Patents by Inventor Kazuhiko Sugimoto

Kazuhiko Sugimoto 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: 9798951
    Abstract: Provided is an apparatus for measuring a distance change, the apparatus including an information acquisition unit, an object determination unit, a feature point determination unit, an optical flow calculator, a matching point determination unit, an object length change calculator that calculates a length change ratio between an object of a first frame image and an object of a second frame image by using a feature point and a matching point, and a distance change calculator that calculates a change from a distance between a camera and the object from when the camera acquires the first frame image and when the camera acquires the second frame image using the calculated length change ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignees: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., Korea University Research and Business Foundation
    Inventors: Jong-hoon Won, Kazuhiko Sugimoto, Masataka Hamada, Chang-su Kim, Yeong-jun Koh, Dae-youn Lee, Chul Lee
  • Patent number: 9448463
    Abstract: A digital photographing apparatus includes a focus lens, a focus detection unit that detects focus in a contrast auto focusing (AF) method by moving the focus lens, and a controller that calculates a velocity of a subject from a first focus detection result and a second focus detection result in a continuous shooting operation. The controller restricts a U-turn driving for correcting backlash of the focus lens when the calculated velocity of the subject is equal to or greater than a predetermined value. An AF initiating location and a final correction operation are adaptively adjusted based on the velocity of the subject in each process of the continuous shooting, thereby improving an AF performance and the continuous photographing speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jong-hoon Won, Yuki Endo, Kazuhiko Sugimoto
  • Patent number: 9311563
    Abstract: A method of generating a saliency image, which includes: converting an input image into an input image of the first size and an input image of the second size; applying a saliency extraction scheme to the input image of the first size to generate a first saliency image; converting the first saliency image to the second size; extracting an area that satisfies a first condition from the converted first saliency image; determining an area of the input image of the second size that corresponds to the extracted area; and generating a second saliency image by multiplying an image generated by applying the saliency extraction scheme to the determined area, and the converted first saliency image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignees: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., Korea University Research and Business Foundation
    Inventors: Jong-hoon Won, Jun-seong Kim, Chang-su Kim, Kazuhiko Sugimoto, Masataka Hamada
  • Patent number: 9066003
    Abstract: An apparatus for adjusting an autofocus and a method of controlling the same are provided. The apparatus includes an imaging device that photographs light from a subject so as to generate an image signal; a contrast calculation unit that calculates a first contrast value of an image from the image signal; a correction unit that corrects a luminance of the image signal if the calculated first contrast value is equal to or less than a reference value; and a focus adjustment unit that adjusts a focus by using a second contrast value that is calculated from the corrected image signal, thereby providing an improved focus adjustment function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Sugimoto, Jin-ok Ha, Young-ha Hwang
  • Publication number: 20150125082
    Abstract: A method of generating a saliency image, which includes: converting an input image into an input image of the first size and an input image of the second size; applying a saliency extraction scheme to the input image of the first size to generate a first saliency image; converting the first saliency image to the second size; extracting an area that satisfies a first condition from the converted first saliency image; determining an area of the input image of the second size that corresponds to the extracted area; and generating a second saliency image by multiplying an image generated by applying the saliency extraction scheme to the determined area, and the converted first saliency image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2014
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventors: Jong-hoon Won, Jun-seong Kim, Chang-su Kim, Kazuhiko Sugimoto, Masataka Hamada
  • Publication number: 20150103163
    Abstract: Provided is an apparatus for measuring a distance change, the apparatus including an information acquisition unit, an object determination unit, a feature point determination unit, an optical flow calculator, a matching point determination unit, an object length change calculator that calculates a length change ratio between an object of a first frame image and an object of a second frame image by using a feature point and a matching point, and a distance change calculator that calculates a change from a distance between a camera and the object from when the camera acquires the first frame image and when the camera acquires the second frame image using the calculated length change ratio.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2014
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Inventors: Jong-hoon Won, Kazuhiko Sugimoto, Masataka Hamada, Chang-su Kim, Yeong-jun Koh, Dae-youn Lee, Chul Lee
