Patents by Inventor Koichi Yamashita

Koichi Yamashita 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: 10171733
    Abstract: In a camera which electronically realizes panning, tilting, and zooming, on the basis of the luminance detected in each frame period (n?1), a condition of exposure for two frame periods thereafter (n+1), and digital gain for three frame periods thereafter (n+2) are set. When an instruction for changing the extracted region is received in a certain frame period (n?1), the region extracted from the image is changed three frame periods thereafter. It is possible to achieve a stable exposure control by which the luminance of the image varies little even when the region extracted from the image is switched.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takeo Fujita, Koichi Yamashita, Narihiro Matoba
  • Publication number: 20180372484
    Abstract: A distance measurement apparatus includes: a control unit that makes an imaging unit acquire a plurality of first captured images corresponding to light patterns when making an optical system set the focal length to a first focal length, and that makes the imaging unit acquire second captured images corresponding to the light patterns when making the optical system set the focal length to a second focal length; a first distance measurement unit that determines presence or absence of an image blur and acquires a first distance to a subject from an image blur index value indicating an extent of the image blur; a second distance measurement unit that acquires a second distance to the subject based on triangulation; and a measurement result synthesis unit that outputs the first distance for a pixel with the image blur and that outputs the second distance for a pixel with no image blur.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2017
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takeo FUJITA, Koichi YAMASHITA, Narihiro MATOBA
  • Patent number: 10015410
    Abstract: In the combination of a wide dynamic range by combining a first image and a second image of different light exposure conditions, pixel values at which cumulative frequency proportions (B) become first and second reference values are generated as first and second index values (Sa, Lb) with regard to the first and second images, and first and second light exposure amounts (ES, EL) are controlled under first and second target conditions that the first and second index values (Sa, Lb) have predetermined relations with first and second target values (Sat, Lbt), respectively. It is possible to shorten a time taken until convergence of the light exposure amount in relation to a change of brightness of a subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takeo Fujita, Daisuke Suzuki, Koichi Yamashita, Narihiro Matoba
  • Publication number: 20180106606
    Abstract: An image generation device includes an imaging unit 11, a projection unit 22, and a distance information generation unit 18, and a projection pattern includes unit patterns arranged in a plurality of rows in a first direction and in a plurality of columns in a second direction. A plurality of light dots include first dots and second dots which are light dots of different states from each other; the unit patterns arranged in the first direction have the light dot arrangements identical with each other; the unit patterns arranged in the second direction have light dot arrangements different from each other; the number of first dots among a plurality of light dots arranged in the first direction in each of the unit patterns is the same fixed number in each row in the second direction; and in a location other than the unit pattern, the number of first dots included in a row of the same length as the unit pattern in the second direction differs from the fixed number, in a certain row in the second direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2015
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Takeo FUJITA, Koichi YAMASHITA, Narihiro MATOBA
  • Patent number: 9900485
    Abstract: An image generation device includes: a projector for projecting pattern light of a near-infrared wavelength at intervals; an imager for outputting an imaging signal of an imaged image; a unit for generating a pattern light image by obtaining a difference between the imaging signal when the pattern light is projected and the imaging signal when the pattern light is not projected, and generating an ambient light image from the imaging signal when the pattern light is not projected; a determiner for determining a type of the ambient light; and a generator for estimating, from the type, a component due to light of a near-infrared wavelength in the ambient light image, and generating a visible light image by subtracting the component from the ambient light image. The determiner determines the type from a proportion of R, G, and B components in the imaged image, ambient light image, or visible light image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takeo Fujita, Koichi Yamashita, Narihiro Matoba
  • Publication number: 20180012374
    Abstract: An object having a high attention degree is selected from objects detected by a detection means, brightness of a captured image is calculated by using an attention region corresponding to the selected object as a detection frame, and exposure control is performed based on the calculated brightness. The attention degree is evaluated higher with the decrease in the distance. Alternatively, the attention degree is evaluated higher as the direction becomes closer to the traveling direction. The attention region is made larger with the decrease in the distance to the object. It is also possible to judge the type of the object and determine the size of the attention region based on the result of the judgment. A subject to be paid attention to is made clearly visible.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2015
    Publication date: January 11, 2018
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takeo FUJITA, Koichi YAMASHITA, Narihiro MATOBA
  • Publication number: 20170374258
    Abstract: In the combination of a wide dynamic range by combining a first image and a second image of different light exposure conditions, pixel values at which cumulative frequency proportions (B) become first and second reference values are generated as first and second index values (Sa, Lb) with regard to the first and second images, and first and second light exposure amounts (ES, EL) are controlled under first and second target conditions that the first and second index values (Sa, Lb) have predetermined relations with first and second target values (Sat, Lbt), respectively. It is possible to shorten a time taken until convergence of the light exposure amount in relation to a change of brightness of a subject.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2015
