Patents by Inventor Mikio Watanabe

Mikio Watanabe 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: 20170150031
    Abstract: In an aspect of the present invention, assignment and a rotation direction of a pan motor and a tilt motor of each key of a cross key are set on the basis of the installation posture of the camera. Accordingly, it is possible to operate the cross key without discomfort when the camera is caused to perform a pan operation or a tilt operation using the cross key. Further, if the camera is caused to perform the pan operation using the cross key and a specific condition under which a video rotates is discriminated from a tilt angle, a display of a corresponding icon of the cross key is switched from a first icon indicating an up and down direction or a left and right direction to a second icon indicating a rotation direction. Accordingly, it is possible not to cause discomfort even when a video rotates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2017
    Publication date: May 25, 2017
    Applicant: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki OSHIMA, Mikio WATANABE, Takeshi MISAWA, Masaya TAMARU, Daisuke HAYASHI, Fuminori IRIE
  • Patent number: 9536479
    Abstract: An image display method includes the steps of: acquiring a third image formed by applying dynamic range extension processing to a first image and a second image photographed with low sensitivity or low exposure with respect to the first image, or a fourth image without dynamic range extension processing; displaying the acquired image in a transmissive type display panel; and making backlight luminance of a segment corresponding to a high luminance portion in the third image higher than backlight luminance of a segment corresponding to a low luminance portion when the acquired image is determined to be the third image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Mikio Watanabe, Masaya Tamaru
  • Publication number: 20160347273
    Abstract: Webbing guide includes: guide body through which webbing is inserted; front wall that contacts one side face of first opening edge part and second opening edge part; rear wall that contacts another side face of first opening edge part; and claw that contacts another side face of second opening edge part. Connection part connects guide body and rear wall and includes concave part, and leading end of first opening edge part enters into concave part when webbing guide is assembled with member for assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2016
    Publication date: December 1, 2016
    Inventors: Mikio WATANABE, Ryuji YAMAGUCHI
  • Publication number: 20160269648
    Abstract: The present invention provides an imaging device and a time-lapse imaging method capable of simply realizing time-lapse imaging using a pan and tilt mechanism. In a preferred aspect of the present invention, an imaging device includes a pan and tilt mechanism that rotates an imaging unit in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction relative to a device body, transmits a live view image to a smartphone, displays the live view image on a display and input unit, and receives an instruction input for specifying camerawork in time-lapse imaging using the display and input unit. Accordingly, the instruction input for specifying camerawork for performing time-lapse imaging using the pan and tilt mechanism can be simply input. The imaging device controls at least the pan and tilt mechanism based on the instruction input for specifying camerawork and controls the imaging unit to perform time-lapse imaging.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2016
    Publication date: September 15, 2016
    Applicant: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Daisuke HAYASHI, Mikio WATANABE, Tatsuya FUJINAMI
  • Patent number: 9384536
    Abstract: An image file generation device comprises a first image data acquisition device that acquires N-bit first image data, a second image data generation device that generates M (M<N)-bit second image data, a third image data generation device that selects low brightness pixels with a predetermined brightness level from among respective pixels of the first image data to generate third image data with the number of gradations more than the number of gradations assigned to pixel values equal to or less than the brightness level of the second image data, on the basis of the low brightness pixels, and an image file generation device that generates an image file in which the second image data, the third image data, and brightness level information showing the brightness level used for generating the third image data, are associated with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: FUJIFILM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mikio Watanabe, Masaya Tamaru
  • Publication number: 20160103209
    Abstract: A laser ranging unit is rotatably attached to a camera body by a hinge unit. The camera body has a first imaging unit and a laser radiation position specification unit. The laser ranging unit has a laser radiation unit, a laser receiving unit, a second imaging unit, and a distance calculation unit. The first imaging unit images a first range to generate a first image. The laser radiation unit is able to radiate a laser beam in an arbitrary direction within the first range. The laser receiving unit receives a reflected beam of the laser beam. The second imaging unit images a second range including a radiation position of the laser beam within the first range to generate a second image. The laser radiation position specification unit searches for a portion matching the second image in the first image to specify the radiation position in the first image. The distance calculation unit calculates the distance to the radiation position based on the time of receiving the reflected beam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2015
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Applicant: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Tomonori MASUDA, Hiroshi TAMAYAMA, Mikio WATANABE, Eiji ISHIYAMA, Daisuke HAYASHI, Sugio MAKISHIMA
  • Publication number: 20160032884
