Patents by Inventor Woobum Kang

Woobum Kang 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: 10890747
    Abstract: A magnifying observation apparatus obtains a plurality of first luminance images by controlling an illumination section so as to illuminate an observation target with illumination light from a first illumination direction and controlling a change section and an imaging section so as to image the observation target, obtains a plurality of second luminance images by controlling the illumination section so as to illuminate the observation target with illumination light from a second illumination direction symmetric with the first illumination direction about an optical axis and controlling the change section and the imaging section so as to image the observation target in a plurality of different focal positions, and generates a roughness enhancement image that enhances roughness on the surface of the observation target by applying depth synthesis and roughness enhancement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: KEYENCE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Woobum Kang, Hayato Ohba
  • Publication number: 20200174240
    Abstract: A magnifying observation apparatus obtains a plurality of first luminance images by controlling an illumination section so as to illuminate an observation target with illumination light from a first illumination direction and controlling a change section and an imaging section so as to image the observation target, obtains a plurality of second luminance images by controlling the illumination section so as to illuminate the observation target with illumination light from a second illumination direction symmetric with the first illumination direction about an optical axis and controlling the change section and the imaging section so as to image the observation target in a plurality of different focal positions, and generates a roughness enhancement image that enhances roughness on the surface of the observation target by applying depth synthesis and roughness enhancement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2019
    Publication date: June 4, 2020
    Applicant: Keyence Corporation
    Inventors: Woobum KANG, Hayato OHBA
  • Patent number: 9829690
    Abstract: To provide a microscopic imaging device in which a measuring object can be easily imaged using measurement light having a desired pattern, in which the pattern of measurement light can be changed and a phase of the pattern can be moved, without arranging a mechanical mechanism. An arbitrary pattern of a plurality of patterns of measurement light is instructed. The measurement light having an instructed pattern is generated by a light modulation element, and is applied on a measuring object. A spatial phase of the generated pattern is sequentially moved on the measuring object by a predetermined amount by the light modulation element. A plurality of pieces of pattern image data generated at a plurality of phases of the pattern is synthesized based on the light receiving signal output from the light receiving section to generate sectioning image data indicating an image of the measuring object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Keyence Corporation
    Inventor: Woobum Kang
  • Patent number: 9383569
    Abstract: Provided is a magnification observation device in which a focus of the imaging unit can be focused on the observation surface of the object in observation object region in a short period of time. An unit region of an observation object is imaged at a plurality of Z-positions by moving a object lens in the light-axis direction, the plurality of pieces of image data corresponding to the unit region are captured. An image of the observation object is displayed in the display unit as a navigation image. Shape data which indicates the position of the surface of the observation object in the unit region is generated. An observation object region on observation object is designated based on the navigation image. Based on the generated shape data, a focus of the object lens is on the surface of the observation object on the observation object region designated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: Keyence Corporation
    Inventor: Woobum Kang
  • Patent number: 9122048
    Abstract: Provided is an image processing apparatus and an image processing program which are capable of selectively and readily acquiring a geometrical physical quantity of a desired measuring portion. An object image is displayed based on object image data, and a measuring portion designating image corresponding to a specific portion of the object image is displayed based on designating image data. By operation of an operation part by a user, the displayed measuring portion designating image is moved relatively to the object image. When the measuring portion designating image is moved to a specific portion of the object image, a geometrical physical quantity of a measuring portion of the measuring object, previously set so as to correspond to that specific portion, is measured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: Keyence Corporation
    Inventors: Shingo Matsumura, Woobum Kang
  • Patent number: 9046757
    Abstract: A moving image is divided with imaging timing aligned without using a synchronous input. A moving image pickup apparatus to pick up a moving image of one or more objects as an imaging target includes an image obtaining unit for obtaining an input moving image composed of a plurality of frames containing a scene of the object making a periodic motion, a representative image selecting unit for selecting a representative image representing a cycle, a standard timing selecting unit for selecting a standard timing based on the representative image, in order to divide the input moving image obtained by the image obtaining unit with respect to each cycle, and a cycle extracting unit for dividing the input moving image with respect to each cycle, based on the standard timing selected by the standard timing selecting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: Keyence Corporation
    Inventor: Woobum Kang
  • Publication number: 20150116476
    Abstract: To provide a microscopic imaging device in which a measuring object can be easily imaged using measurement light having a desired pattern, in which the pattern of measurement light can be changed and a phase of the pattern can be moved, without arranging a mechanical mechanism. An arbitrary pattern of a plurality of patterns of measurement light is instructed. The measurement light having an instructed pattern is generated by a light modulation element, and is applied on a measuring object. A spatial phase of the generated pattern is sequentially moved on the measuring object by a predetermined amount by the light modulation element. A plurality of pieces of pattern image data generated at a plurality of phases of the pattern is synthesized based on the light receiving signal output from the light receiving section to generate sectioning image data indicating an image of the measuring object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2014
