Patents by Inventor Yoichi Ando

Yoichi Ando 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: 12106927
    Abstract: An X-ray imaging apparatus includes an X-ray generation apparatus including an X-ray generation tube having an electron gun and a target configured to receive an electron beam from the electron gun to generate X-rays, a support structure supporting the tube, and a deflector configured to deflect the electron beam, an X-ray detector configured to detect the X-rays from the X-ray generation apparatus, and a control apparatus configured to control the X-ray generation apparatus. The support structure supports the tube to permit at least the target to be pivoted in a state in which the deflector is fixed, and the control apparatus determines, based on use amount of the X-ray generation apparatus and/or change of the X-rays generated by the X-ray generation apparatus, whether it is necessary to pivot the target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2024
    Assignee: Canon Anelva Corporation
    Inventor: Yoichi Ando
  • Patent number: 12080509
    Abstract: An X-ray generating apparatus includes an X-ray generating tube including an electron gun and a target configured to generate X-rays upon receiving an electron beam emitted from the electron gun, a deflector configured to deflect the electron beam, a driving circuit configured to apply an accelerating voltage between a cathode of the electron gun and the target, and an adjuster configured to adjust deflection of the electron beam by the deflector in accordance with the accelerating voltage or an amount of change in the accelerating voltage so as to reduce a change in incident position of the electron beam onto the target due to a change in the accelerating voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2024
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Assignee: Canon Anelva Corporation
    Inventor: Yoichi Ando
  • Publication number: 20240234077
    Abstract: An X-ray generating apparatus includes an X-ray generating tube including an electron gun and a target configured to generate X-rays upon receiving an electron beam emitted from the electron gun, a deflector configured to deflect the electron beam, a driving circuit configured to apply an accelerating voltage between a cathode of the electron gun and the target, and an adjuster configured to adjust deflection of the electron beam by the deflector in accordance with the accelerating voltage or an amount of change in the accelerating voltage so as to reduce a change in incident position of the electron beam onto the target due to a change in the accelerating voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2024
    Publication date: July 11, 2024
    Applicant: CANON ANELVA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yoichi ANDO
  • Publication number: 20240087833
    Abstract: An X-ray imaging apparatus includes an X-ray generation apparatus including an X-ray generation tube having an electron gun and a target configured to receive an electron beam from the electron gun to generate X-rays, a support structure supporting the tube, and a deflector configured to deflect the electron beam, an X-ray detector configured to detect the X-rays from the X-ray generation apparatus, and a control apparatus configured to control the X-ray generation apparatus. The support structure supports the tube to permit at least the target to be pivoted in a state in which the deflector is fixed, and the control apparatus determines, based on use amount of the X-ray generation apparatus and/or change of the X-rays generated by the X-ray generation apparatus, whether it is necessary to pivot the target.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2023
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Applicant: CANON ANELVA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yoichi ANDO
  • Patent number: 11823860
    Abstract: An X-ray generating apparatus includes an electron gun, a target configured to generate X-rays by being irradiated with an electron beam emitted from the electron gun, and a controller configured to control a first mode for thinning the target by irradiating the target with an electron beam with a current adjusted within a first current range and a second mode for generating X-rays by irradiating the target with an electron beam with a current adjusted within a second current range. The first current range has a lower limit larger than an upper limit of the second current range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: CANON ANELVA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yoichi Ando
  • Publication number: 20230352260
    Abstract: An X-ray generating apparatus includes an electron gun, a target configured to generate X-rays by being irradiated with an electron beam emitted from the electron gun, and a controller configured to control a first mode for thinning the target by irradiating the target with an electron beam with a current adjusted within a first current range and a second mode for generating X-rays by irradiating the target with an electron beam with a current adjusted within a second current range. The first current range has a lower limit larger than an upper limit of the second current range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2023
    Publication date: November 2, 2023
    Applicant: CANON ANELVA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yoichi ANDO
  • Patent number: 11244801
    Abstract: An X-ray generation device includes a cathode including an electron source generating an electron beam, an anode including a target to transmit an X-ray generated by collision of the electron beam, and a convergence electrode converging the electron beam toward the target. The target has a first region having a locally small thickness and a second region having a larger thickness than the first region. The X-ray generation device further includes a deflection unit to switch an incident position of the electron beam between the first region and the second region. The deflection unit has an adjustment mode to adjust an X-ray focal spot diameter and an X-ray generation mode to generate an X-ray, the electron beam is caused to enter the first region in the adjustment mode, and the electron beam is caused to enter the second region in the X-ray generation mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: CANON ANELVA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuya Tsujino, Yoichi Ando