    Abstract: A fuel property determination apparatus for an internal combustion engine is applied to an internal combustion engine that is equipped with an ignition plug and an ignition timing controller. An electronic control unit provided in the fuel property determination apparatus executes a determination process of making a determination on a property of a fuel supplied to the internal combustion engine based on an ignition sufficiency ratio, during a predetermined period after startup of the internal combustion engine. The electronic control unit is configured to determine that the property of the fuel is heavy when a determination index value that is obtained by subjecting the ignition sufficiency ratio to a smoothing process is equal to or larger than a predetermined threshold. The electronic control unit is configured to set a smoothing coefficient to a value corresponding to each of a first period, a second period, and a third period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2015
    Publication date: February 4, 2016
    Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akitaka Yamashita, Mikio Watanabe
  • Patent number: 9214111
    Abstract: When an environment to appreciate an image displayed on an LCD panel is a normal environment, BLD control is performed according to the second backlight brightness characteristic in which the display brightness in the LCD panel is close to be linear, when it is a dark environment, BLD control is performed according to the first backlight brightness characteristic in which the backlight brightness of the low brightness part of the image is set lower than the second backlight brightness characteristic, and, when it is a bright environment, BLD control is performed according to the third backlight brightness characteristic in which the backlight brightness of the medium brightness part of the image is set higher than the second backlight brightness characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: FUJIFILM CORPORATION
    Inventor: Mikio Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20150356905
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device where the luminance control unit determines a coefficient KU, where KU<1, as the coefficient and repeatedly multiplies each of the luminance set values by the coefficient KU until the first integrated value is within the range of the first threshold value in a case where the first integrated value is larger than the range of the first threshold value, and the luminance control unit determines a coefficient KL, where KL>1, as the coefficient and repeatedly multiplies each of the luminance set values by the coefficient KL until the first integrated value is within the range of the first threshold value in a case where the first integrated value is smaller than the range of the first threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2015
    Publication date: December 10, 2015
    Applicant: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Mikio WATANABE
  • Publication number: 20150332636
    Abstract: An image display method includes the steps of: acquiring a third image formed by applying dynamic range extension processing to a first image and a second image photographed with low sensitivity or low exposure with respect to the first image, or a fourth image without dynamic range extension processing; displaying the acquired image in a transmissive type display panel; and making backlight luminance of a segment corresponding to a high luminance portion in the third image higher than backlight luminance of a segment corresponding to a low luminance portion when the acquired image is determined to be the third image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2015
    Publication date: November 19, 2015
    Applicant: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Mikio WATANABE, Masaya TAMARU
  • Patent number: 9117410
    Abstract: An image display method includes the steps of: acquiring a third image formed by applying dynamic range extension processing to a first image and a second image photographed with low sensitivity or low exposure with respect to the first image, or a fourth image without dynamic range extension processing; displaying the acquired image in a transmissive type display panel; and making backlight luminance of a segment corresponding to a high luminance portion in the third image higher than backlight luminance of a segment corresponding to a low luminance portion when the acquired image is determined to be the third image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Mikio Watanabe, Masaya Tamaru
  • Patent number: 9097964
    Abstract: A method for stereoscopic image printing according to one aspect of the presently disclosed subject matter includes acquiring information on distribution of parallax of a multi-viewpoint image with two or more viewpoints; determining, based on the information on the distribution of parallax, a number of viewpoints of a stereoscopic image which is printed on a lenticular lens sheet; generating, if the number of viewpoints of the multi-viewpoint image is smaller than the determined number of viewpoints, a shortfall viewpoint image based on the inputted multi-viewpoint image; and printing a stereoscopic image which is made of the multi-viewpoint image and the generated viewpoint image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Mikio Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20150130828
    Abstract: An image file generation device comprises a first image data acquisition device that acquires N-bit first image data, a second image data generation device that generates M (M<N)-bit second image data, a third image data generation device that selects low brightness pixels with a predetermined brightness level from among respective pixels of the first image data to generate third image data with the number of gradations more than the number of gradations assigned to pixel values equal to or less than the brightness level of the second image data, on the basis of the low brightness pixels, and an image file generation device that generates an image file in which the second image data, the third image data, and brightness level information showing the brightness level used for generating the third image data, are associated with each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2015
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Applicant: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Mikio WATANABE, Masaya TAMARU
  • Publication number: 20150116389
