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).

  • Patent number: 8436314
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshio Kameshima, Tadao Endo, Tomoyuki Yagi, Katsuro Takenaka, Keigo Yokoyama, Sho Sato, Toshikazu Tamura
  • Publication number: 20120241639
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes a detector that includes a detection unit having a plurality of pixels in which conversion elements are included and a driving circuit that drives the detection unit and that executes an image pickup operation for outputting electrical signals, and a temperature control unit that includes a heating section that heats the conversion elements and that controls, before the image pickup operation begins, the temperature of the conversion elements by controlling the heating section such that the heating section heats the conversion elements in order to cause the temperature of the conversion elements before the image pickup operation begins to be higher than the temperature of the conversion elements during the image pickup operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2012
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Yagi, Tadao Endo, Toshio Kameshima, Katsuro Takenaka, Sho Sato, Atsushi Iwashita
  • Patent number: 8274033
    Abstract: Disclosed is a photoelectric converter. According to the present invention, a photoelectric converter comprises a plurality of substrates, which are located adjacent to each other and on which a plurality of photoelectric conversion devices are two-dimensionally arranged, either scan circuits or detection circuits, at least, that are arranged on two opposing sides of the photoelectric converter, whereby scanning directions either from the scan circuits or from the detection circuits, which are arranged on the two opposing sides, are capable of being set so as to be performed in like directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Isao Kobayashi, Noriyuki Kaifu, Shinichi Takeda, Kazuaki Tashiro, Tadao Endo, Toshio Kameshima
  • Publication number: 20120217413
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2010
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshio Kameshima, Tadao Endo, Tomoyuki Yagi, Katsuro Takenaka, Keigo Yokoyama, Sho Sato
  • Patent number: 8247779
    Abstract: A radiation imaging apparatus having high frame rate and picture quality by offset correction has: a sensor array having matrix-shaped pixels each including a converting element and a TFT; a driver for supplying signals to control terminals of the TFTs row by row; a reader for holding a signal in a first or second sampling/holding (S/H) circuit and outputting an image signal; and a controller for controlling the driver and reader. Until the image signal is output after irradiation of the apparatus with pulsating radiation, the TFT of a pixel is driven so as to output a first signal, the TFT of the pixel to which the first signal has been output is driven so as to output a second electric signal, and the reader outputs the image signal of the signal showing a difference between the first and second signals held in the first and second S/H circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshio Kameshima, Tadao Endo, Tomoyuki Yagi, Katsuro Takenaka, Keigo Yokoyama
  • Publication number: 20120206608
    Abstract: 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 for
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2012
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tadao Endo, Noriyuki Kaifu, Toshiaki Sato, Masakazu Morishita
  • Publication number: 20120199749
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshio Kameshima, Tadao Endo, Tomoyuki Yagi, Katsuro Takenaka, Keigo Yokoyama, Sho Sato, Toshikazu Tamura
  • Patent number: 8232529
    Abstract: An idling time period after applying a bias to a conversion element until a start of an accumulation of the conversion element for deriving an image and an accumulation period from the start of the accumulation to a termination of the accumulation are measured. An offset correction of the image is conducted by using a dark current accumulation charge quantity in the accumulation calculated based on the measured idling time period and accumulation period and stored dark current response characteristics. Thus, even just after applying the bias to the conversion element, the offset correction can be properly conducted. An imaging apparatus which can execute a good radiographing without increasing costs and a size even just after applying the bias to the conversion element is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsuro Takenaka, Tadao Endo, Toshio Kameshima, Tomoyuki Yagi, Keigo Yokoyama
  • Patent number: 8227757
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a detector, having a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix, for performing first and second radiography operations, a bias light source, and a control unit that controls the operation of the detector and the bias light source. In the first radiography operation, image data corresponding to radiation in a first radiation field corresponding to some of the pixels is output. In the second radiography operation, image data corresponding to radiation in a second radiation field larger than the first radiation field is output. In accordance with a change from the first radiation field to the second radiation field, the operation of the bias light source is controlled so that the irradiation with the bias light is performed during a period between the first and second radiography operations at a bias-light integral dose determined based on radiation integral dose information in the first radiography operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Keigo Yokoyama, Tadao Endo, Toshio Kameshima, Masayoshi Akiyama, Tomoyuki Yagi, Katsuro Takenaka, Sho Sato
  • Patent number: 8222611
    Abstract: To provide a radiation imaging apparatus capable of restraining the change of image qualities due to the change of sensitivities of an MIS-type photoelectric conversion element and its control method. Therefore, an MIS-type photoelectric conversion element 217 is set to a saturation state before performing radiation imaging. As means for realizing the above mentioned, a light source 601, power supply 603 for making the light source 601 emit light, and switch 605 are provided. The light source 601 can use a light source capable of discharging the light having a wavelength which can be detected by a photoelectric conversion layer 209 at optional timing. For example, it is possible to use a light source in which a plurality of LEDs or cold cathode ray tubes are arranged, a light guide plate is combined with an LED or cold cathode ray tube, or an EL device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Yagi, Tadao Endo, Toshio Kameshima, Katsuro Takenaka, Keigo Yokoyama
