Patents by Inventor Tadao Endo
Tadao Endo 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: 9134435Abstract: An image-pickup apparatus including a detector comprising a detecting unit and a reading circuit, the detecting unit including pixels, each of which including a conversion element, the reading circuit which includes a connecting unit that is electrically connected to a signal wire transferring an electric signal and that electrically connects the signal wire to a node, and which performs a reading operation to output the electric signal from the pixel. A control unit controls an operation of the reading circuit, and a sensing unit senses the end of radiation irradiation based on an output of the reading circuit, which is acquired during the period of an accumulation operation of the detector. The control unit starts establishing the electrical connection between the signal wire and the node through the connecting unit based on the sensed irradiation end, and retains the electrical connection until the start of the reading operation.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2013Date of Patent: September 15, 2015Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Sho Sato, Tadao Endo, Toshio Kameshima, Tomoyuki Yagi, Katsuro Takenaka, Atsushi Iwashita
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Patent number: 8907294Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes a detector having pixels divided into first and second pixel groups, a signal processor including a reading circuit unit including first and second reading circuits, an A/D conversion unit including first and second A/D converters, a digital data processing circuit, and a controller. The controller instructs the signal processor to perform a signal processing operation several times of adding direct current potentials to analog electric signals of pixels from the reading circuit unit, supplying the signals to the A/D conversion unit, and outputting digital data to the digital data processing circuit while the direct current potentials are changed, and an average processing operation of averaging the digital data for the pixels using the digital data processing circuit.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 2010Date of Patent: December 9, 2014Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Toshio Kameshima, Tadao Endo, Tomoyuki Yagi, Katsuro Takenaka, Keigo Yokoyama, Sho Sato
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Patent number: 8829438Abstract: An imaging operation includes a first imaging operation for outputting image data according to irradiation to the detector with radiation or light in an irradiation field A corresponding to a part of the plurality of pixels, and a second imaging operation for outputting image data according to irradiation to the detector 104 with radiation or light in an irradiation field B wider than the irradiation field A, wherein, responsive to a changing from irradiation in the irradiation field A to irradiation in the irradiation field B, an operation of the detector is controlled so that the detector performs an initializing operation for initializing conversion elements during a period between the first and second imaging operations.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2010Date of Patent: September 9, 2014Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Sho Sato, Tadao Endo, Toshio Kameshima, Masayoshi Akiyama, Tomoyuki Yagi, Katsuro Takenaka, Keigo Yokoyama
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Patent number: 8818068Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a control unit and a detector that includes multiple pixels and that performs an image capturing operation to output image data corresponding to emitted radiation or light. The image capturing operation includes a first image capturing operation in which the detector is scanned in a first scanning area corresponding to part of the multiple pixels to output image data in the first scanning area and a second image capturing operation in which the detector is scanned in a second scanning area larger than the first scanning area to output image data in the second scanning area. The control unit causes the detector to perform an initialization operation to initialize the conversion element during a period between the first image capturing operation and the second image capturing operation in accordance with switching from the first scanning area to the second scanning area.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2010Date of Patent: August 26, 2014Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Tomoyuki Yagi, Tadao Endo, Toshio Kameshima, Katsuro Takenaka, Keigo Yokoyama, Sho Sato
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Patent number: 8809795Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a transmitting path to transmit the output electric signal, and a read-out circuit performing a sampling and holding operation for holding the electric signal read out through the transmitting path, and performing a reset operation to reset the transmitting path, and includes a control unit for controlling an outputting drive circuit and a read-out circuit so as to perform the sampling and holding operation row by row after a start of the output operation, to perform the reset operation after the sampling and holding operation, and to terminate the output operation after the reset operation. This can reduce the frame time without reducing the S/N ratio of the image signal.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2009Date of Patent: August 19, 2014Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Katsuro Takenaka, Tadao Endo, Toshio Kameshima, Tomoyuki Yagi, Keigo Yokoyama
