Patents by Inventor Koji Aoyama

Koji Aoyama 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: 20090214133
    Abstract: An image processing device configured to reduce noise of an image, including: a position control information generating unit configured to calculate a block boundary position for each of blocks and the distance of each pixel from the block boundary position, based on block size information and block boundary initial position, and generate position control information of said pixels; a block noise detecting unit configured to detect block noise feature information at said block boundary position, based on said position control information; and a noise reduction processing unit configured to reduce noise for each of said blocks, based on said block noise feature information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Inventor: Koji AOYAMA
  • Publication number: 20090213273
    Abstract: A setting information database associates setting information used to output a video signal or an audio signal with a corresponding viewing condition. A setting information registration unit registers setting information and a corresponding viewing condition which have been received by a setting information reception unit so as to store them in the setting information database. An adequacy determination unit determines the adequacy of recommended setting information to be stored in the setting information database. A condition extraction unit extracts pieces of setting information stored in the setting information database on the basis of a viewing condition supplied from an extraction condition reception unit. A recommendable setting derivation unit derives recommendable setting information from the extracted pieces of setting information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2008
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Inventors: Xavier MICHEL, Kazuhiko Ueda, Masuyoshi Kurokawa, Koji Aoyama
  • Patent number: 7554525
    Abstract: A menu screen includes multiple buttons. Assigned to each button for each direction is another button to which an anchor is moved according to a directional user input of up, down, right or left. A button B and a button C both located downstream of a button A are candidates to which the anchor is moved when the down direction key is input with the anchor pointing to the button A. Scores of positional relationships of the position between points of the shortest distance from an anchor position of the button A within the range of the button B and the button C to the anchor position are calculated. According to the calculated scores, the next destination of the anchor when the down direction key is input with the anchor pointing to the button A is set to either button B or button C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Square Enix
    Inventor: Koji Aoyama
  • Publication number: 20090162886
    Abstract: As a means for treating diseases such as neurodegenerative diseases, malignant tumors and infectious diseases, a method for screening a substance increasing glutathione is provided. According to this method, by contacting a test substance with a cell expressing a GTRAP3-18 protein, a substance decreasing the amount of expression of the GTRAP3-18 protein or inhibiting a function of the GTRAP3-18 protein is specified as a target substance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2007
    Publication date: June 25, 2009
    Inventors: Toshio Nakaki, Masahiko Watabe, Koji Aoyama
  • Publication number: 20090046179
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus, an image processing system and an image processing method can correct the distortion of an image at a low cost and can generate a high quality image in real time. An image processing apparatus is provided which is an image processing apparatus for correcting an original image having distortion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2008
    Publication date: February 19, 2009
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Aoyama, Tohru Kurata, Atsushi Nose, Kimitaka Wada
  • Publication number: 20080317373
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a ridge strength detecting unit for detecting a ridge strength that is the strength of a ridge included in an image. When a pixel value is changed in the form of a pulse in accordance with a positional change in a region that includes a plurality of pixels, the ridge strength is represented by a gradient and height of the pulse.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2007
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Inventors: Koji Aoyama, Xavier Michel
  • Patent number: 7457478
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus, an image processing system and an image processing method can correct the distortion of an image at a low cost and can generate a high quality image in real time. An image processing apparatus is provided which is an image processing apparatus for correcting an original image having distortion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Aoyama, Tohru Kurata, Atsushi Nose, Kimitaka Wada
  • Patent number: 7424172
    Abstract: A lattice dividing unit determines lattice lines to divide parameters of all points of a picture at every division and supplies distortion correction parameters (distortion correction coordinates) on the lattice points to a distortion correction memory (not shown). A polynomial of degree n coefficient deriving unit expresses all distortion correction coordinates on each lattice line in the form of a function relative to positions on lattice lines and approximates the distortion correction coordinates by desired division polynomial of degree n. Further, a sample point deriving unit compresses distortion correction parameters based upon the division polynomial of degree n obtained from the polynomial of degree n coefficient deriving unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2008
