Patents by Inventor Eiji Tadokoro
Eiji Tadokoro 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).
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Patent number: 8698877Abstract: An image information processing apparatus is provided. The information processing apparatus includes a scene change detection unit that detects a scene change in content. The information processing apparatus also includes a depth value correction unit that corrects a depth value for stereoscopic display so as to allow a change of the depth value to transition at a predetermined display speed before and after the scene change.Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 2010Date of Patent: April 15, 2014Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Eiji Tadokoro, Shunji Okada
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Patent number: 8599243Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes: an imaging unit configured to generate an imaged image by imaging a subject; a depth information generating unit configured to generate depth information relating to the imaged image; an image processing unit configured to extract, from the imaged image, an image of an object region including a particular subject out of subjects included in the imaged image and a surrounding region of the subject, based on the depth information, and generate a difference image to display a stereoscopic image in which the subjects included in the imaged image are viewed stereoscopically based on the extracted image; and a recording control unit configured to generate a data stream in which data corresponding to the imaged image and data corresponding to the difference image are correlated, and record the data stream as a moving image file.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 2010Date of Patent: December 3, 2013Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Shunji Okada, Yukio Isobe, Naoki Morimoto, Atsushi Mae, Eiji Tadokoro, Hideo Obata
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Publication number: 20110261160Abstract: The present invention relates to an image information processing apparatus, an image capture apparatus, an image information processing method, and a program that allow a depth value to smoothly transition in a scene change of stereoscopic content. In a case where a rapid change occurs between a depth value 711 in an end portion of a chapter #i and a depth value 714 in a start portion of a chapter #(i+1), entire depth values are temporarily corrected to zero (infinity) on the occasion of the change between the chapters #i and #(i+1). On this occasion, a depth value is allowed to transition for a period of time of, for example, 0.5 seconds or longer. An original depth value 721 in the end portion of the chapter #i is allowed to sequentially transition so that a depth value 722 of the end frame becomes zero. Similarly, a depth value 723 of the start frame in the chapter #(i+1) is set to zero, and is allowed to sequentially transition to an original depth value 724 in the start portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 22, 2010Publication date: October 27, 2011Applicant: Sony CorporationInventors: Eiji Tadokoro, Shunji Okada
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Patent number: 7903947Abstract: The present invention relates to a recording apparatus and a method, a playback apparatus and a method, a recording medium, and a program capable of quickly playing back a picture associated with a unit in which a moving image is encoded. An extraction section 51 extracts one picture from each GOP. A number-of-pixels conversion section 40 reduces the amount of information of the extracted picture by thinning out pixels. A static-image compression section 41 encodes the picture whose amount of information has been reduced by a JPEG technique. A microcomputer 31 associates the encoded picture with the GOP from which the picture has been extracted and controls recording of the picture associated with the GOP onto a disk 45 on which the moving image is to be recorded. The present invention can be applied to a recording apparatus for recording a moving image onto a data recording medium.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2005Date of Patent: March 8, 2011Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Makoto Yamada, Hideo Obata, Eiji Tadokoro, Manabu Ukai, Takayuki Sato, Seigo Fukushima, Kenichi Okamura
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Publication number: 20110007135Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes: an imaging unit configured to generate an imaged image by imaging a subject; a depth information generating unit configured to generate depth information relating to the imaged image; an image processing unit configured to extract, from the imaged image, an image of an object region including a particular subject out of subjects included in the imaged image and a surrounding region of the subject, based on the depth information, and generate a difference image to display a stereoscopic image in which the subjects included in the imaged image are viewed stereoscopically based on the extracted image; and a recording control unit configured to generate a data stream in which data corresponding to the imaged image and data corresponding to the difference image are correlated, and record the data stream as a moving image file.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 11, 2010Publication date: January 13, 2011Applicant: Sony CorporationInventors: Shunji Okada, Yukio Isobe, Naoki Morimoto, Atsushi Mae, Eiji Tadokoro, Hideo Obata
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Publication number: 20090052286Abstract: To reduce the occurrence of fragmentation when variable-bit-rate digital data is recorded on a continuous area of unit periods. When the amount of data in the buffer memory is larger than that for one unit period, the digital data in the buffer memory is read every unit period, and the read digital data is recorded as a continuous area (step S106). When the amount of data in the buffer memory is less than that for one unit period, the amount of data is estimated from the time corresponding to the amount of data less than that for the unit period and the length of the unit period (step S112). The digital data of the unit period is recorded on a recordable area in which the estimated amount of digital data can be recorded continuously (step S106).Type: ApplicationFiled: June 20, 2005Publication date: February 26, 2009Inventors: Makoto Yamada, Takayuki Sato, Hideo Obata, Eiji Tadokoro, Yoshito Nagao, Hiroshi Shimono