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Patent number: 8809760Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a conversion unit including a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix, each pixel including a conversion element, an output switch element, and an initialization switch element; an output drive circuit controls an output operation; an initialization drive circuit controls an initialization operation; and a readout circuit performs a signal sample-and-hold operation and a reset operation. A control unit performs termination of the output operation of a certain row and start of the output operation of another row after the termination of the reset operation, the start of the signal sample-and-hold operation after the termination of the output operation of the certain row and the start of the output operation of the other row, the start of the reset operation and the initialization operation after the termination of the signal sample-and-hold operation, and the termination of the reset operation after the termination of the initialization operation.Type: GrantFiled: September 4, 2013Date of Patent: August 19, 2014Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Katsuro Takenaka, Tadao Endo, Toshio Kameshima, Tomoyuki Yagi, Keigo Yokoyama, Sho Sato
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Patent number: 8792024Abstract: An imaging apparatus is provided, which improves correction accuracy at the time of pixel addition reading and scarcely deteriorates in resolution of the image data. This apparatus comprises: a conversion unit comprising a plurality of unit-pixels and converting an incident radiation or a light into pixel information; a signal processing unit capable of reading the pixel information for each unit-pixel, or capable of reading additional added pixel information for a plurality of unit-pixels, based on a control from a control unit for controlling a driving of the conversion unit according to a plurality of operation modes; a storage unit for storing a plurality of correction information according to the plurality of operating modes; and a correction unit for performing the correction of the pixel information based on the correction information extracted from the plurality of correct information according to the operation mode.Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 2011Date of Patent: July 29, 2014Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Katsuro Takenaka, Tadao Endo, Toshio Kameshima, Tomoyuki Yagi, Keigo Yokoyama
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Patent number: 8723996Abstract: A read out operation for reading out image data from a conversion circuit irradiated with a radiation, and a read out operation for reading out offset image data from the conversion circuit without irradiated with a radiation are selectively conducted, a control is conducted to repeat at a plurality of times the operation for reading out the offset image data, offset data corresponding to each pixel is extracted from one of the plurality of the offset image data to generate corrective offset image data such that offset data corresponding to all the pixels in a row of the matrix is not extracted from one of the plurality of offset image data, and the corrective offset image data is subtracted from the image data to perform an offset correction to render line noise less noticeable, for an offset correction without line noise by a simple signal processing to be provided.Type: GrantFiled: January 20, 2009Date of Patent: May 13, 2014Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Keigo Yokoyama, Tadao Endo, Toshio Kameshima, Tomoyuki Yagi, Katsuro Takenaka
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Patent number: 8680471Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a control unit and a detector that includes multiple pixels and that performs an image capturing operation to output image data corresponding to radiation or light that is emitted. The image capturing operation includes a first image capturing operation in a first scanning area corresponding to part of the multiple pixels to output image data in the first scanning area and a second image capturing operation in a second scanning area larger than the first scanning area to output image data in the second scanning area. The control unit causes the detector to perform an accumulation operation in the second image capturing operation in a time determined so that an image artifact caused by the scanning area is lower than a predetermined allowable value on the basis of information about the amount of integration of accumulation times in the first image capturing operation.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2013Date of Patent: March 25, 2014Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Toshio Kameshima, Tadao Endo, Tomoyuki Yagi, Katsuro Takenaka, Keigo Yokoyama, Sho Sato, Toshikazu Tamura
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Patent number: 8648947Abstract: An image-pickup apparatus including a detector comprising a detecting unit and a reading circuit, the detecting unit including pixels, each of which including a conversion element, the reading circuit which includes a connecting unit that is electrically connected to a signal wire transferring an electric signal and that electrically connects the signal wire to a node, and which performs a reading operation to output the electric signal from the pixel. A control unit controls an operation of the reading circuit, and a sensing unit senses the end of radiation irradiation based on an output of the reading circuit, which is acquired during the period of an accumulation operation of the detector. The control unit starts establishing the electrical connection between the signal wire and the node through the connecting unit based on the sensed irradiation end, and retains the electrical connection until the start of the reading operation.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 2011Date of Patent: February 11, 2014Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Sho Sato, Tadao Endo, Toshio Kameshima, Tomoyuki Yagi, Katsuro Takenaka, Atsushi Iwashita
