Patents by Inventor Takashi Sawao
Takashi Sawao 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).
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Patent number: 7593601Abstract: The present invention enables processing results which are more accurate and which have higher precision as to events of the real world to be obtained. A non-continuity component extracting unit 201 detects discontinuity portions of pixel values of multiple pixels in an input image. A peak detecting unit 202 detects a peak of change of pixel values from a discontinuity portion. A monotonous increase/decrease detecting unit 203 detects monotonous increase/decrease regions wherein pixel values increase or decrease monotonously from the peak. A continuousness detecting unit 204 detects a monotonous increase/decrease region where another monotonous increase/decrease region of the monotonous increase/decrease regions exists at an adjacent position on the screen, as a continuity region having data continuity. A data continuity direction detecting unit 301 detects the direction of continuousness of the continuity region.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 2004Date of Patent: September 22, 2009Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Tetsujiro Kondo, Takashi Sawao, Junichi Ishibashi, Takahiro Nagano, Naoki Fujiwara, Toru Miyake, Seiji Wada
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Patent number: 7593594Abstract: An image processing device and method, where the device includes a data continuity detector configured to detect data continuity of a first image data made up of a plurality of pixels acquired by light signals of a real world being cast upon a plurality of detecting elements each having spatio-temporal integration effects, a real world estimating unit configured to detect real world features which a first function representing the real world light signals has, and an image generator configured to predict and generate second image data having a higher quality than the first image data, based on the real world features detected by the real world estimating unit.Type: GrantFiled: February 2, 2007Date of Patent: September 22, 2009Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Tetsujiro Kondo, Junichi Ishibashi, Takashi Sawao, Takahiro Nagano, Naoki Fujiwara, Toru Miyake, Seiji Wada
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Patent number: 7590304Abstract: An image processing device and method, where the image processing device includes an angle detector configured to detect an angle between a reference axis of data continuity with image data made up of a plurality of pixels acquired by light signals of a real world being cast upon a plurality of detecting elements each having spatio-temporal integration effects, and a real world estimating unit configured to estimate the light signals by estimating a continuity of the real world light signals which have been lost based on the angle detected by the angle detector.Type: GrantFiled: February 2, 2007Date of Patent: September 15, 2009Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Tetsujiro Kondo, Junichi Ishibashi, Takashi Sawao, Takahiro Nagano, Naoki Fujiwara, Toru Miyake, Seiji Wada
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Patent number: 7583292Abstract: A signal processor 12 acquires a second signal obtained by detecting a first signal, as a signal of the real world, having a first dimension. The second signal is of a second dimension lower than the first dimension and has distortion relative to the first signal. The signal processor 12 performs signal processing which is based on the second signal to generate a third signal alleviated in distortion as compared to the second signal.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2000Date of Patent: September 1, 2009Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Tetsujiro Kondo, Junichi Ishibashi, Takashi Sawao, Seiji Wada, Tohru Miyake, Takahiro Nagano, Naoki Fujiwara
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Patent number: 7576780Abstract: A signal processor 12 acquires a second signal obtained by detecting a first signal, as a signal of the real world, having a first dimension. The second signal is of a second dimension lower than the first dimension and has distortion relative to the first signal. The signal processor 12 performs signal processing which is based on the second signal to generate a third signal alleviated in distortion as compared to the second signal.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2006Date of Patent: August 18, 2009Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Tetsujiro Kondo, Junichi Ishibashi, Takashi Sawao, Seiji Wada, Tohru Miyake, Takahiro Nagano, Naoki Fujiwara
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Patent number: 7576777Abstract: An image processing device and method, where the image processing device includes a continuity region detector configured to detect a region having data continuity within image data made up of a plurality of pixels acquired by light signals of a real world being cast upon a plurality of detecting elements each having spatio-temporal integration effects, and a real world estimating unit configured to estimate the light signals by estimating a continuity of the real world light signals which have been lost.Type: GrantFiled: February 2, 2007Date of Patent: August 18, 2009Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Tetsujiro Kondo, Junichi Ishibashi, Takashi Sawao, Takahiro Nagano, Naoki Fujiwara, Toru Miyake, Seiji Wada
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Image signal processing apparatus and method for performing an adaptation process on an image signal
Patent number: 7573508Abstract: An image signal generated by a CCD image sensor is processed by the block-generating section 28 provided in an image-signal processing section 25. A class tap and a prediction tap are thereby extracted. The class tap is output to an ADRC process section 29, and the prediction tap is output to an adaptation process section 31. The ADRC process section 29 performs an ADRC process on the input image signal, generating characteristic data. A classification process section 30 generates a class code corresponding to the characteristic data thus generated and supplies the same to an adaptation process section 31. The adaptation process section 31 reads, from a coefficient memory 32, the set of prediction coefficients which corresponds to the class code. The set of prediction coefficients and the prediction tap are applied, thereby generating all color signals, i.e., R, G and B signals, at the positions of the pixels which are to be processed.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2000Date of Patent: August 11, 2009Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Tetsujiro Kondo, Hideo Nakaya, Takashi Sawao -
