External Camera Patents (Class 348/73)
  • Patent number: 11588981
    Abstract: There is provided a control apparatus. A first acquiring unit acquires a user instruction identified through voice recognition. A determining unit determines a current state of an image capturing apparatus. In response to a first user instruction being acquired as the user instruction, a control unit: controls the image capturing apparatus to perform first processing in a case where the current state is a shooting state; and controls the image capturing apparatus to perform second processing in a case where the current state is a playback/display state or a menu display state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Rurika Shimizu
  • Patent number: 11553981
    Abstract: A skin measuring microscope includes a housing, an electronic imager disposed along an imaging axis, and an illumination system. The illumination system includes a plurality of LEDs disposed in a ring-like configuration adjacent a distal end of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: Welch Allyn, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Wood, Raymond A. Lia, Jon R. Salvati, Robert L. Vivenzio, Ian K. Edwards, Ervin Goldfain, Colin J. Wolff
  • Patent number: 11497389
    Abstract: Medical imaging camera head attachment devices and methods are provided using light captured by an endoscope system or other medical scope or borescope. Various camera head attachments are provided with a camera head design and system allowing recognition of the attachments, and enabling processing algorithms associated with each. The camera head optics are designed to work with a variety of attachments. Several attachments optical designs are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: KARL STORZ Imaging, Inc.
    Inventors: George E. Duckett, III, Marios Kyperountas
  • Patent number: 11119397
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates in general to a diagnostic device for inspection of an enclosed tube system, and more particular, to obtain images or video of the interior of the enclosed tube system while the diagnostic device is attached to a moveable member and traveling through the enclosed tube system. A diagnostic apparatus including camera housing configured to include a camera assembly, battery housing configured to hold a battery assembly, and a main housing configured to be detachably secured to a moveable member, wherein the camera housing and battery assembly are secured to the main housing, and wherein the main housing includes at least one light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Virginia, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan-James Speed, David Li, Ray Dawson, Ralph C. McCann, III, Makoto Ogusu, James Pulverenti, Paxton O'Toole
  • Patent number: 10996456
    Abstract: A lens having a quadrangular outer shape in a direction perpendicular to its center, an imaging element having a quadrangular outer shape in the direction perpendicular to the center axis, an element cover glass covering an imaging surface of the imaging element, a light guide placed outside at least one side of the lens and extending along the center axis, and a cylinder holder disposed between the lens and the light guide are disposed in a tip portion of an endoscope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Panasonic i-PRO Sensing Solutions Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuichi Hatase, Naoyuki Haraguchi, Satoru Miyanishi, Takafumi Sanada
  • Patent number: 10849485
    Abstract: An endoscope device includes: an endoscope configured to retrieve a subject image in a subject from a tip end, and output the subject image from an eyepiece unit; and a camera head including a mounting unit detachably connected to the eyepiece unit, and configured to pick up the subject image. The eyepiece unit and the mounting unit are connected with each other so as to be able to relatively rotate the endoscope and the camera head around an insertion axis. The eyepiece unit includes an endoscope side terminal. The mounting unit includes a head side terminal that feeds power to the endoscope from the camera head. One of the endoscope side terminal and the head side terminal includes at least three terminals disposed on a virtual circle around the insertion axis, and the other includes at least two terminals disposed on the virtual circle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: SONY OLYMPUS MEDICAL SOLUTIONS INC.
    Inventors: Kohtaro Amano, Kiyotaka Kanno
  • Patent number: 10835106
    Abstract: A portable monitor operable in a first orientation and a second orientation. The monitor includes a housing and a handle having arms. A back side of the housing includes grooves sized and shaped to receive, respectively, the arms of the handle. The handle is pivotable about handle axles to a plurality of positions including a first position, in which the arms are received by first sections of the grooves, a second position, in which the arms are received by second sections of the grooves, and intermediate positions between the first position and the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: AMBU A/S
    Inventors: Line Sandahl Ubbesen, Brian Nielsen, Henrik Frengler, Kasper Rieland Jakobsen, Nai-Hua Chen
  • Patent number: 10645260
    Abstract: An endoscope (1) having an operating handle (2) comprising a handle housing arranged at a proximal end thereof and an insertion tube (3) extending from said handle towards a distal end of the endoscope (1). The endoscope (1) comprises a sealed compartment (59, 64) adapted to accommodate electronic circuitry of the endoscope (62) and arranged at least partially within said handle housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: AMBU A/S
    Inventors: Kaspar Mat Matthison-Hansen, Thomas Bachgaard Jensen, Jakob Bønnelykke Kristensen
  • Patent number: 10456017
    Abstract: There is provided a endoscopic camera head including a cover glass, provided on a connecting face that connects to a base of an endoscope, and disposed to cover an opening for taking into a housing observation light guided inside a lens barrel of the endoscope to the base, and an image sensor configured to receive the observation light passing through the cover glass and entering the housing, and capture an image of a target of observation. In the image sensor, an anti-reflective coating is provided on at least one face of a protective glass disposed facing opposite a light receiving face configured to receive the observation light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: SONY OLYMPUS MEDICAL SOLUTIONS INC.
