Patents Represented by Attorney Cowan Liebowitz & Latman, P.C.
  • Patent number: 7986850
    Abstract: A noise elimination method capable of handling even beat noise occurring in an oblique direction is proposed. In an image processing apparatus that is provided with a correcting unit that subtracts cyclic data of beat noise from effective pixel data included in inputted digital image data, the correcting unit comprises: a distributing unit that sequentially and cyclically distributes optical black area pixel data included in the digital image data; an integrating unit to which the optical black area pixel data distributed by the distributing unit is sequentially inputted; a first calculating unit that divides the integration result of the integrating unit by the number of integrations; a minimum value detecting unit that detects a minimum value of the output of the first calculating unit; and a second calculating unit that calculates the minimum value and the division result to obtain the cyclic data of the beat noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Saori Hohda, Takayuki Hara
  • Patent number: 7986853
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus, which obtains a synthesized image whose exposure is corrected by synthesizing a first image and a second image, is disclosed. The image processing apparatus comprises a detection section which detects an amount of displacement of the second image with respect to the first image which is a reference image, a coordinate conversion section which performs coordinate conversion to the second image so as to conform to the first image, and a synthesis section which synthesizes the second image having been subjected to the coordinate conversion with the first image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Koichi Washisu
  • Patent number: 7982912
    Abstract: A color signal conversion apparatus for converting a color signal of an input gamut to a color signal of an output gamut is provided. First, a target gamut for gamut mapping carried out on the input gamut is set, after which an evaluation function is determined for evaluating the difference between the target gamut and the results of gamut mapping performed on the input gamut using initialized mapping parameters. Then, the mapping parameters are determined based on the evaluation function so that the difference is minimum. The color signal of the input gamut is then mapped to the output gamut based on the determined mapping parameters and constraining conditions. This makes it possible to achieve favorable gamut mapping based on optimal mapping parameters that have been determined automatically.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shugo Higuchi
  • Patent number: 7983513
    Abstract: An OCR process is executed for image data read by an image reading unit. First date information in the image data is acquired based on the OCR process result. Current second date information is acquired. The acquired first date information is compared with the second date information. Time stamp information is added to the image data if the comparison result indicates that the difference between the two pieces of date information falls within a predetermined period. The image data is saved at a designated saving destination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Noriko Matsuzawa, Atsushi Ikeda
  • Patent number: 7984307
    Abstract: A read document image is stored in a storage apparatus. The destination of data to be transmitted is set, and the data is transmitted to the destination. If transmission fails, the data is discarded on the basis of settings of the data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroyasu Morita
  • Patent number: 7983481
    Abstract: In order to match the color appearance of the display image on a monitor to that of a print image, the white point of the monitor and that of the viewing light upon viewing the print image are obtained, and a white point upon viewing the display image on the monitor and that upon viewing the print image are calculated using the white point of the monitor, that of the viewing light, and a reference white point. An input color is corrected using the calculated white points. At this time, as the reference white point, a white color which the human visual system perceives as white is used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Susumu Shimbaru
  • Patent number: 7983476
    Abstract: A working apparatus comprises a working unit which executes work on a work subject, and a calibration jig on which a plurality of markers is arranged in a radial pattern from a center point of markers, the plurality of markers being arranged in three dimensions, and the calibration jig being attached to a working unit such that a calibration reference point set of a working unit coincides with a center point of markers. According to such a composition, it becomes possible to calibrate a position of a working unit even when a portion of the jig containing a center point of markers is occluded during image measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shunta Tate, Masato Aoba
  • Patent number: 7983546
    Abstract: The optical image stabilizer (100) includes a first movable part including a first lens (11a) having one of positive and negative optical powers, a second movable part including a second lens (11b) having the other of the optical powers, and an actuator driving the first and second movable parts in the directions opposite to each other with respect to a supporting member (13). The actuator includes a first element (110a, 110b) provided on the supporting member, a second element (16a, 16b) provided on the first movable part and facing a first face of the first element, and a third element (16c, 16d) provided on the second movable part and facing a second face formed on an opposite side of the first element from the first face. The first element is one of a magnet and a coil, and the second element and the third element are the other of them.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Koichi Washisu
  • Patent number: 7982892
    Abstract: This invention controls a printer to download using either a nonsecure protocol or a secure protocol depending on as to whether or not the printer is included in a network segment to which an information processing apparatus generating print control information belongs. When, on an application executed by the apparatus, a desired data file stored in a server on the network is designated as an object to be printed, the apparatus acquires a printer port activated by a printer driver. The apparatus determines whether or not a destination IP address set to the printer port is included in the network segment inside an office. If the IP address is included in the network segment, HTTP is set as a protocol associated with file acquisition which is to be described in a job ticket. If not, HTTPS is set as a protocol associated with file acquisition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shinichi Yamamura
  • Patent number: 7981493
    Abstract: A packing buffer member of the present invention is a packing buffer member 200 or 300 that is to be placed inside a pack 400 with an object to be packed 100, and includes first hollow convex parts 210, 220, 230 and 240 (third hollow convex parts 310, 320, 330 and 340) that are formed in a first direction relative to a forming base surface 201 or 301 and that contact with the object to be packed 100 to hold the object to be packed 100 and second hollow convex parts 250, 260, 270 and 280 (the fourth hollow convex parts 350, 360, 370 and 380) that are formed in a second direction opposite to the first direction relative to the forming base surface 201 or 301 and that contact inside the pack. The packing buffer member 200 or 300 is formed by a plastic sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mutsumi Tanaka, Yoshihiko Hisadome, Yukinobu Kojima, Takashi Narasawa
  • Patent number: 7983692
