Patents by Inventor Ichiro Oyama
Ichiro Oyama 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: 9025053Abstract: An imaging apparatus restores a deteriorated image to a high-resolution image when the deteriorated image is restored based on a PSF image captured by an optical system. An imaging apparatus includes an optical system, and a PSF capturing unit that acquires point spread function (PSF) information captured by the optical system and outputs corrected PSF information. A subject capturing unit acquires subject information captured by the optical system and outputs the subject information; and an image restoration unit performs a restore operation for restoring the subject information, based on the corrected PSF information and the subject information. The PSF capturing unit subtracts a correction luminance value from the PSF information, and outputs the corrected PSF information. The correction luminance value is greater by a luminance value Is than a luminance value Nf of fixed value noise that does not fluctuate with time.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2011Date of Patent: May 5, 2015Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.Inventor: Ichiro Oyama
-
Patent number: 8861888Abstract: An image processing device includes: a luminance saturation position detection unit which detects a luminance saturation position to produce a light source image; a flare model production unit which produces a flare model image based on the light source image and optical characteristics data of the optical system; a flare position setting unit which sets, as a flare position, a predetermined image position in the captured image and located near the luminance saturation position and on a side of an optical axis relative to the luminance saturation position; a flare model luminance adjustment unit which produces the estimated flare image by adjusting luminance gain of the flare model image, based on a relationship between a luminance value of the captured image at the flare position and a luminance value of the flare model image at the flare position; and an unnecessary light subtraction unit which subtracts the estimated flare image from the captured image.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2011Date of Patent: October 14, 2014Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventor: Ichiro Oyama
-
Patent number: 8723926Abstract: The present invention aims to provide a parallax detecting apparatus (3) and the like which is capable of suppressing the degree of parallax detection error even in the case of using cameras each having a lens whose resolution is low for the pitch of the pixels of the imaging devices. The parallax detecting apparatus (3) which calculates a parallax that occurs between optical systems includes: a PSF approximating unit (5) configured to modify at least one of images obtained from the respective optical systems such that point spread functions of the optical systems are made to sufficiently approximate a point spread function of a predetermined optical system; and a parallax calculating unit (9) configured to calculate the parallax that occurs between the optical systems, using the image modified by the PSF approximating unit (5).Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2010Date of Patent: May 13, 2014Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventor: Ichiro Oyama
-
Patent number: 8610797Abstract: An image processing device includes: a luminance saturation position detection unit which detects a luminance saturation position that is a position in a captured image at which a luminance value is greater than a predetermined value; a luminance gradient detection unit which detects a luminance gradient around the luminance saturation position; a light source image estimation unit which estimates a luminance distribution on an imaging surface, based on (i) an image at the luminance saturation position, (ii) a point spread function image which corresponds to the luminance saturation position, and (iii) the luminance gradient, such that the luminance value increases as the luminance gradient increases, the luminance distribution being formed by an object whose image is captured at the luminance saturation position; and an unnecessary light subtraction unit which subtracts a luminance value of unnecessary light from the captured image by using the luminance distribution.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 2011Date of Patent: December 17, 2013Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventor: Ichiro Oyama
-
Publication number: 20130120614Abstract: An image processing device includes: a luminance saturation position detection unit which detects a luminance saturation position to produce a light source image; a flare model production unit which produces a flare model image based on the light source image and optical characteristics data of the optical system; a flare position setting unit which sets, as a flare position, a predetermined image position in the captured image and located near the luminance saturation position and on a side of an optical axis relative to the luminance saturation position; a flare model luminance adjustment unit which produces the estimated flare image by adjusting luminance gain of the flare model image, based on a relationship between a luminance value of the captured image at the flare position and a luminance value of the flare model image at the flare position; and an unnecessary light subtraction unit which subtracts the estimated flare image from the captured image.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2011Publication date: May 16, 2013Inventor: Ichiro Oyama
-