    Inventor: Naoyuki Ohno
  • Patent number: 10448811
    Abstract: A medical device introduction system is adapted to be at least partially insertable into an interior body region of a patient. The system includes a medical imager including a body member having a handle, an elongate member extending from the handle, an imaging device carried at a distal portion of the elongate member, and an introducer enclosing the elongate member. A manipulator is configured for imparting displacement of the introducer to form an angled end portion to define a line of sight extending from the angled end portion. The manipulator is further configured for altering the line of sight to increase a viewing angle of the imaging device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: UVision360, Inc.
    Inventors: Allison London Brown, Erich Dreyer, David Robinson, Phillip Jack Snoke, Johann Desa
  • Patent number: 10441145
    Abstract: An endoscope system includes an image pickup portion configured to pick up an image of a subject and output the image as an electrical signal, a processor configured to perform, on the electrical signal, a signal correction that converts the electrical signal into a signal of a video format that is compatible with a signal processed by the image processing apparatus, and an image processing portion configured to perform image processing on the electrical signal after the signal correction. An E/O converter that converts the electrical signal into an optical signal, an optical fiber that transmits the optical signal, and an O/E converter that converts the optical signal into the electrical signal, are arranged in at least one of between the image pickup portion and the processor, and between the processor and the image processing portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Hideyuki Kugimiya, Ryo Koshida, Takehiko Ito
  • Patent number: 10021386
    Abstract: The present technique relates to an image processing device and a method that can improve encoding efficiency in multi-viewpoint encoding. A reference image index allocation unit alternately allocates a reference image index referred by a motion estimator/compensator to predict an image to be processed to a referable image in a view direction and to a referable image in a time direction. In allocation, the reference image index allocation unit refers to time information and view information of the reference image accumulated in a decoded picture buffer, information such as a sequence parameter set and a slice header from a syntax processing unit, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshitomo Takahashi, Shinobu Hattori
  • Patent number: 9041793
    Abstract: A method of using a scanning microscope to rapidly form a digital image of an area. The method includes performing an initial set of scans to form a guide pixel set for the area and using the guide pixel set to identify regions representing structures of interest in the area. Then, performing additional scans of the regions representing structures of interest, to gather further data to further evaluate pixels in the regions, and not scanning elsewhere in the area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: FEI COMPANY
    Inventors: Cliff Bugge, Brandon van Leer
  • Patent number: 9041807
    Abstract: An image processing device configured to be installed in a vehicle includes an image acquirer, an image selector, a first luminance adjuster, a synthetic image generator, and an image provider. The image acquirer acquires camera images captured by cameras provided on the vehicle. The image selector selects one of the camera images as a representative image based on luminances of the camera images. The first luminance adjuster adjusts a luminance of at least one of the other camera images based on a luminance of the representative image. The synthetic image generator generates a synthetic image showing a periphery of the vehicle, based on the representative image and the other camera images the luminance of at least one of which has been adjusted by the first adjuster. The image provider outputs, to a display device installed in the vehicle, information corresponding to the synthetic image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignees: FUJITSU TEN LIMITED, FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventors: Masahiko Murakami, Nobunori Asayama
  • Patent number: 8957952
    Abstract: In a processor of a wireless image transmission system that transmits, by radio communication, an image signal obtained by converting an image obtained by an endoscope apparatus, a communication state detection unit monitors a communication state of radio communication. An editing unit edits the image signal according to a mode in which the endoscope apparatus obtains an image when the deterioration of a communication state is detected by the communication state detection unit. A transmission unit transmits the image signal output from the editing unit to a receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Olympus Medical Systems Corp.
