Patents by Inventor Shinya Hirai

Shinya Hirai 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: 7876370
    Abstract: An image capture apparatus includes a high frequency signal extraction unit, a first filter unit, a second filter unit and a level setting unit. The high frequency signal extraction unit extracts a high frequency signal from an input signal. The first filter unit applies a horizontal band-pass filter to the input signal. The second filter unit applies a vertical band-pass filter to the input signal. The level setting unit sets a level, which is used to remove a noise component from the high frequency signal, to one of a first level and a second level lower than the first level. The level is set to the first level, if the input signal is obtained from a first area including low contrast. The level is set to the second level, if the input signal is obtained from a second area including small pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shinya Hirai
  • Patent number: 7855627
    Abstract: A common-mode choke coil has induction immunity characteristics that are improved by a coil structure preventing a transmitter IC and a receiver IC from malfunctioning during an induction immunity test and which controls a decrease in ESD resistance and a decrease in self-resonance frequency. The common-mode choke coil includes a core, external electrodes, a pair of coils, and a top plate. The core includes a core section and a pair of flange sections. The pair of coils are wound around the core section of the core, and the ends of the coils are connected to the external electrodes, respectively. An underside and a side surface of the top plate are plated with a metal film, and bonded to the top surfaces of the flange sections preferably by an adhesive agent. The metal film is segmented into two separate portions so as to define two separate metal sections with a gap therebetween so that the metal sections are electrically disconnected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshie Nishikawa, Shinya Hirai, Takahiro Aoki, Tetsuya Morinaga, Takahiro Azuma, Yasushi Saito, Yoshimasa Goto, Yu Ishiwata
  • Patent number: 7821567
    Abstract: A focus position detection apparatus calculates a focus position of a focus lens using an image signal obtained from an image sensing element. The apparatus comprises an acquisition unit that acquires focus states for a predetermined distance range, a control unit that controls the acquisition unit to acquire focus states at first intervals and second intervals which is shorter than the first intervals, and a focus position detection unit that determines a focus position on the basis of the focus states obtained at the first or second intervals. The control unit changes whether to acquire focus states at the second intervals based on the focus states obtained at the first intervals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shinya Hirai
  • Publication number: 20100245621
    Abstract: An image capturing apparatus comprises: an acquisition unit; a smear detection unit; and a smear correction unit which corrects a level of pixels in a smear region in original image data by a first correction amount obtained by multiplying a smear amount by a first coefficient, thereby generating first image data, and corrects the level of pixels in the smear region in the original image data by a second correction amount obtained by multiplying the smear amount by a second coefficient, thereby generating second image data, wherein the first image data is used for at least either of image displaying and image recording, the second image data is used for at least one of exposure control, focus adjustment, and white balance control, and the first coefficient is smaller than the second coefficient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2009
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shinya Hirai
  • Publication number: 20100226636
    Abstract: An apparatus comprises a face position detection section for detecting at least a position at which is present a person's face inside a frame using an image signal obtained from an image sensor for photoelectrically converting an object image captured by a photographing optical system, a focus control section for controlling the photographing optical system by referencing in-focus positions of the object image obtained inside focus detection areas for detecting focus states of the object image positioned in the frame, and a control section for controlling the focus control section so as to reference at least one or the other of an in-focus position obtained in a first focus detection area in which is present a person's face and an in-focus position obtained in a second focus detection area in which is expected to be present a body of a person determining from the position of the face of the person.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2010
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shinya Hirai, Kota Terayama
  • Publication number: 20100090790
    Abstract: A common-mode choke coil includes a core, external electrodes, a pair of wires, and a top plate. The core includes a winding core portion and a pair of flanges at both ends of the winding core portion. The upper surface of the winding core portion and the upper surfaces of the flanges are covered with a metal film. The external electrodes are provided on lower portions of the flanges. A pair of wires are wound on the winding core portion of the core, and the ends of the wires are connected to the external electrodes. The top plate is bonded to the upper surfaces of the flanges preferably via an adhesive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2009
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Applicant: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takahiro AZUMA, Tetsuya MORINAGA, Takahiro AOKI, Yoshie NISHIKAWA, Shinya HIRAI, Yoshimasa GOTO, Yasushi SAITO, Yu ISHIWATA
  • Patent number: 7688173
    Abstract: A common mode choke coil includes a core, external electrodes, a pair of windings, and a top plate. The core includes a winding core portion and a pair of flanges disposed at respective ends thereof. The external electrodes are provided at lower portions of the flanges. The pair of the windings is wound around the winding core portion of the core, and ends thereof are connected to the external electrodes, respectively. A lower surface and a side surface of the top plate are covered with a metal film and are adhered to upper surfaces of the flanges with an adhesive. Preferably, magnetic powder is mixed in the adhesive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Murata Manufactoring Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takahiro Azuma, Yoshie Nishikawa, Takahiro Aoki, Yoshimasa Goto, Yasushi Saito, Shinya Hirai, Yu Ishiwata, Tetsuya Morinaga
