Patents by Inventor Hidekazu Suto

Hidekazu Suto 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).

  • Patent number: 9618721
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes: a lens mount section; an imager having an imaging plane on which an image having an image height obtained through a lens device mounted to the lens mount section is formed; an imaging process section correcting transverse chromatic aberration of an imaging signal obtained by the imager; and a control section determining an imager size in accordance with the diameter of the lens device mounted to the lens mount section and correcting a correction coefficient for the correction of transverse chromatic aberration at the imaging process section according to the size thus determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masamiki Kawase, Hidekazu Suto
  • Patent number: 9207426
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes: a lens mount section; an imager having an imaging plane on which an image having an image height obtained through a lens device mounted to the lens mount section is formed; an imaging process section correcting transverse chromatic aberration of an imaging signal obtained by the imager; and a control section determining an imager size in accordance with the diameter of the lens device mounted to the lens mount section and correcting a correction coefficient for the correction of transverse chromatic aberration at the imaging process section according to the size thus determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masamiki Kawase, Hidekazu Suto
  • Publication number: 20150192753
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes: a lens mount section; an imager having an imaging plane on which an image having an image height obtained through a lens device mounted to the lens mount section is formed; an imaging process section correcting transverse chromatic aberration of an imaging signal obtained by the imager; and a control section determining an imager size in accordance with the diameter of the lens device mounted to the lens mount section and correcting a correction coefficient for the correction of transverse chromatic aberration at the imaging process section according to the size thus determined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2015
    Publication date: July 9, 2015
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masamiki Kawase, Hidekazu Suto
  • Patent number: 9066004
    Abstract: Disclosed is an auto-focus apparatus utilized for an image pickup apparatus having a focus ring. The auto-focus apparatus includes an evaluation value calculator periodically calculating a plurality of evaluation values for a plurality of areas of a subject image based on high frequency components of image signals of the plurality of areas of the subject image; and a control unit, after detecting that the focus ring has been stopped, performing image processing on an area of the subject image where fluctuations of the evaluation values obtained just before the focus ring has been stopped exhibit a predetermined history, based on an evaluation value obtained in the area of the subject image exhibiting the predetermined history, and outputting instruction signals for moving a focus lens base on a peak of the evaluation values obtained by the image processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hidekazu Suto
  • Patent number: 8508655
    Abstract: An image capture apparatus on which a lens apparatus is detachably mounted, may include an image capture device, an image-signal processor, a communication unit, and a control unit. The image capture device may generate an image signal obtained by photoelectric conversion of subject light forming an image through a lens of the image capture apparatus. The image-signal processor may carry out image processing on the image signal photo-electrically converted by the image capture device. The communication unit may communicate with the lens apparatus. The control unit may carry out control to receive the correction information for lateral chromatic aberration and/or the correction information for light falloff at edges through the communication unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Hidekazu Suto
  • Patent number: 8373790
    Abstract: Disclosed is an auto-focus apparatus utilized for an image pickup apparatus having a focus ring. The auto-focus apparatus includes an evaluation value calculator periodically calculating a plurality of evaluation values for a plurality of areas of a subject image based on high frequency components of image signals of the plurality of areas of the subject image; and a control unit, after detecting that the focus ring has been stopped, performing image processing on an area of the subject image where fluctuations of the evaluation values obtained just before the focus ring has been stopped exhibit a predetermined history, based on an evaluation value obtained in the area of the subject image exhibiting the predetermined history, and outputting instruction signals for moving a focus lens base on a peak of the evaluation values obtained by the image processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Hidekazu Suto
  • Publication number: 20120257022
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes: an imaging section converting image light impinging thereon through a lens device into an electrical imaging signal; an imaging process section processing the imaging signal output by the imaging section; an output section converting the imaging signal processed by the imaging process section into an image signal in a predetermined format and outputting the image signal; a terminal for synchronization for connection with another imaging apparatus; and an imaging control section controlling imaging at timing in synchronism with the other imaging apparatus and putting the lens device in the same state of control as the state of control of the other imaging apparatus when the communication with the other imaging apparatus can be performed through the terminal section for synchronization.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Inventors: Hidekazu SUTO, Masamiki Kawase, Fumio Sekiya
  • Publication number: 20110249154
