Patents by Inventor Kan Takaiwa

Kan Takaiwa 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: 5418926
    Abstract: A method and system for providing a display on a device to which a detachable solid state memory devices, which includes a plurality of memory blocks, is attached. The method includes the steps of determining to which of a plurality of broadcasting system standards a detected size of each of the memory blocks in the solid state memory device corresponds, and providing a display on an apparatus to which the solid state memory device is attached, such as an electronic still camera, based on the detected size. In a preferred embodiment, the broadcasting standards are NTSC (National Television Systems Committee) and PAL (Phase Alternation Line). A user is warned when a detected size of each of the memory blocks is not a predetermined size, thus, not the correct broadcasting system standard for the apparatus. Each of the memory blocks stores data corresponding to one picture image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 23, 1995
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Horii, Nobuaki Date, Toshihiko Mimura, Akihiko Tojo, Hideaki Kawamura, Yoshitaka Murata, Kan Takaiwa, Takashi Suzuki, Seiichi Ozaki, Junzo Taira, Kenichi Nagasawa
  • Patent number: 5345279
    Abstract: An image signal processing apparatus wherein the black level of an analog image signal is adjusted by controlling the clamp level of the inputted analog image signal. The clamped analog image signal is digitalized. Using the digital image signal offset to a first level during the blanking period, the black level adjustment of the analog image signal is carried out. The first level during the blanking period of the digital image signal corresponding to the analog image signal with the black level having been adjusted, is changed to a second level, allowing a correct and easy black level adjustment using a simple circuit arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1994
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kan Takaiwa, Eiji Ohara
  • Patent number: 5343201
    Abstract: An A-D converter of an image signal comprises a weighing circuit for performing a different weighing for each quantization step of A/D conversion. The different weighing is performed in accordance with gamma or white compression characteristics of the image signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 30, 1994
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tsutomu Takayama, Kan Takaiwa
  • Patent number: 5329362
    Abstract: A color video camera having an automatic white balance adjusting function and operating with selection of modes including a negative-to-positive reversal mode of shooting the color negative film to obtain the positive picture, wherein in the negative-to-positive reversal mode, the color signals output from the image sensor are amplified by the amplifiers whose gains have been changed from the values for an ordinary object shooting mode to values suited for shooting the negative film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1994
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kan Takaiwa
  • Patent number: 5206731
    Abstract: A solid-state camera employing as a recording medium a solid-state memory cartridge capable of being loaded into and unloaded from the camera body. First signal-transmission sections are provided on the camera body and a solid-state memory cartridge for permitting the transmission of a signal between the camera body and a solid-state memory cartridge loaded therein while assuming a first loading state. At least one second signal-transmission section is provided on the camera body for permitting signal transmission between the camera body and a solid-state memory cartridge loaded therein while assuming a second loading state different from the first loading state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1993
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kan Takaiwa, Toshihiko Mimura, Yoshitaka Murata, Nobuaki Date, Hideaki Kawamura, Hiroyuki Horii, Akihiko Tojo, Takashi Suzuki, Seiichi Ozaki
  • Patent number: 5159458
    Abstract: Camera apparatus including a loading detection sensor for detecting the completion of the loading of a solid-state memory cartridge, a contact member for contacting electric contacts on the cartridge for communicating data between the camera and the cartridge, and a communication control circuit for starting data communication between the memory cartridge and the camera when the loading detection sensor detects that the cartridge has been installed. The contact member moves from a first position at a distance from the memory cartridge contacts to a second position contacting the memory cartridge contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1992
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Murata, Hideaki Kawamura, Kan Takaiwa, Kenichi Nagasawa, Junzo Taira
  • Patent number: 5157498
    Abstract: An image sensing device is provided with a switching circuit for a selection between a field reading mode and a frame reading mode in reading signals formed at picture elements of an image sensor; and an overflow control circuit for controlling and changing the overflow level of each of the picture elements from one level over to another in response to the selecting action of the switching circuit. The device is arranged to store, at an EEPROM, data relative to the overflow levels of each of the picture elements differently set for the field and frame reading modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1992
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akira Suga, Kan Takaiwa
  • Patent number: 5045928
    Abstract: A white balance correction circuit includes a first correction signal forming circuit for forming a first white balance correction signal on the basis of an output of a colorimetric sensor, a second correction signal forming circuit for forming a second white balance correction signal on the basis of an output of a color image sensor, and a selection circuit for selecting one of the first and second control signals in accordance with a brightness or color saturation of an object to be photographed, so that the color image sensor produces an image signal having a white balance controlled in accordance with the first or second white balance correction signal selected by the selection circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1991
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kan Takaiwa, Kenji Kyuma, Teruo Hieda
  • Patent number: 4963980
    Abstract: An image sensing device is provided with a switching circuit for a selection between a field reading mode and a frame reading mode in reading signals formed at picture elements of an image sensor; and an overflow control circuit for controlling and changing the overflow level of each of the picture elements from one level over to another in response to the selecting action of the switching circuit. The device is arranged to store, at an EEPROM, data relative to the overflow levels of each of the picture elements differently set for the field and frame reading modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 16, 1990
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akira Suga, Kan Takaiwa
  • Patent number: 4894723
    Abstract: An image sensing apparatus comprising a diaphragm for controlling the amount of incident light, an image pickup element for photo-electrically converting the light incident through the diaphragm, a circuit for supplying an output of the image pickup element to an electronic view finder, a recording circuit for recording the output of the image pickup element, a light measuring circuit for measuring an ambient brightness, and control means for controlling a drive speed of the image pickup element and/or the diaphragm in accordance with the brightness measured by the light measuring circuit, wherein controlling is made such that the depth of field of the object image recorded when shooting is prevented from becoming shallower than the displayed object image in the electronic view finder before the start of shooting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 16, 1990
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kan Takaiwa