Patents by Inventor Hidetoshi Kei

Hidetoshi Kei 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: 20240027590
    Abstract: A range finding device comprising an image sensor and a measurement circuit that measures a distance to a predetermined position within a field of view of the image sensor based on time of flight of light, is disclosed. The range finding device generates data of a composite image of an image obtained by the image sensor and an image indicating a measurement result of the measurement circuit. The range finding device generates data of composite images for display and recording wherein the composite image for display and the composite image for recording differ from each other in a form and/or a composition position of the image indicating the measurement result.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2023
    Publication date: January 25, 2024
    Inventor: Hidetoshi Kei
  • Publication number: 20240015396
    Abstract: An image capturing apparatus used for image capturing in a state floating on a water surface, includes a first camera and a second camera that capture images, a float that generates a buoyant force for positioning one of the first and second cameras above the water surface and positioning the other under the water surface, a posture detection section that detects a vertical direction of the image capturing apparatus in the floating state, and central controllers that control the first and second cameras. Each central controller switches one of the first and second cameras, positioned above the water surface, to a first image capturing mode suitable for above-water image capturing, and the other positioned under the water surface to a second image capturing mode suitable for underwater image capturing, based on a result of detection performed by the posture detection section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2023
    Publication date: January 11, 2024
    Inventors: Masayoshi SHIBATA, Hidetoshi Kei, Takashi Yoshida
  • Patent number: 11838612
    Abstract: An electronic view finder unit provided in an image pickup apparatus is movable between a retracted state in which the electronic view finder unit is retracted in a main body and a projecting state in which the electronic view finder unit projects from the main body. The electronic viewfinder unit includes a viewfinder having a display device, an eyepiece portion, and a lens holder. The eyepiece portion is slidable between an inserted position and an extracted position in the optical axis direction of the lens. At the position where, in the projecting state, the eyepiece portion is extracted, the viewfinder is rotatable around an axis orthogonal to the optical axis of the lens. Both during the rotating operation of the viewfinder and in a state in which the rotating operation has completed, the movement of the eyepiece portion from the extracted position to the inserted position is limited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hidetoshi Kei
  • Publication number: 20230266642
    Abstract: A waterproof camera system that can easily perform underwater image pickup and overwater image pickup. The waterproof camera system includes an image pickup apparatus, a waterproof casing that hermetically stores the image pickup apparatus. The image pickup apparatus includes a first housing that includes a lens unit and a second housing that holds the first housing. The waterproof casing includes a first section that surrounds a circumference of the first housing and a second section that surrounds a circumference of the second housing. The waterproof camera system has buoyancy that floats the waterproof camera system on a water surface in both a first posture in which the first section of the waterproof casing is in an underwater side and a second posture in which the first section is in an overwater side in a state where the image pickup apparatus is stored.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2023
    Publication date: August 24, 2023
    Inventors: Takashi Yoshida, Hidetoshi Kei, Masayoshi Shibata
  • Publication number: 20230266641
    Abstract: A waterproof camera system that maintains a wireless connection state with an external device while floating on a water surface includes an image pickup apparatus equipped with a wireless module, a waterproof casing that hermetically stores the image pickup apparatus, and a float attached to the waterproof casing. An antenna unit of the wireless module is arranged at either a position with a height approximately equal to a water surface or a position separated from the water surface in an above water direction in each of a first position where the waterproof camera system floats on the water surface so that the image pickup apparatus can perform underwater image pickup and a second position where the waterproof camera system floats on the water surface so that the image pickup apparatus can perform above water image pickup.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2023
    Publication date: August 24, 2023
    Inventors: HIDETOSHI KEI, MASAYOSHI SHIBATA, TAKASHI YOSHIDA
  • Patent number: 11553122
    Abstract: An image capturing apparatus according to the present disclosure includes first protrusion portions which are formed in a circumferential shape centered on a rotation axis of a lens barrel on at least one of an inside of an exterior case and an outside of the lens barrel, and in a cross section including a tilt axis, a protrusion amount of the first protrusion portions is determined in such a manner that a clearance between the exterior case and the lens barrel is smaller than a clearance between an inner circumferential surface of the dome member and an outer circumferential surface where an outermost lens of the lens barrel is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hidetoshi Kei
