configured to take an image of a field-of-view range of the microscope optical system. The image pickup control unit is configured to cause the image pickup unit to take images of an observation sample in the field-of-view range at a plurality of focal positions and generate detection images. The detection unit is configured to detect a three-dimensional position of an observation target object in the observation sample from the detection images. The observation control unit is configured to fit the field-of-view range of the microscope optical system to the three-dimensional position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Kyoto University
    Inventors: Suguru Dowaki, Shiori Oshima, Eriko Matsui, Tatsutoshi Nakahata, Megumu Saito, Akira Niwa
  • Patent number: 9678325
    Abstract: An analysis apparatus includes a two-dimensional coordinate detecting unit and a three-dimensional coordinate determining unit. The two-dimensional coordinate detecting unit is configured to detect, with respect to a captured image group obtained by capturing an analysis specimen including an analysis target object at a plurality of focal depths, a two-dimensional coordinate candidate being a candidate of a plane coordinate of the analysis target object in each captured image. The three-dimensional coordinate determining unit is configured to determine, based on a position relationship of the plane coordinate candidates between the captured images, a three-dimensional coordinate candidate being a candidate of a three-dimensional coordinate of the analysis target object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Shiori Oshima, Suguru Dowaki, Eriko Matsui
  • Patent number: 9617508
    Abstract: A culture container includes a first transparent member being capable of keeping a predetermined temperature; a second transparent member facing to the first transparent member; a housing member to which the first transparent member and the second transparent member are adhered forming a culture space being capable of housing a well plate together with the first transparent member and the second transparent member; and a sealing member for sealing a liquid injected into the culture space between the first transparent member and the housing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Eiichi Tanaka, Shinsuke Haga, Shin Hasegawa, Tatsuya Minakawa, Suguru Dowaki, Eriko Matsui
  • Publication number: 20170085789
    Abstract: To provide an image processing apparatus, an image processing program, an image processing method, and a microscopic system that are capable of acquiring a high-resolution image that is suitable for scientific verification. An image processing apparatus according to the present technology includes an image conversion unit and an image generation unit. The image conversion unit converts a first picked-up image and a second picked-up image into frequency components, the first picked-up image being obtained by picking up an image of an observation target object with first illumination light via a microscope optical system, the second picked-up image being obtained by picking up an image of the observation target object with second illumination light via the microscope optical system, the second picked-up image having a contrast in a low frequency band lower than that of the first picked-up image and a contrast in a high frequency band higher than that of the first picked-up image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2015
    Publication date: March 23, 2017
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Hirokazu Tatsuta, Suguru Dowaki, Eriko Matsui
  • Publication number: 20170075097
    Abstract: A phase-contrast microscope includes a light source, an objective lens having a numerical aperture (NA), a condenser annulus having an annular light-transmission region, and a phase plate having a first annular phase-shift region. The annular phase-shift region is arranged to receive radiation from the sample region at an angle from the sample region corresponding to greater than one-half of the NA of the objective lens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2015
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Suguru Dowaki, Hirokazu Tatsuta, Eriko Matsui