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Nose, Koji Aoyama, Tohru Kurata, Kimitaka Wada
  • Patent number: 7418155
    Abstract: A lattice dividing unit determines lattice lines to divide parameters of all points of a picture at every division and supplies distortion correction parameters (distortion correction coordinates) on the lattice points to a distortion correction memory (not shown). A polynomial of degree n coefficient deriving unit expresses all distortion correction coordinates on each lattice line in the form of a function relative to positions on lattice lines and approximates the distortion correction coordinates by desired division polynomial of degree n. Further, a sample point deriving unit compresses distortion correction parameters based upon the division polynomial of degree n obtained from the polynomial of degree n coefficient deriving unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2008
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Nose, Koji Aoyama, Tohru Kurata, Kimitaka Wada
  • Publication number: 20080199099
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an edge-direction detector that detects an edge direction in an original image; a confidence detector that detects a confidence of the edge direction; a contrast detector that detects a contrast intensity; a texture-contrast-weight setter that sets a texture-contrast weight; an edge-contrast-weight setter that sets an edge-contrast weight; a texture-weight setter that sets a texture weight; an edge-weight setter that sets an edge weight; a texture filter that performs texture filtering to generate a texture-filter image; an edge filter that performs edge filtering to generate an edge-filter image; a texture combiner that combines the original image and the texture-filter image to generate a texture-combination image; and an edge combiner that combines the texture-combination image and the edge-filter image to generate an edge-combination image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2007
    Publication date: August 21, 2008
    Inventors: Xavier Michel, Koji Aoyama
  • Publication number: 20080181529
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus including a contrast detector that detects a contrast intensity of a pixel in a first image; a flat-intensity detector that detects a flat intensity of the pixel; an edge-intensity detector that detects an edge intensity of the pixel; a flat-weight setter that sets a flat weight for the pixel; an edge-weight setter that sets an edge weight for the pixel; an attenuator that attenuates components in a predetermined frequency band of the first image to form a second image; a first combiner that combines the first and second images to form a third image using weights based on the flat weight; an edge enhancer that enhances edges in the third image to form a fourth image; and a second combiner that combines the first and fourth images using weights based on the edge weight.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2007
    Publication date: July 31, 2008
    Inventors: Xavier Michel, Koji Aoyama
  • Publication number: 20080175514
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an zoom position acquiring section for acquiring a zoom position representing a lens position condition of the optical zoom mechanism on taking the inputted image, a zooming-direction decoding section for decompressing correction parameter associated with the zoom position, which is acquired by the zoom position acquiring section, according to a zoom compression parameter, into which a correction parameter for distortion correction corresponding to each lens position condition is compressed by utilizing zoom partitioning points at which lens position conditions of the optical zoom mechanism are sequentially partitioned into plural levels that are set between a wide-end and a tele-end and that include both ends, and an image correction section for correcting distortion of the inputted image according to the correction parameter decompressed by the zooming-direction decoding section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2008
    Publication date: July 24, 2008
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Nose, Koji Aoyama, Tohru Kurata, Kimitaka Wada
  • Publication number: 20080122877
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an image processing device and method, a storage medium, and a program for performing high-quality enlargement processing. Of input image data, a data buffer 32 holds data of target-pixel neighborhood data necessary for the enlargement processing. A data-position swapping unit 33 swaps the data positions of the target-pixel neighborhood data, as needed. A pixel priority determining unit 34 determines background color or foreground color with respect to each pixel of the target-pixel neighborhood data whose data positions were sapped. A data-selection-flag determining unit 36 determines a data selection flag of the target-pixel neighborhood data, the data selection flag being supplied from the pixel priority determining unit 34.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2005
    Publication date: May 29, 2008
    Inventor: Koji Aoyama
  • Patent number: 7362379
    Abstract: Inter-field-interpolation spatial transition is calculated based on the sum of absolute values of differences between pixel values of an inter-field-interpolated pixel and adjacent pixels on the same field. Inter-field-interpolation temporal transition is calculated based on the sum of absolute values of differences between pixel values of the inter-field-interpolated pixel and pixels at corresponding positions on previous delayed field and present field. Intra-field-interpolation temporal transition is calculated based on the sum of absolute values of differences between pixel values of an intra-field-interpolated pixel and the pixels at the corresponding positions on the previous delayed field and the present field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Xavier Michel, Kazuhiko Nishibori, Koji Aoyama, Masuyoshi Kurokawa
