Patents by Inventor Masafumi Kimura

Masafumi Kimura 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: 9967462
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus detects predetermined information from an image signal and output a detection signal indicating the detected information, stores the detection signals for a plurality of periods, calculates a first prediction value based on a predetermined number of detection signals, from a newer one to older ones excluding a latest detection signal, stored in the storage unit, calculates a coefficient based on a difference between the first prediction value and a value of the latest detection signal, calculates a second prediction value based on the coefficient and the predetermined number of detection signals, from the latest one to older ones, and generates, based on the second prediction value, a control signal for controlling a predetermined constituent member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masafumi Kimura, Koichi Washisu
  • Patent number: 9930319
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus obtains a plurality of images obtained by shooting the same subject at different positions, at each of a plurality of timings. Then, a first phase difference between images obtained at the same time, and a second phase difference between images obtained by shooting at the same position but at different timings, are detected. The image processing apparatus then selects at least some of the obtained images as images to be used in synthesis in accordance with a set generation condition, synthesizes the images so as to eliminate at least one of the first and second phase differences, and outputs the resulting image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masafumi Kimura
  • Patent number: 9881648
    Abstract: An imaging device includes an imaging element that acquires a first image based on signal charge generated during a first accumulation time, and a second image based on signal charge generated during a second accumulation time relatively longer than the first accumulation time and synchronized with the first image during a synchronization period including the first accumulation time, and a moving image file generating unit that generates a moving image file including a first moving image based on the first image, a second moving image based on the second image, and synchronization information for synchronizing the first moving image and the second moving image frame by frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masafumi Kimura, Yasuo Suda, Koichi Washisu, Akihiko Nagano, Ryo Yamasaki, Makoto Oikawa, Fumihiro Kajimura, Go Naito
  • Publication number: 20170302023
    Abstract: A card-type storage device and a slot device, which are capable of preventing lowering of the reliability due to repeated insertion and removal of the storage device. A card medium includes card thermal contacts each having a contact surface which intersects with a thickness direction of the card medium. A first card upper guide surface restricts the position of the card medium in the thickness direction to a first position. An escape portion restricts the position of the card medium in the thickness direction to a different position from the first position. A second card upper guide surface links the first card upper guide surface and the escape portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2017
    Publication date: October 19, 2017
    Inventors: Masafumi Kimura, Fumihiro Kajimura, Go Naito, Kyosuke Sato
  • Publication number: 20170244912
    Abstract: According to the present invention, an imaging device and a reproducing device that allow for high quality reproduction of images generated by using two image signals having different lengths of accumulation periods output form a single imaging element are provided. A solid state imaging device of the invention includes a pixel array including a pixel having first and second photoelectric conversion units; a scanning unit that drives the pixel such that an accumulation period of an intermediate time of the first photoelectric conversion unit matches an intermediate time of an accumulation period of the second photoelectric conversion unit; a readout unit that reads out a first image signal from the first photoelectric conversion unit and reads out a second image signal from the second photoelectric conversion unit; and a generating unit that generates images by using the first and second image signals whose accumulation periods have the matched intermediate time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2017
    Publication date: August 24, 2017
    Inventors: Fumihiro Kajimura, Yasuo Suda, Koichi Washisu, Akihiko Nagano, Ryo Yamasaki, Masafumi Kimura, Makoto Oikawa, Go Naito
  • Publication number: 20170236552
    Abstract: An imaging device includes an imaging element that acquires a first image based on signal charge generated during a first accumulation time, and a second image based on signal charge generated during a second accumulation time relatively longer than the first accumulation time and synchronized with the first image during a synchronization period including the first accumulation time, and a moving image file generating unit that generates a moving image file including a first moving image based on the first image, a second moving image based on the second image, and synchronization information for synchronizing the first moving image and the second moving image frame by frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2016
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Inventors: Masafumi Kimura, Yasuo Suda, Koichi Washisu, Akihiko Nagano, Ryo Yamasaki, Makoto Oikawa, Fumihiro Kajimura, Go Naito
  • Publication number: 20170237927
    Abstract: An imaging device includes a plurality of pixels, each of which including a first pixel element including a first photoelectric conversion unit, and a second pixel element including a second photoelectric conversion unit lower in sensitivity than the first photoelectric conversion unit, a readout circuit configured to read out a first image signal based on signal charge generated in the first pixel element during a first accumulation period, and a second image signal based on signal charge generated in the second pixel element during a second accumulation period longer than the first accumulation period, the second image signal being synchronized with the first image signal, and a control unit configured to control the readout circuit so that a first readout period for reading out the first image signal is performed during the second accumulation period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2017