  • Publication number: 20220201178
    Abstract: An electronic view finder unit provided in an image pickup apparatus is movable between a retracted state in which the electronic view finder unit is retracted in a main body and a projecting state in which the electronic view finder unit projects from the main body. The electronic viewfinder unit includes a viewfinder having a display device, an eyepiece portion, and a lens holder. The eyepiece portion is slidable between an inserted position and an extracted position in the optical axis direction of the lens. At the position where, in the projecting state, the eyepiece portion is extracted, the viewfinder is rotatable around an axis orthogonal to the optical axis of the lens. Both during the rotating operation of the viewfinder and in a state in which the rotating operation has completed, the movement of the eyepiece portion from the extracted position to the inserted position is limited.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2021
    Publication date: June 23, 2022
    Inventor: Hidetoshi Kei
  • Publication number: 20220103727
    Abstract: An image capturing apparatus according to the present disclosure includes first protrusion portions which are formed in a circumferential shape centered on a rotation axis of a lens barrel on at least one of an inside of an exterior case and an outside of the lens barrel, and in a cross section including a tilt axis, a protrusion amount of the first protrusion portions is determined in such a manner that a clearance between the exterior case and the lens barrel is smaller than a clearance between an inner circumferential surface of the dome member and an outer circumferential surface where an outermost lens of the lens barrel is formed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2021
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Inventor: Hidetoshi Kei
  • Patent number: 11218622
    Abstract: An image capturing apparatus includes an electronic viewfinder unit that can shift between a retracted state where the electronic viewfinder unit is retracted in a main body portion of the image capturing apparatus and an extended state where the electronic viewfinder unit is extended from the main body portion. The electronic viewfinder unit includes a holding cover that holds a pivoting unit where the pivoting unit can be rotated centering on a pivot shaft, and a pivot latch member that latches in a pivoting unit pivoting operation. The pivoting unit includes an electronic display unit, an eyepiece portion, an eyepiece window to cover the eyepiece portion, and a lens holder to hold a finder lens that guides light emitted from the electronic display unit to the eyepiece portion. When the pivoting unit is being rotated, the pivot latch member regulates shifting of the electronic viewfinder unit to the retracted state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hidetoshi Kei, Keita Iwai, Shingo Iwatani, Ryoji Okuno
  • Patent number: 11212428
    Abstract: An image-capturing apparatus includes a main body and a finder unit configured to transition between a retracted state and a projected state. The finder unit includes a non-rotatable portion provided with a rotation shaft, a rotatable portion that is rotatable around the rotation shaft and has an eyepiece, and a restricting member that restricts a transition from a pulled-out state to the retracted state, the eyepiece has an engaging portion and the restricting member has an engaged portion having a convex shape, the engaging portion and the engaged portion being engaged with each other in a transition between the projected state and the retracted state, and an engagement between the engaging portion and the engaged portion is released when the rotatable portion is rotated in the pulled-out state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ryoji Okuno, Hidetoshi Kei, Shingo Iwatani, Keita Iwai
  • Patent number: 11175564
    Abstract: An image capturing apparatus includes an electronic viewfinder unit configured to move between a stored state stored in a main body and a projecting state projecting from the main body, wherein the electronic viewfinder unit is held to be able to turn in the projecting state and is held not to be able to turn in the stored state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Keita Iwai, Ryoji Okuno, Hidetoshi Kei, Jiro Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 11115570
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a finder unit including a finder rotation unit movable between two states, a retracted state and a protruded state. The finder rotation unit is rotatably held in the protruded state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Keita Iwai, Ryoji Okuno, Hidetoshi Kei, Jiro Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20210195078
    Abstract: An image-capturing apparatus includes a main body and a finder unit configured to transition between a retracted state and a projected state. The finder unit includes a non-rotatable portion provided with a rotation shaft, a rotatable portion that is rotatable around the rotation shaft and has an eyepiece, and a restricting member that restricts a transition from a pulled-out state to the retracted state, the eyepiece has an engaging portion and the restricting member has an engaged portion having a convex shape, the engaging portion and the engaged portion being engaged with each other in a transition between the projected state and the retracted state, and an engagement between the engaging portion and the engaged portion is released when the rotatable portion is rotated in the pulled-out state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Publication date: June 24, 2021
