Patents by Inventor Goro Noto

Goro Noto 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).

  • Publication number: 20120169891
    Abstract: An image stabilization control apparatus includes a vibration correction unit configured to correct an image shake occurring due to vibration, a first vibration detection unit configured to detect and output an angular velocity of the vibration, a second vibration detection unit configured to detect and output an acceleration of the vibration, a first extractor configured to extract a signal in a predetermined frequency band based on an output of the first vibration detection unit, a second extractor configured to extract a signal in a predetermined frequency band based on an output of the second vibration detection unit, an output correction unit configured to correct the output of the first vibration detection unit based on the signals extracted by the first and second extractors, and a driving unit configured to drive the vibration correction unit based on the output of the first vibration detection unit as corrected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2012
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koichi Washisu, Goro Noto, Junichi Saito
  • Patent number: 8159545
    Abstract: An image stabilization control apparatus includes a vibration correction unit configured to correct an image shake occurring due to vibration, a first vibration detection unit configured to detect and output an angular velocity of the vibration, a second vibration detection unit configured to detect and output an acceleration of the vibration, a first extractor configured to extract a signal in a predetermined frequency band based on an output of the first vibration detection unit, a second extractor configured to extract a signal in a predetermined frequency band based on an output of the second vibration detection unit, an output correction unit configured to correct the output of the first vibration detection unit based on the signals extracted by the first and second extractors, and a driving unit configured to drive the vibration correction unit based on the output of the first vibration detection unit as corrected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koichi Washisu, Goro Noto, Junichi Saito
  • Patent number: 8135269
    Abstract: An optical device includes a shooting optical system including an AF lens, an AF lens driving apparatus for driving the AF lens, a detection unit for detecting a defocus amount corresponding to a difference between an image pickup position of an object and an imaging position of the object which is formed by the shooting optical system, and a control unit for drive-controlling the AF lens driving apparatus to reduce the defocus amount. The control unit detects a shooting magnification of the shooting optical system and changes a method of controlling the AF lens driving apparatus to reduce the defocus amount based on the shooting magnification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Goro Noto, Shinji Imada
  • Publication number: 20120038783
    Abstract: An image stabilizer has a shooting optical system shooting an object whose principal point moves between first and second principal points in an optical axis direction, an acceleration detector detecting acceleration applied to the image stabilizer and disposed between the first and second principal points in the optical axis direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2010
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Goro Noto, Shinichi Masuda
  • Patent number: 8023809
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a vibration correction unit configured to correct an image shake occurring due to vibration, a first detection unit configured to detect an angular velocity of the vibration, a second detection unit configured to detect an acceleration of the vibration, a calculation unit configured to calculate a correction value based on the output of the first detection unit and the output of the second detection unit, an output correction unit configured to correct an output of the first detection unit based on the correction value and to change a frequency characteristic of a signal based on the output of the first detection unit to apply an apparent frequency-dependent characteristic to the correction value, and a driving unit configured to drive the vibration correction unit based on an output of the first detection unit, an output of the output correction unit, or a combined output thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koichi Washisu, Goro Noto, Junichi Saito
  • Publication number: 20110187917
    Abstract: In an optical device including an optical system to form an optical image of an object to be photographed, an image capture unit to convert the optical image of the object to be photographed into an electrical signal, and an optical device arranged on the front surface of the image capture unit, a water repellent layer or a structure with a three-dimensional pattern to reduce the adhesive force of an alien substance is provided on a surface of the optical element on the opposite side of the optical system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2010
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Goro Noto
  • Patent number: 7948552
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus which can remove a dust stuck to a surface of an optical member such as a cover glass or an optical filter without damaging the surface of the optical member, and which can take a good image without imaging shadows of the dust stuck to the surface of the optical member. An image pickup apparatus comprises an optical element, an image pickup device, and a drive unit. The drive unit applies voltage to a non-uniform electric field generating device and moving the non-uniform electric field generating device to scan an optical incidence plane of the optical element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Goro Noto
  • Publication number: 20110069217
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes a magnification information acquisition unit configured to acquire information on an image pickup magnification of an image pickup optical system, and a controller configured to select a first focus control that stops a focus control after an on-focus state of the image pickup optical system is obtained by the focus control, and a second focus control that continues the focus control even after the on-focus state of the image pickup optical system is obtained by the focus control. The controller sets the first focus control mode when the information on the image pickup magnification is information corresponding to image pickup magnification smaller than a predetermined value, and the controller sets the second focus control mode when the information on the image pickup magnification is information corresponding to image pickup magnification equal to or larger than the predetermined value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2010
    Publication date: March 24, 2011
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shinji IMADA, Goro NOTO
  • Publication number: 20110063458
    Abstract: An image stabilization control apparatus including a mechanism which causes a vibration when the mechanism moves is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a vibration correction unit configured to correct image shake occurring due to vibration applied to the image stabilization control apparatus. A correction value of an angular velocity of the vibration is calculated based on signals based on the angular velocity and an acceleration of the vibration, frequency bands of the signals are narrowed. During the mechanism is moving, the image shake is corrected by driving the vibration correction unit based on the angular velocity of the vibration which is corrected by the corrected value calculated before the mechanism moves.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2009
    Publication date: March 17, 2011
