Patents by Inventor Tetsuya Shirota

Tetsuya Shirota 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: 11662565
    Abstract: A microscope system 1 includes an eyepiece 104, an objective 102 that guides light from a sample to the eyepiece 104, and a tube lens 103 that is disposed on a light path between the eyepiece 104 and the objective 102 and forms an optical image of the sample on the basis of light therefrom. The microscope system 1 further includes a projection apparatus 133 that projects first and second projection images onto an image plane on which the optical image is formed, in a manner such that the first and second projection images are capable of being distinguished from each other. The first projection image is based on an analysis result provided by a computer for the digital image data of the sample. The second projection image is based on an input operation performed by a user and includes at least input information provided by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: EVIDENT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akifumi Kabeya, Tetsuya Shirota, Tatsuo Nakata
  • Publication number: 20210215923
    Abstract: A microscope system includes an eyepiece, an objective, a tube lens, an imaging apparatus, a projection apparatus that projects a projection image onto an image plane between the tube lens and the eyepiece on which an optical image is formed, and a control apparatus. The control apparatus manages microscope information including at least a first magnification at which an image of the sample is projected onto the image plane, a second magnification at which an image of the sample is projected onto the imaging apparatus, a third magnification at which an image of the projection apparatus is projected onto the image plane, and sizes of the imaging apparatus and the projection apparatus. The control apparatus includes a processor. The processor generates projection image data representing the projection image based on at least the microscope information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2021
    Publication date: July 15, 2021
    Applicant: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tatsuo NAKATA, Hiroshi SASAKI, Tetsuya SHIROTA
  • Publication number: 20210191101
    Abstract: A microscope system 1 includes an eyepiece 104, an objective 102 that guides light from a sample to the eyepiece 104, and a tube lens 103 that is disposed on a light path between the eyepiece 104 and the objective 102 and forms an optical image of the sample on the basis of light therefrom. The microscope system 1 further includes a projection apparatus 133 that projects first and second projection images onto an image plane on which the optical image is formed, in a manner such that the first and second projection images are capable of being distinguished from each other. The first projection image is based on an analysis result provided by a computer for the digital image data of the sample. The second projection image is based on an input operation performed by a user and includes at least input information provided by the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2021
    Publication date: June 24, 2021
    Applicant: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akifumi KABEYA, Tetsuya SHIROTA, Tatsuo NAKATA
  • Patent number: 10970537
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus generates a left-eye viewpoint image and a right-eye viewpoint image, detects one or more pairs that are each a pair of a partial image of the left-eye viewpoint image and a partial image of the right-eye viewpoint image that are similar to each other, performs, for each of the one or more pairs, image adjustment processing for adjusting the three-dimensionality of one of or both of the partial images of the left-eye and right-eye viewpoint images, displays the left-eye viewpoint image or the left-eye viewpoint image after the image adjustment processing in a manner such that this image is capable of being observed with a left eye, and displays the right-eye viewpoint image or the right-eye viewpoint image after the image adjustment processing in a manner such that this image is capable of being observed with a right eye.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tetsuya Toyoda, Kazumi Ito, Masayuki Nakatsuka, Tatsuya Kino, Ryuhi Okubo, Shigeru Kato, Tetsuya Shirota, Kazuhiko Osa, Osamu Nonaka
  • Publication number: 20200050850
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus generates a left-eye viewpoint image and a right-eye viewpoint image, detects one or more pairs that are each a pair of a partial image of the left-eye viewpoint image and a partial image of the right-eye viewpoint image that are similar to each other, performs, for each of the one or more pairs, image adjustment processing for adjusting the three-dimensionality of one of or both of the partial images of the left-eye and right-eye viewpoint images, displays the left-eye viewpoint image or the left-eye viewpoint image after the image adjustment processing in a manner such that this image is capable of being observed with a left eye, and displays the right-eye viewpoint image or the right-eye viewpoint image after the image adjustment processing in a manner such that this image is capable of being observed with a right eye.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2019
    Publication date: February 13, 2020
    Applicant: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tetsuya TOYODA, Kazumi ITO, Masayuki NAKATSUKA, Tatsuya KINO, Ryuhi OKUBO, Shigeru KATO, Tetsuya SHIROTA, Kazuhiko OSA, Osamu NONAKA
  • Patent number: 10473909
    Abstract: A microscope system includes: an microscope provided with electronic units; a display configured to display operation information; a touch panel configured to detect a position of contact of an object from outside; a setting unit configured to set areas corresponding respectively to multiple operation functions in a detection area of the touch panel; a pressure detector configured to detect a value of a pressure applied in the position of contact; and a drive controller configured to generate, based on the position of contact that is detected by the touch panel, the number of positions of contact, a change of the position of contact over time, and the value of the pressure detected by the pressure detector, an instruction signal of an instruction to change an observation status in which the specimen is observed with the electronic unit corresponding to operation function that is set by the setting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Yabugaki, Yasunari Matsukawa, Tetsuya Shirota
