Patents by Inventor Toru Iwane

Toru Iwane 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: 20250341714
    Abstract: An image-capturing device includes: a plurality of micro-lenses disposed in a two-dimensional pattern near a focal plane of an image forming optical system; an image sensor that includes a two-dimensional array of element groups each corresponding to one of the micro-lenses and made up with a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements which receive, via the micro-lenses light fluxes from a subject having passed through the photographic optical system and output image signals; and a synthesizing unit that combines the image signals output from the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements based upon information so as to generate synthetic image data in correspondence to a plurality of image forming areas present on a given image forming plane of the image forming optical system, the information specifying positions of the photoelectric conversion elements output image signals that are to be used for generating synthetic image data for each image forming area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2025
    Publication date: November 6, 2025
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Toru IWANE
  • Patent number: 12461293
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus having high resolution and high optical performance and reduced in size is provided. A camera module 1, which is an imaging apparatus incorporated in an optical apparatus, such as a camera 60, includes a plurality of optical systems UL, which each include a primary reflection mirror 12, which is a first reflector, and a secondary reflection mirror 13, which is a second reflector, sequentially arranged from the object side along the optical path and form images of an object, image sensors 14, which capture the images formed by part of the plurality of optical systems UL, and a light source 70, which projects light toward the object via the optical system different from the part of the plurality of optical systems UL.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2025
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Toru Iwane, Kyoya Tokunaga
  • Publication number: 20250060610
    Abstract: An image display device includes: an input unit into which image signals are inputted, the image signals being outputted from image capturing pixels disposed in correspondence to image capturing micro-lenses, each of the image capturing pixels receiving light that has passed through a corresponding one of the image capturing micro-lenses; display micro-lenses; display pixels that emit light for forming a three-dimensional image to each of the display micro-lenses, the display pixels being disposed in correspondence to the display micro-lenses; and a generator that generates display image data that includes three-dimensional information, based upon the image signals inputted into the input unit. The generator allocates the image signals outputted from the image capturing pixels to the display pixels arranged at symmetrical positions in a predetermined direction, using a pseudo-optical axis of each of the display micro-lenses as a reference.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2024
    Publication date: February 20, 2025
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Toru IWANE
  • Publication number: 20240231083
    Abstract: An image-capturing device includes: a plurality of micro-lenses disposed in a two-dimensional pattern near a focal plane of an image forming optical system; an image sensor that includes a two-dimensional array of element groups each corresponding to one of the micro-lenses and made up with a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements which receive, via the micro-lenses light fluxes from a subject having passed through the photographic optical system and output image signals; and a synthesizing unit that combines the image signals output from the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements based upon information so as to generate synthetic image data in correspondence to a plurality of image forming areas present on a given image forming plane of the image forming optical system, the information specifying positions of the photoelectric conversion elements output image signals that are to be used for generating synthetic image data for each image forming area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2024
    Publication date: July 11, 2024
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Toru IWANE
  • Patent number: 12019225
    Abstract: There are provided an optical system having high resolution and high optical performance and reduced in size, an optical apparatus including the optical system, an imaging apparatus, and a method for manufacturing the optical system and imaging apparatus. An optical system UL of a camera module 10, which is incorporated in an optical apparatus, such as a camera 60, is an optical system that forms an image of an object, includes a correction member having a correction surface 11a, a first reflection surface 12a, which reflects light having passed through the correction surface 11a, and a second reflection surface 13a, which reflects the light reflected off the first reflection surface 12a, and satisfies predetermined conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Toru Iwane, Kyoya Tokunaga, Tomoki Ito, Kyoichi Suwa
  • Publication number: 20240012268
    Abstract: An image display device includes: an input unit into which image signals are inputted, the image signals being outputted from image capturing pixels disposed in correspondence to image capturing micro-lenses, each of the image capturing pixels receiving light that has passed through a corresponding one of the image capturing micro-lenses; display micro-lenses; display pixels that emit light for forming a three-dimensional image to each of the display micro-lenses, the display pixels being disposed in correspondence to the display micro-lenses; and a generator that generates display image data that includes three-dimensional information, based upon the image signals inputted into the input unit. The generator allocates the image signals outputted from the image capturing pixels to the display pixels arranged at symmetrical positions in a predetermined direction, using a pseudo-optical axis of each of the display micro-lenses as a reference.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2023
    Publication date: January 11, 2024
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Toru IWANE
  • Patent number: 11726307
    Abstract: A camera module having a high resolution, high optical performance, and a reduced size, an optical apparatus including the camera module, and a method for manufacturing a camera module 1 are provided. The camera module 1 mounted on an optical apparatus such as a camera 60 includes an unit optical system UL including a primary reflection mirror 12 as a first reflection member and a secondary reflection mirror 13 as a second reflection member sequentially from an object side along an optical axis and configured to form an image of an object, an image sensor 14 configured to capture the image formed by the unit optical system UL, and a plurality of unit blocks 10 each including the unit optical system UL and the image sensor 14.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Toru Iwane
