Patents Assigned to Nucore Technology Inc.
  • Patent number: 6915026
    Abstract: In an image processing method, a square submatrix formed from adjacent original pixels is equally divided into small square regions along the X- and Y-coordinate axes. Approximate points are set at the vertexes of the regions. Interpolation coefficients are derived based on a predetermined interpolation function. Interpolation coefficients normalized so as to adjust the sum of the coefficient values of interpolation coefficients used for one interpolation operation to 2k (k is a positive integer) are calculated, and stored in a coefficient buffer in advance. A new pixel position of each pixel constituting a new image is calculated in accordance with magnifications representing enlargement/reduction ratios along the X- and Y-coordinate axes for an original image. An approximate point closest to the new pixel position is selected as the approximate point of the new pixel position. Interpolation coefficients corresponding to the interpolation original pixels are read out from the coefficient buffer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Assignee: Nucore Technology Inc.
    Inventor: Toshihiro Sasai
  • Patent number: 6701024
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus for calculating a new luminance value of a central pixel to adjust the spatial frequency characteristics of an input image includes a plurality of subfilters, totalizer, and adder. The subfilters are arranged in parallel with each other for a plurality of pixel groups each made up of one or more pixels in a submatrix. The subfilters multiply the sums of the luminance values of pixels included in corresponding pixel groups by predetermined coefficients corresponding to desired spatial frequency adjustment filter characteristics, and output the products for each submatrix made up of M×M (M is an odd number of 3 or more) pixels centered on pixels constituting an input image for a two-dimensional input image made up of many pixels that are arrayed in a matrix and represent luminance values at positions. The totalizer totals outputs from the subfilters, and outputs the sum as the adjustment amount of the spatial frequency characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: NuCore Technology Inc.
    Inventor: Toshihiro Sasai
  • Patent number: 6654492
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an interpolation unit, compensation value calculation unit, and compensation unit. For an interpolation point selected from an image signal at an interval of n pixels (n is an integer of 2 or more), the interpolation unit interpolates the pixel value of each color data at the interpolation point using the pixel values of pixels of the same color falling within an interpolation region of m×m pixels (m is an integer of 2 or more) centered on the interpolation point, and outputs the pixel value as an interpolated pixel value at the interpolation point for each color data. The compensation value calculation unit generates a pixel compensation value for compensating for the pixel value of the interpolation point using the pixel values of pixels falling within a compensation region of M×M pixels (M is an integer equal to or larger than m and n) centered on the interpolation point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: NuCORE Technology Inc.
    Inventor: Toshihiro Sasai
  • Patent number: 6654052
    Abstract: In a card type semiconductor memory device, at least one memory chip for storing a still image and a connector having a number of signal lines for transferring various signals between the memory chip and a host device are mounted on a card-like substrate. The memory chip includes a memory section and a signal processing section. The memory section includes analog nonvolatile semiconductor memories for sequentially storing, as analog values, color interleaved analog image signals having analog luminance information of predetermined colors in units of pixels in synchronism with a predetermined clock signal. The signal processing section calculates, as analog values, the luminance information at a plurality of pixel positions, which are read out from the memory section, to convert the luminance information into color image data having analog luminance information of the respective colors in units of pixels and outputs the color image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: NuCore Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Shuji Kitagawa, Fumitaka Okamoto
  • Patent number: 6636629
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an interpolation unit, compensation value calculation unit, and compensation unit. The interpolation unit interpolates the pixel value of each color signal at an interpolation point using the pixel values of pixels in the same color falling within a predetermined interpolation region including the interpolation point, and outputs the pixel value as an interpolated pixel value at the interpolation point for each color signal. The compensation value calculation unit generates a pixel compensation value for compensating the pixel value of the interpolation point using the pixel values of a plurality of pixels around the interpolation point that fall within a compensation region wider than and including the interpolation region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2003
    Assignee: NuCore Technology Inc.
    Inventor: Toshihiro Sasai
  • Publication number: 20030086007
    Abstract: In an image processing method, a square submatrix formed from adjacent original pixels is equally divided into small square regions along the X- and Y-coordinate axes. Approximate points are set at the vertexes of the regions. Interpolation coefficients are derived based on a predetermined interpolation function. Interpolation coefficients normalized so as to adjust the sum of the coefficient values of interpolation coefficients used for one interpolation operation to 2k (k is a positive integer) are calculated, and stored in a coefficient buffer in advance. A new pixel position of each pixel constituting a new image is calculated in accordance with magnifications representing enlargement/reduction ratios along the X- and Y-coordinate axes for an original image. An approximate point closest to the new pixel position is selected as the approximate point of the new pixel position. Interpolation coefficients corresponding to the interpolation original pixels are read out from the coefficient buffer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2001
    Publication date: May 8, 2003
    Applicant: NuCore Technology Inc.