    Publication date: December 28, 2017
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takeo FUJITA, Daisuke SUZUKI, Koichi YAMASHITA, Narihiro MATOBA
  • Patent number: 9709387
    Abstract: An imaging signal obtained during pattern light projection and an imaging signal during pattern light non-projection are separated from an imaging signal, and the projection angle of a light spot is specified on the basis of an array of light spots in the projection image component. The projected pattern light includes a plurality of cells that accompanies the light spots and that constitutes a discrimination code, and specifies the position of the light spots accompanied by the discrimination code in the projection pattern on the basis of the discrimination code. Distance information to an object to be imaged can be acquired using a low amount of computation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takeo Fujita, Koichi Yamashita, Narihiro Matoba
  • Patent number: 9449596
    Abstract: Provided are a sound generation system and a sound recording system, which are placed in a room to adjust sound. A columnar body is disposed around a sound source to adjust how much sound of a low-tone range, as well as of a middle- and high-tone range, is absorbed and diffused. Moreover, a columnar body is disposed around a recording device to adjust how much sound of a low-tone range, as well as of a middle- and high-tone range, is absorbed and diffused. The columnar bodies may be made of a combination of different diameters and/or lengths. The arrangement distances may be random. With the columnar body disposed at the most appropriate location, it is possible to adjust sound in a wide band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Nittobo Acoustic Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinji Ohashi, Koichi Yamashita, Yasushi Satake, Katsuyuki Kanazawa
  • Patent number: 9434096
    Abstract: Provided are a decorative resin sheet that sufficiently brings together embossing property and embossment-retaining property, and a molded resin article on which an embossment excellent in design is formed and a method of manufacturing the molded resin article. The method of manufacturing a molded resin article includes the steps of: providing a resin sheet having a mold layer containing a polyolefin-based resin as a main component, followed by formation of an embossment on the resin sheet so that the embossment is formed on a surface of the mold layer; crosslinking the mold layer on which the embossment is formed so that a 100% modulus of the resin sheet at 200° C. becomes 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignees: KANEKA CORPORATION, TATSUTA CHEMICAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Koichi Yamashita, Shigehiro Kanou, Masami Nishikawa, Kaoru Yaguchi, Fumihito Tonomura
  • Publication number: 20160248953
    Abstract: An image generation device includes: a projector for projecting pattern light of a near-infrared wavelength at intervals; an imager for outputting an imaging signal of an imaged image; a unit for generating a pattern light image by obtaining a difference between the imaging signal when the pattern light is projected and the imaging signal when the pattern light is not projected, and generating an ambient light image from the imaging signal when the pattern light is not projected; a determiner for determining a type of the ambient light; and a generator for estimating, from the type, a component due to light of a near-infrared wavelength in the ambient light image, and generating a visible light image by subtracting the component from the ambient light image. The determiner determines the type from a proportion of R, G, and B components in the imaged image, ambient light image, or visible light image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2014
    Publication date: August 25, 2016
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takeo FUJITA, Koichi YAMASHITA, Narihiro MATOBA
  • Publication number: 20160241782
    Abstract: In a camera which electronically realizes panning, tilting, and zooming, on the basis of the luminance detected in each frame period (n?1), a condition of exposure for two frame periods thereafter (n+1), and digital gain for three frame periods thereafter (n+2) are set. When an instruction for changing the extracted region is received in a certain frame period (n?1), the region extracted from the image is changed three frame periods thereafter. It is possible to achieve a stable exposure control by which the luminance of the image varies little even when the region extracted from the image is switched.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2014
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takeo FUJITA, Koichi YAMASHITA, Narihiro MATOBA
  • Patent number: 9349168
    Abstract: A region determination circuit (60) determines whether or not each of the pixels in an image is within a region subject to correction, in which pixels having at most a predetermined brightness level appear with a frequency equal to or less than a predetermined value. An offset level generation circuit (10) generates an offset level (Offset) on the basis of the brightness of the pixels determined to be within the region subject to correction. An offset subtraction circuit (1) subtracts the offset level (Offset) from the image signal (Yi) to generate an offset image signal (Yofst). A gain generation circuit (20) generates a gain for the offset image signal (Yofst). A gain multiplication circuit (2) multiplies the offset image signal (Yofst) by the gain to generate a corrected image signal (Ya).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tsubasa Onda, Yoshitaka Toyoda, Daisuke Suzuki, Koichi Yamashita, Narihiro Matoba
  • Patent number: 9270954