    Inventors: Junichi Tashiro, Masashi Umemura, Hideki Tashiro
  • Patent number: 8922721
    Abstract: A display apparatus and a control method thereof are provided The display apparatus includes: an image processor configured to process an image of content; a display configured to display the processed image of the content; a camera configured to capture an image of a remote controller; a storage configured to store information regarding a plurality of appearance states of the remote controller corresponding to user commands; and a controller configured to determine an appearance state from among the plurality of appearance states of the remote controller based on the image of remote controller captured by the camera, and control the display section to display the image of the content according to a user command corresponding to the determined appearance state of the remote controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Do-sung Jung, Nam-hyun Park, Hae-sung Park, Ri-na Shin, Hyung-ho Hwangbo
  • Patent number: 8890944
    Abstract: A firearms pulverizer system is disclosed which comprises a pulverizer unit having an inlet chute, a cutting chamber, and an outlet, a first image capturing device positioned above the inlet chute for capturing an image of an identification number associated with a firearm, and a second image capturing device positioned above the cutting chamber for recording destruction of the firearm inserted into the cutting chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Gunbusters, LLC
    Inventor: Raymond W Reynolds
  • Patent number: 8866969
    Abstract: A display apparatus includes a receiver which receives a broadcasting signal, a display which displays an image based on the received broadcasting signal, a communication unit which communicates with a mobile device, and a controller which determines whether the mobile device interferes with at least one channel of a plurality of broadcasting channels received through the receiver, and controls the display to display a user interface (UI) indicates a user whether image noise has resulted from channel interference by the mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Seok-woo Yong
  • Patent number: 8866913
    Abstract: Systems and methods for calibrating a 360 degree camera system include imaging reference strips, analyzing the imaged data to correct for pitch, roll, and yaw of cameras of the 360 degree camera system, and analyzing the image data to correct for zoom and shifting of the cameras. Each of the reference strips may include a bullseye component and a dots component to aid in the analyzing and correcting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: OmniVision Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeff Hsieh, Hasan Gadjali, Tawei Ho
  • Patent number: 8704156
    Abstract: Disclosed is a solid-state image pickup apparatus including a photoelectric converter formed on a substrate, a wiring portion formed above the photoelectric converter and constituted of multilayer wirings, and an insulating portion in which the multilayer wirings of the wiring portion are embedded, the insulating portion having a refractive index larger than a silicon oxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Koji Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 8681208
    Abstract: An image processing device includes a special light image acquisition section that acquires an image including an object image that includes information in a specific wavelength band as a special light image, an attention area detection section that detects an attention area based on a feature quantity of each pixel of the special light image, a disappearance determination section that determines whether or not the attention area has disappeared from a display target area based on a detection result for the attention area, the display target area being an area displayed on an output section, a guide information generation section that generates guide information about the attention area that has disappeared based on a determination result of the disappearance determination section, and an output control section that controls output of information including the guide information generated by the guide information generation section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventor: Koichiro Yoshino
  • Patent number: 8610765
    Abstract: A head separated type imaging apparatus includes a head unit and a main unit which are separated, the main unit processing an image signal transmitted from the head unit. The main unit includes a first communication unit transmitting/receiving data to/from the head unit via wireless communication, a second communication unit transmitting/receiving data to/from the head unit via wired communication, and a control unit detecting whether the second communication unit is communicable, and continuing, when the first and second communication units are switched based on a detection result therefrom, transmission/reception of the data which is performed before the switching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Shogo Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 8587644
    Abstract: This is an endoscope apparatus which has an endoscope which picks up an image of a sample using a solid state image pickup element and outputs an image pickup signal, and a processor which processes the above-mentioned image pickup signal, generates HDTV and SDTV serial digital video signals, switches one side of those selectively, and performs a serial output, in which the serial digital video signal switched selectively by the above-mentioned processor is output through a first connector, the above-mentioned processor is equipped with a discrimination signal generating section which is linked with selection switching of the above-mentioned HDTV or SDTV serial digital video signal to generate an HDTV/SDTV discrimination signal which can discriminate the above-mentioned HDTV or SDTV serial digital video signal, and the discrimination signal is output through a second connector different from the above-mentioned first connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Olympus Medical Systems Corp.
