Patents by Inventor Hiroshi Nakaoka

Hiroshi Nakaoka 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: 20230292003
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes an image sensor, a memory device, and a processor. The image sensor includes first pixels and second pixels that are arranged two-dimensionally and that respectively receive visible light and invisible light entering through an image pickup optical system. Each of the first pixels and the second pixels has photoelectric conversion elements that receive light beams passing through different pupil areas of the image pickup optical system. The memory device stores instructions. The processor executes the instructions to detect focus detection results from signals output from the first pixels and signals output from the second pixels, determine a lens position of the image pickup optical system based on the focus detection results, and determine an exposure condition of a time of image pickup with the image sensor according to the focus detection results.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2023
    Publication date: September 14, 2023
    Inventors: SATOSHI SHODA, HIROSHI NAKAOKA
  • Publication number: 20230291981
    Abstract: An apparatus records, as a single file, visible light images of a plurality of points of view, invisible light images of a plurality of points of view, meta information about visible light images corresponding to the visible light images of the plurality of points of view, and meta information about invisible light images corresponding to the invisible light images of the plurality of points of view.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2023
    Publication date: September 14, 2023
    Inventor: HIROSHI NAKAOKA
  • Patent number: 11523044
    Abstract: A focus detection apparatus comprises a determination unit that determines whether a first signal output from an image sensor satisfies a predetermined condition, and outputs first information indicating a result of the determination, a calculation unit that performs filter processing on a plurality of the first signals using predetermined coefficients at a predetermined cycle and outputs a second signal, a generation unit that generates second information showing an effect of the first signal which satisfies the predetermined condition on the second signal using the coefficients and plural pieces of the first information corresponding to the plurality of the first signals used in the filter processing, and a focus detection unit that detects a focus state based on a plurality of the second signals and the second information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroshi Nakaoka, Yohei Horikawa
  • Patent number: 11514556
    Abstract: An apparatus which is capable of displaying an image for a user to easily recognize the brightness and colors of an area of interest in the image and easily determine whether a subject is in focus. The amount of image shift between parallax image signals is calculated. The amount of blur in an area where an image shift occurs in the parallax image signals is determined based on the amount of image shift. A blurring process is performed on at least one of the parallax image signals based on the amount of blur. An image based on the display image signal generated based on the resulting parallax image signal is displayed on a display. The determined amount of blur is greater than the amount of blur shown by a subject image defocused by the amount of defocus converted from the amount of image shift.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroshi Nakaoka
  • Patent number: 11388335
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a first signal processing circuit that receives image signals from an image sensor and a second signal processing circuit that performs image processing on image signals output from the first signal processing circuit. The first signal processing circuit includes an evaluation circuit that determines evaluation values for image signals, a control circuit that controls an order according to which the image signals are output to the second signal processing circuit, based on the evaluation values, and a selection circuit that selects an image signal for a single frame from among the image signals for a predetermined plural number of frames, based on the evaluation values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Nakaoka, Yohei Horikawa
  • Publication number: 20210358090
    Abstract: An apparatus which is capable of displaying an image for a user to easily recognize the brightness and colors of an area of interest in the image and easily determine whether a subject is in focus. The amount of image shift between parallax image signals is calculated. The amount of blur in an area where an image shift occurs in the parallax image signals is determined based on the amount of image shift. A blurring process is performed on at least one of the parallax image signals based on the amount of blur. An image based on the display image signal generated based on the resulting parallax image signal is displayed on a display. The determined amount of blur is greater than the amount of blur shown by a subject image defocused by the amount of defocus converted from the amount of image shift.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2021
    Publication date: November 18, 2021
    Inventor: Hiroshi Nakaoka
  • Publication number: 20210112205
    Abstract: A focus detection apparatus comprises a determination unit that determines whether a first signal output from an image sensor satisfies a predetermined condition, and outputs first information indicating a result of the determination, a calculation unit that performs filter processing on a plurality of the first signals using predetermined coefficients at a predetermined cycle and outputs a second signal, a generation unit that generates second information showing an effect of the first signal which satisfies the predetermined condition on the second signal using the coefficients and plural pieces of the first information corresponding to the plurality of the first signals used in the filter processing, and a focus detection unit that detects a focus state based on a plurality of the second signals and the second information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2020
    Publication date: April 15, 2021
    Inventors: Hiroshi NAKAOKA, Yohei HORIKAWA
  • Publication number: 20210075960
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus comprises a first signal processing circuit that receives image signals from an image sensor and a second signal processing circuit that performs image processing on image signals output from the first signal processing circuit. The first signal processing circuit controls an order according to which the image signals are output to the second signal processing circuit, based on evaluation values for the image signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2020
    Publication date: March 11, 2021
    Inventors: Hiroshi Nakaoka, Yohei Horikawa
  • Patent number: 10737673
    Abstract: An electric-brake controller includes an antilock controller configured to control a pressing force of an electric brake. The electric brake includes a pressing member that is advanced by rotation of an electric motor in a forward direction to press a friction member against a brake rotation member. The electric brake includes a return spring that applies a spring force such that the pressing member is moved away from the brake rotation member. The antilock controller includes a pressing-force reducer that reduces the pressing force. The pressing-force reducer includes: a reverse-rotation-current supplier that supplies reverse-rotation current for rotating the electric motor in a reverse direction for a reverse-rotation-current supply time; and a forward-rotation-current supplier that supplies forward-rotation current, for rotating the electric motor in the forward direction, to the electric motor after the reverse-rotation current is supplied for the reverse-rotation-current supply time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroshi Nakaoka
