Patents by Inventor Hiroshi Endo

Hiroshi Endo 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).

  • IMAGING DEVICE CAPABLE OF REDUCING POWER CONSUMPTION
    Publication number: 20080049137
    Abstract: An electronic camera is provided with a power-saving S-AF mode and a C-AF mode as focus adjustment modes. In the S-AF mode, focus adjustment is performed upon half depression of a release button. In the C-AF mode, the focus adjustment is repeated during a shooting mode regardless of the half depression of the release button to simplify the focus adjustment of a shooting time so that shooting is smoothly performed. When the electronic camera is set to the shooting mode, an AF controller obtains an Ev value representing subject brightness. The Ev value is compared with a threshold value stored in a memory. When the Ev value exceeds the threshold value, the focus adjustment mode is changed to the S-AF mode. When the Ev value falls below the threshold value, the focus adjustment mode is changed to the C-AF mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2007
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Applicant: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroshi ENDO
  • Digital camera with zoom lens
    Patent number: 7336304
    Abstract: A zoom lens including front and rear elements, the front elements is set up so that the front elements are disposed at a position to satisfy the formula: T 1 ? Ha 1 + HH 1 + L + HH 2 + f 2 ? ( f 1 - L ) f 1 + f 2 - L + f 1 2 m - f 1 , where a length from the top of the front elements on the optical axis to the front main point of the front elements: Ha1, a main point of the front elements: HH1, a length from the rear main point of the front elements to the front main point of the rear elements: L, a main point of the rear elements: HH2, a focal length of the front elements: f1, a focal length of the rear elements: f2, a length from the object at the time of photography to the front main point of the front elements: m, and a length from the top of the front elements on the optical axis to the imaging plane: T1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Endo, Michio Cho
  • Compact digital camera with zoom lens system
    Patent number: 7317487
    Abstract: In a digital camera, a solid state imaging device is used to catch subject light so that an image signal is created. The digital camera contributes to effectively implementing further thinness as compare with the conventional ones. A focus lens is revolved between a position on the optical axis and a saving position coming into a hollow portion beside the CCD solid state imaging device, so that the focus lens comes into the hollow portion at the time of the collapse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2008
    Assignees: FUJINON Corporation, FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Akio Omiya, Yoshihiro Ito, Takehiko Senba, Hiroshi Endo
  • IMAGING DEVICE PERFORMING FOCUS ADJUSTMENT BASED ON HUMAN FACE INFORMATION
    Publication number: 20070280662
    Abstract: A human face is detected from an image. On the basis of a size of the detected face and a focal length of a taking lens, a subject distance is calculated. Further, a depth of field is calculated on the basis of the calculated subject distance, the focal length of the taking lens and a stop diameter. The calculated depth of field is analyzed. When it is judged that the depth of field is deep, shooting is performed as it is. When it is judged that the depth of field is shallow, the stop diameter is reduced to deepen the depth of field. In addition, sensitivity of a CCD image sensor is heightened to correct brightness of the image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2007
    Publication date: December 6, 2007
    Applicant: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroshi ENDO
  • Zoom lens system and image pickup apparatus including the same
    Patent number: 7304805
    Abstract: At least one exemplary embodiment is directed to a zoom lens system having a telephoto-type configuration at the telephoto end. When assuming that an Abbe number is vd, and a partial dispersion ratio is ?gF, this zoom lens system includes a refractive optical element having positive refracting power made up of a solid material that can satisfy the following conditions: ?2.100×10?3·vd+0.693<?gF 0.555<?gF<0.9 Thus, facilitating the configuration of a zoom lens system capable of appropriately correcting and/or reducing various aberrations, including a chromatic aberration straddling the entire zoom area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Endo, Kenji Obu
  • Method for fabricating magnetic head
    Publication number: 20070230061
    Abstract: The method for fabricating the magnetic head comprises the step of forming over a lower electrode a magnetoresistive effect film 16 with a polishing resistant film 20 formed over the upper surface, the step of forming a magnetic domain control film 24 over the entire surface of the lower electrode 12 including a region where the magnetoresistive effect film 16 has been formed, the step of selectively removing the magnetic domain control film 24 over the magnetoresistive effect film 16 by polishing with the polishing resistant film 20 as the stopper, the step of removing the polishing resistant film 20, and the step of forming an upper electrode 34 over the magnetoresistive effect film 16, from which the polishing resistant film 20 has been removed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2007
    Publication date: October 4, 2007
    Applicant: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventors: Hiroshi Endo, Yasuhiro Wakabayashi, Shin Eguchi, Tamotsu Yamamoto, Ei Yano
  • Method for fabricating magnetic head
    Publication number: 20070226987