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Publication number: 20140014845Abstract: An image-pickup apparatus including a detector comprising a detecting unit and a reading circuit, the detecting unit including pixels, each of which including a conversion element, the reading circuit which includes a connecting unit that is electrically connected to a signal wire transferring an electric signal and that electrically connects the signal wire to a node, and which performs a reading operation to output the electric signal from the pixel. A control unit controls an operation of the reading circuit, and a sensing unit senses the end of radiation irradiation based on an output of the reading circuit, which is acquired during the period of an accumulation operation of the detector. The control unit starts establishing the electrical connection between the signal wire and the node through the connecting unit based on the sensed irradiation end, and retains the electrical connection until the start of the reading operation.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 19, 2013Publication date: January 16, 2014Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Sho Sato, Tadao Endo, Toshio Kameshima, Tomoyuki Yagi, Katsuro Takenaka, Atsushi Iwashita
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Patent number: 8624991Abstract: An apparatus includes a detection unit including a plurality of pixels that are arranged in a matrix and that are divided into at least first and second pixel groups, a signal processing unit including first and second readout circuits and first and second A/D converters, a power supply unit configured to supply the components included in the signal processing unit with respective biases, and a control unit configured to control at least one of the signal processing unit and the power supply unit. The control unit is configured to perform processing of altering an analog signal capable of being input into at least one of the first and second A/D converters or altering an A/D conversion characteristic of at least one of the first and second A/D converters.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2009Date of Patent: January 7, 2014Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Toshio Kameshima, Tadao Endo, Tomoyuki Yagi, Katsuro Takenaka, Keigo Yokoyama
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Patent number: 8625742Abstract: An imaging system includes a plurality of imaging apparatuses, each of the imaging apparatuses includes a detector for performing an imaging operation for outputting image data corresponding to applied radiation or light and a controller for controlling the operation of the detector. The imaging apparatuses can independently perform an imaging operation and are movable in accordance with a relative positional relationship thereof. Sensing means obtain information indicative of the relative positional relationship between the imaging apparatuses. A control computer sends a control signal for determining operations of the imaging apparatuses to the controller. The control computer determines the operations of the imaging apparatuses by using the information obtained from the sensing means; and sets an appropriate scanning direction of each of the imaging apparatuses in accordance with the positional relationship thereof.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2011Date of Patent: January 7, 2014Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Atsushi Iwashita, Tadao Endo, Toshio Kameshima, Tomoyuki Yagi, Katsuro Takenaka, Keigo Yokoyama, Sho Sato
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Publication number: 20140001340Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a conversion unit including a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix, each pixel including a conversion element, an output switch element, and an initialization switch element; an output drive circuit controls an output operation; an initialization drive circuit controls an initialization operation; and a readout circuit performs a signal sample-and-hold operation and a reset operation. A control unit performs termination of the output operation of a certain row and start of the output operation of another row after the termination of the reset operation, the start of the signal sample-and-hold operation after the termination of the output operation of the certain row and the start of the output operation of the other row, the start of the reset operation and the initialization operation after the termination of the signal sample-and-hold operation, and the termination of the reset operation after the termination of the initialization operation.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 4, 2013Publication date: January 2, 2014Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Katsuro Takenaka, Tadao Endo, Toshio Kameshima, Tomoyuki Yagi, Keigo Yokoyama, Sho Sato
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Patent number: 8576294Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a sensor array, readout apparatus, and control circuit. The readout apparatus includes first LPFs arranged in correspondence with signal lines, an analog multiplexer, and a second LPF. The cut-off frequencies of the first and second LPFs can be switched on two stages, and the control circuit switches the cut-off frequencies of the first and second LPFs in accordance with the imaging mode.Type: GrantFiled: November 14, 2008Date of Patent: November 5, 2013Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Toshio Kameshima, Tadao Endo, Tomoyuki Yagi, Katsuro Takenaka
