Patents by Inventor Sunao Kurahashi

Sunao Kurahashi 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: 7164786
    Abstract: Images sensed through object lenses 100R and 100L, having zoom lenses, with image sensors 102R and 102L are processed by image signal processors 104R and 104L, and an image of an object in each of the sensed images is separated from a background image on the basis of the processed image signals. The separated image signals representing the image of the object enter the image processor 220, where a three-dimensional shape of the object is extracted on the basis of parameters used upon sensing the images. The parameters are automatically adjusted so that images of the object fall within the both image sensing areas of the image sensors 102R and 102L and that they fall within the both focal depths of the image sensors 102R and 102L.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tatsushi Katayama, Shigeki Okauchi, Nobuo Fukushima, Masakazu Matsugu, Katsumi Iijima, Masayoshi Sekine, Kotaro Yano, Sunao Kurahashi, Motohiro Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 7042510
    Abstract: It is an object of this invention to provide a setting operation device which can effectively cope with the tendency toward multiple functions and allows a user to easily change and check functions. In order to achieve this object, the device includes a first rotating unit which is rotated/operated to select at least a first upper operation mode and a second upper operation mode, and a second rotating unit which is rotated/operated to select a lower operation mode belonging to the first upper operation mode set by the first rotating unit and a lower operation mode belonging to the second upper operation mode set by the first rotating unit, the second rotating unit being stacked together with the first rotating unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Sunao Kurahashi
  • Patent number: 6839081
    Abstract: An image sensing apparatus includes an image input unit (100) for inputting an image, a detection unit (200) for detecting a state of movement of the image input unit (100) in an image input operation, a storage unit (310, 9000) for storing a plurality of images input by the image input unit (100) and movement information corresponding to the state of movement detected by the detection unit (200), and an image generating unit (320) for generating an image from an arbitrary viewpoint position on the basis of the plurality of images and the movement information stored in the storage unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2005
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsumi Iijima, Jun Tokumitsu, Masakazu Matsugu, Kotaro Yano, Sunao Kurahashi, Toshiaki Kondo, Katsuhiko Mori, Motohiro Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 6823080
    Abstract: A three-dimensional information processing apparatus for obtaining three-dimensional information from an object having a three-dimensional shape, and performing predetermined information processing, comprises: a camera for sensing images of the object from a plurality of coordinate positions using an image sensing system having one or a plurality of optical systems. A plurality of depth information are extracted from image sensing related information sensed by the camera at the plurality of coordinate positions, and the plurality of extracted depth information are converted and unified into depth information expressed by a unified coordinate system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2004
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsumi Iijima, Shigeki Okauchi, Masakazu Matsugu, Masayoshi Sekine, Kotaro Yano, Sunao Kurahashi, Tatsushi Katayama, Katsuhiko Mori, Motohiro Ishikawa
  • Publication number: 20030206653
    Abstract: Images sensed through object lenses 100R and 100L, having zoom lenses, with image sensors 102R and 102L are processed by image signal processors 104R and 104L, and an image of an object in each of the sensed images is separated from a background image on the basis of the processed image signals. The separated image signals representing the image of the object enter the image processor 220, where a three-dimensional shape of the object is extracted on the basis of parameters used upon sensing the images. The parameters are automatically adjusted so that images of the object fall within the both image sensing areas of the image sensors 102R and 102L and that they fall within the both focal depths of the image sensors 102R and 102L.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2003
    Publication date: November 6, 2003
    Inventors: Tatsushi Katayama, Shigeki Okauchi, Nobuo Fukushima, Masakazu Matsugu, Katsumi Iijima, Masayoshi Sekine, Kotaro Yano, Sunao Kurahashi, Motohiro Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 6640004
    Abstract: Images sensed through object lenses 100R and 100L, having zoom lenses, with image sensors 102R and 102L are processed by image signal processors 104R and 104L, and an image of an object in each of the sensed images is separated from a background image on the basis of the processed image signals. The separated image signals representing the image of the object enter the image processor 220, where a three-dimensional shape of the object is extracted on the basis of parameters used upon sensing the images. The parameters are automatically adjusted so that images of the object fall within the both image sensing areas of the image sensors 102R and 102L and that they fall within the both focal depths of the image sensors 102R and 102L.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tatsushi Katayama, Shigeki Okauchi, Nobuo Fukushima, Masakazu Matsugu, Katsumi Iijima, Masayoshi Sekine, Kotaro Yano, Sunao Kurahashi, Motohiro Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 6621921
