Patents by Inventor Kazushi Sato

Kazushi Sato 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).

  • Publication number: 20230388554
    Abstract: The present technology relates to an image processing apparatus and method that are capable of enhancing encoding efficiency while suppressing a decrease in the efficiency of encoding processing. The image processing apparatus includes an encoding mode setter that sets, in units of coding units having a hierarchical structure, whether a non-compression mode is to be selected as an encoding mode for encoding image data, the non-compression mode being an encoding mode in which the image data is output as encoded data, and an encoder that encodes the image data in units of the coding units in accordance with a mode set by the encoding mode setter. The present disclosure can be applied to, for example, an image processing apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2023
    Publication date: November 30, 2023
    Applicant: SONY GROUP CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kazushi SATO
  • Publication number: 20230308646
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an image encoding device and method and an image decoding device and method, which are capable of suppressing an increase in encoding or decoding workload. A current layer of image data including a plurality of layers is encoded and/or decoded with reference to encoding-related information of some areas, of another layer encoded for each of a plurality of certain areas obtained by dividing a picture, according to control of control information used to control the certain area in which the encoding-related information of the other layer is referred to regarding the current layer of the image data. The present disclosure can be applied to image processing devices such as an image encoding device for performing scalable coding on image data and an image decoding device for decoding an encoded data obtained by performing scalable coding on image data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2023
    Publication date: September 28, 2023
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kazushi SATO
  • Publication number: 20230276072
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an image processing apparatus and an image processing method capable of suppressing a deterioration in image quality. The image processing apparatus includes a threshold value setting unit which sets a threshold value for identifying a feature of neighboring pixels of a current block in an intra prediction process in encoding of image data according to a bit depth of the image data and a filtering processing unit which performs a filtering process on the neighboring pixels by using a filter according to the feature of the neighboring pixels identified by using the threshold value set by the threshold value setting unit. The present disclosure may be applied to, for example, an image processing apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2023
    Publication date: August 31, 2023
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kazushi SATO
  • Publication number: 20230247217
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an image processing apparatus and an image processing method capable of improving processing efficiency with pipeline processing in encoding or decoding of a motion vector. In a motion vector encoding unit, such configuration is adopted that when a spatial prediction motion vector is derived according to AMVP or Merge mode, the use of a motion vector of a PU adjacent to a top right of a PU in question is prohibited. Therefore, the motion vector encoding unit performs encoding processing of a motion vector by using only motion vector information of B1, B2 which are PUs located at Top with respect to the PU in question and A0, A1 which are PUs located at Left with respect to the PU in question. The present disclosure can be applied to, for example, an image processing apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2023
    Publication date: August 3, 2023
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kazushi SATO
  • Patent number: 11706448
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an image processing apparatus and an image processing method capable of suppressing a deterioration in image quality. The image processing apparatus includes a threshold value setting unit which sets a threshold value for identifying a feature of neighboring pixels of a current block in an intra prediction process in encoding of image data according to a bit depth of the image data and a filtering processing unit which performs a filtering process on the neighboring pixels by using a filter according to the feature of the neighboring pixels identified by using the threshold value set by the threshold value setting unit. The present disclosure may be applied to, for example, an image processing apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kazushi Sato
  • Patent number: 11546594
    Abstract: A decoding device includes circuitry configured to decode a bit stream and generate a quantized value and inversely quantize the generated quantized value by using a flat scaling list, in a case where a block size of a transform block to which a transform skip is applied is larger than a 4 by 4 block size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kazushi Sato
  • Publication number: 20220394253
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an image encoding device and method and an image decoding device and method, which are capable of suppressing an increase in encoding or decoding workload. A current layer of image data including a plurality of layers is encoded and/or decoded with reference to encoding-related information of some areas, of another layer encoded for each of a plurality of certain areas obtained by dividing a picture, according to control of control information used to control the certain area in which the encoding-related information of the other layer is referred to regarding the current layer of the image data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2022
