Patents Represented by Attorney Cowan, Liebowitz & Latman
  • Patent number: 8350918
    Abstract: In an image capturing apparatus with an operation mode for carrying out expression detection, it is determined whether or not the image capturing apparatus is operated in the operation mode for carrying out expression detection. In a case in which the image capturing apparatus is operated in the operation mode for carrying out expression detection, setting in such a way that images with a resolution higher than in a case in which the image capturing apparatus is not operated in the operation mode are read out from an image sensor allows the expression of a face of a person to be detected efficiently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Zenya Kawaguchi
  • Patent number: 8352654
    Abstract: A data reproducing apparatus comprises: a reproducing unit adapted to read out data from a plurality of recording media; a list generating unit adapted to generate a content list which describes storage location information in association with contents stored in the plurality of recording media; and a communication unit adapted to communicate with an external device and sending the content list to the external device, wherein the list generating unit checks if the contents stored in the plurality of recording media include identical contents, and if the identical contents are detected, the list generating unit generates the content list including information indicating that the storage location information of the identical contents are integrated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Satoshi Nakama
  • Patent number: 8351777
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes a focus detector that utilizes a phase detection method, an image pickup device, an optical path switch configured to switch a path of light from an object between a first optical path used to lead the light to the focus detector and a second optical path used to lead the light to the image pickup device, a face detector configured to detect a face of the object from the image data, and a controller configured to provide such a control that the optical path switch can set the second optical path after the optical path switch sets the first optical path and the focus detector detects the on-focus state using the phase difference method, and allows the face detector to detect the face of the object after the optical path switch can set the second optical path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Isao Nakazawa
  • Patent number: 8351779
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus which is capable of reducing possibility of missing a good moment to take a photo and reducing electric power wasted for strobe shooting. The image pickup apparatus is capable of shooting using a strobe. A motion detector detects an amount of motion of an object of which an image is to be picked up. A camera controller sets a target charge voltage level of a main capacitor based on the detected amount of motion of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takashi Kageyama
  • Patent number: 8350954
    Abstract: An image processing method includes a restore step of performing blur restoration for image data, an acquisition step of acquiring image-related information stored together with the image data, and an extraction step of extracting the range of object distances at which the blur restoration is performed, based on the image-related information. In the restore step, blur restoration is performed for the image data in the range of object distances extracted in the extraction step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hideyuki Hamano
  • Patent number: 8350944
    Abstract: A recording mode control circuit controls a first recording mode in which still image data having a first image size corresponding to the number of pixels of an image sensing element is generated and recorded and a second recording mode in which moving image data having a second image size smaller than the first image size is generated and recorded. In generating the moving image data in the second recording mode, a camera signal processing circuit executes electrical zoom processing to obtain the second image size. At this time, a maximum magnification ratio setting circuit sets the maximum variable magnification ratio of electrical zoom processing in the camera signal processing circuit. With this processing, an image recording apparatus which allows a user to select a zoom mode with a small degradation in image quality in electrical zoom processing can be implemented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshiki Ishii
  • Patent number: 8351772
    Abstract: A shake correction apparatus comprises a shake detection unit which detects a shake of an image capture apparatus, a calculation unit which calculates a shake correction amount for correcting an image blur based on an output from the shake detection unit, a shake correction unit which corrects the image blur based on the shake correction amount, a shake level determination unit which determines a shake level of the image capture apparatus based on an output from the shake detection unit, an offset determination unit which determines an offset value based on the shake correction amount and the shake level, and a subtraction unit which subtracts the offset value from the output from the shake detection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Nobushige Wakamatsu
  • Patent number: 8351083
    Abstract: Image data of a pixel of interest is inputted, diffusion data diffused from errors occurred by decrease of a tonal number of image data is added to the image data of the pixel of interest, the tonal number of the image data of the pixel of interest, to which the diffusion data has been added, is decreased using an error diffusion method or minimized average error method, and an error occurred in the decrease of the tonal number for the pixel of interest is diffused to pixels close to the pixel of interest. Further, the errors occurred by the decrease of the tonal number of the image data in a predetermined image region are integrated as an integrated error, and a threshold value used in the error diffusion method or minimized average error method is set based on the image data of the pixel of interest and the integrated error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shoei Moribe, Takashi Ochiai
  • Patent number: 8350951
    Abstract: In an image sensing apparatus, an image sensing unit generates image data formed via an optical member, a storage unit stores correction information for correcting deterioration of image quality of the image data, a reading unit reads correction information corresponding to a plurality of setting values close to a parameter used to control the optical member from the correction information stored in the storage unit, a conversion unit converts a pixel position of the image data to polar coordinates, a generation unit generates correction information by interpolating the read correction information, and a correction unit corrects the image data at the pixel position at the polar coordinates using the correction information. The storage unit stores correction information corresponding to more polar angles in a range having a greater degree of change in the deterioration of image quality in an angular direction centered on the optical axis of the optical member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Ken Terasawa
  • Patent number: 8351074
    Abstract: This invention provides a color print control method of acquiring an optimum profile by a simple profile acquisition process in consideration of the clustering configuration. According to the color print control method of this invention, a printer manager (15) manages a combination of color printers as a virtual printer. A color setting manager (17) manages a color profile used for color matching in association with the virtual printer and output paper. A job controller (11) controls to accept a print job, whose destination is the managed virtual printer and which contains color matching settings, cause a rendering unit (18) to render the print job, acquire a profile for each virtual printer, and cause a color management processor (16) to perform color matching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kikuo Naito, Kensuke Nozaki, Hayato Kubo, Natsuki Uemura