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Inventor: Woobum Kang
  • Publication number: 20150116477
    Abstract: To provide a microscopic imaging device, a microscopic imaging method, and a microscopic imaging program capable of detecting a focused position through an appropriate method corresponding to the imaging method. In a sectioning observation, a measuring object is irradiated with pattern measurement light, and sectioning image data is generated. In a normal observation, the measuring object is irradiated with uniform measurement light to generate normal image data. Relative positions of an objective lens and the stage are changed a plurality of times in an optical axis direction of the objective lens by a focus position adjustment mechanism. When the sectioning observation is instructed, a focused position is detected based on the value of each piece of pixel data of the sectioning image data. When the normal observation is instructed, a focused position is detected based on a local contrast of the normal image data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2014
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Inventor: Woobum Kang
  • Patent number: 9007452
    Abstract: Provided are a magnification observation device, a magnification observation method, and a magnification observation program in which connected image data can be efficiently obtained in a short period of time when re-imaging an object to obtain the connected image data corresponding to a plurality of unit regions. A plurality of unit regions on a surface of an observation object are imaged, and a plurality of pieces of image data respectively corresponding to the plurality of unit regions are generated. An image of the object including the plurality of unit regions is displayed as a region presentation image. When any of the plurality of unit regions is selected by a selection instruction from a user, the selected unit region is re-imaged, to generate image data corresponding to the selected unit region as re-imaged data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Keyence Corporation
    Inventor: Woobum Kang
  • Patent number: 8994810
    Abstract: Provided is a magnification observation device capable of easily moving an observation object in a desired direction even when a stage is rotated, and capable of preventing a desired region of the observation object from going outside an imaging region due to rotation of the stage. The observation object is placed on the placement surface of the stage. The observation object is imaged by an imaging unit, to acquire image data of the imaging region. Based on the image data acquired by the imaging unit, an image of the observation object is displayed by the display part as an observed image. The stage is moved relatively with respect to the imaging unit along an xt-axis and a yt-axis. In this case, moving amounts along the xt-axis and the yt-axis are controlled based on a rotational angle detected by a rotational angle detecting part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Keyence Corporation
    Inventors: Suguru Sekiya, Woobum Kang, Masahiro Inomata
  • Patent number: 8793603
    Abstract: The invention provides an image processing device, an image processing method, and an image processing program, which enable immediately and easily searching for images showing certain states of subjects. Image data of a plurality of frames for displaying images of the plurality of frames, and a plurality of evaluation values associated with the image data of the plurality of frames are stored in a storage unit. The image data of a frame is selected, out of the stored image data of the plurality of frames. The images based on the image data of the respective frames are displayed. A thumbnail image corresponding to the image data of the selected frames is displayed in a thumbnail display area in the display unit. If a thumbnail image is selected, an image of a frame corresponding to this thumbnail image is displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Keyence Corporation
    Inventors: Woobum Kang, Masahiro Inomata, Shinya Takahashi
  • Patent number: 8656144
    Abstract: The invention provides an image processing device, an image processing method, and an image processing program which enable accurately observing a moving image of an object within a time interval within which the object is in a desired state. A control unit performs an analysis process after the elapse of every defined time period. As the analysis process, the control unit acquires evaluation values corresponding to image data of a plurality of frames stored within a latest defined time period and, based on the acquired evaluation values, selects a group of reproduction data formed from image data of a certain number of frames, out of the image data of the plurality of frames stored within the latest defined time period. After the completion of the analysis process, the control unit starts reproduction of a moving image based on the group of reproduction data selected through the analysis process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Keyence Corporation
    Inventor: Woobum Kang
  • Patent number: 8581996
    Abstract: This invention provide an imaging device includes: a still image obtaining unit which obtains a plurality of still images; an omnifocal image generation unit which combines the still images, and generates the omnifocal image; a focal position control unit which obtains a focusing position of at least a part of the omnifocal image from height shape data, and controls the focal position so that the focal position of the frame image substantially coincides with the focusing position; a feature quantity extraction unit which extracts feature quantity from the frame image and the omnifocal image or a reference image; a relative position determination unit which determines a relative position between the frame image and the reference image; and a live image display unit which updates a display position of the frame image, and displays a moving picture image on the omnifocal image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Keyence Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiro Inomata, Woobum Kang
  • Patent number: 8508587
