Patents by Inventor Hirotake Nozaki

Hirotake Nozaki 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: 8659677
    Abstract: A digital camera comprises an imaging device; an internal memory; an attachment device that attaches a storage medium; a medium detector that detects whether the storage medium attached to the attachment device is a storage medium limiting overwrite; and a record control device that controls so as to store image data taken by the imaging device in the storage medium attached to the attachment device. When the medium detector detects that the storage medium attached to the attachment device is the storage medium limiting overwrite, the record control device controls so as to store data management information of the image data recorded in the storage medium limiting overwrite in the internal memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Hirotake Nozaki, Akira Ohmura
  • Patent number: 8634696
    Abstract: An image reproducing apparatus includes: an image storage device that stores image data having been read into the image reproducing apparatus; an image output device that outputs the image data stored in the image storage device to a display device; an image selection device that selects an image from the image data; and an image extraction device that extracts from the image data a plurality of images satisfying a condition equivalent to a condition of the image having been selected by the image selection device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Setsu Mitsuhashi, Hirotake Nozaki, Kenji Hori, Akira Ohmura
  • Patent number: 8614752
    Abstract: An image signal resulting from an image-capturing operation performed at a CCD undergoes analog processing at an image processing unit. Image data resulting from the analog processing are first digitized at an A/D conversion circuit and then undergo image processing at a DSP. The image data having undergone the image processing are stored in a frame memory. At a peaking processing circuit, a brightness signal Y stored in a Y signal memory of the frame memory is read out and differentiated at a differentiation circuit. The differentiated signal is amplified at an amplifier circuit and then the amplified signal is added to the original brightness signal Y at an adder circuit. A brightness signal Y? representing the sum is output to a display LCD. The edges in the image signal are emphasized in the display on the display LCD.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Ejima, Hirotake Nozaki
  • Patent number: 8611717
    Abstract: An image data management device has a data reading unit and a control section. The data reading unit includes a plurality of recording medium insert sections. To the recording medium insert section, a recording medium having recorded photographic image data is connected detachably and data can be read from and written to the recording medium. The control section acquires imaging date/time information included in each photographic image data, classifies the groups of photographic image data recorded in each recording medium of the data reading unit according to the imaging date/time, and moves the photographic image data among the recording media based on the result of classification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Hirotake Nozaki
  • Publication number: 20130329029
    Abstract: A digital camera system capable of operating by detecting a feature point, which has not been accomplished, in addition to ordinary functions of a conventional camera is provided. According to an aspect of the present invention, a digital camera system includes a detecting means that detects a given feature point from an image data, a receiving means that receives an order from a user, a selecting means that selects each feature point in accordance with a given order instructed by the receiving means when a plurality of feature points are detected, and a display that displays feature point information identifying the feature point selected by the selecting means.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2013
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hirotake NOZAKI, Hideo HIBINO, Toshiaki KOBAYASHI, Norizaku YOKONUMA, Satoshi EJIMA, Tadashi OHTA
  • Patent number: 8558941
    Abstract: A camera for recording an image captured using image-capturing element in a recording medium is provided with a focal point detection device for detecting a focal point adjustment state of a photographic lens in each focal point detection region of a plurality of focal point detection regions set inside an photographic field. When electronic zoom shooting is carried out, part of an imaged picture is trimmed and an image for recording in the recording medium is created. For a plurality of focal point detection regions the focal point detection regions are changed according to the trimming range of the imaged picture. Focal point adjustment of the photographic lens is carried out based on focal point detection results for focal point detection regions that have been changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Hirotake Nozaki
  • Patent number: 8547469
    Abstract: An electronic camera of the present invention includes: an imaging unit capturing a subject to generate an original image; a derivative image generating unit reducing resolution or color of the original image to generate a derivative image for transfer; a recording unit recording the original image and the derivative image thereon such that the original image and the derivative image get associated with each other; and a transfer unit transferring the derivative image recorded on the recording unit to an external transfer destination. In this configuration, the recording unit finds the derivative image (original image) by referring to the association with the original image (or derivative image), thereby collectively managing the original image and the derivative image. This makes it possible to prevent a user from being confused at image management due to the original image and the derivative image being the same image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Ejima, Kazuya Umeyama, Takumi Kawahara, Toshihisa Kuroiwa, Toshiaki Kobayashi, Hirotake Nozaki, Tomoaki Kawamura