    Abstract: The method for fabricating the magnetic head comprises the step of forming over a lower electrode a magnetoresistive effect film 16 with a polishing resistant film 20 formed over the upper surface, the step of forming a magnetic domain control film 24 over the entire surface of the lower electrode 12 including a region where the magnetoresistive effect film 16 has been formed, the step of selectively removing the magnetic domain control film 24 over the magnetoresistive effect film 16 by polishing with the polishing resistant film 20 as the stopper, the step of removing the polishing resistant film 20, and the step of forming an upper electrode 34 over the magnetoresistive effect film 16, from which the polishing resistant film 20 has been removed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2006
    Publication date: October 4, 2007
    Applicant: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventors: Hiroshi Endo, Yasuhiro Wakabayashi, Shin Eguchi, Tamotsu Yamamoto, Ei Yano
  • Liquid crystal lens, photographing apparatus and flash light emitting unit
    Publication number: 20070121072
    Abstract: The liquid crystal lens of the invention has an optically transparent liquid crystal plate which includes a plurality of liquid crystal pixels divided two-dimensionally, and a liquid crystal drive section which selects only a part of the liquid crystal pixels simultaneously and controls voltage application to the selected liquid crystal pixels. The liquid crystal drive section performs voltage application control to the selected liquid crystal pixels so as to form, in the liquid crystal plate, a refractive index distribution of light which transmits the liquid crystal plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2006
    Publication date: May 31, 2007
    Applicant: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Takeshi Misawa, Hiroshi Endo, Takashi Kato, Hitoshi Miyano
  • Optical system, and image pick-up apparatus using the same
    Patent number: 7206126
    Abstract: An optical system including a diffractive optical element, and an optical member for suppressing incidence of ultraviolet radiation on the diffractive optical element is disclosed. The optical member is disposed on a light incident side of the diffractive optical element. The optical member has optical power to achieve an optical system that has high optical performance and preferable environmental durability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroshi Endo
  • Lens barrel, photographic apparatus, and optical apparatus
    Patent number: 7194203
    Abstract: A lens barrel has its collapsed length which can be further decreased and its extended length which can be further increased. A photographic apparatus incorporates the lens barrel into its body. A lens barrel is equipped with a first gear which is rotatably supported by a straight-ahead key ring and rotates being driven by rotation of a middle tube and a second gear which receives driving force from the first gear and retracts a second lens group to a predetermined retracted position off the optical axis of a zoom lens during collapse and advances the second lens group onto the optical axis during extension. The second gear lacks teeth in that part which faces the first gear when the second lens group is at the retracted position during collapse. Consequently, the first gear runs idle while facing that part thereby holding the second lens group at the retracted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignees: Fujinon Corporation, Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akio Omiya, Yoshihiro Ito, Takehiko Senba, Hiroshi Endo
  • Image-taking apparatus
    Publication number: 20070019937
    Abstract: An image-taking apparatus includes an imaging device and a shooting lens of variable foal length, and generates image signals by forming a subject image entering through the shooting lens on the imaging device. The apparatus includes an angular-velocity sensor that predicts a shake that will occur at shooting by detecting a shake before shooting. The apparatus also includes a main CPU that controls exposure by adopting a shutter speed within a maximum shutter speed. The maximum shutter speed can be changed according to a result of shake detection and a focal length of the shooting lens to be used at shooting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2006
    Publication date: January 25, 2007
    Inventor: Hiroshi Endo
  • Image-taking apparatus
    Publication number: 20070014553
    Abstract: An image-taking apparatus includes a LED emission section that irradiates a subject with light by causing a LED to emit the light and a xenon-tube emission section that irradiates a subject with light by causing a xenon tube to emit the light. The light from the xenon-tube emission section has higher intensity than the light from the LED emission section. The image-taking apparatus also includes a shake detection section that predicts a shake that will occur at shooting by detecting a shake before shooting. The image-taking apparatus also includes an emission control section that causes the xenon-tube emission section to irradiate a subject with light when the detected shake is above a predetermined level, and causes the LED emission section to irradiate a subject with light when the detected shake is equal to or below the predetermined level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2006
    Publication date: January 18, 2007
    Inventor: Hiroshi Endo
  • Image-taking apparatus
    Publication number: 20070009162
    Abstract: A digital camera is provided with an emission section which emits independently controlled light to each of multiple emission areas and a light measurement/distance measurement CPU which calculates the amount of light to be emitted at actual emission based on the amount of reflected light of pre-emission and causes the emission section to perform actual emission with the calculated amount of emitted light. The light measurement/distance measurement CPU causes a relatively large amount of light to be emitted to a part of the multiple emission areas in comparison with the other emission areas when pre-emission is performed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2006
    Publication date: January 11, 2007
    Inventor: Hiroshi Endo
  • Zoom lens system and image pickup apparatus including the same
    Publication number: 20060285224