  • Publication number: 20190052798
    Abstract: According to an aspect of the invention, an imaging apparatus includes an imaging section, a user's operation detecting circuit, a control circuit, and an image processing circuit. The imaging section is configured to capture images of an object at different imaging positions and output image signals based on the images. The user's operation detecting circuit is configured to detect a user's operation. The control circuit is configured to change an image display range in accordance with the user's operation, and cause the imaging section to capture the images at the different imaging positions in accordance with the changed image display range. The image processing circuit is configured to generate image data using the image signals acquired at the imaging positions. The image data corresponds to an area of the image display range changed by the user's operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2018
    Publication date: February 14, 2019
    Applicant: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ko YOKOKAWA, Tetsuya SHIROTA, Osamu ONO, Yoshiyuki FUKUYA, Akira TANI, Kazuhiko OSA, Osamu NONAKA
  • Publication number: 20180196248
    Abstract: A microscope system includes: an microscope provided with electronic units; a display configured to display operation information; a touch panel configured to detect a position of contact of an object from outside; a setting unit configured to set areas corresponding respectively to multiple operation functions in a detection area of the touch panel; a pressure detector configured to detect a value of a pressure applied in the position of contact; and a drive controller configured to generate, based on the position of contact that is detected by the touch panel, the number of positions of contact, a change of the position of contact over time, and the value of the pressure detected by the pressure detector, an instruction signal of an instruction to change an observation status in which the specimen is observed with the electronic unit corresponding to operation function that is set by the setting unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2018
    Publication date: July 12, 2018
    Applicant: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroyuki YABUGAKI, Yasunari MATSUKAWA, Tetsuya SHIROTA
  • Patent number: 8867126
    Abstract: A microscope controller improves the operability in moving a stage when a stage moving operation is performed on a touch panel. The microscope controller for control of the operation of each electric unit configuring the microscope system solves problems by including: a touch panel unit having a display function and receiving an input by an external physical contact; a control unit for setting a display region as a function area by assigning an image for operation of the electric unit to a specified display region of the touch panel unit, and, when an input to the function area is detected, generating a control instruction signal for control of the electric unit depending on the contact operation to the electric unit corresponding to the function area, and a communication control unit for transmitting the control instruction signal to an external device for controlling the operation of the electric unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsuya Shirota, Katsuyoshi Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 8837676
    Abstract: It is possible to create a virtual slide of a subject of observation in a simple configuration without setting a movement pattern in advance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsuya Shirota, Takashi Yoneyama, Chika Nakajima, Yasuaki Natori
  • Patent number: 8699131
    Abstract: In a microscope controller by which is performed an operation for controlling an operation of each of a plurality of electric units included in a microscope system, the control unit establishes a plurality of functional areas in the display region of the touch panel as regions for making operable the plurality of electric units. When an input to any of the functional areas is detected, the control unit generates a control instruction signal for controlling an electric unit corresponding to this functional area. The communication control unit transmits the control instruction signal to an external device controlling an operation of a corresponding electric unit. When an input to a predetermined functional area is detected, the control unit then reestablishes a plurality of functional areas within the display region of the touch panel so as to enlarge this functional area or a plurality of specific functional areas including this functional area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsuya Shirota, Katsuyoshi Yamaguchi, Minoru Sukekawa
  • Patent number: 8699129
    Abstract: A microscope system improves the operability of a user in performing a microscope observation. The microscope system attains the improvement by including: a microscope apparatus including a plurality of drive units; a display unit for displaying an operation screen for operation of the microscope apparatus; a pointing device for inputting by a pointer an operation instruction to the microscope apparatus on the operation screen; and a control unit for switching the drive units depending on the position of the pointer on the operation screen, and controlling the operation of the switched drive units depending on the operation of the pointing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsuya Shirota, Yasuko Ishii, Akihiko Yoshikawa, Izumi Sakuma
  • Patent number: 8649088
    Abstract: A microscope system stores, for each objective, the movement control information including a type flag indicating the type of an objective depending on the presence/absence of a soak or a type of the soak and a save distance for saving the stage or the objective switch unit by a predetermined distance. When a switch direction of objectives is input, and when there is a change in the type of the objective after the switch, the system stops an operation after the stage or the objective switch unit is moved according to the save distance, and recovers the stage or the objective switch unit to an original position after the operation direction input unit inputs an operation direction for the stage and the objective switch unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventor: Tetsuya Shirota