    Abstract: Proposed is a technique for implementing data communication and distance measurement even in a case where data communication and distance measurement share the physical layer. A wireless communication apparatus includes a radio unit and a distance measuring unit. The radio unit performs communication using a frame that includes at least a data period for transferring data and a beacon period for transmitting a beacon. The distance measuring unit utilizes the beacon period to measure the distance from the wireless communication apparatus to a target object whose distance is to be measured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toru Koike
  • Patent number: 7983549
    Abstract: Subjects are detected in a captured image and a main subject is selected from the detected subjects. Focusing areas are set up that correspond to the detected subjects and focus detection is performed in the focusing areas that have been set up. When providing in-focus indication representing focus detection results, focus detection results associated with the particular focusing area among the focusing areas that corresponds to the main subject are displayed in a manner different from focus detection results associated with those focusing areas within the depth of field that correspond to subjects other than the main subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nobukazu Yoshida, Akira Kubota
  • Patent number: 7978226
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus comprises a plurality of pixels, a driving unit configured to successively reset signal charges stored in a photoelectric conversion unit at every predetermined line and successively read out a signal based on the signal charges at every predetermined line, and a control unit. The control unit has a first mode in which a starting readout line of the pixels is fixed and a second mode in which the starting readout line of the pixels is changeable based on input control information. The control unit changes a reset timing of the pixels of the starting readout line in the second mode so as to cause a second charge storage period to be less or equal to a first charge storage period in the second mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kosuke Nobuoka
  • Patent number: 7978354
    Abstract: A restriction information generation apparatus configured to generate access restriction information to be transmitted from a client terminal to a printing apparatus to determine whether to permit/inhibit execution of a print job based on the access restriction information containing functional restriction information of the printing apparatus, comprises an acquisition unit, adapted to acquire, from a restriction information management server, functional restriction information directly assigned to a user specified by user information received from a requesting client terminal, and indirectly assigned functional restriction information; a merge unit, adapted to merge the pieces of functional restriction information acquired by the acquisition unit to generate access restriction information; and a transmission unit, adapted to transmit the access restriction information generated by the merge unit to the client terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroshi Uchikawa
  • Patent number: 7978254
    Abstract: The present invention enables showing main objects position as position of focus measuring point even in case main object has moved after focusing by focus control unit, within the image screen due to framing alternation. It is an image capturing apparatus wherein image sensor conducts photo-electric conversion of object image created by photographing-lens, comprise of distance measuring unit which calculate displacement of aimed object on image sensors imaging screen, due to changes of direction of image capturing apparatus within the time interval, starting from the moment aimed object focused to photographing-lens focus point by focus control unit to the moment actual photo shooting is conducted, and recording unit which records displacement information of aimed object on imaging screen and linked image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Momoe Katsumata
  • Patent number: 7976011
    Abstract: When a first feeding unit is not ready to perform air feeding at the beginning of a print job, roll feeding using a second feeding unit is performed; when it is determined that the first feeding unit is ready to preform air feeding, air feeding using the first feeding unit is preformed. Upon execution of a print job by roll feeding, a preparation is started to make the first feeding unit ready to air feeding. When the first feeding unit is ready to execute the print job by air feeding, the print job is executed by exchanging roll feeding to air feeding using the first feeding unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yuichiro Shibuya
  • Patent number: 7979553
    Abstract: An electronic device connected to a network at a first network address set by AutoIP or the like detects the existence of an address server such as a DHCP server on such network. If the address server is detected, then it is determined whether or not the electronic device is transferring data to another device. If it is determined that the electronic device is transferring data, the device changes the first network address to a second network address acquired from the address server after the transfer of the data is finished.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shunji Fujita
  • Patent number: 7974462
    Abstract: In a method of calibrating an image capture environment based on a captured image obtained by capturing an image of a physical space by an image capturing unit that captures the image of the physical space, an image of the physical space is captured using the image capturing unit, an index serving as a reference for calibration is detected from the captured image of the physical space, the position and orientation of the image capturing unit are calculated from the detected index, and image capturing unit unique information, geometric information associated with the physical space, or the relationship between the image capturing unit and the physical space is calibrated using the obtained data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuki Takemoto, Shinji Uchiyama, Takaaki Endo
  • Patent number: 7975054
    Abstract: A network device obtains capability information of a device existing on a network, activates/inactivates one of a plurality of types of communication middleware on the basis of the obtained capability information, and executes communication between devices across the network by using the communication middleware. The network device also analyses a protocol used by communication middleware of another device on the network, and corrects the corresponding communication middleware in accordance with the result of analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Hirata, Kenichi Fujii, Masaki Shitano
  • Patent number: 7974059
    Abstract: A power supply apparatus comprises a current limiting unit connected in series between a power source and a power supply circuit that limits output current of the power source; a first switch connected in series with the current limiting unit; a second switch connected in parallel with the current limiting unit; a resistor connected in series between the power source and the current limiting unit; an abnormal current detection unit, connected in parallel with the resistor, that detects the current flowing through the resistor and determines whether or not the detected current is abnormal; and a control unit that turns on the first switch if the abnormal current detection unit detects a current, and, thereafter, turns the second switch on if the detected current is not abnormal, and turns the first switch off if the detected current is abnormal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yuki Chishima