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).

  • Patent number: 7227897
    Abstract: A vector motion detector is provided which corrects the quantity of a motion vector determined with the block matching technique between a reference block taking a reference pixel extracted from a current frame as its origin and a search block extracted from a reference frame and moving within or along the circumference of a search range and which is outside the search range. The vector motion detector makes the motion vector quantity correction so that the motion vector will fall within the search rang. Thus, it can provide a smooth motion of even an image that moves fast.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Nishibori, Koji Aoyama, Makoto Kondo, Takaya Hoshino, Yukihiko Mogi
  • Patent number: 7221403
    Abstract: The present invention provides an image signal processing apparatus and a method thereof which perform double-speed conversion on images subjected to telecine conversion and in which a first field is specified based on difference values between pixel signal levels calculated with respect to respective detected pixels, write pixel positions which are shifted from the positions of the detected pixels in the vector directions of motion vectors are calculated in a field following the first field, the calculated write pixel positions are stored in correspondence with the motion vectors, interpolation pixel data is calculated from pixel data read from the first field in correspondence with the stored write pixel positions and motion vectors, and the calculated interpolation pixel data is written into the write pixel positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Aoyama, Kazuhiko Nishibori, Makoto Kondo, Takaya Hoshino
  • Patent number: 7215377
    Abstract: The present invention provides an image signal processing apparatus and a method thereof in which each of the fields forming the unit-frame is specified, with respect to the inputted image signal, based on a difference value calculated in 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, a motion vector for a field which comes two frames behind the current field is detected, with respect to the detected pixel in the current field, the detected pixel is shifted, with respect to the specified first field, in a direction opposite to the motion vector within the range of the detected motion vector, the detected pixel is shifted, with respect to the specified fourth field, in a direction along the motion vector, and the detected pixels is shifted, with respect to the specified second and third fields, so as to make the pixels gradually closer to the pixel position shifted with respect to the fourth field, in
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Takaya Hoshino, Toshio Sarugaku, Ikuo Someya, Makoto Kondo, Kazuhiko Nishibori, Koji Aoyama, Yukihiko Mogi, Nobuo Ueki, Masuyoshi Kurokawa
  • Publication number: 20060277489
    Abstract: In a main area of a display device, buttons and a map display area where a map is scrolled are provided. A cursor can be moved to an arbitrary position of the main area according to directional input received from an input device. When a decision input is performed with the input device when the cursor points to each button, processing signed to the button to which the cursor points is performed. When a user inputs a direction and a special input button is not selected, the cursor is moved throughout the main area. When the user inputs a direction while the special input button is selected, the cursor is moved only within the map display area and the map is scrolled as required.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2006
    Publication date: December 7, 2006
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA SQUARE ENIX (also trading as SQUARE ENIX Co., LTD.)
    Inventors: Kazutoyo MAEHIRO, Tadashi TSUSHIMA, Koji AOYAMA, Mitsuo YOSHIOKA
  • Publication number: 20060277502
    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: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2006
    Publication date: December 7, 2006
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA SQUARE ENIX (ALSO TRADING AS SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD.)
    Inventor: Koji AOYAMA
  • Publication number: 20060256135
    Abstract: A terminal apparatus executes different kinds of network games provided by a server group. The user of the terminal apparatus can register other users who become acquainted with the user through network games in a friend list provided for each user. While the terminal device runs different game programs for different kinds of games, the terminal apparatus runs a common friend list program regardless of the game types. When the display of a game image is set to a window mode, the friend list program displays a friend list in a friend list window that is set separate from a game window. When the display of a game image is set to a full-screen mode, the friend list program displays a friend list synthesized with the game image in the form of a semi-transparent image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2006
    Publication date: November 16, 2006
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA SQUARE ENIX (also trading as SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD.)