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koichi Washisu, Goro Noto, Junichi Saito
  • Patent number: 7903158
    Abstract: This invention can suppress adhesion of dust to the surface of an optical filter and the cover glass surface of a solid-state image sensor without any optically adverse effect. An image capturing apparatus includes an image capturing device which converts the optical image of an object into an electrical signal, and an optical element (11) arranged in front of the image capturing device. Minute particles of a single layer (11a) are arrayed on a surface of the optical element on the object side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Goro Noto
  • Publication number: 20110050921
    Abstract: The image stabilizing apparatus includes a base member, a first member shiftable with respect to the base member in a direction orthogonal to an optical axis direction, a first actuator shifting the first member with respect to the base member, an image-pickup element constituted by a photoelectrical conversion element, a second member holding the image-pickup element. The second member is shiftable together with the first member in the direction orthogonal to the optical axis direction and rotatable with respect to the first member in a plane orthogonal to the optical axis direction. The apparatus further includes a second actuator rotating the second member with respect to the first member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2010
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Goro Noto
  • Publication number: 20110002679
    Abstract: An optical device includes a shooting optical system including an AF lens, an AF lens driving apparatus for driving the AF lens, a detection unit for detecting a defocus amount corresponding to a difference between an image pickup position of an object and an imaging position of the object which is formed by the shooting optical system, and a control unit for drive-controlling the AF lens driving apparatus to reduce the defocus amount. The control unit detects a shooting magnification of the shooting optical system and changes a method of controlling the AF lens driving apparatus to reduce the defocus amount based on the shooting magnification.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2010
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Goro Noto, Shinji Imada
  • Publication number: 20100315520
    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: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Publication date: December 16, 2010
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Goro Noto, Shinichi Masuda
  • Patent number: 7787031
    Abstract: An optical filter which can remove dust stuck to the incidence surface of incidence of light and reduce the mounting space. A filter body is adapted to have predetermined transmittivity as well as a piezoelectric characteristic. At least two electrodes are formed on the filter body. A drive voltage is applied between the at least two electrodes to vibrate the filter body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasushi Hozumi, Goro Noto, Isami Itoh
  • Patent number: 7758259
    Abstract: In an optical device including an optical system to form an optical image of an object to be photographed, an image capture unit to convert the optical image of the object to be photographed into an electrical signal, and an optical device arranged on the front surface of the image capture unit, a water repellent layer or a structure with a three-dimensional pattern to reduce the adhesive force of an alien substance is provided on a surface of the optical element on the opposite side of the optical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Goro Noto
  • Publication number: 20100157138
    Abstract: Provided is an optical device having image capturing means that converts an optical image of an object to an electric signal, and an optical element arranged before the image capturing means. In the optical device, an insulation member is arranged at a position facing the optical element in a way to be movable in a substantially entire area of a light entering surface of the optical element, and an electric control unit is provided for at least electrostatically charging or neutralizing the insulation member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2010
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Goro Noto
  • Patent number: 7742097
    Abstract: Provided is an optical device having image capturing means that converts an optical image of an object to an electric signal, and an optical element arranged before the image capturing means. In the optical device, an insulation member is arranged at a position facing the optical element in a way to be movable in a substantially entire area of a light entering surface of the optical element, and an electric control unit is provided for at least electrostatically charging or neutralizing the insulation member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Goro Noto
  • Publication number: 20100013937
    Abstract: An image stabilization control apparatus includes a vibration correction unit configured to correct an image shake occurring due to vibration, a first vibration detection unit configured to detect and output an angular velocity of the vibration, a second vibration detection unit configured to detect and output an acceleration of the vibration, a first extractor configured to extract a signal in a predetermined frequency band based on an output of the first vibration detection unit, a second extractor configured to extract a signal in a predetermined frequency band based on an output of the second vibration detection unit, an output correction unit configured to correct the output of the first vibration detection unit based on the signals extracted by the first and second extractors, and a driving unit configured to drive the vibration correction unit based on the output of the first vibration detection unit as corrected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2009
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koichi Washisu, Goro Noto, Junichi Saito
  • Publication number: 20100014847
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a vibration correction unit configured to correct an image shake occurring due to vibration, a first detection unit configured to detect an angular velocity of the vibration, a second detection unit configured to detect an acceleration of the vibration, a calculation unit configured to calculate a correction value based on the output of the first detection unit and the output of the second detection unit, an output correction unit configured to correct an output of the first detection unit based on the correction value and to change a frequency characteristic of a signal based on the output of the first detection unit to apply an apparent frequency-dependent characteristic to the correction value, and a driving unit configured to drive the vibration correction unit based on an output of the first detection unit, an output of the output correction unit, or a combined output thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2009
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koichi Washisu, Goro Noto, Junichi Saito
  • Patent number: 7567369
    Abstract: To provide an optical apparatus which controls an interface state to change a focal length by using an optical element having a container sealing first liquid that is conductive or polarized and second liquid that does not mutually mix with the first liquid with their interface in a predetermined form and electrodes provided in the container and of which optical characteristics change according to change of interface form due to application of voltage to the electrodes, and in particular an optical apparatus that controls a duty ratio of alternating current voltage applied to said electrodes for changing said interface form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2009
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ichiro Onuki, Goro Noto, Eriko Kawanami