Patent number: 8400505Abstract: A calibration device and method calibrates a distance measuring device which provides captured images with significant lens aberration. The calibration device and method estimate a camera parameter representing a characteristic of each imaging system of a distance measuring device, and perform the following: capture, using the distance measuring device, an image of a reference chart which (i) represents a geometric pattern in which elements are arranged and (ii) is positioned to have a predetermined positional relationship with the distance measuring device; modify a luminance distribution affected by aberration of the lens in the captured image of the reference chart; calculate, as a feature point position, a gravity center position of each element in the captured image whose luminance distribution is modified; and estimate the camera parameter using the feature point position calculated in the calculating and an approximate actual gravity center position in the reference chart.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2009Date of Patent: March 19, 2013Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Ichiro Oyama, Norihiro Imamura
-
Publication number: 20120287307Abstract: An image processing device includes: a luminance saturation position detection unit which detects a luminance saturation position that is a position in a captured image at which a luminance value is greater than a predetermined value; a luminance gradient detection unit which detects a luminance gradient around the luminance saturation position; a light source image estimation unit which estimates a luminance distribution on an imaging surface, based on (i) an image at the luminance saturation position, (ii) a point spread function image which corresponds to the luminance saturation position, and (iii) the luminance gradient, such that the luminance value increases as the luminance gradient increases, the luminance distribution being formed by an object whose image is captured at the luminance saturation position; and an unnecessary light subtraction unit which subtracts a luminance value of unnecessary light from the captured image by using the luminance distribution.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 24, 2011Publication date: November 15, 2012Inventor: Ichiro Oyama
-
Publication number: 20120099001Abstract: An object is to provide an imaging apparatus capable of restoring a deteriorated image to a high-resolution image when the deteriorated image is restored based on a PSF image captured by an optical system. An imaging apparatus (10) includes: an optical system (1); a PSF capturing unit (2) acquiring point spread function (PSF) information captured by the optical system (1), and outputting corrected PSF information; a subject capturing unit (4) acquiring subject information captured by the optical system (1), and outputting the subject information; and an image restoration unit (5) performing a restore operation for restoring the subject information, based on the corrected PSF information and the subject information, wherein the PSF capturing unit (2) subtracts a correction luminance value from the PSF information, and outputs the corrected PSF information, the correction luminance value being greater by a luminance value Is than a luminance value Nf of fixed value noise that does not fluctuate with time.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 20, 2011Publication date: April 26, 2012Inventor: Ichiro Oyama
-
Publication number: 20120070096Abstract: Provided is an imaging apparatus capable of restoring a deteriorated image to a high-resolution image when the deteriorated image is restored based on a PSF image captured by an optical system.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 20, 2011Publication date: March 22, 2012Inventor: Ichiro Oyama
-
Patent number: 8090195Abstract: A compound eye imaging apparatus can estimate a sub-pixel disparity with a high degree of accuracy without depending on a brightness of a surface of an object.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2009Date of Patent: January 3, 2012Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventor: Ichiro Oyama
-
Patent number: 7999873Abstract: A plurality of lenses 102a to 102d arranged in the same plane form a plurality of subject images on a plurality of imaging regions 104a to 104d. Vertical line directions and horizontal line directions of the pixel arrangement in the respective plurality of imaging regions are equal to one another among the plurality of imaging regions. Further, at least one pair of subject images received by at least one pair of imaging regions having a parallax in the vertical line (or horizontal line) direction among the plurality of imaging regions are shifted from each other by a predetermined amount in the horizontal line (or vertical line) direction. By performing pixel shifting in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which a parallax is generated, it always is possible to obtain a high-resolution image even when the subject distance varies.Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 2006Date of Patent: August 16, 2011Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Ichiro Oyama, Taku Hirasawa, Michiyoshi Nagashima, Tomokuni Iijima
-
Publication number: 20110157320Abstract: The present invention aims to provide a parallax detecting apparatus (3) and the like which is capable of suppressing the degree of parallax detection error even in the case of using cameras each having a lens whose resolution is low for the pitch of the pixels of the imaging devices. The parallax detecting apparatus (3) which calculates a parallax that occurs between optical systems includes: a PSF approximating unit (5) configured to modify at least one of images obtained from the respective optical systems such that point spread functions of the optical systems are made to sufficiently approximate a point spread function of a predetermined optical system; and a parallax calculating unit (9) configured to calculate the parallax that occurs between the optical systems, using the image modified by the PSF approximating unit (5).Type: ApplicationFiled: July 13, 2010Publication date: June 30, 2011Inventor: Ichiro Oyama
-
Publication number: 20100201809Abstract: To provide highly accurate calibration method or the like for use with a distance measuring device which provides captured images with significant lens aberration.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 19, 2009Publication date: August 12, 2010Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATIONInventors: Ichiro Oyama, Norihiro Imamura