    Inventors: Koji Aoyama, Mitsuteru Fukushima
  • Publication number: 20060110050
    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: August 18, 2003
    Publication date: May 25, 2006
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Aoyama, Tohru Kurata, Atsushi Nose, Kimitaka Wada
  • Patent number: 7050108
    Abstract: It is determined whether each block (51) including a plurality of pixels extracted from a basic field (30) has an edge or not, and then which state, stationary or non-stationary, each of the pixels forming together the block (51) determined to have an edge is. There is calculated an absolute value of a difference between a pixel determined to be non-stationary and a pixel (91 or 92) in each pixel position in a reference field (40) or pixels (82 to 85) included in the reference field and adjacent to the non-stationary pixel, and a correlation is found between such pixels in consideration according to the calculated difference absolute-value. A motion vector is determined by the block matching method according to results of the determination, and allocated to each of the pixels. Thus, the motion vector of each block is corrected to an accurate one of each of the pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Nishibori, Koji Aoyama, Yukihiko Mogi, Takaya Hoshino, Makoto Kondo
  • Publication number: 20050213663
    Abstract: With regard to a subject block including a subject pixel and four adjacent blocks vertically and horizontally adjacent to the subject block, respective motion vectors of these blocks are considered as candidates of a pixel motion vector of the subject pixel. The block motion vectors are actually applied to the subject pixel, and one of the motion vectors that minimizes difference between pixel values of pixels used for inter-field interpolation is selected as the pixel motion vector of the subject pixel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2005
    Publication date: September 29, 2005
    Inventors: Koji Aoyama, Kazuhiko Nishibori, Xavier Michel, Masuyoshi Kurokawa
  • Publication number: 20050212974
    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: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2005
    Publication date: September 29, 2005
    Inventors: Xavier Michel, Kazuhiko Nishibori, Koji Aoyama, Masuyoshi Kurokawa
  • Patent number: 6947094
    Abstract: An image signal processing apparatus according to the present invention receives an image signal inputted thereto that is generated by subjecting a telecine-converted image to double speed conversion, in which signal one film frame is formed by four fields, identifies a first field on the basis of a difference value calculated between pixel signal levels, and shifts the position of a detected pixel in a vector direction of a motion vector such that an amount of shift is progressively increased as transition is made from the identified first field to the subsequent fields.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Takaya Hoshino, Toshio Sarugaku, Ikuo Someya, Makoto Kondo, Nobuo Ueki, Masuyoshi Kurokawa, Kazuhiko Nishibori, Koji Aoyama, Yukihiko Mogi
  • Publication number: 20050114526
    Abstract: Effective advertisements are provided to users of a network. On a terminal of a user B, user names of users whom the user B registered in advance as friends are displayed. On the terminal, information indicating whether respective friend users are online or offline, is also displayed. Icons representing video games, etc., played by the friend users are also displayed on the terminal. When the user B clicks the icon of the Game C associated with the user A, the terminal executes advertisement information display processing. By this processing, an advertisement information screen is displayed on the terminal. On the advertisement information screen, an advertisement relating to the status of the user A registered as the friend is displayed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2004
    Publication date: May 26, 2005
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Koji Aoyama
  • Publication number: 20050062886
    Abstract: The present invention provides an image signal processing apparatus and a method thereof in which each of the fields forming the unit-frame is specified, with respect to the inputted image signal, based on a difference value calculated in 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, a motion vector for a field which comes two frames behind the current field is detected, with respect to the detected pixel in the current field, the detected pixel is shifted, with respect to the specified first field, in a direction opposite to the motion vector within the range of the detected motion vector, the detected pixel is shifted, with respect to the specified fourth field, in a direction along the motion vector, and the detected pixels is shifted, with respect to the specified second and third fields, so as to make the pixels gradually closer to the pixel position shifted with respect to the fourth field, in
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2002
    Publication date: March 24, 2005
    Inventors: Takaya Hoshino, Toshio Sarugaku, Ikuo Someya, Makoto Kondo, Kazuhiko Nishibori, Koji Aoyama, Yukihiko Mogi, Nobuo Ueki, Masuyoshi Kurokawa
  • Publication number: 20050053307
    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: July 30, 2004
    Publication date: March 10, 2005
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Nose, Koji Aoyama, Tohru Kurata, Kimitaka Wada
  • Publication number: 20050012856
    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: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2002
    Publication date: January 20, 2005
    Inventors: Koji Aoyama, Makoto Kondo, Kazuhiko Nishibori
  • Publication number: 20050012857
    Abstract: The present invention provides an image signal processing apparatus and a method thereof which perform double-speed conversion on images subjected to telecine conversion and in which a first field is specified based on difference values between pixel signal levels calculated with respect to respective detected pixels, write pixel positions which are shifted from the positions of the detected pixels in the vector directions of motion vectors are calculated in a field following the first field, the calculated write pixel positions are stored in correspondence with the motion vectors, interpolation pixel data is calculated from pixel data read from the first field in correspondence with the stored write pixel positions and motion vectors, and the calculated interpolation pixel data is written into the write pixel positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2002
    Publication date: January 20, 2005
    Inventors: Koji Aoyama, Kazuhiko Nishibori, Makoto Kondo, Takaya Hoshino
  • Publication number: 20040207733
    Abstract: A lattice dividing unit 911 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 902 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 903 compresses distortion correction parameters based upon the division polynomial of degree n obtained from the polynomial of degree n coefficient deriving unit 902.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2004
    Publication date: October 21, 2004
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Nose, Koji Aoyama, Tohru Kurata, Kimitaka Wada
  • Publication number: 20040086286
    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: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2003
    Publication date: May 6, 2004
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masahiro Ishii, Mitsuru Horinoe, Koji Aoyama
  • Patent number: 6704463
    Abstract: The invention provides an interpolation processing apparatus and method which can be applied, for example, to a personal computer such that it can prevent deterioration in picture quality arising from a conversion ratio by applying it, for example, to image processing. Weighting coefficients are varied based on phase information of output data with respect to input data and a ratio between the input sample number which forms the input data and an output sample number of corresponding output data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Hidehiko Okada, Koji Aoyama
  • Publication number: 20030227973
    Abstract: A vector motion detector is provided which corrects the quantity of a motion vector determined with the block matching technique between a reference block taking a reference pixel extracted from a current frame as its origin and a search block extracted from a reference frame and moving within or along the circumference of a search range and which is outside the search range. The vector motion detector makes the motion vector quantity correction so that the motion vector will fall within the search rang. Thus, it can provide a smooth motion of even an image that moves fast.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2003
    Publication date: December 11, 2003
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Nishibori, Koji Aoyama, Makoto Kondo, Takaya Hoshino, Yukihiko Mogi