Patents by Inventor Suguru USHIKI

Suguru USHIKI 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: 9832445
    Abstract: To reduce burden of a viewer at the time of performing stereoscopic display by a stereoscopic display device and to show a stereoscopic image in a natural and comfortable manner. A disparity estimating unit 210 estimates disparity from the left and right images of an input image to generate a disparity map. A disparity analyzing unit 230 analyzes the disparity map to generate a disparity control parameter for performing suitable disparity control. A disparity control unit 240 controls the content of processing at an image conversion unit 250 in accordance with the disparity control parameter. The image conversion unit 250 performs image conversion on the input image based on the control by the disparity control unit 240 to output an output image. The image conversion unit 250 performs image conversion of two steps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takafumi Morifuji, Suguru Ushiki, Masami Ogata
  • Patent number: 9549167
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes: an acquisition mechanism acquiring image data of a 3D image including a left-eye image and a right-eye image, and superimposed-area information being information on a superimposed area included in the left-eye image and the right-eye image; and a disparity detection mechanism detecting an amount of disparity in an area excluding the superimposed area identified by the superimposed-area information of the left-eye image and the right-eye image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Suguru Ushiki, Takafumi Morifuji
  • Patent number: 9280828
    Abstract: A parallax detection unit generates a parallax map indicating a parallax of each pixel of an image formed by right and left images and generates a reliability map indicating reliability of the parallax. A depth information estimation unit generates a depth information map indicating the depth of a subject on the image based on the right and left images. A depth parallax conversion unit converts the depth information map into a pseudo-parallax map using a conversion equation used to convert depth information to parallax information. A parallax synthesis unit synthesizes the parallax map and the pseudo-parallax map to generate a corrected parallax map based on the reliability map. The present technology is applicable to an image processing apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Masami Ogata, Takafumi Morifuji, Suguru Ushiki
  • Patent number: 9277207
    Abstract: There is provided an image processing apparatus including a left eye image input unit configured to input a left eye image (L image) which is a left eye image signal applied to three-dimensional image display, a right eye image input unit configured to input a right eye image (R image) which is a right eye image signal applied to three-dimensional image display, a parallax information generating unit configured to generate parallax information from the left eye image (L image) and the right eye image (R image), and a virtual view point image generating unit configured to receive the left eye image (L image), the right eye image (R image), and the parallax information, and generate virtual view point images including a view point image other than view points of the received LR images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Suguru Ushiki, Masami Ogata
  • Patent number: 9247230
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a first display control unit that causes a display unit to display a first 3D image, a receiving unit that receives, from a user, a message indicating whether an amount of parallax of the first 3D image being displayed on the display unit is within an allowable range, a determining unit that determines an estimated allowable range on the basis of the message received by the receiving unit so that if the message indicates that the amount of parallax of the 3D image being displayed is not within the allowable range, the amount of parallax is not included in the estimated allowable range; and a second display control unit that causes the display unit to display a second 3D image on the basis of the estimated allowable range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Masami Ogata, Takafumi Morifuji, Suguru Ushiki
  • Patent number: 9219911
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a first acquiring unit, a second acquiring unit, and a correction processor. The first acquiring unit acquires an intended viewing environment parameter, which is a parameter of an intended viewing environment, together with image data of a three-dimensional picture. The second acquiring unit acquires an actual viewing environment parameter, which is a parameter of an actual viewing environment for a user viewing the three-dimensional picture. The correction processor corrects the three-dimensional picture in accordance with a difference between the acquired intended viewing environment parameter and the acquired actual viewing environment parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Suguru Ushiki, Takafumi Morifuji, Masami Ogata
  • Publication number: 20150304626
    Abstract: To reduce burden of a viewer at the time of performing stereoscopic display by a stereoscopic display device and to show a stereoscopic image in a natural and comfortable manner. A disparity estimating unit 210 estimates disparity from the left and right images of an input image to generate a disparity map. A disparity analyzing unit 230 analyzes the disparity map to generate a disparity control parameter for performing suitable disparity control. A disparity control unit 240 controls the content of processing at an image conversion unit 250 in accordance with the disparity control parameter. The image conversion unit 250 performs image conversion on the input image based on the control by the disparity control unit 240 to output an output image. The image conversion unit 250 performs image conversion of two steps.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2015
    Publication date: October 22, 2015
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Takafumi MORIFUJI, Suguru Ushiki, Masami Ogata
  • Patent number: 9118895
    Abstract: A reproduction apparatus reproduces image data of a left eye image and a right eye image of a 3D content recorded in a recording medium. The recording medium stores information about black border widths according to each parallax amount in periphery of right and left image frames between the left eye image and the right eye image. A post processing unit generates and outputs a border-attached left eye image and a border-attached right eye image by inserting an image having the obtained black border width according to the parallax amount in the periphery of the right image frame and an image having the obtained black border width according to the parallax amount in the periphery of the left image frame into the left eye image and the right eye image. The present invention can be applied to an image processing apparatus for processing image data of 3D images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignees: SONY CORPORATION, SONY PICTURES ENTERTAINMENT, INC.