  • Patent number: 7684636
    Abstract: This invention has as its object to provide an edge correction apparatus which can execute base clip processes optimal to different noise levels depending on the level of an input signal. To this end, an apparatus has a high-frequency extraction circuit for extracting a high-frequency signal equal to or more than a predetermined frequency from an input signal, a suppression circuit for suppressing signal components equal to or less than a suppression level from the extracted high-frequency signal, a setting circuit for setting the suppression level in correspondence with the signal level of the input signal, and a high-frequency emphasis circuit for emphasizing the high-frequency signal suppressed by the suppression circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shinya Hirai
  • Publication number: 20100045418
    Abstract: A common-mode choke coil has induction immunity characteristics that are improved by a coil structure preventing a transmitter IC and a receiver IC from malfunctioning during an induction immunity test and which controls a decrease in ESD resistance and a decrease in self-resonance frequency. The common-mode choke coil includes a core, external electrodes, a pair of coils, and a top plate. The core includes a core section and a pair of flange sections. The pair of coils are wound around the core section of the core, and the ends of the coils are connected to the external electrodes, respectively. An underside and a side surface of the top plate are plated with a metal film, and bonded to the top surfaces of the flange sections preferably by an adhesive agent. The metal film is segmented into two separate portions so as to define two separate metal sections with a gap therebetween so that the metal sections are electrically disconnected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2009
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Applicant: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshie NISHIKAWA, Shinya HIRAI, Takahiro AOKI, Tetsuya MORINAGA, Takahiro AZUMA, Yasushi SAITO, Yoshimasa GOTO, Yu ISHIWATA
  • Publication number: 20090309702
    Abstract: A personal authentication apparatus comprises an input unit configured to input image data; a face detection unit configured to detect a face region of a person included in the image data input by the input unit, and to detect feature data from the detected face region; a facial expression determination unit configured to determine a facial expression from the face region detected by the face detection unit; a storage unit configured to store feature data used to authenticate a person in correspondence with respective facial expressions of a plurality of faces; a selection unit configured to select feature data corresponding to the facial expression determined by the facial expression determination unit from the storage unit; and an authentication unit configured to authenticate a person by comparing the feature data of the face region detected by the face detection unit, and the feature data selected by the selection unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2009
    Publication date: December 17, 2009
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shinya Hirai
  • Patent number: 7633366
    Abstract: A wire-wound coil includes a ferrite core having a winding core portion and flange portions, a wire wound around the winding core portion, electrodes connected to the wire on lower surfaces of the flange portions, and a ferrite plate attached to upper surfaces of both of the end flange portions so as to extend over the winding core portion. The flange portions and the ferrite plate are provided with corresponding recessed and projecting portions and, and the flange portions and the ferrite plate are integrated through the recessed and projecting portions. Joint sections between the flange portions and the ferrite plate include contact sections that are in direct contact with each other, and adhesion sections arranged to receive an adhesive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinya Hirai, Takaomi Toi
  • Publication number: 20090284641
    Abstract: A digital camera has distance measurement zone setting means (12) for dividing distance to a subject into a plurality of distance measurement zones; distance measurement zone selection means (13) for selecting a distance measurement zone to be scanned; an autofocus evaluation calculation circuit (14) for acquiring an AF evaluation value by scanning the selected distance measurement zone; zone-update determination means (15) for determining, through use of the AF evaluation value, whether or not to update a distance measurement zone to be scanned; and in-focus position decision means (16) for appropriately updating the scanned distance measurement zone based upon the determination as to whether to update the distance measurement zone, and deciding an in-focus position based upon acquisition of AF evaluation value. A focusing lens (2) is driven to the in-focus position by a focusing-lens drive circuit (17).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2009
    Publication date: November 19, 2009
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shinya Hirai
  • Publication number: 20090237551
    Abstract: A focus position detection apparatus calculates a focus position of a focus lens using an image signal obtained from an image sensing element. The apparatus comprises an acquisition unit that acquires focus states for a predetermined distance range, a control unit that controls the acquisition unit to acquire focus states at first intervals and second intervals which is shorter than the first intervals, and a focus position detection unit that determines a focus position on the basis of the focus states obtained at the first or second intervals. The control unit changes whether to acquire focus states at the second intervals based on the focus states obtained at the first intervals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2009