  • Patent number: 8866958
    Abstract: A focusing apparatus including a focus lens; a focus lens driving unit that drives the focus lens; an imaging device configured to generate an image signal; a focus evaluation value calculating unit configured to receive an image signal from the imaging device and to calculate a focus evaluation value of a captured image; a difference calculating unit configured to calculate a difference between a current focus evaluation value and a previous focus evaluation value; a first determining unit configured to compare the difference to each of a plurality of threshold values different from each other; a counter configured to count results of comparing the difference to each of the plurality of threshold values and to generate count information; and a second determining unit configured to compare the count information to threshold count information and to determine a target drive direction in which the focus lens is to be driven.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Samung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Sugimoto, Jong-hoon Won
  • Patent number: 8866942
    Abstract: Provided are an auto focus adjusting device, method, and a recording medium storing a program product for executing the auto focusing method. The method includes: deriving an input image from an image capturing device by changing a position of a focus lens; deriving a gamma correction image by applying a gamma curve to the input image; and deriving an auto focus (AF) value about a position of a focus lens through the gamma correction image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Sugimoto, Sung-shik Ko, Jin-ok Ha
  • Publication number: 20140184888
    Abstract: A digital photographing apparatus includes a focus lens, a focus detection unit that detects focus in a contrast auto focusing (AF) method by moving the focus lens, and a controller that calculates a velocity of a subject from a first focus detection result and a second focus detection result in a continuous shooting operation. The controller restricts a U-turn driving for correcting backlash of the focus lens when the calculated velocity of the subject is equal to or greater than a predetermined value. An AF initiating location and a final correction operation are adaptively adjusted based on the velocity of the subject in each process of the continuous shooting, thereby improving an AF performance and the continuous photographing speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2013
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jong-hoon Won, Yuki Endo, Kazuhiko Sugimoto
  • Patent number: 8711271
    Abstract: A digital photographing apparatus includes an AF region setting unit for setting an AF region, a luminance detection area setting unit for setting a luminance detection area, a luminance calculation unit for calculating luminance values of the AF region and the luminance detection area, and a determination unit for calculating a luminance difference value that is a difference value between the luminance value of the AF region and the luminance value of the luminance detection area, and determining validity of an AF evaluation value with respect to the AF region according to the luminance difference value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Sugimoto, Jong-hoon Won
  • Patent number: 8701011
    Abstract: A UI specification creating apparatus displays a format that allows information relevant to a condition of an element displayed on an operation screen of a user interface to be activated and information concerning content of process that the element operates to be described in a given form and receives descriptions relevant to specifications of the element based on the format. The UI specification creating apparatus then displays the operation screen of the user interface and carries out a simulation of an operation of the element displayed on the operation screen of the user interface based on the information relevant to the condition of the element to be activated and the information concerning the content of process that the element operates received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignees: Fujitsu Limited, Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Ohta, Shun-ichi Hirabayashi, Akira Shikasho, Ryoji Suzuki, Kazuhiko Sugimoto
  • Patent number: 8514320
    Abstract: An electronic camera includes a shutter button. When the shutter button is half-depressed, a focal level of an object is determined on the basis of an image signal outputted from an imaging device, and a moving start position of a focus lens is settled on the basis of the determination result. More specifically, a correction amount of the moving start position is settled in accordance with the determination result of the focal level, and a position that subtracts the correction amount from a lens position at a time the shutter button being half-depressed is settled as the moving start position. The higher the focal level, the more reduced the correction amount. The focus lens gradually moves toward the imaging device from the settled moving start position, and a focal position is specified on the basis of the image signal outputted from the imaging device at each step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenichi Kikuchi, Kazuhiko Sugimoto
  • Patent number: 8410677
