Patents Examined by Jason Whipkey
  • Patent number: 7081924
    Abstract: Image data photographed by an image capturing apparatus is temporarily stored in a volatile memory. The volatile memory temporarily is supplied with power from a battery to store the image data temporarily. The remaining capacity of the battery is detected, and a maintainable time of the image data maintained in the volatile memory is calculated based on the detected remaining capacity of the battery. The calculated maintainable time is displayed on a display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2006
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Yutaka Tsuda
  • Patent number: 7075570
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus of processing files according to the present invention comprise a first and second apparatus for recording data in a manner complying with the DCF standardized file-managing structure. In the method and apparatus, a file for management is formed with respect to a directory recorded in a manner complying with the DCF standardized file-managing structure. In the file, a virtual directory name in a form not defined as the DCF standard is to be compatible with a DCF standardized directory that corresponds to the virtual directory name. The file for management is to be maintained, whereas data is transmitted between the first and second apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Shiro Nagaoka
  • Patent number: 7071980
    Abstract: An image sensing apparatus provided with a plurality of image sensing elements each including a plurality of photoelectric conversion sections and an adding circuit adapted to add signals from the plurality of photoelectric conversion sections to obtain a one-pixel signal, wherein the adding circuit adds the signals obtained by the addition are arranged at equal intervals in an area extending over the plurality of image sensing elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Osamu Yuki, Noriyuki Kaifu, Kazuaki Tashiro, Tetsunobu Kochi
  • Patent number: 7061525
    Abstract: In an image receiving apparatus, a command for operating a camera is detected on the screen of a monitor on which an image formed by the camera is displayed. The detected camera operating command is recognized and a camera control command is formed on the basis of the recognized camera operating command to be transmitted to an image transmitting apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koichiro Tanaka, Hiroki Yonezawa
  • Patent number: 7057658
    Abstract: In a digital camera, when a motion image reducing mode is set, a pointer is displayed on a monitor. When the operator operates on cursor key, the pointer moves, and when the operator operates a determination key at two different pointer positions, a rectangular frame is formed. Namely, the two pointer positions represent upper left and lower right coordinates of the frame. The picked up real time motion image is displayed in the rectangular frame. The displayed motion image is reduced to a magnification corresponding to the ratio of the rectangular frame with respect to the monitor frame. When the operator operates a shutter button at this time, the image in the motion image frame is recorded on a memory card.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Shioji, Toru Asaeda
  • Patent number: 7053939
    Abstract: A method and system for capturing images. First, a preview image of a scene is captured. Next, an automatic determination is made whether the scene is a document. When it is determined that the scene is a document, at least one camera control is set to a value that is tailored for document capture. The scene is then captured using the set camera controls. Image processing that is tailored for documents is then performed on the captured scene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Qian Lin, Daniel Tretter, Jian Fan
  • Patent number: 7046285
    Abstract: A digital photographing apparatus, portably structured, for recording a photographed digital picture signal to a recording medium and reproducing a digital picture signal from the recording medium The apparatus includes a recording means for recording the digital picture signal supplied from a signal processing means and position information supplied from a position information obtaining means to the recording medium, a reproducing means for reproducing the digital picture signal and the position information from the recording medium, a map information obtaining means for obtaining map information, a table creating means for creating a table for the reproduced position information, and a controlling means for referencing the table for the position information and displaying an icon corresponding to the position information and the map information to the displaying means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Shiro Miyagi, Yuko Mimura
  • Patent number: 7046293
    Abstract: A power circuit includes a switching controller. The switching controller outputs a switching signal to a base of a transistor, according to a PWM method. The output of the transistor is supplied to a primary winding of the transformer. A first circuit and a second circuit are formed on a secondary winding side of the transformer. The first and second circuits generate, respectively, a voltage, e.g. of 15V, and a voltage, e.g., of ?7.5V. 15V is outputted through a first terminal, while ?7.5V is through a second terminal. The respective voltages are supplied to a CCD imager and a timing generator of a camera. A short circuit, including an FET and a resistance connected in series to the FET, is connected between the first terminal and the second terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenji Nagase
  • Patent number: 7038724
    Abstract: In order to obtain a digital still camera capable of storing only a desired image from photography images, a photography image data generation unit processes an image signal from a CCD to generate high-, middle-, and low-resolution image data. While a photography timing designation button is not depressed, the middle-resolution data is monitored in D1 of a display through a buffer memory. When the photography timing designation button is depressed, high- and low-resolution data of three consecutive frames are generated and stored in M2 to M7 of the buffer memory, and low-resolution data are displayed in D2 to D4 of the display. The high-resolution data are compressed and encoded, and then stored in C1 to C3 of a main memory. When the user selects, e.g., D3 of the displayed D2 to D4 with a touch panel, the corresponding data of C2 is extracted from C1 to C3 and stored in F1 of a nonvolatile memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Makoto Satoh, Satoshi Ishiguro
  • Patent number: 7034881
    Abstract: An electronic camera is provided with a touchscreen. When a cameraman touches the touchscreen on a principal subject in a captured image shown on the touchscreen, the touched portion is determined and the focus and exposure are adjusted in conformity with the principal subject. When the image is designated to be stored, positional information on the principal subject as well as image information is stored into a built-in memory or a detachable external memory. For this reason, wherever the principal subject is located on the image, the image-capturing is performed with favorable results. The positional information on the principal subject is utilized for printing or reproducing the image so as to perform image tone corrections such as correction of brightness and skin pigmentation in an area including the principal subject, so that a high-quality image can be printed or reproduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Manabu Hyodo, Makoto Tsugita