    Inventors: Suguru Ushiki, Kuniaki Takahashi, Takafumi Morifuji
  • Patent number: 9094659
    Abstract: To reduce burden of a viewer at the time of performing stereoscopic display by a stereoscopic display device and to show a stereoscopic image in a natural and comfortable manner. A disparity estimating unit 210 estimates disparity from the left and right images of an input image to generate a disparity map. A disparity analyzing unit 230 analyzes the disparity map to generate a disparity control parameter for performing suitable disparity control. A disparity control unit 240 controls the content of processing at an image conversion unit 250 in accordance with the disparity control parameter. The image conversion unit 250 performs image conversion on the input image based on the control by the disparity control unit 240 to output an output image. The image conversion unit 250 performs image conversion of two steps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takafumi Morifuji, Suguru Ushiki, Masami Ogata
  • Patent number: 8989482
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an attention region estimation unit that estimates an attention region which is estimated as a user paying attention thereto on a stereoscopic image, a parallax detection unit that detects a parallax of the stereoscopic image and generates a parallax map indicating a parallax of each region of the stereoscopic image, a setting unit that sets conversion characteristics for correcting a parallax of the stereoscopic image based on the attention region and the parallax map, and a parallax conversion unit that corrects the parallax map based on the conversion characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Takafumi Morifuji, Kyoko Fukuda, Masami Ogata, Suguru Ushiki
  • Patent number: 8948531
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a viewing situation analyzing unit configured to obtain information representing a user's viewing situation of 3D content stored in a certain storage unit, and, based on a preset saving reference in accordance with a viewing situation of 3D content, determine a data reduction level of content data of the 3D content stored in the storage unit; and a data conversion unit configured to perform data compression of the content data of the 3D content stored in the storage unit in accordance with the determined data reduction level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Takafumi Morifuji, Suguru Ushiki
  • Patent number: 8605994
    Abstract: Disparity in a stereoscopic image is converted, according to features of a configuration element of an image that influences depth perception of a stereoscopic image. A disparity detecting unit 110 detects disparity from a left image L and right image R of an input image, and generates a disparity map dM. A disparity correction unit 150 corrects the disparity in the disparity map dM and generates a corrected disparity map dM?. A correction feature setting unit 130 sets the correction features in the event of performing disparity correction in the disparity correction unit 150. The image synthesizing unit 160 synthesizes the left image L and right image R of the stereoscopic image based on the corrected disparity map dM? and outputs the stereoscopic image made up of a left image L? and right image R? as an output image. Thus, a stereoscopic image having disparity according to the set correction features is output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Masami Ogata, Takafumi Morifuji, Suguru Ushiki
  • Publication number: 20130272601
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a viewing situation analyzing unit configured to obtain information representing a user's viewing situation of 3D content stored in a certain storage unit, and, based on a preset saving reference in accordance with a viewing situation of 3D content, determine a data reduction level of content data of the 3D content stored in the storage unit; and a data conversion unit configured to perform data compression of the content data of the 3D content stored in the storage unit in accordance with the determined data reduction level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2013
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Inventors: Takafumi MORIFUJI, Suguru USHIKI
  • Patent number: 8520963
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a viewing situation analyzing unit configured to obtain information representing a user's viewing situation of 3D content stored in a certain storage unit, and, based on a preset saving reference in accordance with a viewing situation of 3D content, determine a data reduction level of content data of the 3D content stored in the storage unit; and a data conversion unit configured to perform data compression of the content data of the 3D content stored in the storage unit in accordance with the determined data reduction level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Takafumi Morifuji, Suguru Ushiki
  • Patent number: 8427530
