Patents by Inventor Takao Kuwabara
Takao Kuwabara 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: 8198596Abstract: An imaging system comprises: an imaging unit for producing an image within a given field of view; an image defect detector for detecting a defective area from a first image that is produced by the imaging unit without a subject in the given field of view; a size enlarging unit for forming a deemed defective area having an enlarged size consisting of pixels of the first image corresponding to a defective area detected by the image defect detector and at least one of pixels adjacent to these pixels; and an image defect correcting unit for correcting a second image produced by the imaging unit with a subject located within the given view of field according to a deemed defective area formed by the size enlarging unit.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 2009Date of Patent: June 12, 2012Assignee: Fujifilm CorporationInventors: Takao Kuwabara, Nobuyuki Iwasaki
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Publication number: 20120082295Abstract: There is provided a radiographic imaging apparatus including: a radiation source configured to separately emit high energy radiation and low energy radiation by virtue of inverse Compton scattering; an imaging section configured to separately capture a radiographic image with the high energy radiation and a radiographic image with the low energy radiation that are emitted from the radiation source onto a same site to be imaged; and an image processing section configured to perform image processing in which an energy subtraction image is produced by performing a weighting calculation such that the radiographic image captured with the high energy radiation and the radiographic image captured with the low energy radiation by the imaging section are weighted for corresponding pixels according to a distance from a center of the radiation emitted from the radiation source.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 4, 2011Publication date: April 5, 2012Applicant: FUJIFILM CorporationInventors: Toshitaka Agano, Takao Kuwabara
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Publication number: 20120076267Abstract: Disclosed is a technique for correcting a pixel defect in the capture of two radiological images with parallax therebetween. Radiation beam is directly radiated to a radiation detector 15 in two radiographing directions, without passing through a subject, thereby acquiring two defect detecting radiological images. A pixel defect in each of the two defect detecting radiological images is detected in advance. A pixel position where the pixel defect occurs is stored in advance so as to be associated with each radiographing direction. Then, radiation beam is radiated to the subject from the two radiographing directions to acquire two radiological images for diagnosis. A target pixel which is disposed at the stored pixel position where the pixel defect occurs in each of the two radiological images for diagnosis is corrected.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2011Publication date: March 29, 2012Applicant: FUJIFILM CORPORATIONInventors: Takao KUWABARA, Wataru Ito, Masahiko Yamada, Yasunori Ohta, Takeshi Kamiya, Tetsuro Kusunoki
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Publication number: 20120075293Abstract: In an adjustment method of a stereoscopic display used for stereoscopic display and an adjustment device used therefore, the burden on an observer can be reduced. An adjustment method of a stereoscopic display having a light output unit for a right eye which outputs a light signal for the right eye and a light output unit for a left eye which outputs a light signal for the left eye includes: performing first measurement for measuring the luminance of the light signal for the right eye; performing second measurement for measuring the luminance of the light signal for the left eye; acquiring first and second representative luminance values corresponding to each other by the first and second measurements, respectively; and adjusting an output of the light output unit such that a difference between the first and second representative luminance values falls within a predetermined range.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 15, 2011Publication date: March 29, 2012Applicant: FUJIFILM CORPORATIONInventors: Takao KUWABARA, Wataru ITO, Masahiko YAMADA, Yasunori OHTA, Takeshi KAMIYA, Tetsuro KUSUNOKI
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Publication number: 20120068079Abstract: A high quality stereo image is displayed by a radiation imaging apparatus that obtains an image for two dimensional observation and two images for stereo display while using a grid. An input section 7 receives input of a user's dominant eye. Radiation image data obtained by imaging with an imaging angle of 0° is employed for an image for the dominant eye during stereo image display, and radiation image data corresponding to the eye opposite the user's dominant eye, from between radiation image data obtained by imaging with an imaging angle of +4° or +4°, are employed for an image for the other eye, to display a stereo image of a breast on a monitor 9.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 21, 2011Publication date: March 22, 2012Inventors: Toshitaka AGANO, Takao Kuwabara, Yasuko Yahiro, Yasunori Ohta, Akira Hasegawa
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Publication number: 20120051502Abstract: In a mammography system including a face guard, it is possible to prevent a human subject whose head is in close contact with the face guard from losing her posture and being in an unstable state. In a mammography system which includes a shield member for preventing radiation from being irradiated onto the face of the human subject, a radiation source which irradiates radiation is moved, such that, when radiation in two radiographing directions is irradiated from two focal positions distant from the chest wall of the human subject in a forward direction, the shield member is configured to be fixed at a predetermined position in the forward direction without being interlocking with the movement of the radiation source.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 26, 2011Publication date: March 1, 2012Applicant: FUJIFILM CORPORATIONInventors: Yasunori OHTA, Wataru Ito, Masahiko Yamada, Takao Kuwabara, Takeshi Kamiya, Tetsuro Kusunoki
