Patents by Inventor Toru Matsuzawa

Toru Matsuzawa 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: 8179471
    Abstract: A focusing device includes a distance information acquisition section acquiring information on a distance to a subject based on a plurality of image data acquired by taking images of the subject at a plurality of different viewpoint positions. A subject detection section detects a first area and a second area based on the distance information and threshold information for the distance range within which a subject of interest that obstructs a main subject in the subject is present. In the first area, the subject of interest is present in each of the plurality of image data. In the second area, the subject of interest is not present. A focusing estimation section estimates the focusing of the main subject based on the distance information on the second area in each of the plurality of image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Toru Matsuzawa, Yoshinobu Tanaka, Eiji Igarashi
  • Patent number: 8098897
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus comprises a distance measurement section for measuring a distance from the section to a subject for each pixel on the basis of a plurality of images photographed at different visual point positions. A setting section sets a range of the distance in which an obstacle is present. An image formation section executes image processing of replacing a first image signal relating to an obstructed region included in the range of the distance with a second image signal different from the first image signal on the basis of an output from the distance measurement section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventor: Toru Matsuzawa
  • Publication number: 20110066815
    Abstract: A memory access control device includes an input data control unit, a processing unit, and an output data control unit. The input data control unit inputs image data from a memory. The processing unit subjects the input image data to a preset process. The output data control unit outputs the processed image data to the memory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2010
    Publication date: March 17, 2011
    Applicant: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toru MATSUZAWA, Aya NAKASHIMA
  • Publication number: 20100194972
    Abstract: A focusing device includes a distance information acquisition section acquiring information on a distance to a subject based on a plurality of image data acquired by taking images of the subject at a plurality of different viewpoint positions. A subject detection section detects a first area and a second area based on the distance information and threshold information for the distance range within which a subject of interest that obstructs a main subject in the subject is present. In the first area, the subject of interest is present in each of the plurality of image data. In the second area, the subject of interest is not present. A focusing estimation section estimates the focusing of the main subject based on the distance information on the second area in each of the plurality of image data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2010
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Applicant: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toru Matsuzawa, Yoshinobu Tanaka, Eiji Igarashi
  • Patent number: 7643742
    Abstract: An electronic camera detects a person's face image from an object image obtained by photographing an object, executes an enlarging process on the detected face image so as to obtain a face image whose face size is suitable, and displays the face image which is enlarged into the suitable size on a display device. When a plurality of people are present on the object image, the enlarged face images are switched by an image operating switch. As a result, the switched face image is displayed on the display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Watanabe, Fumiyuki Shiratani, Hiroshi Matsuzaki, Satoko Furuki, Akikazu Yachi, Hideki Nagata, Toru Matsuzawa
  • Publication number: 20080297648
    Abstract: A blurring parameter operating section calculates a blurring parameter corresponding to a distance from an optical system to a subject, based on two luminance information items which have different blurring degrees and are acquired by changing an arrangement setting of the optical system. A distance estimating section estimates distance information corresponding to the distance from the optical system to the subject, based on the blurring parameter. A focus detection section acquires luminance information after changing arrangement setting of the optical system based on the distance information, acquires luminance information items having different blurring degrees by further changing arrangement setting of the optical system, calculates an evaluation value indicating a degree of focus from each of the luminance information items having the different blurring degrees, and determines the focal position based on the evaluation value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2008
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Inventors: Satoko Furuki, Akikazu Yachi, Toru Matsuzawa, Nobuyuki Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20080279422
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a distance measurement section which measures a distance, on the basis of a plurality of images photographed by an imaging device at different visual point positions, from the imaging device to a subject for each pixel. A threshold setting section sets information indicative of a distance between an obstacle present between the imaging device and a main subject, and the imaging device. An image formation section compares the distance measured by the distance measurement section with the threshold information thereby to form an image from which an image of the obstacle is removed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2008
    Publication date: November 13, 2008
    Applicant: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Toru MATSUZAWA
  • Publication number: 20080107306
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus comprises a distance measurement section for measuring a distance from the section to a subject for each pixel on the basis of a plurality of images photographed at different visual point positions. A setting section sets a range of the distance in which an obstacle is present. An image formation section executes image processing of replacing a first image signal relating to an obstructed region included in the range of the distance with a second image signal different from the first image signal on the basis of an output from the distance measurement section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2007
    Publication date: May 8, 2008
    Applicant: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Toru MATSUZAWA
  • Publication number: 20070147826
    Abstract: In a scene recognition photographing device of the present invention, a feature quantity of an acquired image acquired from an image pickup element is calculated from the acquired image. Plural types of reference feature information having a feature quantity serving as a reference at the time of determining a composition are stored as a database in an internal memory or a storage device. Moreover, a camera control unit retrieves reference feature information having a feature quantity similar to the feature quantity of the acquired image from among the reference feature information by comparing the calculated feature quantity and the reference feature information. Then, information relating to composition is displayed on a display device on the basis of a result of comparison between the acquired image and the retrieved reference feature information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2006
    Publication date: June 28, 2007
    Applicant: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroshi Matsuzaki, Fumiyuki Shiratani, Nobuyuki Watanabe, Satoko Furuki, Akikazu Yachi, Hideki Nagata, Toru Matsuzawa
  • Publication number: 20070098396
    Abstract: An electronic camera detects a person's face image from an object image obtained by photographing an object, executes an enlarging process on the detected face image so as to obtain a face image whose face size is suitable, and displays the face image which is enlarged into the suitable size on a display device. When a plurality of people are present on the object image, the enlarged face images are switched by an image operating switch. As a result, the switched face image is displayed on the display device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2006
    Publication date: May 3, 2007
    Applicant: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Watanabe, Fumiyuki Shiratani, Hiroshi Matsuzaki, Satoko Furuki, Akikazu Yachi, Hideki Nagata, Toru Matsuzawa
  • Publication number: 20070081082
    Abstract: An electronic camera of the present invention has a function for photographing combined images including plural continuously photographed images. A continuous photographing mode according to a moving subject is selected by a photographing mode selection unit. A continuous photographing interval, a maximum continuous photographing number, and a number of precaptured images to be obtained are set by a system controller according to the continuous photographing mode selected by the photographing mode selection unit. When a release button is depressed, continuous photographing is carried out under the photographing conditions of the continuous photographing mode selected by the mode selection unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2006
    Publication date: April 12, 2007
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Watanabe, Fumiyuki Shiratani, Hiroshi Matsuzaki, Satoko Furuki, Akikazu Yachi, Hideki Nagata, Toru Matsuzawa