    Inventors: Ryoji OKUNO, Hidetoshi KEI, Shingo IWATANI, Keita IWAI
  • Patent number: 10969656
    Abstract: A movable unit of an electronic apparatus is movable between an accommodated position within an apparatus body and a use position projected therefrom. The movable unit popped up by pop-up springs are further popped up by an assist lever and a toggle spring. The toggle spring urges the assist lever in a first arc direction and urges the same in a second arc direction opposite to the first arc direction after passing an inflexion point. The assist lever is brought into contact with a first latching pin when the movable unit reaches an end point of a movement stroke After the movable unit has reached the end point of the movement stroke, the assist lever is brought into contact with the first latching pin to urge the movable unit in the same direction as urged by the pop-up spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hidetoshi Kei
  • Patent number: 10951795
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus that is capable of positioning and holding a movable part at both a housing position and a projecting position without adding a lock releasing member. The movable part has a latching pin and a slide part. A fixed part holds the movable part slidably between the housing and projecting positions and is fixed to an apparatus body. A first energizing member energizes the movable part in a projecting direction. A lever has an engagement part and a contact part, is energized by a second energizing member, and is held by the fixed part. The movable part is held in the housing position when the latching pin engages with the engagement part. The contact part abuts on the slide part and energizes the movable part in the projecting direction when the movable part is in the projecting position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hidetoshi Kei
  • Publication number: 20210075946
    Abstract: An image capturing apparatus includes an electronic viewfinder unit that can shift between a retracted state where the electronic viewfinder unit is retracted in a main body portion of the image capturing apparatus and an extended state where the electronic viewfinder unit is extended from the main body portion. The electronic viewfinder unit includes a holding cover that holds a pivoting unit where the pivoting unit can be rotated centering on a pivot shaft, and a pivot latch member that latches in a pivoting unit pivoting operation. The pivoting unit includes an electronic display unit, an eyepiece portion, an eyepiece window to cover the eyepiece portion, and a lens holder to hold a finder lens that guides light emitted from the electronic display unit to the eyepiece portion. When the pivoting unit is being rotated, the pivot latch member regulates shifting of the electronic viewfinder unit to the retracted state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2020
    Publication date: March 11, 2021
    Inventors: Hidetoshi Kei, Keita Iwai, Shingo Iwatani, Ryoji Okuno
  • Patent number: 10887523
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus includes a main unit, a first display unit, and a second display unit. The first display unit is slidable with respect to the main body unit. When the main body unit and the first display unit are overlapped, the main body unit houses the second display unit in an area where the main body unit and the first display unit are overlapped. The second display unit moves to an area where the first display unit is not existed by a slide of the first display unit with respect to the main body unit and protrudes from an inside of the main body unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoichi Osada, Hidetoshi Kei
  • Publication number: 20200249547
    Abstract: An image capturing apparatus includes an electronic viewfinder unit configured to move between a stored state stored in a main body and a projecting state projecting from the main body, wherein the electronic viewfinder unit is held to be able to turn in the projecting state and is held not to be able to turn in the stored state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2020
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Inventors: Keita Iwai, Ryoji Okuno, Hidetoshi Kei, Jiro Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20200252530
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a finder unit including a finder rotation unit movable between two states, a retracted state and a protruded state. The finder rotation unit is rotatably held in the protruded state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2020
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Inventors: Keita Iwai, Ryoji Okuno, Hidetoshi Kei, Jiro Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20200159086
    Abstract: A movable unit of an electronic apparatus is movable between an accommodated position within an apparatus body and a use position projected therefrom. The movable unit popped up by pop-up springs are further popped up by an assist lever and a toggle spring. The toggle spring urges the assist lever in a first arc direction and urges the same in a second arc direction opposite to the first arc direction after passing an inflexion point. The assist lever is brought into contact with a first latching pin when the movable unit reaches an end point of a movement stroke After the movable unit has reached the end point of the movement stroke, the assist lever is brought into contact with the first latching pin to urge the movable unit in the same direction as urged by the pop-up spring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2019
    Publication date: May 21, 2020
    Inventor: Hidetoshi Kei