  • Publication number: 20230251484
    Abstract: An image-capturing device includes: a plurality of micro-lenses disposed in a two-dimensional pattern near a focal plane of an image forming optical system; an image sensor that includes a two-dimensional array of element groups each corresponding to one of the micro-lenses and made up with a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements which receive, via the micro-lenses light fluxes from a subject having passed through the photographic optical system and output image signals; and a synthesizing unit that combines the image signals output from the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements based upon information so as to generate synthetic image data in correspondence to a plurality of image forming areas present on a given image forming plane of the image forming optical system, the information specifying positions of the photoelectric conversion elements output image signals that are to be used for generating synthetic image data for each image forming area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2023
    Publication date: August 10, 2023
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Toru IWANE
  • Publication number: 20230152601
    Abstract: An image display device includes: an input unit into which image signals are inputted, the image signals being outputted from image capturing pixels disposed in correspondence to image capturing micro-lenses, each of the image capturing pixels receiving light that has passed through a corresponding one of the image capturing micro-lenses; display micro-lenses; display pixels that emit light for forming a three-dimensional image to each of the display micro-lenses, the display pixels being disposed in correspondence to the display micro-lenses; and a generator that generates display image data that includes three-dimensional information, based upon the image signals inputted into the input unit. The generator allocates the image signals outputted from the image capturing pixels to the display pixels arranged at symmetrical positions in a predetermined direction, using a pseudo-optical axis of each of the display micro-lenses as a reference.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2022
    Publication date: May 18, 2023
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Toru IWANE
  • Publication number: 20230028137
    Abstract: An image-capturing device includes: a plurality of micro-lenses disposed in a two-dimensional pattern near a focal plane of an image forming optical system; an image sensor that includes a two-dimensional array of element groups each corresponding to one of the micro-lenses and made up with a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements which receive, via the micro-lenses light fluxes from a subject having passed through the photographic optical system and output image signals; and a synthesizing unit that combines the image signals output from the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements based upon information so as to generate synthetic image data in correspondence to a plurality of image forming areas present on a given image forming plane of the image forming optical system, the information specifying positions of the photoelectric conversion elements output image signals that are to be used for generating synthetic image data for each image forming area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2022
    Publication date: January 26, 2023
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Toru IWANE
  • Publication number: 20220137276
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus having high resolution and high optical performance and reduced in size is provided. A camera module 1, which is an imaging apparatus incorporated in an optical apparatus, such as a camera 60, includes a plurality of optical systems UL, which each include a primary reflection mirror 12, which is a first reflector, and a secondary reflection mirror 13, which is a second reflector, sequentially arranged from the object side along the optical path and form images of an object, image sensors 14, which capture the images formed by part of the plurality of optical systems UL, and a light source 70, which projects light toward the object via the optical system different from the part of the plurality of optical systems UL.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2020
    Publication date: May 5, 2022
    Inventors: Toru IWANE, Kyoya TOKUNAGA
  • Publication number: 20220099949
    Abstract: There are provided an optical system having high resolution and high optical performance and reduced in size, an optical apparatus including the optical system, an imaging apparatus, and a method for manufacturing the optical system and imaging apparatus. An optical system UL of a camera module 10, which is incorporated in an optical apparatus, such as a camera 60, is an optical system that forms an image of an object, includes a correction member having a correction surface 11a, a first reflection surface 12a, which reflects light having passed through the correction surface 11a, and a second reflection surface 13a, which reflects the light reflected off the first reflection surface 12a, and satisfies predetermined conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2020
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Inventors: Toru IWANE, Kyoya TOKUNAGA, Tomoki ITO, Kyoichi SUWA
  • Publication number: 20220082745
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus having high resolution and high optical performance and reduced in size is provided. A camera module 10, which is an imaging apparatus incorporated in an optical apparatus, such as a camera 60, includes an optical system UL, which forms an image of an object, the optical system UL including a primary reflection mirror 12, which is a first reflector that reflects light incident thereon by a predetermined number of times, and a secondary reflection mirror 13, which is a second reflector that reflects the light reflected off the first reflector by the predetermined number of times, an image sensor 14, which is shifted toward the image side from the optical system UL and captures an image of an object formed by the optical system UL, and a prevention unit 19, which prevents light reflected off the first reflector and the second reflector by a number of times other than the predetermined number of times from entering the image sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2020
    Publication date: March 17, 2022
    Inventors: Toru IWANE, Kyoya TOKUNAGA, Tomoki ITO
  • Publication number: 20220075184