  • Publication number: 20120170827
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2010
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Yagi, Tadao Endo, Toshio Kameshima, Katsuro Takenaka, Keigo Yokoyama, Sho Sato
  • Publication number: 20120138811
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2010
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Katsuro Takenaka, Tadao Endo, Toshio Kameshima, Masayoshi Akiyata, Tomoyuki Yagi, Keigo Yokoyama
  • Publication number: 20120127353
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2011
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Sho Sato, Tadao Endo, Toshio Kameshima, Tomoyuki Yagi, Katsuro Takenaka, Atsushi Iwashita
  • Patent number: 8179469
    Abstract: 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 for
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tadao Endo, Noriyuki Kaifu, Toshiaki Sato, Masakazu Morishita
  • Patent number: 8167486
    Abstract: When a gain correction is performed for the radiographed object image, the acquisition of the object image having a high grade quality and no artifact is realized. For that purpose, an image storing unit is provided for storing an image for correction radiographed based on conditions set with the table in a state in which no object exists to each operation modes of the plurality of operation modes; and an image processing unit is provided for performing a gain correction processing of the radiographed object image and performs the gain correction processing of the radiographed object image obtained based on the conditions set in the table of the operation mode selected by the selecting unit in a state in which the object exists using a corresponding image for correction extracted from the image storage unit based on the operation mode selected by the selecting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsuro Takenaka, Tadao Endo, Toshio Kameshima, Tomoyuki Yagi, Keigo Yokoyama
  • Publication number: 20120075600
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a detector in which a plurality of pixels are arranged in a matrix; each pixel includes a conversion element that converts radiation or light into an electric charge. The detector performs an exposure imaging operation for outputting exposure image data, a correction imaging operation for outputting correction image data, and a correction imaging preparation operation including an initialization operation for initializing the conversion element between the exposure imaging operation and the correction imaging operation. A correction unit corrects the exposure image data using the correction image data; and a control unit controls the operation of the detector so that the detector performs the initialization operation based on an amount of variation in offset of the conversion element at the time of transitioning from an exposure imaging preparation operation to the exposure imaging operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2011
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Sho Sato, Tadao Endo, Toshio Kameshima, Tomoyuki Yagi, Katsuro Takenaka, Keigo Yokoyama, Atsushi Iwashita
  • Publication number: 20120044392
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2011
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Katsuro Takenaka, Tadao Endo, Toshio Kameshima, Tomoyuki Yagi, Keigo Yokoyama
  • Patent number: 8107588
    Abstract: There is provided a radiation imaging apparatus delivering an output image with a satisfactory image quality irrespective of the dosage of the X-rays incident on the detector. The radiation imaging apparatus according to the present invention includes a detection unit for detecting as an image signal an X-ray irradiated from the an X-ray generation apparatus and penetrating through an object; a read out unit for amplifying and reading out the image signal detected by the detection unit; and a control unit for controlling at least one of the X-ray generation apparatus, the detection unit and the read out unit such that the obtained SN ratio of the image signal according to the dosage of the X-rays incident on the detector can be equal to the S/N ratio required for the image signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshio Kameshima, Tadao Endo, Tomoyuki Yagi, Katsuro Takenaka, Keigo Yokoyama
  • Patent number: 8093562
    Abstract: The invention intends to be able to perform a gain correction fully adequately. Hence, at the time of radiographing an object, a gain correction of the object image is performed based on a gain correction image (XRc1) derived by performing a light reset. On the other hand, at the time of radiographing an object, when a light reset is not performed, a gain correction of the object image is performed based on a gain correction image (XRc2) derived without performing the light reset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Keigo Yokoyama, Tadao Endo, Toshio Kameshima, Tomoyuki Yagi, Katsuro Takenaka
  • Publication number: 20110317054
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus 100 includes a detector 104 having a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix and performing an imaging operation of outputting image data according to the radiation or light emitted in a predetermined irradiation field; and a controller unit 106, and performs a first imaging operation for outputting image data according to the radiation in a narrower irradiation field A corresponding to part of pixels and a second imaging operation for outputting image data according to the radiation in a wider irradiation field B, under controlling the detector to perform an accumulation operation during the second imaging operation so that a step of image is a preliminarily set tolerable quantity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2010
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshio Kameshima, Tadao Endo, Masayoshi Akiyama, Tomoyuki Yagi, Katsuro Takenaka, Keigo Yokoyama, Sho Sato, Toshikazu Tamura