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes : a lens mount section; an imager having an imaging plane on which an image having an image height obtained through a lens device mounted to the lens mount section is formed; an imaging process section correcting transverse chromatic aberration of an imaging signal obtained by the imager; and a control section determining an imager size in accordance with the diameter of the lens device mounted to the lens mount section and correcting a correction coefficient for the correction of transverse chromatic aberration at the imaging process section according to the size thus determined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Inventors: Masamiki Kawase, Hidekazu Suto
  • Patent number: 7973852
    Abstract: Disclosed is an auto-focus apparatus including an evaluation value calculator periodically calculating evaluation values using high frequency components of image signals in a specific region of a subject image. The auto-focus apparatus further includes a control unit for outputting instruction values provided to a lens driver based on the evaluation values, conducting operation to search the peak of the evaluation values while moving positions of the focus lens, returning the lens to the position corresponding to the point at which the relative maximum has been detected after having detected the relative maximum of the evaluation values, obtaining the evaluation values calculated by the evaluation value calculator, and determining whether or not the evaluation value satisfies a prescribed condition; and a storage for storing determination results. In the auto-focus apparatus, the control unit determines whether or not the auto-focus apparatus includes abnormal portions based on the determination results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yujiro Ito, Hidekazu Suto
  • Patent number: 7944479
    Abstract: An image-capture apparatus having an intercom connecting unit, capable of voice communication with an external camera control unit (CCU) is provided. The apparatus includes a control unit, a warning-sound signal generator, a receiving unit, a voice synthesizer and a transmitting unit. The control unit outputs a warning-command signal when determining that a control-information signal value indicating a state of the apparatus varies from a predetermined standard. The warning-sound signal generator outputs a warning-sound signal corresponding to the warning-command signal. The receiving unit receives a multiplexed signal from the CCU and extracts an intercom-voice signal at the multiplexed signal. The voice synthesizer combines the intercom-voice signal extracted at the receiving unit with the warning-sound signal from the warning-sound signal generator to generate a voice-synthesized signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yujiro Ito, Hidekazu Suto
  • Patent number: 7755695
    Abstract: A camera system is disclosed which allows different types of lens apparatuses to be used in combination with a single image-taking apparatus without requiring changes of focus control signals on the side of the image-taking apparatus depending on the type of a lens apparatus mounted on the image-taking apparatus. The camera system includes an image-taking apparatus which outputs a focus control signal and a lens apparatus which includes a focus lens and is mounted on the image-taking apparatus. The lens apparatus includes a controller which produces a drive signal according to a type of focus of the lens apparatus based on the focus control signal and controls drive of the focus lens based on the drive signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignees: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha, Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Natsume, Kazumasa Yoshikawa, Yasuyuki Tomita, Katsumi Karasawa, Takashi Kameyama, Seiji Sato, Hidekazu Suto, Hirotsugu Terada
  • Patent number: 7620311
    Abstract: An auto-focus apparatus including an evaluation value calculator periodically calculating evaluation values using high frequency components of image signals in a specific region of a subject image, a distance measurement unit measuring a distance to a subject and output a distance measurement result, a control unit outputting instruction values based on the evaluation values and determining whether a subject image is in-focus or out-of-focus, and a storage storing the distance measurement results and lens positions. In the apparatus, after searching the peak of the evaluation values, the control unit returns the lens to the position at which the relative maximum has been detected, obtains evaluation values, stores lens positions and distance measurement results when the evaluation values satisfy a prescribed condition, and retrieves distance measurement results and lens positions when the number of times that results are stored reaches a prescribed number, and computes a correction amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yujiro Ito, Hidekazu Suto
  • Patent number: 7616252
    Abstract: A control apparatus for controlling a driver driving an optical element of an image pickup device to adjust a focus position of the image pickup device in the capturing of an image of a subject, includes a relative angle variation calculating unit for calculating a relative angle variation, a mode change detecting unit for detecting of a change of a mode of the relative angle variation through determining whether the mode of the relative angle variation, calculated by the relative angle variation calculating unit, is a stable mode involving a small amount of change or an unstable mode involving a large amount of change, and a focus position control process startup unit for managing a startup of a focus position control process controlling the focus position through controlling the driver in response to a pattern of the change of the mode detected by the mode change detecting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yujiro Ito, Hidekazu Suto, Shinji Takemoto
  • Patent number: 7612823