    Abstract: When an environment to appreciate an image displayed on an LCD panel is a normal environment, BLD control is performed according to the second backlight brightness characteristic in which the display brightness in the LCD panel is close to be linear, when it is a dark environment, BLD control is performed according to the first backlight brightness characteristic in which the backlight brightness of the low brightness part of the image is set lower than the second backlight brightness characteristic, and, when it is a bright environment, BLD control is performed according to the third backlight brightness characteristic in which the backlight brightness of the medium brightness part of the image is set higher than the second backlight brightness characteristic.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2014
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Applicant: FUJIFILM CORPORATION
    Inventor: Mikio WATANABE
  • Publication number: 20150036151
    Abstract: A method for stereoscopic image printing according to one aspect of the presently disclosed subject matter includes acquiring information on distribution of parallax of a multi-viewpoint image with two or more viewpoints; determining, based on the information on the distribution of parallax, a number of viewpoints of a stereoscopic image which is printed on a lenticular lens sheet; generating, if the number of viewpoints of the multi-viewpoint image is smaller than the determined number of viewpoints, a shortfall viewpoint image based on the inputted multi-viewpoint image; and printing a stereoscopic image which is made of the multi-viewpoint image and the generated viewpoint image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2014
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Applicant: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Mikio WATANABE
  • Publication number: 20150009246
    Abstract: An image display method includes the steps of: acquiring a third image formed by applying dynamic range extension processing to a first image and a second image photographed with low sensitivity or low exposure with respect to the first image, or a fourth image without dynamic range extension processing; displaying the acquired image in a transmissive type display panel; and making backlight luminance of a segment corresponding to a high luminance portion in the third image higher than backlight luminance of a segment corresponding to a low luminance portion when the acquired image is determined to be the third image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2014
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Applicant: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Mikio WATANABE, Masaya TAMARU
  • Patent number: 8896879
    Abstract: A method for stereoscopic image printing according to one aspect of the presently disclosed subject matter includes acquiring information on distribution of parallax of a multi-viewpoint image with two or more viewpoints; determining, based on the information on the distribution of parallax, a number of viewpoints of a stereoscopic image which is printed on a lenticular lens sheet; generating, if the number of viewpoints of the multi-viewpoint image is smaller than the determined number of viewpoints, a shortfall viewpoint image based on the inputted multi-viewpoint image; and printing a stereoscopic image which is made of the multi-viewpoint image and the generated viewpoint image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Mikio Watanabe
  • Patent number: 8780226
    Abstract: The presence/absence of a face in an image and the type of imaging mode during imaging (such as a landscape imaging mode and a close-up imaging mode) of the image acquired by imaging and the like are detected. Images are automatically classified by groups based on the detected information (classification information). A plurality of images classified by the groups are connected to create a multi-image file (MP file), and the MP file is recorded in a recording medium. As a result, the plurality of classified images can be managed altogether (without dissipation), and the plurality of classified images can be reproduced by providing the multi-image file even if a reproducer does not have a classification function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Nakamura, Takeshi Misawa, Mikio Watanabe, Fumio Nakamaru, Hisashi Endo
  • Patent number: 8749660
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus having: an image acquisition unit that acquires a plurality of viewpoint images; a disparity map generation unit that generates a disparity map representing a disparity distribution; a multi-viewpoint image generation unit that generates a multi-viewpoint image including a plurality of viewpoint images the number of which is larger than the number of the plurality of viewpoint images based on the plurality of viewpoint images and the disparity map; an image processing unit that performs image processing for a subject image of the multi-viewpoint image based on the multi-viewpoint image and the disparity map and switches an amount of image processing for the subject image depending on the disparity; and an output unit that switches the plurality of viewpoint images included in the multi-viewpoint image, which has been subjected to image processing by the image processing unit, and sequentially outputs the viewpoint images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Koichi Yahagi, Mikio Watanabe
  • Patent number: 8709661
    Abstract: Provided is a secondary battery capable of improving charge-discharge characteristics. A positive electrode active material layer of a positive electrode has a positive electrode active material and a positive electrode conductive agent. The positive electrode active material is a high-voltage operating positive electrode material whose operating voltage is equal to or more than 4.5 V on a lithium metal basis. The positive electrode conductive agent contains an amorphous carbon material and a crystalline carbon material, and an interplanar spacing for lattice plane (002), a specific surface area, and a content in the positive electrode active material layer, thereof are so normalized as to be in predetermined ranges, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Mikio Watanabe