Patents by Inventor Hiroaki Kuchiki

Hiroaki Kuchiki 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: 11800243
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus capable of preventing an idle capacity from running short during consecutive photographing without increasing a storage capacity of a storage device that temporarily retains data is provided. The image pickup apparatus comprising an image pickup unit configured to continuously perform image pickup and obtain raw data, a storage unit configured to temporarily store the raw data, a developing unit configured to develop the raw data, and a control unit configured to control so as to omit a part or all of a development processing of the raw data performed by the developing unit based on a usage status of the storage unit or a similarity degree between images of the raw data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kohei Furuya, Hiroaki Kuchiki
  • Publication number: 20230300472
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes at least one processor and at least one memory containing instructions that cause the at least one processor to be configured to function as an acquisition unit, a decision unit, and a generation unit. The acquisition unit is configured to acquire a plurality of images including at least one High Dynamic Range (HDR) image. The decision unit is configured to decide a peak luminance value of the composite image. The generation unit is configured to generate the composite image by executing additive composition processing using the plurality of images. The generation unit controls the additive composition processing so that a signal level of each pixel of the composite image falls within an output dynamic range whose maximum value is set to a signal level corresponding to the peak luminance value decided by the decision unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2023
    Publication date: September 21, 2023
    Inventor: HIROAKI KUCHIKI
  • Publication number: 20230007221
    Abstract: An apparatus includes an imaging unit, a setting unit configured to set automatic modes, an adjustment unit configured to adjust a white balance of a signal based on an automatic mode set by the setting unit, a recording control unit configured to record the adjusted signal into a recording unit, a display control unit configured to display the adjusted signal on a display unit, and an acquisition unit configured to acquire ambient light information, wherein the display control unit further adjusts a color balance of the displayed signal based on the set automatic mode and the acquired ambient light information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2022
    Publication date: January 5, 2023
    Inventors: Ryosuke Takahashi, Akimitsu Yoshida, Hiroaki Kuchiki, Kohei Furuya, Hideki Kadoi
  • Patent number: 11451719
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus that generates, from a captured image, a color temperature map that indicates color temperature information of light illuminating a captured scene for each area, is disclosed. The apparatus determines, for each area of the captured image, either an interactive light source that has a communication function, a non-interactive light source that does not have a communication function, or both of the interactive light source and the non-interactive light source is a light source that illuminates a corresponding area in the captured scene. The apparatus also generates the color temperature map using a result of determination made by the determining unit, color temperature information acquired from the interactive light source through communication, and color temperature information of the non-interactive light source that is estimated based on the captured image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hideki Kadoi, Ryosuke Takahashi, Hiroaki Kuchiki, Akimitsu Yoshida, Kohei Furuya
  • Publication number: 20220182540
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus capable of preventing an idle capacity from running short during consecutive photographing without increasing a storage capacity of a storage device that temporarily retains data is provided. The image pickup apparatus comprising an image pickup unit configured to continuously perform image pickup and obtain raw data, a storage unit configured to temporarily store the raw data, a developing unit configured to develop the raw data, and a control unit configured to control so as to omit a part or all of a development processing of the raw data performed by the developing unit based on a usage status of the storage unit or a similarity degree between images of the raw data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2021
    Publication date: June 9, 2022
    Inventors: Kohei Furuya, Hiroaki Kuchiki
  • Publication number: 20210274102
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus that generates, from a captured image, a color temperature map that indicates color temperature information of light illuminating a captured scene for each area, is disclosed. The apparatus determines, for each area of the captured image, either an interactive light source that has a communication function, a non-interactive light source that does not have a communication function, or both of the interactive light source and the non-interactive light source is a light source that illuminates a corresponding area in the captured scene. The apparatus also generates the color temperature map using a result of determination made by the determining unit, color temperature information acquired from the interactive light source through communication, and color temperature information of the non-interactive light source that is estimated based on the captured image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2021
    Publication date: September 2, 2021
    Inventors: Hideki Kadoi, Ryosuke Takahashi, Hiroaki Kuchiki, Akimitsu Yoshida, Kohei Furuya
  • Patent number: 10212349