    Inventor: Toshihiro Sasai
  • Patent number: 6445602
    Abstract: A nonvolatile semiconductor memory includes a memory unit, memory control unit, defect position detection unit, and data correction unit. The memory unit has a plurality of memory cells to discretely store an analog signal such as an image signal as analog data in the form of an analog value. The memory control unit sequentially selects the memory cells as a read out target of the memory unit in response to a predetermined clock. The defect position detection unit detects, on the basis of defect position information indicating a position of defective analog data included in the analog data read out from the memory unit, whether a memory cell corresponding to the defect position is selected by the memory control unit, and outputs a detection output. The data correction unit corrects the analog data at the defect position in accordance with the detection output from the defect position detection unit by using another analog data of the analog signal stored in said memory unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: NuCore Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Shingo Kokudo, Youichi Nakasone, Fumitaka Okamoto
  • Patent number: 6374189
    Abstract: A frequency analyzing device for detecting a signal component of a predetermined analytic frequency to be analyzed in an input signal includes a multiplication circuit and an integration circuit. The multiplication circuit controls a switched capacitor circuit for discretely storing an input signal using a predetermined pulse signal whose frequency changes according to an amplitude of an orthogonal function system signal having the analytic frequency, and outputs charges representing a multiplication result of the input signal and the orthogonal function system signal. The integration circuit integrates the charges output from the multiplication circuit and outputs integration values as signal components of the analytic frequency contained in the input signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Assignee: NuCore Technology Inc.
    Inventor: Toshihiro Sasai
  • Patent number: 6255968
    Abstract: In a data compression method of sequentially sampling an analog input signal at discrete sample points, and classifying a plurality of obtained sample values into a plurality of sections, a sampling string made up of sample values included in each section is set as the first sampling string. A function which takes a sample value at a predetermined sample point included in the first sampling string and is approximated to the first sampling string is generated. A parameter defining the function is output as an element of compressed data. A second sampling string made up of sample values obtained at respective sample points by the function is generated. Predetermined calculation is performed between two sample values at identical sample points in the first and second sampling strings for each section to calculate a new sample value, thereby creating a third sampling string in which a new sample value at an arbitrary sample point is 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2001
    Assignee: NuCORE Technology Inc.
    Inventor: Shuji Kitagawa
  • Patent number: 6166779
    Abstract: In a digital image processing device such as a portable digital camera, an analog decimation circuit is provided as a front end for the digital video imaging circuit so that the data rate is reduced without substantial loss in fidelity so that the power dissipation is minimized. In a decimation circuit, the data rate is reduced by reducing only higher frequency spectral components of a captured image without substantial loss in fidelity of the remaining spectral components of the captured image. The required amount of digital data processing is so substantially reduced that considerable power savings result. A mixture of decimation modes may be effected using the same circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Assignee: NuCore Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Shingo Kokudo, Jonathan A. Kleks, Ion E. Opris
  • Patent number: 6151235
    Abstract: In a card type semiconductor memory device, a plurality of memory chips each of which stores, as analog values, a still image formed from a color interleaved analog image signal using analog nonvolatile semiconductor memories for writing/reading color interleaved analog image signals having analog luminance information of predetermined colors in units of pixels, and a connector for connecting a number of signal lines for transferring various signals between the memory chips and a host device to the host device side are arranged on a card-like substrate. An analog signal line group from each memory chip is separated from a digital signal line group on the substrate via a separation strip formed from a wide conductive pattern, and concentratedly laid out at positions of the connector, which are separated from the digital signal line group. In each memory chip, terminals for analog signals are concentrated to a terminal array provided on a predetermined side of the chip package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2000
    Assignee: NuCORE Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Shuji Kitagawa, Fumitaka Okamoto
  • Patent number: 6147630
    Abstract: A signal conversion processing apparatus for temporarily storing an input analog signal and processing the signal to generate a desired output signal includes nonvolatile semiconductor memory sections, an input control section, and a signal processing section. The nonvolatile semiconductor memory sections sequentially store the input analog signal on the basis of a predetermined first control signal in the form of an analog value. The input control section selects a nonvolatile semiconductor memory section, in which the analog signal is to be written, from the nonvolatile semiconductor memory sections on the basis of a predetermined second control signal. The signal processing section performs arithmetic processing of a plurality of analog data read out from the nonvolatile semiconductor memory sections to convert the analog data into a desired output signal in the form of an analog value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2000
    Assignee: NuCore Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Toshihiro Sasai, Fumitaka Okamoto, Youichi Nakasone