  • Patent number: 7352915
    Abstract: A lattice dividing unit determines lattice lines to divide parameters of all points of a picture at every division and supplies distortion correction parameters (distortion correction coordinates) on the lattice points to a distortion correction memory. A polynomial of degree n coefficient deriving unit expresses all distortion correction coordinates on each lattice line in the form of a function relative to positions on lattice lines and approximates the distortion correction coordinates by desired division polynomial of degree n. Further, a sample point deriving unit compresses distortion correction parameters based upon the division polynomial of degree n obtained from the polynomial of degree n coefficient deriving unit. In the derived division polynomial of degree n, internal points which result from dividing both ends of the division polynomial of degree n by n is supplied to the distortion correction memory as new distortion correction parameters (approximated distortion correction coordinates).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Nose, Koji Aoyama, Tohru Kurata, Kimitaka Wada
  • Publication number: 20080063292
    Abstract: A lattice dividing unit determines lattice lines to divide parameters of all points of a picture at every division and supplies distortion correction parameters (distortion correction coordinates) on the lattice points to a distortion correction memory (not shown). A polynomial of degree n coefficient deriving unit expresses all distortion correction coordinates on each lattice line in the form of a function relative to positions on lattice lines and approximates the distortion correction coordinates by desired division polynomial of degree n. Further, a sample point deriving unit compresses distortion correction parameters based upon the division polynomial of degree n obtained from the polynomial of degree n coefficient deriving unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2007
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Nose, Koji Aoyama, Tohru Kurata, Kimitaka Wada
  • Publication number: 20080062288
    Abstract: A lattice dividing unit determines lattice lines to divide parameters of all points of a picture at every division and supplies distortion correction parameters (distortion correction coordinates) on the lattice points to a distortion correction memory (not shown). A polynomial of degree n coefficient deriving unit expresses all distortion correction coordinates on each lattice line in the form of a function relative to positions on lattice lines and approximates the distortion correction coordinates by desired division polynomial of degree n. Further, a sample point deriving unit compresses distortion correction parameters based upon the division polynomial of degree n obtained from the polynomial of degree n coefficient deriving unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Nose, Koji Aoyama, Tohru Kurata, Kimitaka Wada
  • Patent number: 7327397
    Abstract: The present invention provides an image signal processing apparatus and a method thereof which shifts positions of each detected pixel in image signals generated by performing double-speed conversion, wherein a difference value in pixel signal level between a detected pixel in a current field and a detected pixel at the same position in a field which comes one frame behind the current field is calculated, to specify a first field, a motion vector for a field which comes one frame or two frames behind the current field is detected with respect to the detected pixel in the current field, interpolation pixel data for the detected pixel is calculated based on the detected pixel in the current field and the each pixel in the field which comes one frame or two frames behind the current field, the interpolation pixel data is disposed in the pixel position obtained by shifting the position of the detected pixel in the current field in a direction along the motion vector, in a field subsequent to the first field, and
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Aoyama, Makoto Kondo, Kazuhiko Nishibori
  • Publication number: 20080009352
    Abstract: An online video game controlling server includes an online game information storage database for storing game information on an online video game that includes player information on player characters and area information on a game area of the online video game, and a control section for controlling the progress of the video game on the basis of the game information. A shared area and an unshared area are provided in the game area of the online video game. When one player character moves to the unshared area, the control section creates instance information including area specifying information, character identification information and instance creating necessary object information. In addition, the control section server breaks communication between the one player character and the other belonging player character to update the instance information whenever the progress state of the instance creating necessary object changes due to the action of the one player character.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2007
    Publication date: January 10, 2008
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA SQUARE ENIX (also trading as SQUARE ENIX Co., LTD.)
    Inventors: Koji AOYAMA, Tomoaki MURATA
  • Patent number: 7263300
    Abstract: After a laser printer has been inactive for a long period of time, the CPU in the laser printer compares the remaining toner status determined based on a detection by a toner sensor during a warm-up operation prior for performing a printing operation and the last remaining toner status that was determined during a printing operation and that is stored in memory, and displays the larger of the two.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masahiro Ishii, Mitsuru Horinoe, Koji Aoyama