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Publication number: 20080292267Abstract: The present invention relates to a recording apparatus and a method, a playback apparatus and a method, a recording medium, and a program capable of quickly playing back a picture associated with a unit in which a moving image is encoded. An extraction section 51 extracts one picture from each GOP. A number-of-pixels conversion section 40 reduces the amount of information of the extracted picture by thinning out pixels. A static-image compression section 41 encodes the picture whose amount of information has been reduced by a JPEG technique. A microcomputer 31 associates the encoded picture with the GOP from which the picture has been extracted and controls recording of the picture associated with the GOP onto a disk 45 on which the moving image is to be recorded. The present invention can be applied to a recording apparatus for recording a moving image onto a data recording medium.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 15, 2005Publication date: November 27, 2008Inventors: Makoto Yamada, Hideo Obata, Eiji Tadokoro, Manabu Ukai, Takayuki Sato, Seigo Fukushima, Kenichi Okamura
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Publication number: 20080013926Abstract: The present invention relates to a recording apparatus and method, a storage medium and a program which allow data for a predetermined playback time to be recorded in a contiguous area on the data storage medium, even when an area in which data cannot be recorded exists on the data storage medium. While a stream unit for a predetermined playback time is being recorded on a storage medium 102, when a recording error occurs, a controller 138 searches for a contiguous blank area greater than the recording capacity of a contiguous recording area in which the stream unit is being recorded. Under the control of the controller 138, a drive 136 secures, in the beginning of the found area, an area having the same capacity as the data amounts of an IL auxiliary area and a recorded stream unit, records an unrecorded stream unit, and then copies the recorded stream unit. The present invention is applicable to video cameras.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 12, 2005Publication date: January 17, 2008Inventors: Makoto Yamada, Takayuki Sato, Hideo Obata, Eiji Tadokoro, Yoshito Nagao, Hiroshi Shimono
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Patent number: 7260043Abstract: A data recording/reproducing apparatus wherein various data to be used for maintenance are measured, and parameters required for analysis of the maintenance data are prerecorded to realize prediction of the service life of a semiconductor laser and detection of occurrence of any trouble that may be derived therefrom. In this apparatus where data are recorded in and/or reproduced from a recording medium, the internal state of the apparatus is measured, then any abnormal state in the apparatus is detected on the basis of abnormal state decision data, and the detected state is transmitted to an external information processor. The apparatus comprises a means for measuring first data relative to the apparatus; a first memory means for storing second data to make a decision as to an abnormal state of the measured first data; a means for generating third data relative to maintenance of the apparatus on the basis of the first and second data; and an output means for delivering the third data as an output.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2004Date of Patent: August 21, 2007Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Hidekazu Kamon, Eiji Tadokoro
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Publication number: 20070183749Abstract: Disclosed is a content reproduction apparatus that is capable of reducing the processing time required between when the viewer's intention to start reproduction is indicated and when a reproduction image is actually displayed, and obliterates the reproduction start time difference between pieces of content.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 16, 2005Publication date: August 9, 2007Applicant: Somy CorporationInventors: Makoto Yamada, Takayuki Sato, Hideo Obata, Eiji Tadokoro, Yoshito Nagao, Hiroshi Shimono
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Patent number: 6993687Abstract: According to the present invention, maintenance data about a plurality of distribution terminal devices which are different from each other in frequency with which they are in use and circumstances under which they are in use are transmitted to a host computer, whereby a lifetime of a semiconductor laser can be predicted and an occurrence of a trouble can be detected without receiving information from a user or shops in which the distribution terminal devices are installed.Type: GrantFiled: October 5, 2001Date of Patent: January 31, 2006Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Hidekazu Kamon, Eiji Tadokoro
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Patent number: 6970431Abstract: When an interruption of a bus reset occurs in accordance with the IEEE1394 standard at the time of turn-on of a power source or the like, whether a loop connection has been made or not is discriminated. If it is determined that the loop connection has been made, “i.LINK NG” or “i.LINK LOOP” as a warning display showing that the loop connection has been made is displayed. By displaying such a warning, the user or the like can recognize the fact that the loop connection has been made. A measure for cancelling the loop connection can be performed. If it is determined that the loop connection is not performed, such a warning display is not performed but the ordinary operation according to the IEEE1394 standard is performed.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 2000Date of Patent: November 29, 2005Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Yuko Iijima, Eiji Tadokoro, Hiraku Inoue