  • Publication number: 20210233734
    Abstract: An X-ray generation device includes a cathode including an electron source generating an electron beam, an anode including a target to transmit an X-ray generated by collision of the electron beam, and a convergence electrode converging the electron beam toward the target. The target has a first region having a locally small thickness and a second region having a larger thickness than the first region. The X-ray generation device further includes a deflection unit to switch an incident position of the electron beam between the first region and the second region. The deflection unit has an adjustment mode to adjust an X-ray focal spot diameter and an X-ray generation mode to generate an X-ray, the electron beam is caused to enter the first region in the adjustment mode, and the electron beam is caused to enter the second region in the X-ray generation mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2021
    Publication date: July 29, 2021
    Inventors: KAZUYA TSUJINO, YOICHI ANDO
  • Patent number: 10720299
    Abstract: An X-ray generating tube includes an insulating tube having a first open end and a second open end, a cathode including an electron emission source and arranged to close the first open end of the insulating tube, an anode including a target that generates an X-ray upon collision with electron from the electron emission source and arranged to close the second open end of the insulating tube, and a tubular electrical conductive member extending from the anode in an inner space of the insulating tube. The insulating tube includes a tubular rib at a position spaced apart from the first open end and spaced apart from the second open end, and the tubular rib is arranged in a radial direction when viewed from an end of the tubular electrical conductive member on a side of the cathode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: CANON ANELVA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yoichi Ando
  • Publication number: 20200211808
    Abstract: An X-ray generating tube includes an insulating tube having a first open end and a second open end, a cathode including an electron emission source and arranged to close the first open end of the insulating tube, an anode including a target that generates an X-ray upon collision with electron from the electron emission source and arranged to close the second open end of the insulating tube, and a tubular electrical conductive member extending from the anode in an inner space of the insulating tube. The insulating tube includes a tubular rib at a position spaced apart from the first open end and spaced apart from the second open end, and the tubular rib is arranged in a radial direction when viewed from an end of the tubular electrical conductive member on a side of the cathode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2019
    Publication date: July 2, 2020
    Applicant: Canon Anelva Corporation
    Inventor: Yoichi ANDO
  • Patent number: 10631390
    Abstract: An X-ray generating device includes an X-ray tube, an X-ray tube drive circuit, an electron acceleration voltage generation circuit, and a control unit communicating with the drive circuit and the voltage generation circuit, the X-ray tube, the drive circuit, and the voltage generation circuit are arranged inside a storage container filled with an insulating oil, a path connecting the drive circuit and the control unit includes an optical fiber cable arranged inside the storage container, the optical fiber cable has a coating that suppresses fluctuation due to a convective flow of the insulating oil, the coating is cured by, from a resin material containing a plasticizer, a part of the plasticizer being leaching out, and the control unit is configured to facilitate leaching of the plasticizer by driving the voltage generation circuit to apply a voltage to the optical fiber cable in a state of no X-ray being generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: CANON ANELVA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Junya Kawase, Yoichi Ando
  • Patent number: 10433410
    Abstract: An X-ray generation apparatus includes an X-ray tube; a drive circuit that drives the X-ray tube; a voltage generation circuit that generates an electron acceleration voltage applied to the X-ray tube; and a control unit that communicates with the drive circuit, and at least the X-ray tube, the drive circuit, and the voltage generation circuit are arranged inside a storage container filled with an insulating oil. At least a part of a path connecting the drive circuit and the control unit is formed of an optical fiber cable arranged inside the storage container, and the optical fiber cable has electric field mitigation means for suppressing an electric field occurring due to a potential difference between the drive circuit and the control unit from locally concentrating along a longitudinal direction of the optical fiber cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Anelva Corporation
    Inventor: Yoichi Ando
  • Publication number: 20190069384
    Abstract: An X-ray generation apparatus includes an X-ray tube; a drive circuit that drives the X-ray tube; a voltage generation circuit that generates an electron acceleration voltage applied to the X-ray tube; and a control unit that communicates with the drive circuit, and at least the X-ray tube, the drive circuit, and the voltage generation circuit are arranged inside a storage container filled with an insulating oil. At least a part of a path connecting the drive circuit and the control unit is formed of an optical fiber cable arranged inside the storage container, and the optical fiber cable has electric field mitigation means for suppressing an electric field occurring due to a potential difference between the drive circuit and the control unit from locally concentrating along a longitudinal direction of the optical fiber cable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2018
