Patents by Inventor Hiroaki Tobita

Hiroaki Tobita 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: 6734855
    Abstract: Three-dimensional image processing has two processes. In a first process, a three-dimensional space including only a horizon appears on a display screen. By drawing a stroke line in the space, a wall having the stroke line as the base line is set as a canvas. A picture drawn by a user is mapped onto the canvas, resulting in a three-dimensional picture. By repeatedly setting the canvases and pictures, a desired scene can be constructed. A desired three-dimensional scene can further be obtained by rotating the canvas or moving the viewing point. In a second process, the base line of the canvas is constantly displaced between a first curve, a second curve, and an interpolation curve. The three-dimensional image pasted on the canvas is moved in accordance with the movement of the canvas. Thus, it appears to the user that the three-dimensional image is animating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroaki Tobita, Hidenori Karasawa, Junichi Rekimoto
  • Publication number: 20040015625
    Abstract: An RF tag 25 is incorporated in a mouse 20, and an RF tag reader 15 is mounted on the main body side of a computer 10. When using the mouse 20 to a specified computer 10, a user moves the mouse close to the reader 15 to read identification information (ID) of the mouse 20, which is included in the RF tag 25. On the main body side of the computer 10, the mouse 20 is designated in accordance with the read ID and communication with the mouse 20 is set.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2003
    Publication date: January 22, 2004
    Inventors: Yuji Ayatsuka, Junichi Rekimoto, Shigeru Tajima, Ivan Poupyrev, Eduardo Agusto Sciammarella, Henry Owen Newton-Dunn, Nobuyuki Matsushita, Hiroaki Tobita
  • Publication number: 20030161014
    Abstract: In an image editing apparatus, a mouse and a display function as a drawing interface, such as a digital canvas, a palette, and a pen or a brush. A stroke input by a user by dragging the mouse is regarded as a hand-drawn operation with the pen or the brush. In the digital canvas, painting is performed by using inks having various attributes and activities such as texture and animation, based on the stroke input by the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2003
    Publication date: August 28, 2003
    Inventors: Hiroaki Tobita, Junichi Rekimoto
  • Publication number: 20020052918
    Abstract: At least a part of the three-dimensional community space is divided into regions and the right to use a region is sold at a particular price to a user who wants to obtain it. A user having the right to use a region is allowed to build an element such as a building or a signboard in the region via an avatar. If an attractive signboard with high originally is built, the region in which the signboard is built and also nearby regions become popular. As a result, the economic value of such a region becomes high. If desired, a user is allowed to resell his/her region via auction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2001
    Publication date: May 2, 2002
    Inventors: Junichi Rekimoto, Hiroaki Tobita, Hidenori Karasawa
  • Publication number: 20020018065
    Abstract: Three-dimensional image processing has two processes. In a first process, a three-dimensional space including only a horizon appears on a display screen. By drawing a stroke line in the space, a wall having the stroke line as the base line is set as a canvas. A picture drawn by a user is mapped onto the canvas, resulting in a three-dimensional picture. By repeatedly setting the canvases and pictures, a desired scene can be constructed. A desired three-dimensional scene can further be obtained by rotating the canvas or moving the viewing point. In a second process, the base line of the canvas is constantly displaced between a first curve, a second curve, and an interpolation curve. The three-dimensional image pasted on the canvas is moved in accordance with the movement of the canvas. Thus, it appears to the user that the three-dimensional image is animating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2001
    Publication date: February 14, 2002
    Inventors: Hiroaki Tobita, Hidenori Karasawa, Junichi Rekimoto