Patent number: 7567727Abstract: An image processing device, method, and program are capable of obtaining processing results which are even more accurate and even more precise as to events in the real world, taking into consideration the real world where data has been acquired. The image processing device includes a data continuity detector and a real world estimating unit.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2007Date of Patent: July 28, 2009Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Tetsujiro Kondo, Naoki Fujiwara, Toru Miyake, Seiji Wada, Junichi Ishibashi, Takashi Sawao, Takahiro Nagano
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Patent number: 7561188Abstract: The present invention relates an image processing device and method, recording medium, and program. A simple-type angle detecting unit 901 simply detects the angle as continuity using correlation from an input image. A determining unit 902, based on the angle thus simply obtained, connects a switch 903 to a terminal 903a in the event the angle is closer to the horizontal direction or the vertical direction, and outputs the angle information simply detected to a regression-type angle detecting unit 904. The regression-type angle detecting unit 904 statistically detects and outputs the angle as continuity in a regression equation. On the other hand, in the event that the angle as continuity simply obtained is closer to 45 degrees, the determining unit 902 connects the switch 903 and a terminal 903b. At this time, a gradient-type angle detecting unit 905 detects and outputs the direction of continuity from the input image in a gradient equation.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 2004Date of Patent: July 14, 2009Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Tetsujiro Kondo, Takahiro Nagano, Junichi Ishibashi, Takashi Sawao, Naoki Fujiwara, Seiji Wada, Toru Miyake
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Patent number: 7551328Abstract: The present invention enables image data with good S/N and high resolution to be obtained reliably in a short reading time. A CCD 102 is formed by arranging line sensors, in which detecting elements having a time integration effect are arranged in a direction orthogonal to a relative movement direction in which the CCD 102 moves relative to an original, in a plurality of columns in the relative movement direction. A signal processing unit 107 detects pixel components on the basis of a model for separating first pixel values obtained in a processing unit time by the CCD 102 into a plurality of the pixel components corresponding to detection positions of the object being detected, and generates second pixel values corresponding to the detection positions of the object being detected on the basis of the detected pixel components. The present invention is applicable to scanners.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 2003Date of Patent: June 23, 2009Assignee: Sony CorportionInventors: Tetsujiro Kondo, Takashi Sawao, Junichi Ishibashi, Takahiro Nagano, Naoki Fujiwara, Toru Miyake, Seiji Wada
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Patent number: 7538796Abstract: A signal processor 12 acquires a second signal obtained by detecting a first signal, as a signal of the real world, having a first dimension. The second signal is of a second dimension lower than the first dimension and has distortion relative to the first signal. The signal processor 12 performs signal processing which is based on the second signal to generate a third signal alleviated in distortion as compared to the second signal.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2006Date of Patent: May 26, 2009Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Tetsujiro Kondo, Junichi Ishibashi, Takashi Sawao, Seiji Wada, Tohru Miyake, Takahiro Nagano, Naoki Fujiwara
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Patent number: 7536049Abstract: An object of the present invention is to enable the detection of a mixture ratio indicating the mixture state of a plurality of objects, such as a background image and a moving object image. A normal-equation adder 541 extracts mixed pixel data according to a motion, and also extracts background pixel data corresponding to the mixed pixel data so as to generate relational expressions for a designated pixel. A normal-equation calculator 542 detects the mixture ratio indicating the mixture state of the objects based on the relational expressions. The normal-equation adder 541 generates the plurality of relational expressions based on a first approximation in which foreground object components change substantially linearly, and a second approximation in which the mixture ratio changes substantially linearly. The present invention is applicable to a signal processing apparatus for processing images.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 2002Date of Patent: May 19, 2009Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Tetsujiro Kondo, Naoki Fujiwara, Junichi Ishibashi, Takashi Sawao, Takahiro Nagano, Toru Miyake, Seiji Wada
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Patent number: 7525574Abstract: A signal processor 12 acquires a second signal obtained by detecting a first signal, as a signal of the real world, having a first dimension. The second signal is of a second dimension lower than the first dimension and has distortion relative to the first signal. The signal processor 12 performs signal processing which is based on the second signal to generate a third signal alleviated in distortion as compared to the second signal.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2006Date of Patent: April 28, 2009Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Tetsujiro Kondo, Junichi Ishibashi, Takashi Sawao, Seiji Wada, Tohru Miyake, Takahiro Nagano, Naoki Fujiwara
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Patent number: 7512267Abstract: An image signal generated by a CCD image sensor is processed by the block-generating section 28 provided in an image-signal processing section 25. A class tap and a prediction tap are thereby extracted. The class tap is output to an ADRC process section 29, and the prediction tap is output to an adaptation process section 31. The ADRC process section 29 performs an ADRC process on the input image signal, generating characteristic data. A classification process section 30 generates a class code corresponding to the characteristic data thus generated and supplies the same to an adaptation process section 31. The adaptation process section 31 reads, from a coefficient memory 32, the set of prediction coefficients which corresponds to the class code. The set of prediction coefficients and the prediction tap are applied, thereby generating all color signals, i.e., R, G and B signals, at the positions of the pixels which are to be processed.Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 2005Date of Patent: March 31, 2009Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Tetsujiro Kondo, Hideo Nakaya, Takashi Sawao