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus is provided that includes a correction unit configured to optically correct image shake by moving a lens or an imaging element; a first detector configured to detect an angular velocity of the imaging apparatus; a second detector configured to detect a motion vector from a captured image; a calculator configured to calculate an object angular velocity on the basis of the angular velocity of imaging apparatus and the motion vector; a third detection unit configured to detect a cycle of a motion of the object on the basis of the object angular velocity; and a processor configured to detect a cycle of a motion of the object on the basis of the object angular velocity and set an exposure timing at the time of panning on the basis of the cycle of the motion of the object and correct image shake of the object by driving the correction unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroaki Kuchiki
  • Patent number: 10212348
    Abstract: An image stabilization apparatus used in an image capturing apparatus that includes a display unit and which causes the display unit to display a still image captured by the image capturing apparatus by following a moving main object comprises a control unit configured to control the display unit so as to extract an area for the main object from an image captured by the image capturing apparatus and to display the extracted area and a calculating unit configured to calculate a motion of the main object based on a blur detected by a first detector which detects the blur of the image capturing apparatus and a motion vector detected by a second detector which detects the motion vector from the image, wherein the control unit changes the area for the main object based on the motion of the main object before the still image is captured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroaki Kuchiki
  • Patent number: 10200612
    Abstract: An image stabilization apparatus includes: a first calculation unit that calculate an angular velocity; a second calculation unit that calculates a motion vector of an object; a third calculation unit that calculates a current position of an image stabilization unit; a fourth calculation unit that calculates an angular velocity of a motion of the object; and a control unit. The control unit controls, before the image capturing apparatus is released, the image stabilization unit so as to correct an image blur, moves, an output position of an image from the image capturing unit, and controls, after the image capturing unit has started exposure, so as to correct an image blur based on an angular velocity of the image capturing apparatus and an angular velocity of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroaki Kuchiki
  • Patent number: 10021305
    Abstract: An angular velocity of an image capture apparatus and a motion vector between images are detected. An object velocity is computed based on a comparison between a change amount of the angular velocities and a change amount of the motion vectors. Then, by changing an optical axis based on the object velocity during exposure, a panning assistance function capable of dealing with various panning operations can be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroaki Kuchiki
  • Publication number: 20180146142
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus is provided that includes a correction unit configured to optically correct image shake by moving a lens or an imaging element; a first detector configured to detect an angular velocity of the imaging apparatus; a second detector configured to detect a motion vector from a captured image; a calculator configured to calculate an object angular velocity on the basis of the angular velocity of imaging apparatus and the motion vector; a third detection unit configured to detect a cycle of a motion of the object on the basis of the object angular velocity; and a processor configured to detect a cycle of a motion of the object on the basis of the object angular velocity and set an exposure timing at the time of panning on the basis of the cycle of the motion of the object and correct image shake of the object by driving the correction unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2017
    Publication date: May 24, 2018
    Inventor: Hiroaki Kuchiki
  • Patent number: 9865064
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes: a division unit configured to divide each of a plurality of frame images into a plurality of regions on a screen; a motion vector detection unit configured to detect a motion vector for each of the divided regions; a separation unit configured to separate a subject vector that indicates motion of a subject from a background vector that indicates motion of a background, based on a panning speed of the apparatus that was detected by a panning detection unit and the motion vector detected by the motion vector detection unit; and an identification unit configured to identify a subject region by weighting the subject vector based on information regarding a distance of the subject that was detected by a distance detection unit for each of the divided regions of the plurality of frame images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroaki Kuchiki
  • Publication number: 20170318224
    Abstract: An image stabilization apparatus used in an image capturing apparatus that includes a display unit and which causes the display unit to display a still image captured by the image capturing apparatus by following a moving main object comprises a control unit configured to control the display unit so as to extract an area for the main object from an image captured by the image capturing apparatus and to display the extracted area and a calculating unit configured to calculate a motion of the main object based on a blur detected by a first detector which detects the blur of the image capturing apparatus and a motion vector detected by a second detector which detects the motion vector from the image, wherein the control unit changes the area for the main object based on the motion of the main object before the still image is captured.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2017
    Publication date: November 2, 2017
    Inventor: Hiroaki Kuchiki
  • Publication number: 20170264824