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an input unit, a computing unit, a determining unit, and a 3D image processor. The input unit receives filter width information indicating the vertical size of each line constituting a polarizing filter, as well as position correction information indicating positional misalignment of the polarizing filter. The computing unit computes determination regions for each pixel on the basis of the information. The determination regions are used to determine whether individual pixels constituting a 3D image to be output are contained in a right-eye or a left-eye image region. On the basis of the determination regions, the determining unit determines whether each pixel is contained in a right-eye image region or a left-eye image region. The 3D image processor creates a 3D image from a right-eye image and a left-eye image according to pixel positions determined on the basis of determination results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Suguru Ushiki, Yasunari Hatasawa
  • Publication number: 20130038606
    Abstract: There is provided an image processing apparatus including a left eye image input unit configured to input a left eye image (L image) which is a left eye image signal applied to three-dimensional image display, a right eye image input unit configured to input a right eye image (R image) which is a right eye image signal applied to three-dimensional image display, a parallax information generating unit configured to generate parallax information from the left eye image (L image) and the right eye image (R image), and a virtual view point image generating unit configured to receive the left eye image (L image), the right eye image (R image), and the parallax information, and generate virtual view point images including a view point image other than view points of the received LR images.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2012
    Publication date: February 14, 2013
    Inventors: Suguru USHIKI, Masami Ogata
  • Publication number: 20130038703
    Abstract: The present invention relates to data structures, image processing apparatuses, image processing methods, and programs for enabling appropriate processing of video data of 3D content. Obtained content data of 3D content contains video data of 3D images, and information about a reference image size, which is a predetermined image size serving as the reference for the 3D images, and the maximum and minimum parallaxes for the reference image size. An image size detecting unit (71) detects the image size of the video data of the 3D images. If the detected image size of the 3D video data is not the same as the “reference image size,” a maximum/minimum parallax calculating unit (72) calculates the maximum and minimum parallaxes corresponding to the image size of the 3D video data. A caption adjusting unit (73) performs predetermined image processing based on the calculated maximum and minimum parallaxes, such as processing to adjust the depth positions of captions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2011
    Publication date: February 14, 2013
    Inventors: Suguru Ushiki, Masami Ogata, Takafumi Morifuji
  • Publication number: 20120314933
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an attention region estimation unit that estimates an attention region which is estimated as a user paying attention thereto on a stereoscopic image, a parallax detection unit that detects a parallax of the stereoscopic image and generates a parallax map indicating a parallax of each region of the stereoscopic image, a setting unit that sets conversion characteristics for correcting a parallax of the stereoscopic image based on the attention region and the parallax map, and a parallax conversion unit that corrects the parallax map based on the conversion characteristics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2012
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Inventors: Takafumi MORIFUJI, Kyoko Fukuda, Masami Ogata, Suguru Ushiki
  • Publication number: 20120308119
    Abstract: A parallax detection unit generates a parallax map indicating a parallax of each pixel of an image formed by right and left images and generates a reliability map indicating reliability of the parallax. A depth information estimation unit generates a depth information map indicating the depth of a subject on the image based on the right and left images. A depth parallax conversion unit converts the depth information map into a pseudo-parallax map using a conversion equation used to convert depth information to parallax information. A parallax synthesis unit synthesizes the parallax map and the pseudo-parallax map to generate a corrected parallax map based on the reliability map. The present technology is applicable to an image processing apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2012
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Inventors: Masami OGATA, Takafumi Morifuji, Suguru Ushiki
  • Publication number: 20120242655
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer-readable storage medium for adjusting display of a three-dimensional image is provided. The method includes receiving a viewing condition associated with an image being viewed by a user, determining, by a processor, a conversion characteristic based on the viewing condition, adjusting, by the processor, a display condition of the image based on the conversion characteristic.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2012
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Inventors: Masami Ogata, Takafumi Morifuji, Suguru Ushiki