    Inventors: Tsutomu Hirai, Akihito Kawamura
  • Publication number: 20130229506
    Abstract: A head separated type imaging apparatus includes a head unit and a main unit which are separated, the main unit processing an image signal transmitted from the head unit. The main unit includes a first communication unit transmitting/receiving data to/from the head unit via wireless communication, a second communication unit transmitting/receiving data to/from the head unit via wired communication, and a control unit detecting whether the second communication unit is communicable, and continuing, when the first and second communication units are switched based on a detection result therefrom, transmission/reception of the data which is performed before the switching.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2013
    Publication date: September 5, 2013
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Shogo Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 8442383
    Abstract: An image capturing apparatus selects one of image capturing conditions to be used for capturing images as a reference condition when a total of image capturing time of one frame in each image capturing condition to be used for capturing images is longer than one frame period at a predetermined frame rate, and captures images at the predetermined frame rate under the reference condition, and captures images at a frame rate lower than the predetermined frame rate under the other image capturing conditions. A playback apparatus detects a motion between frames of a moving image captured under the reference condition when the image capturing condition of the playback moving image is not the reference condition, and generates an interpolation frame for interpolating between frames of the playback moving image based on the detected motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshihisa Furumoto
  • Patent number: 8345090
    Abstract: A fluoroscopy apparatus includes an illumination portion irradiating an observation target with illumination light; a fluorescence image acquisition device acquires fluorescence emitted from an observation target to acquire a fluorescence image; a fluorescence image-acquisition optical system forms an image of the observation target using the fluorescence; a reference-light image acquisition device acquires returning light from the observation region to acquire a reference image; a reference-light image-acquisition optical system forms an image using the returning light; and an image correction section corrects the fluorescence image by the reference image, wherein the product of an pixel density of the reference-light image acquisition device and the image-forming magnification of the reference-light image-acquisition optical system is less than the product of the pixel density of the fluorescence image acquisition device and the image-forming magnification of the fluorescence image-acquisition optical syste
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiaki Watanabe, Yasushige Ishihara
  • Patent number: 8313446
    Abstract: The measurement installation comprises a measurement computer system comprising: an identification system (19) that identifies a region of interest on a plane image; a pairing system (20) that determines on each plane image the two-dimensional coordinates of an anatomical point by searching for correlation between the region of interest and a corresponding zone on each other image; and a calculation unit (21) that determines the three-dimensional coordinates of the anatomical point of the individual in the measurement space on the basis of the two-dimensional coordinates and of a relationship obtained by calibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Inventors: Gérard Di Mascio, Arnaud Lecerf
  • Patent number: 8311108
    Abstract: A multi-view image coding apparatus and method are provided. The multi-view image coding apparatus may extract geometric information from a plurality of cameras, may construct a spatial prediction structure to enable a correlation of each view to be maximum using the geometric information, and thereby may code and transmit a multi-view image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seok Lee, Du Sik Park, Jaejoon Lee, Ho Cheon Wey, Il Soon Lim, Jin Young Lee
  • Patent number: 8294756
    Abstract: An endoscope system, including: an endoscope for picking up an image of a subject and outputting an image pickup signal of the image; an external processor having a post-signal processing circuit which processes the image pickup signal inputted from the endoscope and generates a video signal that can be outputted to a monitor; and an output detecting circuit for detecting the presence or absence of an output of the image pickup signal and the presence or absence of an output of the video signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Olympus Medical Systems Corp.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Usami
  • Patent number: 8253784
    Abstract: An image capturing device assembly for use with a test probe and a testing system. The image capturing device assembly including an image capturing device module configured for coupling to an external surface of the test probe and having an image capturing device housed within. The image capturing device is configured to generate a digital output video signal or the analog output video signal of a testing site. A digital monitor is coupled to the image capturing device via a wired or wireless link and configured to receive the digital output signal and generate a display of the testing site on the display monitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: Alexander D. Vdolek
  • Patent number: 8253779
    Abstract: Systems and methods for combining tomographic images with human vision. The systems preferably include a first assembly located proximal to an object to be imaged and a second assembly remote from the target. The first assembly is preferably able to collect a tomographic image from a target object and superimpose that tomographic image onto a direct view of the target object. The first assembly also includes components that allow the transmission of the tomographic image to the remote assembly. At the remote location, a highly trained expert may interact with the captured image by placing electronic markers on the image via an electronic interface. The captured image plus electronic marker are then preferably transmitted back to the local site via a second transmitter-receiver. The local user may use the electronic marker to guide his actions during the appropriate task.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: University of Pittsbugh—Of The Commonwealth System of Higher Education
    Inventor: George DeWitt Stetten
  • Patent number: 8248464
    Abstract: An endoscope signal processor to which an endoscope having an image pickup device is detachably connected has a phase-locked loop circuit in which a phase comparator compares a phase of a variable clock with that of a reference clock output from the image pickup device to generate a variable clock phase-synchronized with the reference clock. The processor includes a gate section opened or closed to input of the reference clock to the phase comparator, an operation control signal generation section which generates an operation control signal for setting the phase-locked loop circuit in a closed loop operable state during intermittent periods, and a sync timing setting section which synchronizes a timing of starting the generation of the operation control signal with a timing of input of the variable clock to the phase comparator at least within a predetermined time period shorter than the cycle of the variable clock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Olympus Medical Systems Corp.