    Abstract: The present invention provides a blue phosphor having high luminance and showing less luminance degradation during driving of a light-emitting device. The present invention is a blue phosphor that includes: an alkaline earth metal aluminate represented by a general formula aBaO.bSrO.(1?a?b)EuO.cMgO.dAlO3/2, where 0.70?a?0.95, 0?b?0.15, 0.95?c?1.15, 9.00?d?11.00, and a+b?0.97 are satisfied; and 0.008 mol to 0.800 mol of MWO4 with respect to 1 mol of the aluminate, where M is at least one element selected from a group consisting of Ba, Sr, and Ca.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Kojiro Okuyama, Yayoi Kitamura, Seigo Shiraishi, Kazuhiko Sugimoto, Mituru Harada
  • Publication number: 20130069521
    Abstract: A phosphor layer of a plasma display panel has a green phosphor layer containing Zn2SiO4:Mn particles. The Zn2SiO4:Mn particles satisfy requirements of Zn3p/Si2p?2.06 (1), and Zn2p/Si2p?1.23 (2) wherein Zn3p represents an emission amount of photoelectrons emitted from a 3p orbit of a Zn element in a region up to 10 nm from surfaces of the particles, Zn2p represents an emission amount of photoelectrons emitted from a 2p orbit of the Zn element in a region up to 3 nm from the surfaces of the particles, and Si2p represents an emission amount of photoelectrons emitted from a 2p orbit of a Si element in the region up to 10 nm from the surfaces of the particles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2012
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshihisa Nagasaki, Yukihiko Sugio, Masaaki Akamatsu, Kazuhiko Sugimoto
  • Publication number: 20130069520
    Abstract: A phosphor layer of a plasma display panel has a green phosphor layer containing Zn2SiO4:Mn particles and (Y1-x, Gdx)3(Al1-y, Gay)5O12:Ce particles. The Zn2SiO4:Mn particles satisfy requirements of Zn3p/Si2p?2.10 (1), and Zn2p/Si2p?1.25 (2) wherein Zn3p represents an emission amount of photoelectrons emitted from a 3p orbit of a Zn element in a region up to 10 nm from surfaces of the particles, Zn2p represents an emission amount of photoelectrons emitted from a 2p orbit of the Zn element in a region up to 3 nm from the surfaces of the particles, and Si2p represents an emission amount of photoelectrons emitted from a 2p orbit of a Si element in the region up to 10 nm from the surfaces of the particles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2012
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshihisa Nagasaki, Yukihiko Sugio, Masaaki Akamatsu, Kazuhiko Sugimoto
  • Patent number: 8366965
    Abstract: The present invention provides a blue phosphor that exhibits high luminance and shows less luminance degradation during driving of a light-emitting device. The present invention is a blue phosphor represented by the general formula aBaO.bSrO.(1?a?b)EuO.cMgO.dAlO3/2.eWO3, where 0.70?a?0.95, 0?b?0.15, 0.95?c?1.15, 9.00?d?11.00, 0.001?e?0.100, and a+b?0.97 are satisfied. In this blue phosphor, two peaks whose tops are located in a range of diffraction angle 2?=13.0 to 13.6 degrees are present in an X-ray diffraction pattern obtained by measurement on the blue phosphor using an X-ray with a wavelength of 0.774 ?.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Kojiro Okuyama, Yayoi Kitamura, Seigo Shiraishi, Kazuhiko Sugimoto, Mituru Harada
  • Patent number: 8324794
    Abstract: The present invention provides a plasma display device that has light emission properties with short persistence where green light has a persistence time of 3.5 msec or less, that is excellent in luminance, luminance degradation resistance, and color tone, and that is suitable for, for example, a stereoscopic image display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Shozo Oshio, Kazuhiko Sugimoto, Nobumitsu Aibara, Yoshihisa Nagasaki, Yukihiko Sugio, Masaaki Akamatsu
  • Patent number: 8319430
    Abstract: A plasma display panel includes a front plate, a rear plate facing the front plate, and a phosphor layer formed on the rear plate. The phosphor layer includes a green phosphor layer containing Zn2SiO4:Mn and (Y1-X, GdX)3Al5O12:Ce, where 0?X?1. In Zn2SiO4:Mn, the amount of Mn is no less than 8 at. % to no more than 10 at. % relative to the total amount of Zn and Mn, and the total amount of Zn and Mn is no less than 197 at. % to no more than 202 at. % relative to the amount of Si. The amount of (Y1-X, GdX)3Al5O12:Ce is no less than 20 wt. % to no more than 50 wt. % relative to the total amount of Zn2SiO4:Mn and (Y1-X, GdX)3Al5O12:Ce.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshihisa Nagasaki, Kazuhiko Sugimoto
  • Patent number: 8237845
    Abstract: Provided are a method of controlling a focus lens to be moved to a target location by generating a normalized focus graph by use of relative values of a plurality of focus values obtained by using a plurality of filters each having different cut-off frequencies, and predicting a target position of the focus lens according to the normalized focus graph, an apparatus operating by using the method, and a recording medium for recording the method. According to the present invention, in terms of performing an auto-focusing function, by optimizing the motion line of the focus lens, wasteful power consumption can be prevented and a scanning time of the focus lens can be shortened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sung-shik Koh, Kazuhiko Sugimoto
  • Patent number: 8229292
    Abstract: An auto focus (AF) adjusting apparatus and a camera system of a lens replaceable camera are disclosed. AF is performed by correcting a location error of a focus lens due to a difference between a frequency band for performing AF detection and a frequency band for determining an improved location of an image surface of an imaging lens, and/or a target region for detecting a focal point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masataka Hamada, Kazuhiko Sugimoto, Toshihiro Hamamura, Shuji Yoneyama