  • Patent number: 7030915
    Abstract: A signal transfer gain is prevented from being lowered by parasitic capacitance. A signal processing apparatus is provided which includes switches provided for a plurality of signal sources, a common line to which signals from the plurality of signal sources are sequentially transferred, and a parasitic capacitance control circuit for controlling parasitic capacitance of the common line in accordance with the level of the signal on the common line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takamasa Sakuragi
  • Patent number: 7019780
    Abstract: A lens unit and a camera capable of achieving stereoscopic television function and zoom function at the same time. More specifically, a lens unit (2) and a camera (1) each including at least a zoom lens (4), light quantity adjusting device (6 or 20), an electronic optical shutter provided on a stage of the zoom lens (4), and an optical shutter driving portion for controlling the electronic optical shutter (6) to open (6A, 6B) in a predetermined pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Koichi Takeuchi, Masami Himuro, Ko Ishimoto, Seisuke Ohba
  • Patent number: 7015966
    Abstract: A segmented imaging sensor having plural output pipelines in correspondence to the number of segments. Discontinuities between segments of the electronic imaging sensor are reduced by providing duplicated pixel values for pixels in an overlap region between segments, and by providing the duplicated pixels to processors that process the output from pipelines whose segments border on the overlap region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Denny M. Lin
  • Patent number: 7012645
    Abstract: A pixel sensor that provides image sensing under radiation or space environment is disclosed. The pixel sensor includes a readout circuit and a first reset circuit. The readout circuit converts optical image signals to electronic signals, and includes p-type transistors and an n-type photosensitive element. The first reset circuit is configured to provide a reset level for a pixel output, and also includes p-type transistors. The use of p-type transistors and n-type photosensitive element provides radiation hardness without any radiation protective enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2006
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard H. Tsai
  • Patent number: 7002623
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus is provided which includes an image input apparatus for inputting an image including an object. The image is input into a reproducing environment converting unit, which sets a desired illuminating environment on a monitor display screen in which the image is reproduced. The reproducing environment unit converts the image of the object by three-dimensionally moving and rotating the object in the set environment, and an image output apparatus displays and prints the converted image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nagaaki Ohyama, Masahiro Yamaguchi, Takashi Obi, Masaru Tsuchida, Kensuke Ishii
  • Patent number: 6992717
    Abstract: An iris identifying apparatus includes an optical-axis aligning section which aligns the line of sight of a target person to be picked up, who views a guide light through a view window, with the optical axis of an image pickup device that picks up the eye of the target person. The optical-axis aligning section flickers the guide light and guides the line of sight of the target person to the guide light, and turns on the guide light when the image picked up by the image pickup device comes into focus, thereby notifying the target person of the eye having entered the image pickup distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kouichi Hatano
  • Patent number: 6992713
    Abstract: There is shown an single chip CMOS device for capturing a video image. The device includes an APS imager containing an array of pixels for providing a signal representing a scene, a row of extended dynamic range sample and hold circuits for receiving a signal from the array of pixels and a row of linear sample and hold circuits for receiving another signal for said array of pixels. Also included is an image processor for determining a controllable function and for processing a plurality of signals received from the extended dynamic range sample and hold circuits and the linear sample and hold circuits according to said controllable function to form a processed video signal. Further included is a memory for storing the controllable function and the processed video signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: Dialog Semiconductor GmbH
    Inventors: Nathaniel Joseph McCaffrey, Peter Ferdinand Zalud, Scott Thomas Smith, John Thomas Kalinowski
  • Patent number: 6992710
    Abstract: A virtual directory name (TRAVEL) having a form not specified in the DCF Standard is employed as a recording name in a directory (101TOSHI) recorded in a file management structure complying with the DCF Standard, whereas a virtual directory management file which corresponds to the virtual directory name (TRAVEL) and the name (101TOSHI) of a directory of the DCF Standard corresponding thereto is created to record in a recording medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Shiro Nagaoka
  • Patent number: 6992723
    Abstract: A video surveillance camera enclosure that includes a camera housing for receiving a video surveillance camera chassis through a lower end. In one embodiment, the housing is adapted to be inserted into an opening in a ceiling member and includes a flange near the lower end and a plurality of mounting clamps for engaging the perimeter of an opening in the ceiling. The video surveillance camera chassis includes a plurality of positioning members on the perimeter of the chassis. The positioning members are engageable with a plurality of alignment flanges on the interior of the housing to guide the chassis into a preselected position within the housing. Final insertion of the chassis into the housing and electrical connection via blind mating connectors is by threaded fasteners on the positioning members and flanges. In an alternate embodiment, the housing is installed in an enclosure that is not installed in a ceiling but is self-contained and can be located outdoors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: Sensormatic Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: John Douglas Wulf, Luis E. Anderson, Mark A. Hauge, James R. Paolantonio, Steven W. Schieltz
  • Patent number: 6992700
    Abstract: An apparatus for detecting a deviation of a camera as a result of the camera shaking, for example resulting from a hand of the camera operator shaking. The apparatus includes a shaking detector which detects a deviation of the camera from shaking based upon an output of angular velocity sensors which are located on different axes of the camera coordinates. A calculator calculates tilt angles of each of the coordinate axes from outputs of the angular velocity sensors. The rotation regulator rotates an image pickup device around an optical axis of the camera or an axis in parallel with the optical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Sato, Takashi Kitaguchi