-
Publication number: 20100150455Abstract: A compound eye imaging apparatus can estimate a sub-pixel disparity with a high degree of accuracy without depending on a brightness of a surface of an object.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 10, 2009Publication date: June 17, 2010Inventor: Ichiro Oyama
-
Patent number: 7718940Abstract: A plurality of imaging optical lenses (301a to 301c) form a plurality of subject images on a plurality of imaging regions (302a to 302c), respectively. When viewed along a direction parallel with optical axes, at least one straight line connecting corresponding points in at least one pair of the subject images that are formed by at least one pair of the imaging optical lenses is inclined with respect to a direction in which pixels are arranged in the imaging regions. In this way, a high-resolution image always can be obtained regardless of the subject distance.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2006Date of Patent: May 18, 2010Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Taku Hirasawa, Ichiro Oyama, Tomokuni Iijima, Michiyoshi Nagashima
-
Publication number: 20090160997Abstract: A plurality of lenses 102a to 102d arranged in the same plane form a plurality of subject images on a plurality of imaging regions 104a to 104d. Vertical line directions and horizontal line directions of the pixel arrangement in the respective plurality of imaging regions are equal to one another among the plurality of imaging regions. Further, at least one pair of subject images received by at least one pair of imaging regions having a parallax in the vertical line (or horizontal line) direction among the plurality of imaging regions are shifted from each other by a predetermined amount in the horizontal line (or vertical line) direction. By performing pixel shifting in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which a parallax is generated, it always is possible to obtain a high-resolution image even when the subject distance varies.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 10, 2006Publication date: June 25, 2009Applicant: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.Inventors: Ichiro Oyama, Taku Hirasawa, Michiyoshi Nagashima, Tomokuni Iijima
-
Publication number: 20090127430Abstract: A plurality of imaging optical lenses (301a to 301c) form a plurality of subject images on a plurality of imaging regions (302a to 302c), respectively. When viewed along a direction parallel with optical axes, at least one straight line connecting corresponding points in at least one pair of the subject images that are formed by at least one pair of the imaging optical lenses is inclined with respect to a direction in which pixels are arranged in the imaging regions. In this way, a high-resolution image always can be obtained regardless of the subject distance.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 27, 2006Publication date: May 21, 2009Applicant: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.Inventors: Taku Hirasawa, Ichiro Oyama, Tomokuni Iijima, Michiyoshi Nagashima
-
Patent number: 6936990Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling an electric motor is disclosed. The apparatus includes an instruction inputting section for transmitting an instruction for an electric motor or a control object coupled to said electric motor and a prefilter section for outputting a follow-up instruction value by acting on the instruction. The prefilter section has a prefilter concurrently having characteristics of lowered gain at a prescribed frequency and frequencies in the vicinity thereof, and characteristics of limiting the gain in a high range. An instruction follow-up controlling section provides a controlling instruction follow-up so that a quantity of a state of said electric motor or control object follows the follow-up instruction value.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2003Date of Patent: August 30, 2005Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Ichiro Oyama, Tomokuni Iijima, Toru Tazawa, Kazushige Narazaki, Kenichi Suzuki, Masaru Nishizono
-
Patent number: 6844693Abstract: An electric motor position control apparatus in accordance with the present invention has a plurality of sets of control parameters including at least the proportional gain of a position control section and the proportional gain of a speed control section beforehand, wherein set selection and the measurement of the response state of an electric motor to a position command at the time when the electric motor is controlled by using the control parameters of the selected set are carried out sequentially, one preferable set is selected depending on the measured response state, the control parameters of the selected set are set, and the control parameters are changed as a set.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2003Date of Patent: January 18, 2005Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Toru Tazawa, Tomokuni Iijima, Ichiro Oyama, Kazushige Narazaki, Kenichi Suzuki, Yasuyuki Yokouchi
-
Publication number: 20040085035Abstract: An electric motor position control apparatus in accordance with the present invention has a plurality of sets of control parameters including at least the proportional gain of a position control section and the proportional gain of a speed control section beforehand, wherein set selection and the measurement of the response state of an electric motor to a position command at the time when the electric motor is controlled by using the control parameters of the selected set are carried out sequentially, one preferable set is selected depending on the measured response state, the control parameters of the selected set are set, and the control parameters are changed as a set.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 6, 2003Publication date: May 6, 2004Applicant: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Toru Tazawa, Tomokuni Iijima, Ichiro Oyama, Kazushige Narazaki, Kenichi Suzuki, Yasuyuki Yokouchi