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus in which a plurality of images obtained by photographing a three-dimensional object from a plurality of viewpoints are integrated by using image-pickup parameters such as position, pose, focal lengths, and aberration information of a camera at these viewpoints, thereby integrating shapes at arbitrary viewpoints of the three-dimensional object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masakazu Matsugu, Katsumi Iijima, Kotaro Yano, Sunao Kurahashi, Toshiaki Kondo, Motohiro Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 6600461
    Abstract: A display apparatus includes a plurality of adjustment units for performing diopter adjustment, base length adjustment, and vergence angle adjustment in accordance with the characteristics of users, and a storage unit for storing pieces of operation condition information of the users of the display apparatus. With this arrangement, when the display apparatus is to be used, the respective adjustment units can be adjusted in accordance with the operation condition information stored in the storage unit, thereby reducing troubles with adjusting operations and simplifying the adjusting operations of the respective adjustment units. In addition, the operability of the apparatus in consideration of a plurality of users is greatly improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2003
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shigeki Okauchi, Sunao Kurahashi, Satoshi Tonosaki
  • Patent number: 6549650
    Abstract: There is disclosed a binocular camera which can realize panoramic view and stereoscopic view during image sensing. There is also disclosed a binocular camera which has two image sensing optical systems, a circuit for synthesizing right and left sensed parallax image signals to a panoramic image or a three-dimensional image, and a display for displaying the synthesized image signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Motohiro Ishikawa, Katsumi Iijima, Kotaro Yano, Sunao Kurahashi, Katsuhiko Mori, Takeo Sakimura
  • Patent number: 6507358
    Abstract: There is disclosed a multi-lens image pickup apparatus provided with plural image pickup systems and an image display means and adapted to synthesize the plural images picked up respectively with the plural image pickup systems, into one, to store the synthesized image in image memory means and to display the stored image on the image display means. The camera further comprises horizontal compression means for comprising the plural picked-up images in the horizontal directions, selection means for compressing the plural images in the vertical direction by selecting the input of the plural image signals and outputting thus selected image signal to the image display means, and memory control means for storing the compressed plural images in said image memory means in such a manner that the plural images compressed in the horizontal and vertical directions are displayed in an arranged manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2003
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsuhiko Mori, Katsumi Iijima, Kotaro Yano, Sunao Kurahashi, Takeo Sakimura
  • Publication number: 20030007680
    Abstract: A three-dimensional information processing apparatus for obtaining three-dimensional information from an object having a three-dimensional shape, and performing predetermined information processing, comprises: a camera for sensing images of the object from a plurality of coordinate positions using an image sensing system having one or a plurality of optical systems. A plurality of depth information are extracted from image sensing related information sensed by the camera at the plurality of coordinate positions, and the plurality of extracted depth information are converted and unified into depth information expressed by a unified coordinate system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2002
    Publication date: January 9, 2003
    Inventors: Katsumi Iijima, Shigeki Okauchi, Masakazu Matsugu, Masayoshi Sekine, Kotaro Yano, Sunao Kurahashi, Tatsushi Katayama, Katsuhiko Mori, Motohiro Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 6445814
    Abstract: A three-dimensional information processing apparatus for obtaining three-dimensional information from an object having a three-dimensional shape, and performing predetermined information processing, comprises: a camera for sensing images of the object from a plurality of coordinate positions using an image sensing system having one or a plurality of optical systems. A plurality of depth information are extracted from image sensing related information sensed by the camera at the plurality of coordinate positions, and the plurality of extracted depth information are converted and unified into depth information expressed by a unified coordinate system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsumi Iijima, Shigeki Okauchi, Masakazu Matsugu, Masayoshi Sekine, Kotaro Yano, Sunao Kurahashi, Tatsushi Katayama, Katsuhiko Mori, Motohiro Ishikawa
  • Publication number: 20020089591
    Abstract: It is an object of this invention to provide a setting operation device which can effectively cope with the tendency toward multiple functions and allows a user to easily change and check functions. In order to achieve this object, the device includes a first rotating unit which is rotated/operated to select at least a first upper operation mode and a second upper operation mode, and a second rotating unit which is rotated/operated to select a lower operation mode belonging to the first upper operation mode set by the first rotating unit and a lower operation mode belonging to the second upper operation mode set by the first rotating unit, the second rotating unit being stacked together with the first rotating unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2001
    Publication date: July 11, 2002
    Inventor: Sunao Kurahashi