  • Patent number: 8351775
    Abstract: A lens barrel includes a drive ring having a hollow cylindrical shape and a gear by which the drive ring is configured to rotate around an optical axis, and a lens holder configured to move in an optical axis direction relative to the drive ring and to hold a lens and located inside of the drive ring, the lens holder including an arm extending to outside of the drive ring. The drive ring has a notch that extends in a circumferential direction of the drive ring so that the notch cannot overlap the gear. The arm of the lens holder is configured to enter and retreat from the notch of the drive ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Ryuichi Nagae
  • Patent number: 8351698
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus generates, for an image, partial histograms by dividing a luminance histogram at downward convex parts of a frequency distribution of the luminance histogram. The image processing apparatus calculates, for a partial histogram selected from the partial histograms, a difference between a maximum frequency in each of all the partial histograms located on the first side of the selected partial histogram, and a minimum frequency within a luminance range from a luminance level of the maximum frequency to that of a maximum frequency in the selected partial histogram as a drop, and sets a maximum one of the drops calculated for the respective partial histograms as a drop. The image processing apparatus sets a weight, which becomes smaller as this drop is larger, for the selected partial histogram, and calculates a weighted average of the luminance histogram, thereby acquiring a luminance value for the tone correction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaish
    Inventor: Kohei Furuya
  • Patent number: 8345952
    Abstract: A first process to be executed by an apparatus and a second process to be executed by an apparatus to obtain a composite image by compositing a real space image with a virtual space image are determined by negotiation. The apparatus (101) transmits data necessary for executing the second process to the apparatus. The apparatus executes the second process by using the data and transmits the process result to the apparatus. The apparatus receives the process result by the apparatus and executes the first process. The apparatus displays a composite image obtained on the basis of the result of the first process or a composite image obtained on the basis of the process result and the received process result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takuya Tsujimoto, Hiroyuki Yamamoto, Akihiro Katayama, Tomohiko Shimoyama
  • Patent number: 8345123
    Abstract: A lens unit 1 acquires identification information for an attached lens unit from the lens unit and stores the acquired identification information in a second memory 37. In a case in which correction information for the stored identification information is not registered, a CPU 36 reads the correction information for the stored identification information out from an external memory 39 and registers it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masami Sugimori
  • Patent number: 8346647
    Abstract: In one aspect, an embodiment comprises a computer system comprising: (a) a computer readable memory that stores price information for a plurality of bonds; and (b) a processor unit that calculates a liquidity cost score for one or more of said plurality of bonds; wherein said liquidity cost score calculation is based on data regarding quoted bid price and quoted ask price if a bond is a quoted bond, wherein said liquidity cost score calculation is based on a regression analysis if a bond is a non-quoted bond, and wherein said processor unit comprises one or more processors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Barclays Capital Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce D. Phelps, Siddhartha Dastidar, Ariel Edelstein
  • Patent number: 8340499
    Abstract: To select a recording device for recording a program in a digital television receiver to which a plurality of recorders (recording devices) are connected, control is performed to acquire image quality information about the program to be recorded and to compare the program image quality to be recorded with the recording image quality of a recording medium for each connected recording device. Based on the result of this comparison, a recorder is selected that can secondarily record the program onto a recording medium without compromising the program image quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Teruki Kikkawa, Yasushi Shikata, Tomoya Asanuma, Tomoyasu Yoshikawa, Osamu Yonishi, Satoshi Hanamitsu, Koji Mito, Katsuhiro Miyamoto
  • Patent number: 8336595
    Abstract: A tape bonding device for bonding a tape member to a work piece, wherein the tape bonding device has a main body section, and a cover body section provided reopenable to the main body section. The main body section has a mount member on the upper surface of which the work piece is mounted; a tape holding unit which holds the tape member in a stretching state, and, at the same time, locates the tape member in the upper portion of the work piece mounted on the mount member; and a sucking unit for vacuum suction of space between the tape member and the work piece. The cover body section has a concave section which is depressed upward in the blocked state of the cover body section, and, at the same time, the upper bottom surface of the concave section presses downward the work piece and the tape member, which move upward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Tsubaki Seiko Inc.
    Inventors: Kimikazu Saito, Tetsushi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8339482
    Abstract: An image capturing apparatus comprises: an image sensor having an effective pixel area where plural pixels not shield from light are two-dimensionally arranged, and a first optical black area and a second optical black area including pixels shielded from light provided on the both sides of the effective pixel area; and a correction unit to, upon incident of high luminance light on the image sensor, correct an output signal of a pixel between a high luminance portion as a pixel part on which the high luminance light is incident in the effective pixel area and the first optical black area using an output signal of the first optical black area, and correct an output signal of a pixel between the high luminance portion and the second optical black area, using an output signal of the second optical black area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Teruyuki Okado
  • Patent number: 8339691
    Abstract: A profile creation apparatus determines whether a medium used for printing contains a fluorescent brightener, based on measured values of the medium, corrects measured values of color patches formed on the medium, based on a result of the determination, and creates a color profile based on the corrected measured values of the color patches and measured values of a viewing environment in which color patches have been formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Keiko Tsukamoto
  • Patent number: 8339466
    Abstract: An image stabilization apparatus has an angular velocity detector detecting an angular velocity applied thereto and outputting the angular velocity, an acceleration detector detecting an acceleration applied to the image stabilization apparatus and outputting the acceleration, a principal point calculation unit calculating a principal point position of a shooting optical system, an rotation angular velocity calculation unit calculating a rotation angular velocity component about the principal point of the shooting optical system based on an output of the angular velocity detector, a revolution angular velocity calculation unit calculating a revolution angular velocity component about an object based on the output of the acceleration detector and a calculation result of the rotation angular velocity calculation unit and correcting the calculated revolution angular velocity component according to the principal point position, and a controlling unit performing image stabilization control based on a difference be
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Goro Noto, Shinichi Masuda