  • Patent number: 8538252
    Abstract: A face detecting section of a camera detects a face area in a shooting screen under an output of an image sensor. A focus detecting section calculates a defocus amount from a relative interval of a pair of images under an optical flux passed through a shooting lens in each of optional areas in the shooting screen. A first focus controlling section specifies a focus detecting area from the optional areas under an output of the face detecting section, and performs a focus operation under the defocus amount of the focus detecting area. A second focus controlling section calculates a focus evaluation value in the face area under an output of the image sensor, and performs a focus operation by using the focus evaluation value. A control section causes at least one of the first focus controlling section and the second focus controlling section to perform a focus operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Hirotake Nozaki, Satoshi Ejima, Akira Ohmura
  • Patent number: 8498532
    Abstract: A digital camera equipped with a projector, includes a photographing device; a projector device that projects an optical image; a mode switching operation member that outputs a switching operation signal indicating a changeover to one of a photographing operation mode in which image data photographed by the photographing device are saved as a photographic image file in a recording medium and a projection operation mode in which a reproduced image is projected by the projector device; a top surface operation member disposed at an upper surface of a casing; and a projection control device that controls the projector device based upon an operation signal provided by the top surface operation member upon receiving a switching operation signal indicating a changeover to the projection operation mode from the mode switching operation member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Hirotake Nozaki, Nobuhiro Fujinawa, Akira Ohmura
  • Patent number: 8488847
    Abstract: An image sensor of an electronic camera photoelectrically converts a subject image obtained by a shooting optical system to generate an image signal. A image processing section generates face registration image data and moving image data. A face detecting section detects a face area inside a shooting screen based on the moving image data. A controlling section adjusts shooting parameters of the shooting optical system, depending on a position detected at the face area. A face image generating section cuts out an image of the face area to generate face image data. A face recognizing data generating section extracts feature points of the face of a captured person from a part of the face area of the face registration image data and generates face recognizing data. A recording section records the face recognizing data or face image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Hirotake Nozaki, Akira Ohmura, Yasuyuki Motoki, Nobuhiro Fujinawa
  • Patent number: 8488022
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an electronic camera which images an object image and records image data. Particularly, the present invention relates to technology to record image data in a good shooting state, such as with little blurring due to hand shaking. The invention has an image pick-up means which continuously images an object, a temporary memory means which temporarily stores a plurality of frames of image data which are continuously imaged by the image pick-up means, a shooting evaluation means which evaluates a good or bad shooting state of the image data imaged by the image pick-up means, a still image selection means which selects the image data with the highest evaluation of the shooting evaluation means among the image data which are stored in the temporary memory means, and an image saving means which saves the image data which is selected by the still image selection means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Hirotake Nozaki, Satoshi Ejima
  • Patent number: 8454172
    Abstract: A projector device includes: an image generation unit that generates an image; an irradiation unit that irradiates light for projecting the image generated by the image generation unit upon a projection surface; and a change unit that changes luminance of the light irradiated from the irradiation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Nobuhiro Fujinawa, Setsu Mitsuhashi, Hirotake Nozaki, Akira Ohmura
  • Patent number: 8421867
    Abstract: A projection device includes: a light source; a modulation element that modulates light from the light source; a projection optical system that projects light modulated by the modulation element; a drive unit that drives the projection optical system; and a control unit that drives the light source and the drive unit in a complementary manner when driving the drive unit while turning on the light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Hirotake Nozaki
  • Patent number: 8417023