    Publication date: December 8, 2022
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kazushi SATO
  • Patent number: 11503321
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to image processing device and method that can suppress the deterioration in encoding efficiency. An image processing device includes: a reception unit that receives encoded data in which an image with a plurality of main layers is encoded, and inter-layer prediction control information controlling whether to perform inter-layer prediction, which is prediction between the plurality of main layers, with the use of a sublayer; and a decoding unit that decodes each main layer of the encoded data received by the reception unit by performing the inter-layer prediction on only the sublayer specified by the inter-layer prediction control information received by the reception unit. The present disclosure can be applied to, for example, an image processing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kazushi Sato
  • Publication number: 20220335657
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an image processing device and method enabling noise removal to be performed according to images and bit rates. A low-pass filter setting unit 93 sets, from filter coefficients stored in a built-in filter coefficient memory 94, a filter coefficient corresponding to intra prediction mode information and a quantization parameter. A neighboring image setting unit 81 uses the filter coefficient set by the low-pass filter setting unit 93 to subject neighboring pixel values of a current block from frame memory 72 to filtering processing. A prediction image generating unit 82 performs intra prediction using the neighboring pixel values subjected to filtering processing, from the neighboring image setting unit 81, and generates a prediction image. The present invention can be applied to an image encoding device which encodes with the H.264/AVC format, for example.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2022
    Publication date: October 20, 2022
    Inventor: Kazushi Sato
  • Publication number: 20220297913
    Abstract: A packaging material used for a bag for transporting of a silicon material is a laminate in which a first resin base, barrier, second resin base, resin, and sealant layers are laminated in that order. A resin layer indentation elastic modulus is smaller than an indentation elastic modulus of each of the first and second resin base layers by one or more orders of magnitude, a sealant layer indentation elastic modulus is smaller than a first resin base layer indentation elastic modulus of and a second resin base layer indentation elastic modulus by one or more orders of magnitude, and a difference between the first resin base layer indentation elastic modulus and the second resin base layer indentation elastic modulus is smaller than a difference between the second resin base layer indentation elastic modulus and the indentation elastic modulus of the resin layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2020
    Publication date: September 22, 2022
    Applicant: DAI NIPPON PRINTING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroyoshi NAKAJIMA, Katsuyuki MOTAI, Yuka TACHIKAWA, Makoto MIZOSHIRI, Kazushi SATO
  • Patent number: 11445192
    Abstract: The quantization parameters (QP) for Chroma are extended up to and more preferably to the same range as Luma QP (e.g., 0 to 51). Previous, values of Chroma QP only extended up to 39. Techniques are provided for determining extended Chroma QP values (e.g., for Cr and Cb) based on the Luma QP and picture level chroma offsets. In one preferred embodiment, slice level offsets are added making the method particularly well-suited for slice level parallel processing. The extension of Chroma QP enhances functionality, flexibility and friendliness of the High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC) standard for various applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: SONY GROUP CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jun Xu, Kazushi Sato, Ehsan Maani
  • Patent number: 11399197
    Abstract: The present technology relates to an encoding device and an encoding method capable of reducing the amount of information relating to information that specifies a reference image. An encoding unit generates a predicted image using a reference image. A transmission unit transmits inter_ref_pic_set_prediction_flag representing whether reference image specifying information specifying the reference image of a prior image that is an image prior to a current coding image in coding order is used as the reference image specifying information of the current coding image in a case where the current coding image is an image other than a first image of a GOP (Group of Picture). The present technology, for example, can be applied to an encoding device of an HEVC (High Efficiency Video Coding) system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: Velos Media, LLC
    Inventors: Shuo Lu, Kazushi Sato
  • Patent number: 11328452
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an image processing device and method enabling noise removal to be performed according to images and bit rates. A low-pass filter setting unit 93 sets, from filter coefficients stored in a built-in filter coefficient memory 94, a filter coefficient corresponding to intra prediction mode information and a quantization parameter. A neighboring image setting unit 81 uses the filter coefficient set by the low-pass filter setting unit 93 to subject neighboring pixel values of a current block from frame memory 72 to filtering processing. A prediction image generating unit 82 performs intra prediction using the neighboring pixel values subjected to filtering processing, from the neighboring image setting unit 81, and generates a prediction image. The present invention can be applied to an image encoding device which encodes with the H.264/AVC format, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: Velos Media, LLC