    Inventor: Kazumasa Takahashi
  • Patent number: 8243172
    Abstract: An SSG circuit section is composed of: a memory storing correction information for correcting a transmission characteristic of an image pickup signal in a transmission path; a readout circuit for reading out the correction information stored in the memory; and an SSG for generating a drive signal to be outputted from a driving circuit and a sampling pulse to be used in a CDS circuit, and for specifying an amplification factor of an amplifier circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Olympus Medical Systems Corp.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Usami, Yutaka Fujisawa
  • Publication number: 20120127294
    Abstract: A head separated type imaging apparatus includes a head unit and a main unit which are separated, the main unit processing an image signal transmitted from the head unit. The main unit includes a first communication unit transmitting/receiving data to/from the head unit via wireless communication, a second communication unit transmitting/receiving data to/from the head unit via wired communication, and a control unit detecting whether the second communication unit is communicable, and continuing, when the first and second communication units are switched based on a detection result therefrom, transmission/reception of the data which is performed before the switching.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2011
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Inventor: Shogo Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 8184149
    Abstract: A method for producing an image with an increased resolution from a plurality of aliased ophthalmic images having an original resolution is described. The method comprises the steps of—providing an imaging system capable of acquiring said aliased ophthalmic images,—acquiring said aliased ophthalmic images by the imaging system, thereby generating non-integer pixel displacements between said images by using voluntary or involuntary eye movements,—determining the displacements between said images, and—producing an image with an increased resolution in an overlapping area of said aliased ophthalmic images compared to the original resolution of said images, based on said images and said displacements, using a super-resolution algorithm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: I-Optics B.V.
    Inventors: Michiel Herman Mensink, Koenraad Arndt Vermeer
  • Patent number: 8154591
    Abstract: An eyelid opening level determination device includes a face image taking unit; an upper eyelid detection unit for detecting an upper eyelid in the face image; a lower eyelid area setting unit for setting an area for searching a lower eyelid based on the upper eyelid; an edge group detecting unit for detecting an edge group where brightness changes from dark to bright as a lower eyelid candidate by scanning the area from an upper side to a lower side; a reliability value obtaining unit for obtaining a reliability value of the edge group; a lower eyelid determination unit in which the edge group having the reliability value exceeding a predetermined value in the edge group is determined to be the lower eyelid; and an eyelid opening level obtaining unit for obtaining opening level of the eyelid based on positions for the upper eyelid and the lower eyelid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takanori Morita, Takashi Hiramaki, Jun Adachi
  • Patent number: 8139118
    Abstract: A digital camera that picks up an image of a print/picture and displays it in a monitor frame image. The camera comprises a CPU that identifies an area of the image of the print/picture and drives an image pickup unit such that the identified area of the image of the print/picture is placed in an optimal state in the frame image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Junichi Yoshida
  • Patent number: 8115814
    Abstract: An apparatus and method to track and to photograph a mobile object over a wide range, by a cooperative operation of multiple cameras. In addition, a mobile tracking system is provided for tracking the mobile object by the cooperation of multiple cameras, in which each camera includes a photographing device which photographs and recognizes the mobile object, a changing device which changes a view angle of the photographing device, a position deriving device which derives a position of the camera, a distance deriving device which derives the distance between the camera and the mobile object, and a communication device which transmits an identifier of the camera, a position of the camera, a moving direction of the mobile object and the distance between the camera and the mobile object to another camera and receives an identifier of the other camera, a position of the other camera, a moving direction of the mobile object and a distance between the other camera and the mobile object from the other camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshihiko Iwase, Masaaki Imaizumi
  • Patent number: 8035684