    Abstract: A control apparatus for controlling a driver driving an optical element of an image pickup device to adjust a focus position of the image pickup device in the capturing of an image of a subject, includes a local peak comparing unit for comparing a local peak of an assessment value, as a parameter for adjusting the focus position, with a local peak of an integrated luminance value, the assessment value assessing an out-of-focus level of the captured image of the subject on a per field image basis, and the integrated luminance value being obtained by integrating a luminance value of the captured image of the subject on a per field image basis, and a mode selecting unit for selecting, from among a plurality of prepared modes, a mode searching for a peak over the entire range of the assessment value based on the comparison result provided by the local peak comparing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yujiro Ito, Hidekazu Suto, Shinji Takemoto
  • Patent number: 7593053
    Abstract: Autofocus device has a lens-driving unit, a focal-point-position-detecting unit, and a distance measurement sensor that measures a distance to a subject. The device also has a control unit for controlling the lens-driving unit to drive the lens, thereby meeting the detected position of the focal point of the lens to an in-focus position. If a restart condition has not yet been satisfied after meeting the position of the focal point to the in-focus position to stop the focus operation, the control unit determines a switch of focusing on subjects based on the detected position of the focal point and a measured distance result by the distance measurement sensor and then restarts the focus operation based on a determination result thereof, thereby driving the lens to meet the position of the focal point to an in-focus position based on a measured distance result by the distance measurement sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yujiro Ito, Hidekazu Suto, Shinji Takemoto
  • Patent number: 7546030
    Abstract: Autofocus device has a lens-driving unit that drives a lens and a focal-point-position-detecting unit that detects a position of a focal point of the lens. The device also has a distance-measuring sensor that measures a distance to a subject and a control unit that performs a focusing operation to control the lens-driving unit to drive the lens, thereby meeting the position of the focal point of the lens detected by the focal-point-position-detecting unit to an in-focus position thereof. The control unit allows to be set a driving direction of the lens and a driving speed of the lens based on the position of the focal point of the lens detected by the focal-point-position-detecting unit and a distance measurement result measured by the distance-measuring sensor. The focusing operation then starts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yujiro Ito, Hidekazu Suto, Shinji Takemoto
  • Patent number: 7536095
    Abstract: An autofocus device comprising a lens-driving unit, a focal-point-position-detecting unit that detects a position of a focal point of the lens, a distance measurement sensor that measures a distance to a subject, and a focus-evaluation-value-calculating unit that calculates a focus evaluation value using a frequency component of an image signal in a particular region in an imaging frame. The device also has a user interface and a control unit that controls the lens-driving unit to drive the lens based on the focus evaluation value or the focus evaluation value, the position of a focal point of the lens, and a measured distance result measured by the distance measurement sensor, thereby meeting the position of the focal point to an in-focus position. The control unit controls the lens-driving unit, the distance measurement sensor and the focus-evaluation-value-calculating unit based on the autofocus contents set by the user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Hidekazu Suto, Yujiro Ito, Shinji Takemoto
  • Patent number: 7536096
    Abstract: An autofocus device comprising a lens-driving unit, a focal-point-position-detecting unit that detects a position of a focal point of the lens, and a distance measurement sensor. The sensor measures a distance to a subject based on a reference field of view for distance measurement and a field of view for distance measurement being offset outwardly from the reference field of view and/or a field of view for distance measurement having a field of view that is different from the reference field of view. The device has a control unit that controls the lens-driving unit to drive the lens to meet the position of the focal point of the lens to an in-focus position thereof. The focusing operation starts by setting the lens drive based on a representative value selected from measured distance results obtained by the distance measurement sensor and the position of the focal point of the lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yujiro Ito, Hidekazu Suto, Shinji Takemoto
  • Patent number: 7505678
    Abstract: A control apparatus for controlling a driver driving an optical element of an image pickup device to adjust a focus position of the image pickup device in the capturing of an image of a subject, includes a focus position control process startup unit for managing a startup of a focus position control process, a focus position control process executing unit for executing the focus position control process that is started under the control of the focus position control process startup unit, and a startup condition adjusting unit for adjusting a startup condition of the focus position control process, based on a change in a saturated luminance count contained in the image captured in the focus position control process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Hidekazu Suto, Yujiro Ito, Shinji Takemoto
  • Publication number: 20090009633
    Abstract: An image capture apparatus on which a lens apparatus is detachably mounted, may include an image capture device, an image-signal processor, a communication unit, and a control unit. The image capture device may generate an image signal obtained by photoelectric conversion of subject light forming an image through a lens of the image capture apparatus. The image-signal processor may carry out image processing on the image signal photo-electrically converted by the image capture device. The communication unit may communicate with the lens apparatus. The control unit may carry out control to receive the correction information for lateral chromatic aberration and/or the correction information for light falloff at edges through the communication unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2007
    Publication date: January 8, 2009
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Hidekazu Suto