    Publication date: September 24, 2009
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shinya Hirai
  • Publication number: 20090195342
    Abstract: A common mode choke coil includes a core, external electrodes, a pair of windings, and a top plate. The core includes a winding core portion and a pair of flanges disposed at respective ends thereof. The external electrodes are provided at lower portions of the flanges. The pair of the windings is wound around the winding core portion of the core, and ends thereof are connected to the external electrodes, respectively. A lower surface and a side surface of the top plate are covered with a metal film and are adhered to upper surfaces of the flanges with an adhesive. Preferably, magnetic powder is mixed in the adhesive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2009
    Publication date: August 6, 2009
    Applicant: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takahiro AZUMA, Yoshie NISHIKAWA, Takahiro AOKI, Yoshimasa GOTO, Yasushi SAITO, Shinya HIRAI, Yu ISHIWATA, Tetsuya MORINAGA
  • Patent number: 7557855
    Abstract: A focus position detection apparatus calculates a focus position of a focus lens using an image signal obtained from an image sensing element. The apparatus comprises an acquisition unit that acquires focus states for a predetermined distance range, a control unit that controls the acquisition unit to acquire focus states at first intervals and second intervals which is shorter than the first intervals, and a focus position detection unit that determines a focus position on the basis of the focus states obtained at the first or second intervals. The control unit changes whether to acquire focus states at the second intervals based on the focus states obtained at the first intervals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shinya Hirai
  • Publication number: 20090045902
    Abstract: A common-mode choke coil includes a magnetic core, external electrodes, first and second wires, and a magnetic top. The magnetic core includes a winding core section and first and second flange sections. The external electrodes are provided on the first and second flange sections. The first wire is directly wound around the winding core section. The second wire is wound around the outside of the first wire. The first turn of the second wire is wound while being in contact with the first turn of the first wire and the first flange section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2008
    Publication date: February 19, 2009
    Applicant: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Shinya HIRAI
  • Publication number: 20090036607
    Abstract: A polymer particle is obtained by polymerizing a monomer in the presence of a phosphate salt represented by the following formula (1). The polymer particle contains 0.01 to 1.0 part by mass of the phosphate salt to 100 parts by mass of the polymer particle. A resin composition and a molded article using such a polymer particle are excellent in thermal stability and resistance to moist heat, and the color tone of the resin has little change before and after the blending of the polymer particle. In the formula (1), R1 represents an alkyl group having 10 to 18 carbon atoms, R2 represents an alkylene group having 2 to 3 carbon atoms, M represents an alkaline metal or an alkaline earth metal, m represents an integer of 1 to 20, and n represents 1 or 2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2006
    Publication date: February 5, 2009
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Rayon Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinya Hirai, Toshihiro Kasai, Masaki Nakayama
  • Publication number: 20080292298
    Abstract: A focus control method is provided that performs focus control by sensing a plurality of images of an object while moving a position of a focusing lens and determining in-focus positions in auto focusing areas located at a plurality of positions. The focus control method calculates an in-focus position of the focusing lens based on the focusing lens position at the time of reading an image signal of each of the auto focusing areas and a degree of focused state of each of the auto focusing area that is based on the image signal of each of the auto focusing areas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2006
    Publication date: November 27, 2008
    Inventor: Shinya Hirai
  • Publication number: 20080224813
    Abstract: A wire-wound coil includes a ferrite core having a winding core portion and flange portions, a wire wound around the winding core portion, electrodes connected to the wire on lower surfaces of the flange portions, and a ferrite plate attached to upper surfaces of both of the end flange portions so as to extend over the winding core portion. The flange portions and the ferrite plate are provided with corresponding recessed and projecting portions and, and the flange portions and the ferrite plate are integrated through the recessed and projecting portions. Joint sections between the flange portions and the ferrite plate include contact sections that are in direct contact with each other, and adhesion sections arranged to receive an adhesive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2008
    Publication date: September 18, 2008
    Applicant: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinya Hirai, Takaomi Toi
  • Patent number: RE41222
    Abstract: A digital camera has distance measurement zone setting means (12) for dividing distance to a subject into a plurality of distance measurement zones; distance measurement zone selection means (13) for selecting a distance measurement zone to be scanned; an autofocus evaluation calculation circuit (14) for acquiring an AF evaluation value by scanning the selected distance measurement zone; zone-update determination means (15) for determining, through use of the AF evaluation value, whether or not to update a distance measurement zone to be scanned; and in-focus position decision means (16) for appropriately updating the scanned distance measurement zone based upon the determination as to whether to update the distance measurement zone, and deciding an in-focus position based upon acquisition of AF evaluation value. A focusing lens (2) is driven to the in-focus position by a focusing-lens drive circuit (17).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shinya Hirai