  • Patent number: 8466958
    Abstract: A microscope controller that performs operations for controlling operations of motorized units configuring a microscope system includes a touch panel unit that accepts an input made with an external physical contact and has a display function, a controlling unit for setting a display area as a functional area by assigning an image for operating the motorized unit to a certain display area on the touch panel unit and for generating a control instruction signal for controlling the motorized unit in accordance with a contact operation performed for the motorized unit corresponding to the functional area upon detection of an input made in the functional area, and a communication controlling unit for transmitting the control instruction signal to an external device that controls an operation of the motorized unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsuya Shirota, Yasuko Ishii, Izumi Sakuma
  • Patent number: 8369010
    Abstract: A microscope includes a microscope main unit including a stage on which a specimen is to be placed; and a light source provided on the microscope main unit and emitting illumination light for illuminating the specimen. The microscope also includes a main power supply operable to be turned on and off; a sensor that senses the presence or absence of a subject in a front or side area of the microscope main unit; a determining unit that determines based on a result of the sensing whether the subject moves; and a control unit that turns on the light source when the main power supply is turned on, maintains the light source in an ON state when the determining unit determines that the subject moves, and turns off the light source when the determining unit determines that the subject does not move and a predetermined period of time passes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Masayoshi Karasawa, Keisuke Tamura, Hideaki Endo, Tetsuya Shirota, Tsuyoshi Mochizuki
  • Patent number: 8339702
    Abstract: A microscope system improves the operability of a user in performing a microscope observation. The microscope system attains the improvement by including: a microscope apparatus including a plurality of drive units; a display unit for displaying an operation screen for operation of the microscope apparatus; a pointing device for inputting by a pointer an operation instruction to the microscope apparatus on the operation screen; and a control unit for switching the drive units depending on the position of the pointer on the operation screen, and controlling the operation of the switched drive units depending on the operation of the pointing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsuya Shirota, Yasuko Ishii
  • Publication number: 20120293864
    Abstract: A microscope system that is capable of changing a status of observation of a sample comprises an instruction unit for giving instruction for driving one or more optical members including an objective lens or for changing a relative position of the sample and the objective lens; and an image capturing unit for capturing an observed image of the sample as a still image or a live image. The microscope system changes an order for performing operations in accordance with the instruction from the instruction unit, the operations including an operation of driving the one or more optical members or changing the relative position; an operation of switching the illumination light for the sample from being cut-off or reduced to being applied; and an operation of switching the image displayed in a display unit from the still image to the live image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2012
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Applicant: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hideyuki Kawanabe, Tetsuya Shirota, Yasuko Ishii, Takashi Yoneyama
  • Patent number: 8284246
    Abstract: A microscope system which is capable of changing observation states by driving various optical members and which includes a history record unit for recording history data related to a microscope operation history, a selection unit for selecting one or more microscope operation items from among a plurality of microscope operation items, and a state reproduction unit for reproducing a microscope state on the basis of a microscope operation item(s) selected by the selection unit and on the basis of a microscope operation history related to history data recorded in the history record unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsuya Shirota, Takashi Yoneyama, Yasuko Ishii
  • Patent number: 8264768
    Abstract: A microscope system that is capable of changing a status of observation of a sample comprises an instruction unit for giving instruction for driving one or more optical members including an objective lens or for changing a relative position of the sample and the objective lens; and an image capturing unit for capturing an observed image of the sample as a still image or a live image. The microscope system changes an order for performing operations in accordance with the instruction from the instruction unit, the operations including an operation of driving the one or more optical members or changing the relative position; an operation of switching the illumination light for the sample from being cut-off or reduced to being applied; and an operation of switching the image displayed in a display unit from the still image to the live image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Hideyuki Kawanabe, Tetsuya Shirota, Yasuko Ishii, Takashi Yoneyama
  • Patent number: 8120649
    Abstract: A microscope system having a selectively mountable optical element, comprises: a first noncontact type storage medium, being equipped in the optical element, for enabling a noncontact readout of information externally; and a first readout unit for reading information non-contactingly from the first noncontact type storage medium, wherein the first noncontact type storage medium stores information related to the optical element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Yuichiro Hashimoto, Hideyuki Kawanabe, Ryuichi Hirano, Tetsuya Shirota