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Publication number: 20120051613Abstract: Stereoscopic images of a pair of left and right breasts are displayed in a comparatively readable manner by matching the sense of depths of each stereoscopic image. In a mammography displaying system that captures a plurality of images having parallax for each of a pair of left and right breasts while a pair of the left and right breasts are compressed, respectively and displays a stereoscopic image having a plurality of images regarding one of the breasts and a stereoscopic image having a plurality of images regarding the other breast on display unit in a comparatively readable manner, there are provided compressed thickness detection unit 34 for detecting compressed thicknesses for each of the breasts when images are captured; and imaging control unit 2a and 31 for capturing a plurality of images by enlarging parallax as the detected compressed thickness is small.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 29, 2011Publication date: March 1, 2012Applicant: FUJIFILM CORPORATIONInventors: Takeshi KAMIYA, Wataru ITO, Masahiko YAMADA, Takao KUWABARA, Tetsuro KUSUNOKI, Yasunori OHTA
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Patent number: 8121256Abstract: Offset correction based on offset correction data is performed on radiographic image data that have been read out from a radiation image detector, and the offset correction data are updated. In the offset correction method, correction data for low-frequency components and correction data for high-frequency components, as the offset correction data, are generated based on offset image data that have been read out from the radiation image detector while the radiation image detector is not irradiated with radiation. Further, the correction data for low-frequency components and the correction data for high-frequency components are separately updated.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2009Date of Patent: February 21, 2012Assignee: FUJIFILM CorporationInventors: Hideyuki Yamada, Takao Kuwabara
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Publication number: 20110054943Abstract: When radiography is performed on a patient at a radiography apparatus, first, a past collected radiation dose for the patient and a past collected radiation dose for a region of the patient on which radiography will be performed are extracted from a database. Judgment is made as to whether the collected radiation doses are greater than or equal to respective set threshold values. If it is judged that at least one of the collected radiation doses is greater than or equal to the set threshold values, the radiography apparatus outputs an alert for a radiographer. If it is judged that the collected radiation doses are less than or equal to the set threshold values, radiography is started by the radiography apparatus.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 25, 2010Publication date: March 3, 2011Applicant: FUJIFILM CorporationInventors: Yasunori Ohta, Tatsuo Heki, Takao Kuwabara, Nobuyuki Iwasaki, Tetsurou Kusunoki, Kimihiko Satoh, Naoyuki Nishino
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Publication number: 20100252743Abstract: A first leakage current value output from each signal line is stored in a storage unit, with a charge corresponding to an emitted radiation being held in a radiographic image detector, when the radiation is uniformly emitted to the radiographic image detector. A second leakage current value is acquired which is output from each signal line, with a charge corresponding to the radiation dose being held in the radiographic image detector, when the radiation passing through an object is emitted to the radiographic image detector. When the first and second leakage current values are equal to each other for each line corresponding to each signal line, all pixels on the line are determined to belong to a background area (lines A and C).Type: ApplicationFiled: July 15, 2008Publication date: October 7, 2010Applicant: FUJIFILM CORPORATIONInventors: Masaharu Ogawa, Nobuyuki Iwasaki, Takao Kuwabara
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Publication number: 20100246922Abstract: An image correction method comprises the steps of: median-processing the original image in a direction normal to a direction in which the streak unevenness extends to produce a median-processed image, subtracting the median-processed image from the original image to produce a subtraction image, threshold-processing a part of the subtraction image having a density exceeding a given threshold to reduce the density and produce a threshold-processed image, frequency-processing the threshold-processed image using a one-dimensional low-pass filter in the direction in which the streak unevenness extends to produce a processing image, and subtracting the processing image from the original image to remove the streak unevenness from the original image.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 30, 2010Publication date: September 30, 2010Applicant: FUJIFILM CorporationInventors: Masanobu Uchihara, Takao Kuwabara
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Publication number: 20100246921Abstract: A radiographic image correction method comprises the steps of: previously producing and storing a preparatory image by removing a radiographic image without the subject obtained by radiography using one of a plurality of target/filter combinations causing a least significant inconsistent density from a radiographic image without the subject obtained by radiography using one of the target/filter combinations causing a most significant inconsistent density, producing and storing a first correction image without the subject obtained by radiography using the target/filter combination causing the least significant inconsistent density, and combining the first correction image with the preparatory image to produce and store a second correction image, and correcting shading of a radiographic image obtained by radiographing the subject by removing one of the first and the second correction image depending upon the target/filter combination used for radiographing the subject from the radiographic image obtained by radType: ApplicationFiled: March 26, 2010Publication date: September 30, 2010Applicant: FUJIFILM CorporationInventors: Kazuchika Iwami, Takao Kuwabara
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Patent number: 7657112Abstract: Generation of ringing components during extraction of striped blue components from an image is suppressed, in an image processing apparatus for removing striped blur components from the image. A preprocess is executed on an image data set, which is obtained by detecting light with line sensors that perform scanning in a sub scanning direction. The preprocess reduces drastic changes in pixel values in a first direction, which is perpendicular to the sub scanning direction. A filter process is executed on the preprocessed image data set to extract image data that represents striped blur components that extend in the sub scanning direction. The extracted image data is subtracted from the image data set to remove striped blur components.Type: GrantFiled: September 7, 2004Date of Patent: February 2, 2010Assignee: FUJIFILM CorporationInventor: Takao Kuwabara