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Publication number: 20050030868Abstract: A data recording/reproducing apparatus wherein various data to be used for maintenance are measured, and parameters required for analysis of the maintenance data are prerecorded to realize prediction of the service life of a semiconductor laser and detection of occurrence of any trouble that may be derived therefrom. In this apparatus where data are recorded in and/or reproduced from a recording medium, the internal state of the apparatus is measured, then any abnormal state in the apparatus is detected on the basis of abnormal state decision data, and the detected state is transmitted to an external information processor. The apparatus comprises a means for measuring first data relative to the apparatus; a first memory means for storing second data to make a decision as to an abnormal state of the measured first data; a means for generating third data relative to maintenance of the apparatus on the basis of the first and second data; and an output means for delivering the third data as an output.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 8, 2004Publication date: February 10, 2005Applicant: SONY CORPORATIONInventors: Hidekazu Kamon, Eiji Tadokoro
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Patent number: 6836455Abstract: A data recording/reproducing apparatus wherein various data to be used for maintenance are measured, and parameters required for analysis of the maintenance data are prerecorded to realize prediction of the service life of a semiconductor laser and detection of occurrence of any trouble that may be derived therefrom. In this apparatus where data are recorded in and/or reproduced from a recording medium, the internal state of the apparatus is measured, then any abnormal state in the apparatus is detected on the basis of abnormal state decision data, and the detected state is transmitted to an external information processor. The apparatus comprises a means for measuring first data relative to the apparatus; a first memory means for storing second data to make a decision as to an abnormal state of the measured first data; a means for generating third data relative to maintenance of the apparatus on the basis of the first and second data; and an output means for delivering the third data as an output.Type: GrantFiled: October 12, 2001Date of Patent: December 28, 2004Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Hidekazu Kamon, Eiji Tadokoro
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Patent number: 6816967Abstract: An electronic device receives data containing content data transmitted through a bus in the form of a packet. The electronic equipment has a receiving portion, a judgment portion and an output controller. The receiving portion receives the data transmitted in the form of a packet through the bus. The judgment portion extracts copyright information from the data supplied from the reception portion, and judges on the basis of the copyright information thus extracted whether the content data contained in the data received are allowed to be copied. The output controller is supplied with the judgment result from the judgment portion to generate notification data corresponding to the judgment result.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 2000Date of Patent: November 9, 2004Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Yuko Iijima, Eiji Tadokoro, Hiraku Inoue
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Publication number: 20040078668Abstract: According to the present invention, maintenance data about a plurality of distribution terminal devices which are different from each other in frequency with which they are in use and circumstances under which they are in use are transmitted to a host computer, whereby a lifetime of a semiconductor laser can be predicted and an occurrence of a trouble can be detected without receiving information from a user or shops in which the distribution terminal devices are installed.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 26, 2002Publication date: April 22, 2004Inventors: Hidekazu Kamon, Eiji Tadokoro
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Publication number: 20020057722Abstract: A data recording/reproducing apparatus wherein various data to be used for maintenance are measured, and parameters required for analysis of the maintenance data are prerecorded to realize prediction of the service life of a semiconductor laser and detection of occurrence of any trouble that may be derived therefrom. In this apparatus where data are recorded in and/or reproduced from a recording medium, the internal state of the apparatus is measured, then any abnormal state in the apparatus is detected on the basis of abnormal state decision data, and the detected state is transmitted to an external information processor. The apparatus comprises a means for measuring first data relative to the apparatus; a first memory means for storing second data to make a decision as to an abnormal state of the measured first data; a means for generating third data relative to maintenance of the apparatus on the basis of the first and second data; and an output means for delivering the third data as an output.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 12, 2001Publication date: May 16, 2002Applicant: SONY CORPORATIONInventors: Hidekazu Kamon, Eiji Tadokoro
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Patent number: 5974012Abstract: An error voltage which includes serious fluctuation due to noise is applied to a LPF, and high frequency component due to noise is removed. The error voltage supplied through the LPF and a reference level, for example, 0-level voltage are supplied to a comparator. The comparator compares magnitude of theses two voltage each other, and outputs a signal which indicates polarity corresponding to the comparison result. As described herein above, by removing high frequency component included in the error voltage to be supplied to the comparator with the LPF, the polarity signal with reduced fluctuation due to noise and good quality can be obtained. Thus the polarity of an error voltage for controlling rotation of a disc can be judged correctly.Type: GrantFiled: August 6, 1997Date of Patent: October 26, 1999Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Takashi Ohmori, Eiji Tadokoro