    Abstract: An imaging device has an intra-plane pixel summation unit and an inter-plane pixel summation unit. In the frame of interest, the intra-plane pixel summation unit sums the signals of the pixel of interest and selected highly correlated neighboring pixels to generate an intra-plane sensitized signal and a code indicating the pattern formed by the pixel of interest and the selected pixels. The inter-plane pixel summation unit selects pixels for summation from among the pixels positioned identically to the pixel of interest and pixels in the neighborhood of the identically positioned pixels in one or more frames neighboring the frame of interest on the basis of the agreement or disagreement of their pixel summing pattern codes and correlation of their intra-plane sensitized signals. In a Bayer array imaging device, enhanced sensitivity is obtained without causing color mixing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Daisuke Suzuki, Koichi Yamashita, Narihiro Matoba
  • Patent number: 9153015
    Abstract: For each pixel in an image (Din), a contrast correlation value (CT) is detected for peripheral areas centered around the pixel to be corrected (1), a contrast enhancement coefficient (Ken) is determined in accordance with the contrast correlation value (CT) (2), and in accordance with the enhancement coefficient (Ken), local contrast is enhanced for each pixel and an intermediate image (D3) is generated (3). When performing noise reduction (5) by smoothing the intermediate image (D3) in the time direction, the degree of noise reduction is controlled in accordance with a noise reduction coefficient (Knr) that is large where the enhancement coefficient (Ken) is large. With respect to a low-contrast image such as one captured under fog, haze or other poor weather conditions, the contrast in areas having reduced contrast is appropriately improved, and the noise that is enhanced in conjunction with contrast improvement is reduced, enabling a high quality image to be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Toyoda, Daisuke Suzuki, Koichi Yamashita, Takashi Ito, Narihiro Matoba
  • Patent number: 9121159
    Abstract: A construction machine provided with an exhaust gas purifying device for an internal combustion engine includes an energy-wasting operation judging unit that judges whether or not an operation of the construction machine is an energy-wasting operation, a judgment result notifier that notifies a judgment result of the energy-wasting operation judging unit to an outside, a regeneration treatment judging unit that judges whether or not a regeneration treatment of the exhaust gas purifying device is to be conducted, and a notification restricting unit that restricts the judgment result notifier from notifying the judgment result of the energy-wasting operation judging unit when the regeneration treatment judging unit judges that the regeneration treatment of the exhaust gas purifying device is to be conducted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventors: Koichi Yamashita, Masaaki Okamoto
  • Publication number: 20150204657
    Abstract: An imaging signal obtained during pattern light projection and an imaging signal during pattern light non-projection are separated from an imaging signal, and the projection angle of a light spot is specified on the basis of an array of light spots in the projection image component. The projected pattern light includes a plurality of cells that accompanies the light spots and that constitutes a discrimination code, and specifies the position of the light spots accompanied by the discrimination rode in the projection pattern on the basis of the discrimination code. Distance information to an object to be imaged can be acquired using a low amount of computation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2013
    Publication date: July 23, 2015
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takeo Fujita, Koichi Yamashita, Narihiro Matoba
  • Publication number: 20150081165
    Abstract: A construction machine provided with an exhaust gas purifying device for an internal combustion engine includes an energy-wasting operation judging unit that judges whether or not an operation of the construction machine is an energy-wasting operation, a judgment result notifier that notifies a judgment result of the energy-wasting operation judging unit to an outside, a regeneration treatment judging unit that judges whether or not a regeneration treatment of the exhaust gas purifying device is to be conducted, and a notification restricting unit that restricts the judgment result notifier from notifying the judgment result of the energy-wasting operation judging unit when the regeneration treatment judging unit judges that the regeneration treatment of the exhaust gas purifying device is to be conducted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2012
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Applicant: KOMATSU LTD.
    Inventors: Koichi Yamashita, Masaaki Okamoto
  • Patent number: 8959893
    Abstract: A guidance output device, which outputs guidance for improving fuel economy when an energy wasting operation is detected in a construction machine that is provided with an exhaust gas purifying device for an internal combustion engine, includes a regeneration process determining unit that determines whether a regeneration process is in progress in the exhaust gas purifying device. It also includes a guidance output restriction unit that restricts an output of the guidance for energy saving by the guidance output unit when the regeneration process determining unit determines that the regeneration process is in progress in the exhaust gas purifying device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventors: Kentarou Tajima, Seiji Kamada, Koichi Yamashita
  • Publication number: 20150042872
    Abstract: An imaging device has an intra-plane pixel summation unit and an inter-plane pixel summation unit. In the frame of interest, the intra-plane pixel summation unit sums the signals of the pixel of interest and selected highly correlated neighboring pixels to generate an intra-plane sensitized signal and a code indicating the pattern formed by the pixel of interest and the selected pixels. The inter-plane pixel summation unit selects pixels for summation from among the pixels positioned identically to the pixel of interest and pixels in the neighborhood of the identically positioned pixels in one or more frames neighboring the frame of interest on the basis of the agreement or disagreement of their pixel summing pattern codes and correlation of their intra-plane sensitized signals. In a Bayer array imaging device, enhanced sensitivity is obtained without causing color mixing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2014
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Inventors: Daisuke SUZUKI, Koichi YAMASHITA, Narihiro MATOBA