    Abstract: An image-capturing device includes: a plurality of micro-lenses disposed in a two-dimensional pattern near a focal plane of an image forming optical system; an image sensor that includes a two-dimensional array of element groups each corresponding to one of the micro-lenses and made up with a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements which receive, via the micro-lenses light fluxes from a subject having passed through the photographic optical system and output image signals; and a synthesizing unit that combines the image signals output from the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements based upon information so as to generate synthetic image data in correspondence to a plurality of image forming areas present on a given image forming plane of the image forming optical system, the information specifying positions of the photoelectric conversion elements output image signals that are to be used for generating synthetic image data for each image forming area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2021
    Publication date: March 10, 2022
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Toru IWANE
  • Publication number: 20210325689
    Abstract: An image display device includes: an input unit that inputs image data constituted with pixel data, each set of the pixel data being generated based upon a plurality of image signals output from a plurality of image-capturing pixels arrayed in correspondence to a plurality of photographic micro-lenses distinct from one another; a generation unit that generates display image data containing three-dimensional information based upon the image data; a display unit constituted with a plurality of display pixels disposed in a two-dimensional pattern, which emits light fluxes from the plurality of display pixels in correspondence to the display image data; and a micro-lens array that includes a plurality of micro-lenses, via which a three-dimensional image is formed by combining the light fluxes emitted from the plurality of display pixels, disposed in a two-dimensional array pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2021
    Publication date: October 21, 2021
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Toru IWANE
  • Patent number: 11079607
    Abstract: An image display device includes: an input unit that inputs image data constituted with pixel data, each set of the pixel data being generated based upon a plurality of image signals output from a plurality of image-capturing pixels arrayed in correspondence to a plurality of photographic micro-lenses distinct from one another; a generation unit that generates display image data containing three-dimensional information based upon the image data; a display unit constituted with a plurality of display pixels disposed in a two-dimensional pattern, which emits light fluxes from the plurality of display pixels in correspondence to the display image data; and a micro-lens array that includes a plurality of micro-lenses, via which a three-dimensional image is formed by combining the light fluxes emitted from the plurality of display pixels, disposed in a two-dimensional array pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Toru Iwane
  • Publication number: 20210173205
    Abstract: An image-capturing device includes: a plurality of micro-lenses disposed in a two-dimensional pattern near a focal plane of an image forming optical system; an image sensor that includes a two-dimensional array of element groups each corresponding to one of the micro-lenses and made up with a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements which receive, via the micro-lenses light fluxes from a subject having passed through the photographic optical system and output image signals; and a synthesizing unit that combines the image signals output from the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements based upon information so as to generate synthetic image data in correspondence to a plurality of image forming areas present on a given image forming plane of the image forming optical system, the information specifying positions of the photoelectric conversion elements output image signals that are to be used for generating synthetic image data for each image forming area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2021
    Publication date: June 10, 2021
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Toru IWANE
  • Publication number: 20210132348
    Abstract: A camera module having a high resolution, high optical performance, and a reduced size, an optical apparatus including the camera module, and a method for manufacturing a camera module 1 are provided. The camera module 1 mounted on an optical apparatus such as a camera 60 includes an unit optical system UL including a primary reflection mirror 12 as a first reflection member and a secondary reflection mirror 13 as a second reflection member sequentially from an object side along an optical axis and configured to form an image of an object, an image sensor 14 configured to capture the image formed by the unit optical system UL, and a plurality of unit blocks 10 each including the unit optical system UL and the image sensor 14.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2019
    Publication date: May 6, 2021
    Inventor: Toru IWANE
  • Patent number: 10955661
    Abstract: An image-capturing device includes: a plurality of micro-lenses disposed in a two-dimensional pattern near a focal plane of an image forming optical system; an image sensor that includes a two-dimensional array of element groups each corresponding to one of the micro-lenses and made up with a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements which receive, via the micro-lenses light fluxes from a subject having passed through the photographic optical system and output image signals; and a synthesizing unit that combines the image signals output from the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements based upon information so as to generate synthetic image data in correspondence to a plurality of image forming areas present on a given image forming plane of the image forming optical system, the information specifying positions of the photoelectric conversion elements output image signals that are to be used for generating synthetic image data for each image forming area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Toru Iwane
  • Publication number: 20200084351
    Abstract: An image-capturing device includes: a plurality of micro-lenses disposed in a two-dimensional pattern near a focal plane of an image forming optical system; an image sensor that includes a two-dimensional array of element groups each corresponding to one of the micro-lenses and made up with a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements which receive, via the micro-lenses light fluxes from a subject having passed through the photographic optical system and output image signals; and a synthesizing unit that combines the image signals output from the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements based upon information so as to generate synthetic image data in correspondence to a plurality of image forming areas present on a given image forming plane of the image forming optical system, the information specifying positions of the photoelectric conversion elements output image signals that are to be used for generating synthetic image data for each image forming area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2019
    Publication date: March 12, 2020
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Toru IWANE