    Abstract: The present invention provides an imaging device capable of displaying the whole of a display mosaic image in a screen even when the image size of the mosaic image is largely changed, the imaging device including: a mosaic image generation unit which assembles a plurality of still images, and generates the mosaic image; a relative position determination unit which determines a relative position between a frame image and the mosaic image; a display reduction unit which reduces the frame image and the mosaic image respectively based on the image size of the mosaic image, and generates a display frame image and a display mosaic image; and a live image display unit which updates a display position of the frame image with respect to the mosaic image based on a determination result of the relative position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Keyence Corporation
    Inventor: Woobum Kang
  • Patent number: 8451335
    Abstract: This invention provides an imaging device includes: a mosaic image generation unit which assembles a plurality of still images, and generates a mosaic image; a feature quantity extraction unit which extracts feature quantity from the frame image and the mosaic image; a relative position determination unit which determines a relative position between the frame image and the mosaic image, and a live image display unit which updates a display position of the frame image with respect to the mosaic image, and displays the moving picture image on the mosaic image. The live image display unit changes the display position in response to the relative position when succeeded in positioning of the frame image; and when failed in positioning, the live image display unit does not change the display position and fixes the display position near a position of a final frame image succeeded in positioning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Keyence Corporation
    Inventor: Woobum Kang
  • Publication number: 20130100170
    Abstract: Provided is an image processing apparatus and an image processing program which are capable of selectively and readily acquiring a geometrical physical quantity of a desired measuring portion. An object image is displayed based on object image data, and a measuring portion designating image corresponding to a specific portion of the object image is displayed based on designating image data. By operation of an operation part by a user, the displayed measuring portion designating image is moved relatively to the object image. When the measuring portion designating image is moved to a specific portion of the object image, a geometrical physical quantity of a measuring portion of the measuring object, previously set so as to correspond to that specific portion, is measured.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Applicant: KEYENCE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shingo MATSUMURA, Woobum KANG
  • Publication number: 20130088586
    Abstract: Provided is a magnification observation device capable of easily moving an observation object in a desired direction even when a stage is rotated, and capable of preventing a desired region of the observation object from going outside an imaging region due to rotation of the stage. The observation object is placed on the placement surface of the stage. The observation object is imaged by an imaging unit, to acquire image data of the imaging region. Based on the image data acquired by the imaging unit, an image of the observation object is displayed by the display part as an observed image. The stage is moved relatively with respect to the imaging unit along an xt-axis and a yt-axis. In this case, moving amounts along the xt-axis and the yt-axis are controlled based on a rotational angle detected by a rotational angle detecting part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Applicant: KEYENCE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Suguru Sekiya, Woobum Kang, Masahiro Inomata
  • Publication number: 20130050464
    Abstract: Provided are a magnification observation device, a magnification observation method, and a magnification observation program in which connected image data can be efficiently obtained in a short period of time when re-imaging an object to obtain the connected image data corresponding to a plurality of unit regions. A plurality of unit regions on a surface of an observation object are imaged, and a plurality of pieces of image data respectively corresponding to the plurality of unit regions are generated. An image of the object including the plurality of unit regions is displayed as a region presentation image. When any of the plurality of unit regions is selected by a selection instruction from a user, the selected unit region is re-imaged, to generate image data corresponding to the selected unit region as re-imaged data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2012
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicant: KEYENCE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Woobum Kang
  • Publication number: 20120105664
    Abstract: A moving image is divided with imaging timing aligned without using a synchronous input. A moving image pickup apparatus to pick up a moving image of one or more objects as an imaging target includes an image obtaining unit for obtaining an input moving image composed of a plurality of frames containing a scene of the object making a periodic motion, a representative image selecting unit for selecting a representative image representing a cycle, a standard timing selecting unit for selecting a standard timing based on the representative image, in order to divide the input moving image obtained by the image obtaining unit with respect to each cycle, and a cycle extracting unit for dividing the input moving image with respect to each cycle, based on the standard timing selected by the standard timing selecting unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2011
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicant: KEYENCE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Woobum Kang
  • Publication number: 20120105722
    Abstract: The invention provides an image processing device, an image processing method, and an image processing program, which enable immediately and easily searching for images showing certain states of subjects. Image data of a plurality of frames for displaying images of the plurality of frames, and a plurality of evaluation values associated with the image data of the plurality of frames are stored in a storage unit. The image data of a frame is selected, out of the stored image data of the plurality of frames. The images based on the image data of the respective frames are displayed. A thumbnail image corresponding to the image data of the selected frames is displayed in a thumbnail display area in the display unit. If a thumbnail image is selected, an image of a frame corresponding to this thumbnail image is displayed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2011
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicant: KEYENCE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Woobum Kang, Masahiro Inomata, Shinya Takahashi