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Inventors: Fumihiro Kajimura, Yasuo Suda, Koichi Washisu, Akihiko Nagano, Ryo Yamasaki, Masafumi Kimura, Makoto Oikawa, Go Naito
  • Publication number: 20170116740
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a first acquiring unit capable of acquiring images of a plurality of view points, a second acquiring unit configured to acquire shape information of an object based on the images of a plurality of view points acquired by the first acquiring unit, a third acquiring unit configured to acquire material appearance information of the object based on a distribution of reflected light of the object obtainable from the images of a plurality of view points acquired by the first acquiring unit, and a generating unit configured to generate a file including the shape information of the object, the material appearance information of the object, and the images of a plurality of view points, acquired by the first to third acquiring units.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2016
    Publication date: April 27, 2017
    Inventor: Masafumi Kimura
  • Publication number: 20170104910
    Abstract: Provided is an imaging device including an imaging element having a first photoelectric conversion unit and a second photoelectric conversion unit, in which a light-receiving efficiency of the second photoelectric conversion unit is lower than a light-receiving efficiency of the first photoelectric conversion unit; an optics that guides a light flux from an object to the imaging element; and a control unit that selects a combination of the first photoelectric conversion unit and the second photoelectric conversion unit used for a motion image capturing and a static image capturing in accordance with a brightness of the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2016
    Publication date: April 13, 2017
    Inventors: Masafumi Kimura, Koichi Washisu, Yasuo Suda, Akihiko Nagano, Fumihiro Kajimura, Go Naito, Ryo Yamasaki, Makoto Oikawa
  • Patent number: 9609208
    Abstract: An image generation method is provided for generating an output image from an input image acquired by an image sensor that has an array of multiple pixels, each of which has arranged therein multiple sub-pixels that each receive a light beam that passes through a different pupil sub-area of an imaging optical system. The method includes a step of generating multiple parallax images that respectively correspond to the different pupil sub-areas; a step of generating multiple pixel shifted images by performing different shifting for each of the parallax images according to a virtual image forming plane of the imaging optical system; and a step of generating an output image that has a higher resolution than the resolution of the parallax images from the pixel shifted images through composition processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koichi Fukuda, Masafumi Kimura, Koshi Hatakeyama, Norihito Hiasa, Shohei Tsutsumi, Tomohiro Nishiyama, Kazuhiro Yahata
  • Patent number: 9554054
    Abstract: The imaging apparatus has: a first exposure mode in which an exposure condition is determined based on pixel data generated by photoelectrically converting, by a plurality of pixels, light rays entering through a pupil division unit, a state of vignetting of the photographing optical system is determined based on information about a construction of a photographing optical system, and an exposure condition is determined based on the pixel data selected from the pixel data generated in accordance with the vignetting state; and a second exposure mode in which an exposure condition is determined based on data obtained by adding the generated pixel data with respect to the exit pupil area of the photographing lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masafumi Kimura
  • Publication number: 20160377453
    Abstract: A position detection device including a magnetic detection unit, a magnet, and a calculation unit that calculates a position detection signal based on a signal of the magnetic detection unit is provided. The magnet and the magnetic detection unit are relatively movable while maintaining a predetermined interval. The magnetic detection unit has a longitudinal magnetic field detection unit that detects a magnetic field in a separating direction between the magnetic detection unit and the magnet, and has a transverse magnetic field detection unit that detects a magnetic field in a moving direction of the magnet 1. A calculation unit 5 calculates a position detection signal based on a signal of the transverse magnetic field detection unit and a signal of the longitudinal magnetic field detection unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2016
    Publication date: December 29, 2016
    Inventor: Masafumi KIMURA
  • Patent number: 9531960
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes an image sensor including a microlens array between an imaging optical system and a plurality of pixels and configured to receive a light flux from each of microlenses in the microlens array at the plurality of pixels to output an image signal, and a generation unit configured to select, among a plurality of pixel signals obtained at different viewpoints corresponding to a subject in the image signal from the image sensor, the pixel signal based on the brightness of the pixel signal serving as a reference and positions of the pixels at which the plurality of pixel signals are output relative to each of the microlenses, to generate an output image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masafumi Kimura
  • Publication number: 20160360110