    Abstract: At least one exemplary embodiment is directed to a zoom lens system having a telephoto-type configuration at the telephoto end. When assuming that an Abbe number is vd, and a partial dispersion ratio is ?gF, this zoom lens system includes a refractive optical element having positive refracting power made up of a solid material that can satisfy the following conditions: ?2.100×10?3·vd+0.693<?gF 0.555<?gF<0.9 Thus, facilitating the configuration of a zoom lens system capable of appropriately correcting and/or reducing various aberrations, including a chromatic aberration straddling the entire zoom area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2006
    Publication date: December 21, 2006
    Applicant: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Endo, Kenji Obu
  • Image-taking apparatus
    Publication number: 20060263077
    Abstract: An image-taking apparatus includes a lighting section having LEDs that individually correspond to areas, into which a field is divided, and that each emit light to the corresponding one of the areas. The apparatus also includes a CCD and an AF section. The lighting section is configured to emit light to the field after an amount of emitted light for each of the divided areas is adjusted based on subject brightness information from the CCD and subject distance information from the AF section according to field conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2006
    Publication date: November 23, 2006
    Inventor: Hiroshi Endo
  • Imaging optical system and image capturing apparatus including imaging optical system
    Publication number: 20060256453
    Abstract: At least one exemplary embodiment is directed to an imaging optical system which includes a first lens unit having a positive refractive power and a second lens unit having a negative refractive power. The first lens unit includes a first lens sub-unit including a single lens having a positive refractive power, a second lens sub-unit including a diffractive optical part and having a positive refractive power, and a third lens sub-unit having a negative refractive power. The first to third lens sub-units are disposed in this order from the object side to the image side. The diffractive optical part can be convex towards the object side and the following condition can be satisfied: 0.05<L1/OTL<0.2 where L1 denotes a distance between the first lens sub-unit and the second lens sub-unit and OTL denotes the total optical length.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2006
    Publication date: November 16, 2006
    Applicant: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroshi Endo
  • Retrofocus type optical system
    Patent number: 7116497
    Abstract: Provided is a retrofocus type optical system including a lens or a layer made of a material satisfying the following conditions of the Abbe constant ?d and partial dispersion ratios ?gd and ?gF, ?d<30, ?gd<?3.333×10?3·?d+1.40, ?gF<?2.615?10?3·?d+0.67. In the case that this layer is disposed on the front side of the aperture stop, the layer is designed to have a positive refractive power, and in the case that the layer is disposed on the rear side of the aperture stop, the layer is designed to have a negative refractive index.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroshi Endo
  • IP telephone system
    Publication number: 20060217997
    Abstract: When a trouble is developed in an IP exchange (TM) 2 or a circuit (network) 5, a backup exchange 6 (backup TM) is switched over from a waiting system to an operating system, and all IP terminals Eqi inside lodgments A, B, . . . N also log out from the IP exchange (TM) 2, and transmit the IP addresses to the backup exchanges 6 (backup TM) inside own lodgment, respectively, and log in there with a result that the extension telephone calls inside own lodgment is made possible by a control of the backup exchange 6 (backup TM), and therefore, even when a fault occurs in the IP exchange or the circuit, the IP terminals inside the lodgment are backed up and the actuations of the IP terminals are continuously operated, and for example, the extension phone calls inside the lodgment can be realized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2006
    Publication date: September 28, 2006
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Sato, Shinji Saitou, Tadashi Saitou, Takahiro Sasaki, Fumio Urayama, Hiroshi Endo, Tatsuya Yoshida, Shinsuke Isono, Kaoru Mashiko, Takahiro Abe, Kazuhiko Kubo
  • Lens barrel, photographic apparatus, and optical apparatus
    Patent number: 7102831
    Abstract: A lens barrel has its collapsed length that can be further decreased by removing unnecessary space and bringing lens groups close to each other and a photographic apparatus incorporates the lens barrel. When the lens barrel is collapsed, at least a fourth lens group is retracted from a photographic optical axis by an advance/retract mechanism. In that case, a first lens group and third lens group are aligned along the optical axis and stuffed into the lens barrel, the fourth lens group is placed on the top, bottom, right, or left side of these lenses, and a second lens group is placed on the top, bottom, right, or left side of the first and third lens groups. This reduces the length of the lens barrel. During extension, the second and fourth lens groups are advanced onto the photographic optical axis by the advance/retract mechanism to extend the lens barrel greatly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignees: Fujinon Corporation, Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akio Omiya, Takehiko Senba, Hiroshi Endo, Yoshihiro Ito
  • Image-taking apparatus
    Publication number: 20060193622
    Abstract: An image-taking apparatus includes two-dimensionally arranged LEDs for emitting fill lights to eradiation areas. The image-taking apparatus also includes light-receiving sensors for respectively receiving reflected lights from the irradiation areas. The amount of the fill lights or the emission and ceasing of the fill lights are independently controlled so that a correct exposure can be obtained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2006
    Publication date: August 31, 2006
    Inventor: Hiroshi Endo