    Abstract: An image-signal generating apparatus comprises a solid-state image pickup device-equivalent load circuit unit including a load approximately equivalent to a solid-state image pickup device such as a charge coupled device, etc. The image-signal generating apparatus further comprises an image-signal generating circuit for generating an image signal corresponding to an output signal output from the solid-state image pickup device through the solid-state image pickup device-equivalent load circuit unit, which is a load to which a driving signal for driving the solid-state image pickup device is applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventor: Sumio Wakito
  • Patent number: 8035685
    Abstract: A system for communicating video data is described. The system includes a mobile imaging system, at least one monitor fixed to a room in a medical facility, and a video transmitter assembly coupled to the mobile imaging system to transmit a video signal. The system for communicating video data also includes a video receiver assembly coupled to the at least one monitor to receive the video signal and display the video signal on the at least one monitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Vernon Thomas Jensen
  • Patent number: 7959558
    Abstract: In a camera head for an endoscope, a camera system for an endoscope, and an endoscope system of the invention, a camera head section has: an adaptor connection section to be connected to an eyepiece section of an endoscope that enables observation of inside of a body cavity of a subject; a CCD which picks up an observation image from the eyepiece section connected by the adaptor connection section; an image signal processing device which processes an image signal of the observation image picked up by the CCD; a cable including a connector as an output device which outputs the image signal from the image signal processing device; and a recording device which records the image signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Mitsuhiro Ito, Junichi Ohnishi, Hiroyuki Kuroda
  • Patent number: 7822248
    Abstract: An endoscope processor comprising a signal receiver and a standard value calculator is provided. The signal receiver receives an image signal generated based on an optical image captured at a light receiving surface on an imaging device. The image signal comprises a plurality of pixel signals generated by a plurality of pixels according to amounts of received light. A plurality of the pixels are arranged on the light receiving surface. The standard value calculator calculates a standard value using a focused pixel signal and surrounding pixel signals. The surrounding pixel signals are the pixel signals of surrounding pixels. The surrounding pixels surround the focused pixel. The standard value is used for carrying out signal processing on the focused pixel signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Hoya Corporation
    Inventor: Yosuke Ikemoto
  • Patent number: 7822247
    Abstract: An endoscope processor comprising a signal receiver, an average calculator, a difference calculator, an emphasizer, a synthesizer, and an output block is provided. The signal receiver receives an image signal generated by an imaging device. The image signal comprises a plurality of pixel signals. The average calculator calculates a signal average value. The difference calculator calculates a signal difference value. The emphasizer calculates an emphasized value by multiplying the signal difference value by a predetermined gain. The synthesizer generates an emphasized image signal, in which the pixel signal for each pixel is replaced with the sum of the emphasized value for each pixel and the signal average value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Hoya Corporation
    Inventor: Yosuke Ikemoto
  • Patent number: 7642899
    Abstract: The present invention is a vehicle observation apparatus for reducing the risk of injury to law enforcement persons during vehicle stops. The invention is also a vehicle equipped with the vehicle observation apparatus. In an embodiment, the apparatus may include a mast being mountable to and deployable from a law enforcement vehicle, means for two-way communication and observation secured about one end of the mast, means for operating the mast, and means for operating the means for two-way communication and observation. The mast may be telescopic and adapted to be placed in at least a first position and a second position, or may be non-telescopic and in an extended position when in use. In another embodiment, the invention may be a similar apparatus wherein the mast is mountable to and deployable from a check point structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Inventors: Julio Alvarado, Douglas Masztak
  • Patent number: 7636464
    Abstract: A diagnosis supporting system acquires a reference image signal of a subject illuminated with visible light and a fluorescent image signal of the subject excited by irradiation with excitation light. The diagnosis supporting system calculates a difference between a brightness level of a pixel in the reference image signal and a brightness level of a pixel in the fluorescent image signal at the corresponding position for target pixels. An observation image signal is generated by converting the pixels in the reference image signal with differences larger than a predetermined value into red pixels. In the case a ratio of the red pixels in the observation image signal is higher than a predetermined level, more pixels become the target pixels to be processed than in the other case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2009