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Inventor: Yoichi Ando
  • Publication number: 20180242439
    Abstract: An X-ray generating device includes an X-ray tube, an X-ray tube drive circuit, an electron acceleration voltage generation circuit, and a control unit communicating with the drive circuit and the voltage generation circuit, the X-ray tube, the drive circuit, and the voltage generation circuit are arranged inside a storage container filled with an insulating oil, a path connecting the drive circuit and the control unit includes an optical fiber cable arranged inside the storage container, the optical fiber cable has a coating that suppresses fluctuation due to a convective flow of the insulating oil, the coating is cured by, from a resin material containing a plasticizer, a part of the plasticizer being leaching out, and the control unit is configured to facilitate leaching of the plasticizer by driving the voltage generation circuit to apply a voltage to the optical fiber cable in a state of no X-ray being generated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2018
    Publication date: August 23, 2018
    Inventors: Junya Kawase, Yoichi Ando
  • Patent number: 9980357
    Abstract: An X-ray generating device includes an X-ray tube, an X-ray tube drive circuit, an electron acceleration voltage generation circuit, and a control unit communicating with the drive circuit and the voltage generation circuit, the X-ray tube, the drive circuit, and the voltage generation circuit are arranged inside a storage container filled with an insulating oil, a path connecting the drive circuit and the control unit includes an optical fiber cable arranged inside the storage container, the optical fiber cable has a coating that suppresses fluctuation due to a convective flow of the insulating oil, the coating is cured by, from a resin material containing a plasticizer, a part of the plasticizer being leaching out, and the control unit is configured to facilitate leaching of the plasticizer by driving the voltage generation circuit to apply a voltage to the optical fiber cable in a state of no X-ray being generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: CANON ANELVA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Junya Kawase, Yoichi Ando
  • Publication number: 20180139828
    Abstract: An X-ray generating device includes an X-ray tube, an X-ray tube drive circuit, an electron acceleration voltage generation circuit, and a control unit communicating with the drive circuit and the voltage generation circuit, the X-ray tube, the drive circuit, and the voltage generation circuit are arranged inside a storage container filled with an insulating oil, a path connecting the drive circuit and the control unit includes an optical fiber cable arranged inside the storage container, the optical fiber cable has a coating that suppresses fluctuation due to a convective flow of the insulating oil, the coating is cured by, from a resin material containing a plasticizer, a part of the plasticizer being leaching out, and the control unit is configured to facilitate leaching of the plasticizer by driving the voltage generation circuit to apply a voltage to the optical fiber cable in a state of no X-ray being generated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2017
    Publication date: May 17, 2018
    Inventors: Junya Kawase, Yoichi Ando
  • Patent number: 9514738
    Abstract: A speech is recognized using ACF factors extracted from running autocorrelation functions calculated from the speech. The extracted ACF factors are a W?(0) (width of ACF amplitude around zero-delay origin), a W?(0)max (maximum value of the W?(0)), a ?1 (pitch period), a ?1 (pitch strength), and a ??1/?t (rate of the pitch strength change). Syllables in the speech are identified by comparing the ACF factors with templates stored in a database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignees: Yoshimasa Electronic Inc.
    Inventor: Yoichi Ando
  • Publication number: 20150348536
    Abstract: A speech is recognized using ACF factors extracted from running autocorrelation functions calculated from the speech. The extracted ACF factors are a W?(0) (width of ACF amplitude around zero-delay origin), a W?(0)max (maximum value of the W?(0)), a ?1 (pitch period), a ?1 (pitch strength), and a ??1/?t (rate of the pitch strength change). Syllables in the speech are identified by comparing the ACF factors with templates stored in a database.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2012
    Publication date: December 3, 2015
    Applicants: Yoshimasa Electronic Inc.
    Inventor: Yoichi ANDO
  • Patent number: 9111655
    Abstract: Provided is a radiation generating apparatus, including: a radiation generating unit for emitting radiation; and a movable diaphragm unit including a light projecting/sighting system for making a simulation display of a radiation field with visible light. The light projecting/sighting system includes: a light source of the visible light; a light guiding plate that is provided across a radiation axis, and causes the visible light from the light source to exit from a front surface of the light guiding plate; and a louver that gives directivity to the visible light exiting from the front surface of the light guiding plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasuo Ohashi, Yoichi Ikarashi, Yoichi Ando
  • Patent number: 9101039
    Abstract: A radiation generating apparatus includes a radiation generating unit and a diaphragm unit that functions as a projector-collimator configured to simulate a radiation field with a visible-light field. The diaphragm unit includes a light source configured to generate visible light, an optical lens configured to control a state of diffusion of the visible light emitted from the light source, and field-limiting blades. The light source and the optical lens are provided between a radiation emission window and the field-limiting blades. The light source is movable into and retractable from a path of radiation generated by the radiation generating unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoichi Ikarashi, Yoichi Ando, Yasuo Ohashi