    Abstract: An image stabilization apparatus includes: a first calculation unit that calculate an angular velocity; a second calculation unit that calculates a motion vector of an object; a third calculation unit that calculates a current position of an image stabilization unit; a fourth calculation unit that calculates an angular velocity of a motion of the object; and a control unit. The control unit controls, before the image capturing apparatus is released, the image stabilization unit so as to correct an image blur, moves, an output position of an image from the image capturing unit, and controls, after the image capturing unit has started exposure, so as to correct an image blur based on an angular velocity of the image capturing apparatus and an angular velocity of the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2017
    Publication date: September 14, 2017
    Inventor: Hiroaki Kuchiki
  • Patent number: 9489747
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a detection unit configured to detect areas that have changed between a plurality of images, a calculation unit configured to calculate movement vectors for respective areas on the plurality of images, an estimation unit configured to estimate areas where a moving object exists in the plurality of images by using the movement vectors for respective areas calculated by the calculation unit, and information about the motion of an imaging unit, which captured the plurality of images, in the plurality of images, and an identification unit configured to identify moving object areas based on the changed areas detected by the detection unit, and the areas where a moving object exists estimated by the estimation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroaki Kuchiki
  • Publication number: 20160301871
    Abstract: An angular velocity of an image capture apparatus and a motion vector between images are detected. An object velocity is computed based on a comparison between a change amount of the angular velocities and a change amount of the motion vectors. Then, by changing an optical axis based on the object velocity during exposure, a panning assistance function capable of dealing with various panning operations can be provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2016
    Publication date: October 13, 2016
    Inventor: Hiroaki Kuchiki
  • Patent number: 9467672
    Abstract: An image processing device capable of stably performing white balance control. A first WB correction value is calculated according to an infrared light amount obtained from a first image. A second WB correction value different from the first one is calculated according to white pixels obtained from the first image. A third WB correction value is calculated based on the first and second WB correction values. White balance processing is performed on the first image using the third WB correction value, which is stored as a reference WB correction value. When the infrared light amount not smaller than a predetermined amount is obtained from the second image and also the number of obtained white pixels is smaller than a predetermined number, white balance processing is performed on the second image using the stored reference WB correction value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroaki Kuchiki
  • Publication number: 20160269636
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes: a division unit configured to divide each of a plurality of frame images into a plurality of regions on a screen; a motion vector detection unit configured to detect a motion vector for each of the divided regions; a separation unit configured to separate a subject vector that indicates motion of a subject from a background vector that indicates motion of a background, based on a panning speed of the apparatus that was detected by a panning detection unit and the motion vector detected by the motion vector detection unit; and an identification unit configured to identify a subject region by weighting the subject vector based on information regarding a distance of the subject that was detected by a distance detection unit for each of the divided regions of the plurality of frame images.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2016
    Publication date: September 15, 2016
    Inventor: Hiroaki Kuchiki
  • Patent number: 9432575
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an identification unit configured to identify a main subject region and a background region different from the main subject region with respect to a plurality of images captured by an image capturing unit, a composition unit configured to align the main subject regions of the plurality of images and to generate a composite image in which predetermined blur processing is applied to the background region, a detection unit configured to detect an amount of movement of the background region between the plurality of images based on an image of the background region or information about shaking of the image capturing unit with respect to the plurality of images, and a control unit configured to control an amount of blurring in the blur processing based on the amount of movement of the background region between the plurality of images detected by the detection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroaki Kuchiki
  • Patent number: 9402063
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus capable of properly performing white balance control on an image. A photographed image is divided into areas and a color evaluation value is acquired from each area. Infrared light is detected from each of areas of an object defined in association with the areas of the image. White balance correction is performed on the image using a mixed WB correction value calculated by mixing a first WB correction value calculated using the color evaluation values included in a white detection range set in a color space and a second WB correction value calculated using the color evaluation values acquired from areas each having an infrared light amount larger than a predetermined amount and included in a detection range of a predetermined color other than white, set in the color space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroaki Kuchiki