  • Publication number: 20020081019
    Abstract: Images sensed through object lenses 100R and 100L, having zoom lenses, with image sensors 102R and 102L are processed by image signal processors 104R and 104L, and an image of an object in each of the sensed images is separated from a background image on the basis of the processed image signals. The separated image signals representing the image of the object enter the image processor 220, where a three-dimensional shape of the object is extracted on the basis of parameters used upon sensing the images. The parameters are automatically adjusted so that images of the object fall within the both image sensing areas of the image sensors 102R and 102L and that they fall within the both focal depths of the image sensors 102R and 102L.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 1996
    Publication date: June 27, 2002
    Inventors: TATSUSHI KATAYAMA, SHIGEKI OKAUCHI, NOBUO FUKUSHIMA, MASAKAZU MATSUGU, KATSUMI IIJIMA, MASAYOSHI SEKINE, KOTARO YANO, SUNAO KURAHASHI, MOTOHIRO ISHIKAWA
  • Patent number: 6339447
    Abstract: An image sensing apparatus has an image sensing unit and a display unit. The image sensing unit has an optical system for photographing an object and an image sensing element. The display unit has a liquid crystal display device for performing an image display on the basis of a video output from the image sensing unit. A film fixing unit holds the image sensing unit and the display unit at a predetermined distance and also forms a mounting unit for mounting the object on the display surface of the display unit. A film holder for holding a film as an object is mounted on the mounting unit, and a film photographing operation is performed by the image sensing unit while using the display unit as an illumination device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2002
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Sunao Kurahashi, Kazuhiko Etoh, Shigeo Ogura, Makoto Sekita, Nobuhiro Takeda, Kenji Takahashi
  • Patent number: 6278480
    Abstract: A compound eye camera provided integrally with plural image pickup elements and a display unit adapted to display an image, divided into stripes in every scanning line or in every plural scanning lines and to give different directionalities to the display of the striped image in the odd-numbered lines and the display of the striped image in the even-numbered lines, thereby providing stereoscopic display at a predetermined observing position. The camera further has a display control unit for dividing each of two images, picked up with the plural image pickup elements and having a parallax, into stripes in the horizontal direction and alternately arranging the divided stripes by every line to synthesize a striped image, and causing the display unit to display such synthesized striped image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Sunao Kurahashi, Katsumi Iijima, Kotaro Yano, Hideki Morishima, Katsuhiko Mori, Takeo Sakimura
  • Publication number: 20010014171
    Abstract: A three-dimensional information processing apparatus for obtaining three-dimensional information from an object having a three-dimensional shape, and performing predetermined information processing, comprises: a camera for sensing images of the object from a plurality of coordinate positions using an image sensing system having one or a plurality of optical systems. A plurality of depth information are extracted from image sensing related information sensed by the camera at the plurality of coordinate positions, and the plurality of extracted depth information are converted and unified into depth information expressed by a unified coordinate system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 1997
    Publication date: August 16, 2001
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: KATSUMI IIJIMA, SHIGEKI OKAUCHI, MASAKAZU MATSUGU, MASAYOSHI SEKINE, KOTARO YANO, SUNAO KURAHASHI, TATSUSHI KATAYAMA, KATSUHIKO MORI, MOTOHIRO ISHIKAWA
  • Patent number: 6112033
    Abstract: A multiple lens image pickup apparatus includes a plurality of image pickup systems, a control system, and an optical viewfinder. Each image pickup system is arranged to allow an angle an optical path makes through the system to be changed. The control system selects a stereoscopic photographing mode in which images taken through the plurality of image pickup systems overlap in a large proportion, or a panoramic photographing mode in which images taken through the plurality of image pickup systems overlap in a small proportion. The optical viewfinder selectively sets an observing range in accordance with the photographing mode selected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kotaro Yano, Katsumi Iijima, Sunao Kurahashi
  • Patent number: 5937212
    Abstract: A compound eye image pickup apparatus with reduced parallax having two optical image pickup systems wherein the cross points between entrance pupils and optical axes of the two optical image pickup systems are generally coincident.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Sunao Kurahashi, Shigeki Okauchi, Katsumi Iijima, Masayoshi Sekine, Kotaro Yano, Katsuhiko Mori, Motohiro Ishikawa, Takeo Sakimura
  • Patent number: 5864360
    Abstract: In a multi-eye image pick-up apparatus, an optical axis angle controller sets the optical axes of first and second video camera portions at predetermined optical axis angles when a power supply voltage for allowing an image pick-up operation is supplied. When the optical axes of the first and second video camera portions do not cross each other at a position in front of the apparatus, in-focus detection is performed using an overlapping region between image pick-up regions of the first and second video camera portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1999
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shigeki Okauchi, Sunao Kurahashi