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Patent number: 7511730Abstract: A system to generate a three-dimensional image from a two-dimensional image in accordance with the mixture state of images. A foreground/background component image generator generates, from image data including a foreground area consisting of only foreground object components, a background area consisting of only background object components, and a mixed area in which the foreground object components and the background object components are mixed, a foreground component image consisting of only the foreground object components and a background component image consisting of only the background object components. A foreground-parallax-image generator generates a right-eye foreground parallax image by adding the parallax to the foreground component image, and also generates a left-eye foreground parallax image by adding the parallax to the foreground component image.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2002Date of Patent: March 31, 2009Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Tetsujiro Kondo, Junichi Ishibashi, Takashi Sawao, Takahiro Nagano, Naoki Fujiwara, Toru Miyake, Seiji Wada
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Patent number: 7483565Abstract: With the present invention, data continuity is used at the time of converting an input image into high-quality image data with higher quality than the input image data, to obtain processing results which are more accurate and have higher precision. A class tap extracting unit (902) and prediction tap extracting unit (906) extract a class tap and prediction tap based on data continuity of multiple perimeter pixels corresponding to a pixel of interest in the input image, detected by a data continuity detecting unit (901).Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2008Date of Patent: January 27, 2009Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Tetsujiro Kondo, Takashi Sawao, Junichi Ishibashi, Takahiro Nagano, Naoki Fujiwara, Toru Miyake, Seiji Wada
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Publication number: 20090022420Abstract: The present invention enables processing results which are more accurate and which have higher precision as to events of the real world to be obtained. (An inverse gamma correction unit 5001 applies inverse gamma correction to an input image wherein light signals of the actual world have been projected and a part of the continuity of the light signals of the actual world has been lost, and which has been subjected to gamma correction. A data continuity detecting unit 101 detects, in the input image subjected to inverse gamma correction, data continuity corresponding to the continuity of light signals of the real world. An actual world estimating unit 102 estimates the light signals by estimating the continuity of the light signals of the real world, based on the data continuity. An image generating unit 103 generates an output image from the estimated light signals.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 29, 2008Publication date: January 22, 2009Applicant: SONY CORPORATIONInventors: Tetsujiro KONDO, Takashi Sawao, Junichi Ishibashi, Takahiro Nagano, Naoki Fujiwara, Toru Miyake, Seiji Wada
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Patent number: 7477289Abstract: An object of the present invention is to make it possible to detect the mixture state of an image. An area specifying unit 103 specifies, in correspondence with image data, a mixed area in which foreground object components forming a foreground object and background object components forming a background object are mixed and a non-mixed area formed of a foreground area consisting of only the foreground object components and a background area consisting of only the background object components. A mixture-ratio calculator 104 estimates, based on the ratio of the width of the mixed area in a predetermined direction with respect to the moving direction of the foreground object, the width of the mixed area being specified by the area information, to the distance from the position of a designated pixel to the edge of the mixed area in the predetermined direction, the mixture ratio indicating the ratio of the foreground object components and the background object components of the designated pixel.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2002Date of Patent: January 13, 2009Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Tetsujiro Kondo, Seiji Wada, Junichi Ishibashi, Takashi Sawao, Naoki Fujiwara, Takahiro Nagano, Toru Miyake
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Patent number: 7477761Abstract: An apparatus and method for separating a background image and an object image. The apparatus comprises an area specifying unit for specifying areas of the image. The area specifying unit specifies, in a first period-of time, an uncovered background area in which foreground object components and background object components are mixed. The area specifying unit specifies, in a second period of time, a foreground area consisting of only the foreground object components and a background area consisting of only the background object components. The area specifying unit specifies, in a third period of time, a covered background area in which the foreground object components and the background object components are mixed. A mixture-ratio calculator detects a mixture ratio indicating a ratio of the foreground object components and the background object components. A separator separates the pixel data into the foreground object components and the background object components based on the mixture ratio.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2002Date of Patent: January 13, 2009Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Tetsujiro Kondo, Seiji Wada, Junichi Ishibashi, Takashi Sawao, Naoki Fujiwara, Takahiro Nagano, Toru Miyake
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Patent number: 7450764Abstract: With the present invention, data continuity is used at the time of converting an input image into high-quality image data with higher quality than the input image data, to obtain processing results which are more accurate and have higher precision. A class tap extracting unit (902) and prediction tap extracting unit (906) extract a class tap and prediction tap based on data continuity of multiple perimeter pixels corresponding to a pixel of interest in the input image, detected by a data continuity detecting unit (901).Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 2004Date of Patent: November 11, 2008Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Tetsujiro Kondo, Takashi Sawao, Junichi Ishibashi, Takahiro Nagano, Naoki Fujiwara, Toru Miyake, Seiji Wada