    Inventor: Kazushi Sato
  • Publication number: 20220124369
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an image processing apparatus and an image processing method capable of suppressing a deterioration in image quality. The image processing apparatus includes a threshold value setting unit which sets a threshold value for identifying a feature of neighboring pixels of a current block in an intra prediction process in encoding of image data according to a bit depth of the image data and a filtering processing unit which performs a filtering process on the neighboring pixels by using a filter according to the feature of the neighboring pixels identified by using the threshold value set by the threshold value setting unit. The present disclosure may be applied to, for example, an image processing apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2021
    Publication date: April 21, 2022
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kazushi SATO
  • Patent number: 11245925
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an image processing apparatus and an image processing method capable of suppressing a deterioration in image quality. The image processing apparatus includes a threshold value setting unit which sets a threshold value for identifying a feature of neighboring pixels of a current block in an intra prediction process in encoding of image data according to a bit depth of the image data and a filtering processing unit which performs a filtering process on the neighboring pixels by using a filter according to the feature of the neighboring pixels identified by using the threshold value set by the threshold value setting unit. The present disclosure may be applied to, for example, an image processing apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kazushi Sato
  • Patent number: 11196995
    Abstract: An image processing device includes a buffer for receiving encoded image data, and a processor to execute instructions that cause the processor to: decode the encoded image data from the buffer to generate quantized transform coefficient data; inversely quantize the quantized transform coefficient data using a 16×16 quantization matrix to generate predicted error data, the 16×16 quantization matrix includes a duplicate of at least one of two elements adjacent to each other from an 8×8 quantization matrix; and combine the predicted error data with a predicted image to generate decoded image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Velos Media, LLC
    Inventor: Kazushi Sato
  • Publication number: 20210306674
    Abstract: The present technology relates to an image processing apparatus and method that are capable of enhancing encoding efficiency while suppressing a decrease in the efficiency of encoding processing. The image processing apparatus includes an encoding mode setter that sets, in units of coding units having a hierarchical structure, whether a non-compression mode is to be selected as an encoding mode for encoding image data, the non-compression mode being an encoding mode in which the image data is output as encoded data, and an encoder that encodes the image data in units of the coding units in accordance with a mode set by the encoding mode setter. The present disclosure can be applied to, for example, an image processing apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2021
    Publication date: September 30, 2021
    Inventor: Kazushi Sato
  • Patent number: 11107251
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an image processing device and method which enable encoding efficiency in intra prediction to be improved. In the event that the optimal intra prediction mode is mode 0, adjacent pixels to be used for prediction of the current block are pixels A0, A1, A2, and A3. According to these pixels and a 6-tap FIR filter, pixels a?0.5, a+0.5, and so on with ½ pixel precision are generated, and further, pixels a?0.75, a?0.25, a+0.25, and a+0.75 with ¼ pixel precision are generated by linear interpolation. Subsequently, the optimal shift amount is determined with a value of ?0.75 through +0.75 that is phase difference between an integer pixel and generated fractional pixel precision serving as a candidate of the shift amount in the horizontal direction. The present invention may be applied to an image encoding device which performs encoding using the H.264/AVC system, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kazushi Sato
  • Publication number: 20210250585
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a decoding device including circuitry configured to decode a bit stream and generate a quantized value; and inversely quantize the generated quantized value by using a flat scaling list, in a case where a block size of a transform block to which a transform skip is applied is larger than a 4 by 4 block size.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2021
    Publication date: August 12, 2021
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kazushi SATO
  • Publication number: 20210243439
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an image encoding device and method and an image decoding device and method, which are capable of suppressing an increase in encoding or decoding workload. A current layer of image data including a plurality of layers is encoded and/or decoded with reference to encoding-related information of some areas, of another layer encoded for each of a plurality of certain areas obtained by dividing a picture, according to control of control information used to control the certain area in which the encoding-related information of the other layer is referred to regarding the current layer of the image data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2021
    Publication date: August 5, 2021
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kazushi SATO