    Assignee: Hoya Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kobayashi, Noriko Ota
  • Patent number: 7522185
    Abstract: A TV observation system for an endoscope including an endoscope and a small-sized light source unit. The endoscope can be structurally separated into an insertion part and a proximal holding part continuously extending from the insertion part. The endoscope can include a light guide arranged from a distal end of the insertion part through the proximal holding part. The proximal holding part can be provided with a light guide joint section where an entrance end face of the light guide is fixed. The small-sized light source unit can be constructed and arranged to be removably connected with the light guide joint section. The small-sized light source unit can include a plurality of small-sized LEDs, a batter configured to power the plurality of LEDs, and a compounding optical system configured to compound light emitted by the plurality of small-sized LEDs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Takayuki Suzuki, Makoto Tomioka, Yumi Ikeda, Akira Hasegawa, Mitsujiro Konno, Shinya Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 7511733
    Abstract: A battery self-containing body, which self-contains a battery or a battery accommodating body, which accommodates a battery removably is attached to a capsule body including a drive circuit for driving an imaging device and an illuminating device. Thus, the power supply can be turned ON easily. In addition, the inside portion is sealed water-tightly. Thus, the battery self-containing body or a battery can be exchanged easily, which allows the easy reuse. The direction of the visual field of the imaging device is diagonal with respect to the axis of the capsule body. Furthermore, spiral-shape projections are provided on the peripheral surface of the cylinder form. Thus, the rotation allows the surface of canal cavity wall to be examined easily.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Hironobu Takizawa, Hideyuki Adachi, Hitoshi Mizuno, Hisao Yabe, Hiroki Moriyama
  • Patent number: 7498950
    Abstract: RFID circuitry is used in an endoscopic light source unit to track cumulative light bulb use information. An inductively powered RFID tag is affixed to the light bulb assembly, and communicates wirelessly with an RF transceiver within the light source unit via a low-frequency modulation wave. The RFID tag includes memory which stores a value representing cumulative duration of use of the light bulb. The transceiver reads the value from the RFID tag and communicates the value to control circuitry in the light source unit, which tracks use of the light bulb within the light source unit. Based on such tracking, the transceiver periodically updates the value in the RFID tag via the wireless link. Cumulative bulb usage hours is displayed on the light source unit. The RFID tag also may store a custom password and/or other information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: Stryker Corporation
    Inventors: Hasan Ertas, Brannon P. Wells, Rajeshwari Srinivasan
  • Patent number: 7482570
    Abstract: The invention is regarding to solid-state imaging device. A solid-state imaging device consistent with the present invention includes, a plurality of unit cells on a semiconductor substrate of a first conductivity type, each unit cell including a photoelectric conversion unit comprising a photodiode having a diffusion layer of a second conductivity type and a signal scanning circuit unit; a trench isolation region for isolating the photoelectric conversion unit from the signal scanning circuit unit, the trench isolation region being formed in the semiconductor substrate; a first element-isolating diffusion layer of the first conductivity type formed under a bottom face of the trench isolation region down to a position deeper than the diffusion layer of the photodiode from the surface of the semiconductor substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Ikuko Inoue, Hirofumi Yamashita, Hidetoshi Nozaki
  • Patent number: 7440005
    Abstract: In an endoscope, scopes that include a scope-side memory and a connector are selectively and detachably connected to a processor that includes a processor-side memory and a connection member. A parameter stored in the scope-side memory can be written to the processor-side memory. The connector that is connectable to the connection member is used for connecting the scope to the processor. When the connection member that is movable is in the first position, the connector is detachably connectable to the connection member. When the connection member is in the second position, the subject is observable. When the connection member is moved from the first position to the second position, the parameter is written to the processor-side memory. When the connection member is moved from the second position to the first position, the parameter is written to the scope-side memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Hoya Corporation
    Inventor: Takayuki Enomoto