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Patent number: 8563915Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a conversion unit including a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix, each pixel including a conversion element, an output switch element, and an initialization switch element; an output drive circuit controls an output operation; an initialization drive circuit controls an initialization operation; and a readout circuit performs a signal sample-and-hold operation and a reset operation. A control unit performs termination of the output operation of a certain row and start of the output operation of another row after the termination of the reset operation, the start of the signal sample-and-hold operation after the termination of the output operation of the certain row and the start of the output operation of the other row, the start of the reset operation and the initialization operation after the termination of the signal sample-and-hold operation, and the termination of the reset operation after the termination of the initialization operation.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2010Date of Patent: October 22, 2013Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Katsuro Takenaka, Tadao Endo, Toshio Kameshima, Tomoyuki Yagi, Keigo Yokoyama, Sho Sato
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Publication number: 20130248727Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a control unit and a detector that includes multiple pixels and that performs an image capturing operation to output image data corresponding to radiation or light that is emitted. The image capturing operation includes a first image capturing operation in a first scanning area corresponding to part of the multiple pixels to output image data in the first scanning area and a second image capturing operation in a second scanning area larger than the first scanning area to output image data in the second scanning area. The control unit causes the detector to perform an accumulation operation in the second image capturing operation in a time determined so that an image artifact caused by the scanning area is lower than a predetermined allowable value on the basis of information about the amount of integration of accumulation times in the first image capturing operation.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 10, 2013Publication date: September 26, 2013Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Toshio Kameshima, Tadao Endo, Tomoyuki Yagi, Katsuro Takenada, Keigo Yokoyama, Sho Sato, Toshikazu Tamura
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Patent number: 8541754Abstract: An imaging system includes a detector (104) having a first area where irradiation occurs in a radiation field (A) and a second area other than the first area where irradiation occurs in a radiation field (B) and configured to output image data, and an image processing unit (601) that performs image processing on the image data. The image processing unit (601) includes a storage unit (602) that stores dark output information, a measurement unit (607) that measures the integral dose of the radiation or light applied to a pixel in the first area and the integral dose of the radiation or light applied to a pixel in the second area, and a correction unit (610) that corrects the image data, based on the dark output information obtained from the storage unit (602) and the integral doses measured by the measurement unit (607), when changing of the radiation field has occurred.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 2010Date of Patent: September 24, 2013Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Katsuro Takenaka, Tadao Endo, Toshio Kameshima, Masayoshi Akiyama, Tomoyuki Yagi, Keigo Yokoyama
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Patent number: 8488037Abstract: In order to provide a photoelectric conversion apparatus, which is an apparatus excellent in reading speed, high S/N, high tone level, and low cost, the photoelectric conversion apparatus has a photoelectric conversion circuit section comprising a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements, switching elements, matrix signal wires, and gate drive wires arranged on a same substrate in order to output parallel signals, a driving circuit section for applying a driving signal to the gate drive wire, and a reading circuit section for converting the parallel signals transferred through the matrix signal wires to serial signals to output them, wherein the reading circuit section comprises at least one analog operational amplifier connected with each of the matrix signal wires, transfer switches for transferring output signals from the respective matrix signal wires, output through each amplifier, reading capacitors, and reading switches for successively reading the signals out of the reading capacitors in the forType: GrantFiled: April 20, 2012Date of Patent: July 16, 2013Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Tadao Endo, Noriyuki Kaifu, Toshiaki Sato, Masakazu Morishita
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Patent number: 8471213Abstract: An apparatus includes a detecting unit having pixels that converts radiation or light to electric signals; a drive circuit that drives the detecting unit; a read circuit that outputs the electric signals as image signals; a power supply unit that supplies voltages to the detecting unit, the drive circuit, and the read circuit; and a control unit that controls at least the drive circuit and the power supply unit. The control unit performs a first process of stopping the voltage supply operation to the detecting unit, with the voltage supply operations to the drive circuit and the read circuit maintained; a second process of driving the detecting unit; and a third process of stopping the voltage supply operations to the drive circuit and the read circuit.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2009Date of Patent: June 25, 2013Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Tomoyuki Yagi, Tadao Endo, Toshio Kameshima, Masayoshi Akiyama, Katsuro Takenaka, Keigo Yokoyama