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).

  • Publication number: 20090166547
    Abstract: Each pixel is provided with a photoelectric converting device S1(1-1) or the like, a source-follower-type first transistor T1(1-1) or the like, a second transistor Te(1-1) to be turned on when reading an electrical signal from a pixel selected by a shift register SR1 for each line and outputting the signal to a readout circuit unit and a third transistor T3(1-1) to be turned on when resetting a photoelectric converting device set to a pixel selected by a shift register SR1 for each line. Moreover, a bias power source for supplying a photoelectric conversion bias to a photoelectric converting device and a reset power source for supplying a reset bias to a photoelectric converting device are set in the readout circuit unit. By using the radiation image pickup apparatus and its control method, it is possible to improve the S/N ratio while restraining noises and preferably, it is possible to perform stable and high-speed dynamic-image photographing and restrain dark current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2009
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Inventors: TADAO ENDO, Toshio Kameshima, Tomoyuki Yagi, Katsuro Takenaka
  • Patent number: 7550733
    Abstract: To provide a radiation imaging apparatus which is capable of both connecting state radiographing for radiographing with a C arm connected and non-connecting state radiographing for radiographing with the C arm disconnected, and is convenient and obtains high quality images, the apparatus includes: a flat panel detector; a holding unit for holding at least the flat panel detector; and a control unit for controlling the flat panel detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tadao Endo, Toshio Kameshima, Tomoyuki Yagi, Katsuro Takenaka, Keigo Yokoyama
  • Publication number: 20090146071
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus capable of reducing a line noise artifact in a simple configuration without complicated operations includes: a plurality of pixels arranged in row and column directions and having a photoelectric conversion element and a switch element; a plurality of signal wirings connected to the plurality of switch elements in the column direction; a read-out circuit connected to the plurality of signal wirings; and a power source for supplying a voltage to the photoelectric conversion element. With the configuration, the plurality of pixels are classified into a plurality of groups, and the power sources are independently provided for each of the plurality of groups.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2009
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: TOSHIO KAMESHIMA, TADAO ENDO, TOMOYUKI YAGI, KATSURO TAKENAKA, KEIGO YOKOYAMA
  • Publication number: 20090140155
    Abstract: As a radiation imaging apparatus which can easily and effectively correct a line noise, there is provided a radiation imaging apparatus having: a conversion unit having a pixel region in which a plurality of pixels each having a conversion element (202) for converting a radiation into an electric charge and a switching element (201) for outputting an electric signal based on the electric charge are arranged in a matrix; a capacitor element (301) arranged outside of the pixel region; a reading out circuit unit (108) for reading out the electric signals from the pixels row by row and reading out, in parallel, a signal from the capacitor element and the electric signal from the pixel; and a correction unit for correcting the electric signal based on the signal from the capacitor element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2008
    Publication date: June 4, 2009
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: TOMOYUKI YAGI, TADAO ENDO, TOSHIO KAMESHIMA, KATSURO TAKENAKA, KEIGO YOKOYAMA
  • Patent number: 7541595
    Abstract: As to an electromagnetic radiation detecting apparatus, a radiation detecting apparatus, a radiation detecting system and a laser processing method, a TFT is disposed on an insulating substrate. A conversion element converting electromagnetic radiation into an electric signal is disposed over the TFT. A member for marking the position of the switching element is disposed on the conversion element. The position of a switching element having a defect can be located by means of the member on the conversion element. By radiating laser light to be focused on the member, it becomes possible to perform repair accurately.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Yagi, Tadao Endo, Toshio Kameshima, Katsuro Takenaka, Keigo Yokoyama
  • Patent number: 7541591
    Abstract: An object hereof is to restrain occurrence of artifact in an acquired radiation image with comparatively simple configuration without providing wiring between a radiation source and a radiation imaging apparatus to thereby obtain a radiation image with extremely good quality. Therefore, a controller selectively carries out real read operation of reading an electric signal obtained by activating a drive circuit from a signal processing circuit unit in case of detecting X-ray irradiation with an X-ray detecting circuit and dummy read operation of reading an electric signal obtained by activating a drive circuit from a signal processing circuit unit in case of detecting X-ray non-irradiation with an X-ray detecting circuit; discontinues the dummy read operation at the time of detecting the start of X-ray irradiation with the X-ray detecting unit in dummy read operation; and starts real read operation at the time of detecting the finish of X-ray irradiation with the X-ray detecting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tadao Endo, Toshio Kameshima, Tomoyuki Yagi, Katsuro Takenaka, Keigo Yokoyama
  • Publication number: 20090121143
    Abstract: Provided is a radiation imaging apparatus including: a conversion unit including a plurality of pixels arranged two dimensionally, wherein each of the pixels includes a conversion element (S1-1) for converting an incident radiation into an electric charge and a switching element (T1-1) for transferring an electric signal based on the electric charge; a drive circuit unit (106) for outputting, to the switching element, a drive signal having a voltage for turning on the switching element; a read out circuit unit (A1, CL1, 100 and 101) for reading out the electric signal from the pixel; a calculating unit (103) for calculating S/N ratio of the electric signal read out by the read out circuit unit; and a determination unit (104, 105 and LUT) capable of changing the voltage of the drive signal output from the drive circuit unit according to the S/N ratio calculated. As a result, the radiation imaging apparatus capable of improving the S/N ratio of the derived image is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2008
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Katsuro Takenaka, Tadao Endo, Toshio Kameshima, Tomoyuki Yagi, Keigo Yokoyama
  • Patent number: 7532706
    Abstract: A correction process is performed using different gain correction signals (GSA, GSB) in accordance with radiographic modes (moving image radiographic mode/still image radiographic mode) set in an X-ray imaging apparatus, respectively. This makes it possible to acquire an image with decreased correction errors even when the X-ray imaging apparatus is configured using an imaging unit having different gain characteristics in the still image radiographic mode and moving image radiographic mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshio Kameshima, Tadao Endo, Tomoyuki Yagi, Katsuro Takenaka