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus detects predetermined information from an image signal and output a detection signal indicating the detected information, stores the detection signals for a plurality of periods, calculates a first prediction value based on a predetermined number of detection signals, from a newer one to older ones excluding a latest detection signal, stored in the storage unit, calculates a coefficient based on a difference between the first prediction value and a value of the latest detection signal, calculates a second prediction value based on the coefficient and the predetermined number of detection signals, from the latest one to older ones, and generates, based on the second prediction value, a control signal for controlling a predetermined constituent member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2016
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Inventors: Masafumi Kimura, Koichi Washisu
  • Publication number: 20160323526
    Abstract: A control apparatus includes a signal readout unit 15 which reads out a frame image obtained from an image pickup device while the frame image is divided into a plurality of different regions, an image information calculating unit 16 which calculates image information based on an image signal of each of the plurality of different regions obtained from the signal readout unit, and an adjusting unit 17 which determines a target adjustment value of an image pickup unit including an image pickup optical system and the image pickup device based on the image information during capturing the frame image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2016
    Publication date: November 3, 2016
    Inventors: Koichi Washisu, Masafumi Kimura, Fumihiro Kajimura
  • Publication number: 20160301838
    Abstract: An image capture apparatus comprises an imaging optical system, an image sensor, a pupil division unit which limits a light beam entering each pixel on the image sensor to a specific pupil area of the imaging optical system, an incident angle determination unit which determines an incident angle to each pixel on the image sensor, an image shift unit which shifts an electric signal obtained from the image sensor, based on the incident angle determined by the incident angle determination unit and a position of a plane on which image generation is performed, and an image generation unit which synthesizes electric signals obtained from the image shift unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2016
    Publication date: October 13, 2016
    Inventors: Masafumi Kimura, Koichi Fukuda
  • Patent number: 9451175
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus comprises: an image pickup element including a two-dimensional array of a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements, for outputting an electric signal of an optical image; a focus adjustment unit for adjusting a focus state of a photographing optical system; an image pickup control unit for obtaining electric signals from the image pickup element in a plurality of different focus states while changing the focus state by the focus adjustment unit; and a light ray determination unit for obtaining incident position information and incident angle information, which are light field information of the optical image of an object, by using the electric signals obtained in the a plurality of different focus states by the image pickup control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masafumi Kimura
  • Publication number: 20160234435
    Abstract: An image generation method is provided for generating an output image from an input image acquired by an image sensor that has an array of mnitple pixels, each of which has arranged therein multiple sub-pixels that each receive a light beam that passes through a different pupil sub-area of an imaging optical system. The method includes a step of generating multiple parallax images that respectively correspond to the different pupil sub-areas; a step of generating multiple pixel shifted images by performing different shifting for each of the parallax images according to a virtual image forming plane of the imaging optical system; and a step of generating an output image that has a higher resolution than the resolution of the parallax images from the pixel shifted images through composition processing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2016
    Publication date: August 11, 2016
    Inventors: Koichi Fukuda, Masafumi Kimura, Koshi Hatakeyama, Norihito Hiasa, Shohei Tsutsumi, Tomohiro Nishiyama, Kazuhiro Yahata
  • Patent number: 9413996
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus obtains an image signal of an image pickup element having a pupil division unit that restricts light of an optical image of an object arriving at each pixel of the element to light from a specific pupil area of a photographing lens. A memory unit stores information of a pixel defect of the element. An image shift unit determines a shift amount of the image signal of the photographed object corresponding to an image re-formation plane for every pupil area, to shift the image signal on the basis of the plane. A defect correction unit corrects an image signal of a defective pixel using the shifted image signal of a pixel other than the defective pixel, in accordance with the information of the pixel defect. An image re-formation unit re-forms an image corresponding to the image re-formation plane from the corrected image signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masafumi Kimura
  • Patent number: 9398199
    Abstract: An image capture apparatus comprises an imaging optical system, an image sensor, a pupil division unit which limits a light beam entering each pixel on the image sensor to a specific pupil area of the imaging optical system, an incident angle determination unit which determines an incident angle to each pixel on the image sensor, an image shift unit which shifts an electric signal obtained from the image sensor, based on the incident angle determined by the incident angle determination unit and a position of a plane on which image generation is performed, and an image generation unit which synthesizes electric signals obtained from the image shift unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masafumi Kimura, Koichi Fukuda