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Publication number: 20100014772Abstract: A method for use with a radiation image detector, including the steps of detecting a faulty signal line having a signal amount less than a predetermined threshold value based on radiation image signals read out from the detector, setting a signal line adjacent to the faulty signal line as an abnormal signal line and a signal line adjacent to the abnormal signal line and having a normal amount of signal as a reference signal line, calculating the difference between a signal read out by the abnormal signal line and a signal read out by the reference signal line as a correction amount, calculating a low frequency component correction amount by removing a high frequency component from the calculated correction amount, and performing a correction on the signal read out by the abnormal signal line by adding the calculated low frequency component correction amount to the signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 17, 2009Publication date: January 21, 2010Applicant: FUJIFILM CorporationInventors: Takao Kuwabara, Hideyuki Yamada
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Publication number: 20090324123Abstract: The amount of time spent extracting linear noise components is reduced, when removing linear noise components from an image. A reduced image is generated, by reducing a radiation image in at least one of the vertical and horizontal directions. A linear noise image that represents linear noise components in the Y direction is generated, by extracting linear noise components from the reduced image. Thereafter, the generated linear noise image is enlarged to the image size of the original image; the linear noise components are removed from the radiation image, employing the enlarged linear noise image.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 26, 2009Publication date: December 31, 2009Applicant: FUJIFILM CorporationInventors: Takao Kuwabara, Tomoko Taki
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Publication number: 20090304151Abstract: Offset correction based on offset correction data is performed on radiographic image data that have been read out from a radiation image detector, and the offset correction data are updated. In the offset correction method, correction data for low-frequency components and correction data for high-frequency components, as the offset correction data, are generated based on offset image data that have been read out from the radiation image detector while the radiation image detector is not irradiated with radiation. Further, the correction data for low-frequency components and the correction data for high-frequency components are separately updated.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 5, 2009Publication date: December 10, 2009Applicant: FUJIFILM CorporationInventors: Hideyuki Yamada, Takao Kuwabara
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Publication number: 20090252397Abstract: An imaging system comprises: an imaging unit for producing an image within a given field of view; an image defect detector for detecting a defective area from a first image that is produced by the imaging unit without a subject in the given field of view; a size enlarging unit for forming a deemed defective area having an enlarged size consisting of pixels of the first image corresponding to a defective area detected by the image defect detector and at least one of pixels adjacent to these pixels; and an image defect correcting unit for correcting a second image produced by the imaging unit with a subject located within the given view of field according to a deemed defective area formed by the size enlarging unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 6, 2009Publication date: October 8, 2009Applicant: FUJIFILM CorporationInventors: Takao Kuwabara, Nobuyuki Iwasaki
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Patent number: 7504649Abstract: The radiographic image conversion panel includes a recording layer formed of a first accumulative phosphor that is irradiated with a radiation as a first primarily exciting light beam to excite primarily and accumulate energy, and is irradiated with a first secondarily exciting light beam to excite secondarily and generate a stimulating light beam and a correction marker for detecting a position formed of a second accumulative phosphor that is irradiated with a second primarily exciting light beam to excite primarily and accumulate the energy, and is irradiated with a second secondarily exciting light beam to excite secondarily and generate light with a wavelength shorter than a wavelength of the first secondarily exciting light beam. The radiographic image acquisition system uses the radiographic image conversion panel.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2006Date of Patent: March 17, 2009Assignee: FUJIFILM CorporationInventors: Ken Hasegawa, Seiji Tazaki, Takao Kuwabara, Tatsuya Taneichi
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Patent number: 7440145Abstract: An image data creating method and apparatus capable of preventing quality degradation of the image created by combining a plurality of image portions sharing a common region. The light reflected at the linear region on the original upon the irradiation of light from the linear light source is detected by the linear detecting means with the original being moved in the sub-scanning Y direction with respect to two linear sensors having a plurality of light receiving sections disposed linearly in the main scanning X direction such that light receiving sections located on the end portions of the respective linear sensors detect light emitted from the same position on the original in duplicate, and the image data detected either of the light receiving sections located on the end portions of the respective linear sensors are adopted as the image data representing the position on the original.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 2003Date of Patent: October 21, 2008Assignee: FUJIFILM CorporationInventor: Takao Kuwabara
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Patent number: 7397033Abstract: When making a characteristic line, a plurality of different small amount reference light beams is caused to impinge upon the photodetector element, a zero-light signal value is obtained by extrapolation of the relation between the small amount side reference light beams and the signal values which are respectively output from the photodetector element in response to the small amount side reference light beams, a large amount reference light signal value which is output when a large amount light beam impinges upon the photodetector element is obtained, and a characteristic line representing a relation between the amount of light which the photodetector element receives and a value of the signal which is output from the photodetector element is made on the basis of the zero-light signal value and the large amount reference light signal value.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2006Date of Patent: July 8, 2008Assignee: FUJIFILM CorporationInventor: Takao Kuwabara