    Abstract: Conventionally, there has been a problem that a viewer is tired when playing back images mixedly including 2D images and 3D images, because images change frequently. A storage part stores 2D images and 3D images, an image conversion part that converts the 2D image stored in the storage part into a new 3D image, and an image output part that outputs the 3D image stored in the storage part and the new 3D image converted by the image conversion part. Consequently, it is possible to prevent a viewer from tiring when playing back images mixedly including 2D images and 3D images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Setsu Mitsuhashi, Hirotake Nozaki
  • Patent number: 8379108
    Abstract: An electronic camera including an imaging device photoelectrically converting a formed image of a subject to generate an image signal, a manipulation section accepting an input instructing a release, a face detecting section detecting a face area in a shooting image plane based on the image signal during a standby period for the release, a controlling section photographing the subject in response to the release to generate shooting image data from the image signal, a face recognizing data generating section which extracts a feature point of a person's face corresponding to the face area based on the image signal and generates face recognizing data of the photographed person based on the feature point when the release takes place while the face area is detected, and a recording section recording the face recognizing data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Hirotake Nozaki
  • Patent number: 8373792
    Abstract: An autofocus apparatus with a photographic optical system having a movably disposed focus adjusting lens, an optical element to split light beams received from an object, a plurality of image forming lenses to form images from portions of the split light beams, a plurality of focusing estimating portions to create focusing data for focusing the image of the object on the corresponding image forming lenses, a data detecting device to detect data for focusing the image, a data creating device to correct the detected focusing data, a selecting portion to select from among the focusing estimating portions, and a moving device to move the focus adjusting lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kurokawa, Hirotake Nozaki, Koutarou Murakami
  • Patent number: 8355050
    Abstract: An image replay system includes a digital camera and an image replay device. The image replay device includes an image recording unit that acquires image information from the digital camera and records it upon a recording medium, a replay unit that replays the image information recorded upon the recording medium, and a transmission unit that transmits to the digital camera usage condition data related to the usage conditions of the image replay device. The digital camera includes a data acquisition unit that acquires the usage condition data from the image replay device, and a control unit that controls the digital camera on the basis of the usage condition data that has been acquired by the data acquisition unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Hirotake Nozaki
  • Patent number: 8330714
    Abstract: The electronic device includes a projector device that projects an image formed by an optical image formation element, an imaging device that captures an image of an object to be photographed so that an imaging range includes the range of projection by the projector device and outputs an image signal, an image change detection unit that detects change of the image signal after having excluded the projection range from the range photographed by the imaging device, and a command unit that issues a command related to operation of the projector device according to the region within the imaging range in which change has been detected by the image change detection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Hirotake Nozaki, Nobuhiro Fujinawa
  • Patent number: 8306280
    Abstract: An electronic camera includes an image pickup device, a memory, a face detecting section, a face recognizing section, and an object specifying section. The image pickup device photo-electrically converts an image of an object into an electric signal and generates an image signal as the electric signal. The memory has recorded registration data representing characterizing points of faces as recognizing targets. The face detecting section detects face areas in a shooting image plane based on the image signal and extracts characterizing points of faces of objects from the face areas. The face recognizing section determines whether or not the face areas are the recognizing targets based on data of the characterizing points corresponding to the face areas and on the registration data. The object specifying section specifies as a main object an object present on nearest side of the electronic camera of objects as the recognizing targets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Hirotake Nozaki, Akira Ohmura, Hideya Inoue
  • Patent number: 8212894
    Abstract: An electronic camera includes an image pickup device that takes a subject image, a face detecting section, an inferential section, and an image processing section. The face detecting section not only detects a face area in a shooting image plane based on the output of the image pickup device but also extracts a feature amount of the face of the subject from the face area. The inferential section performs inferential processing relating to either of the age and gender of the subject based on the feature amount. The image processing section makes at least one of an exposure correction, a soft focus correction, a skin smoothing correction to adjust color saturation of the color of the skin, and a correction to make a person look slim, on a recording-purpose image taken by the image pickup device based on the inference result of the inferential section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Hirotake Nozaki, Akira Ohmura