  • Patent number: 7514690
    Abstract: Each pixel is provided with a photoelectric converting device or the like, a source-follower-type first transistor or the like, a second transistor to be turned on when reading an electrical signal from a pixel selected by a shift register for each line and outputting the signal to a readout circuit unit and a third transistor to be turned on when resetting a photoelectric converting device set to a pixel selected by a shift register for each line. Moreover, a bias power source for supplying a photoelectric conversion bias to a photoelectric converting device and a reset power source for supplying a reset bias to a photoelectric converting device are set in the readout circuit unit. By using the radiation image pickup apparatus and its control method, it is possible to improve the S/N ratio while restraining noises and preferably, it is possible to perform stable and high-speed dynamic-image photographing and restrain dark current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tadao Endo, Toshio Kameshima, Tomoyuki Yagi, Katsuro Takenaka
  • Patent number: 7514663
    Abstract: An image apparatus capable of improving a frame rate to prevent resolution in the predetermined area from decreasing and forming image signals outside the predetermined area has an area sensor in which a plurality of pixels is arranged in a matrix, a drive circuit unit, a read out circuit unit and a processing unit processing signals transferred from the read out circuit unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Yagi, Tadao Endo, Toshio Kameshima, Katsuro Takenaka, Keigo Yokoyama
  • Publication number: 20090086915
    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: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2008
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Katsuro Takenaka, Tadao Endo, Toshio Kameshima, Tomoyuki Yagi, Keigo Yokoyama
  • Patent number: 7512214
    Abstract: A radiography apparatus includes a conversion unit having conversion elements arranged in a row-column pattern. In an object-image reading operation, the conversion unit detects an object image based on illuminated radiations, and a drive circuit drives the conversion unit so as to allow the conversion unit to output a signal based on the object image. In an offset-data reading operation, the conversion unit detects offset data in a period when the radiations are not illuminating, and the drive circuit drives so as to allow the conversion unit to output a signal based on the offset data. When the numbers of lines driven concurrently in the object-image reading operation is represented by n (equal to 1 or greater) and the numbers of lines driven concurrently in offset-data reading operation is represented by m, the drive circuit controls the conversion unit so as to satisfy the expression: n<m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsuro Takenaka, Tadao Endo, Toshio Kameshima, Tomoyuki Yagi
  • Publication number: 20090066475
    Abstract: If image data is input to an image processor (step S1), the image processor generates an integrated image sum (step S2). The image processor extracts a maximum output max from the integrated image sum (step S3). The image processor compares the maximum output max with a preset threshold (step S4). In this case, the threshold is set to 80% of the saturation amount. When the saturation amount is 3 V, the threshold is 2.4 V. If the maximum value max is smaller than the threshold, imaging continues. If the maximum value max is equal to or larger than the threshold, the integrated image sum is cleared to 0 (step S5), and refresh operation is performed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2008
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: KATSURO TAKENAKA, Tadao Endo, Tomoyuki Yaqi, Toshio Kameshima
  • Publication number: 20090065702
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2008
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshio Kameshima, Tadao Endo, Tomoyuki Yagi, Katsuro Takenaka
  • Patent number: 7491960
    Abstract: If image data is input to an image processor (step S1), the image processor generates an integrated image sum (step S2). The image processor extracts a maximum output max from the integrated image sum (step S3). The image processor compares the maximum output max with a preset threshold (step S4). In this case, the threshold is set to 80% of the saturation amount. When the saturation amount is 3 V, the threshold is 2.4 V. If the maximum value max is smaller than the threshold, imaging continues. If the maximum value max is equal to or larger than the threshold, the integrated image sum is cleared to 0 (step S5), and a refresh operation is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsuro Takenaka, Tadao Endo, Tomoyuki Yagi, Toshio Kameshima
  • Publication number: 20090021607
    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 informations 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 informations according to the operation mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2007
    Publication date: January 22, 2009
    Applicant: CANNON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Katsuro Takenaka, Tadao Endo, Toshio Kameshima, Tomoyuki Yagi, Keigo Yokoyama
  • Publication number: 20090014661
    Abstract: A single flat panel detector provides radiation images which can correspond with various radiographic modes. In a radiation imaging apparatus including a flat panel detector which derives a radiation image according to incident radiation, a holding unit which holds the flat panel detector and a connecting mechanism capable of performing an connecting and a disconnecting between the holding unit and the flat panel detector, the flat panel detector can be controlled so that the maximum number of images of radiation images that the flat panel detector can derive when the flat panel detector is disengaged from the holding unit is smaller than the maximum number of images of radiation images that the flat panel detector can derive when the flat panel detector is held by the holding unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2007
    Publication date: January 15, 2009
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Yagi, Tadao Endo, Toshio Kameshima, Katsuro Takenaka, Keigo Yokoyama
  • Patent number: 7476660
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a composition for organ preservation, comprising an inulin type fructan as an active ingredient. The composition for organ preservation can suppress the hypofunction of an organ and damage to a histological structure and can improve the state of preservation of the organ in the course of organ transplantation and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2009
    Assignee: Meiji Seika Kaisha, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshihiko Masaki, Kazunari Yoshida, Tadao Endo, Hirofumi Nakamura, Yasuhito Tashiro
  • Patent number: 7476027
    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: May 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2009
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsuro Takenaka, Tadao Endo, Toshio Kameshima, Tomoyuki Yagi, Keigo Yokoyama
  • Patent number: 7466345
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshio Kameshima, Tadao Endo, Tomoyuki Yagi, Katsuro Takenaka