  • Patent number: 10618505
    Abstract: A current whose magnitude corresponds to first pressing force-current characteristics set to prevent forward movement of a driven member from being stopped is applied to a motor when the driven member moves forward, and a current whose magnitude corresponds to second pressing force-current characteristics set to move the stopped driven member forward is applied to the motor when the driven member is stopped, in the case where a relationship between a pressing force as a force with which a friction member presses a rotating body and an energization current to the motor is defined as pressing force-current characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroshi Nakaoka
  • Patent number: 10425590
    Abstract: According to an aspect of the invention, an imaging apparatus includes: a read unit configured to perform a first driving that reads image signals from each of photoelectric conversion units and a second driving that simultaneously reads image signals from the photoelectric conversion units, the photoelectric conversion units receiving light that passes through pupil regions having different imaging optical systems; a compensating unit configured to perform a process of compensating a first linearity based on the image signals obtained by the first driving and a second linearity based on the image signals obtained by the second driving, each of the first and second linearities being a relation between an amount of light incident to the photoelectric conversion unit and a brightness of the image signals read by the reading unit; and a generating unit configured to generate an image signal for recording by adding the image signals compensated the first linearity by the compensating unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroshi Nakaoka
  • Publication number: 20190152451
    Abstract: An electric-brake controller includes an antilock controller configured to control a pressing force of an electric brake. The electric brake includes a pressing member that is advanced by rotation of an electric motor in a forward direction to press a friction member against a brake rotation member. The electric brake includes a return spring that applies a spring force such that the pressing member is moved away from the brake rotation member. The antilock controller includes a pressing-force reducer that reduces the pressing force. The pressing-force reducer includes: a reverse-rotation-current supplier that supplies reverse-rotation current for rotating the electric motor in a reverse direction for a reverse-rotation-current supply time; and a forward-rotation-current supplier that supplies forward-rotation current, for rotating the electric motor in the forward direction, to the electric motor after the reverse-rotation current is supplied for the reverse-rotation-current supply time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2018
    Publication date: May 23, 2019
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroshi NAKAOKA
  • Patent number: 10196049
    Abstract: A hydraulic brake system, including: a brake operation member; a brake device; a master cylinder; a communication switching valve; a low-pressure-source shut-off valve; a high-pressure source; a regulator; a pressure adjuster; and a controller, wherein, when a pressurizing state of the master cylinder is switched from a first pressurizing state to a second pressurizing state after initiation of an operation on the brake operation member, the controller executes a pressurizing-state switching control in which switching of a state of the low-pressure-source shut-off valve from an open state to a closed state and switching of a state of the communication switching valve from a closed state to an open state are carried out after a pressure-regulating state of the regulator has been switched from a first pressure-regulating state to a second pressure-regulating state by controlling the pressure adjuster to increase a second pilot pressure while the first pressurizing state is maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, ADVICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Nakaoka, Kiyoyuki Uchida, Masaki Maruyama
  • Patent number: 10142571
    Abstract: An image capturing apparatus comprises an image sensor including a plurality of photoelectric conversion portions for each of a plurality of microlenses, performs readout control using one of a first readout method of reading out a plurality of image signals from the plurality of photoelectric conversion portions corresponding to each of the microlenses, and a second readout method of reading out an added image signal from the plurality of photoelectric conversion portions corresponding to each of the microlenses, determines whether an image signal is read out using the first readout method or the second readout method, adds the plurality of image signals read out using the first readout method, and adjusts the added image signal obtained through the addition by an increased amount of the black level that has increased due to the addition as an adjustment value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroshi Nakaoka
  • Publication number: 20180316838
    Abstract: According to an aspect of the invention, an imaging apparatus includes: a read unit configured to perform a first driving that reads image signals from each of photoelectric conversion units and a second driving that simultaneously reads image signals from the photoelectric conversion units, the photoelectric conversion units receiving light that passes through pupil regions having different imaging optical systems; a compensating unit configured to perform a process of compensating a first linearity based on the image signals obtained by the first driving and a second linearity based on the image signals obtained by the second driving, each of the first and second linearities being a relation between an amount of light incident to the photoelectric conversion unit and a brightness of the image signals read by the reading unit; and a generating unit configured to generate an image signal for recording by adding the image signals compensated the first linearity by the compensating unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2018
    Publication date: November 1, 2018
    Inventor: Hiroshi Nakaoka
  • Patent number: 10104308
    Abstract: An image capturing apparatus comprises an image sensor, a driving unit configured to drive the image sensor, and a detection unit configured to detect a variation in amount of light within one frame image based on a plurality of image signals obtained by driving the image sensor with different accumulation periods by the driving unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroshi Nakaoka
  • Publication number: 20180162333
    Abstract: A current whose magnitude corresponds to first pressing force-current characteristics set to prevent forward movement of a driven member from being stopped is applied to a motor when the driven member moves forward, and a current whose magnitude corresponds to second pressing force-current characteristics set to move the stopped driven member forward is applied to the motor when the driven member is stopped, in the case where a relationship between a pressing force as a force with which a friction member presses a rotating body and an energization current to the motor is defined as pressing force-current characteristics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2017
    Publication date: June 14, 2018
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroshi NAKAOKA
  • Publication number: 20180093652
    Abstract: A hydraulic brake system, including: a brake operation member; a brake device; a master cylinder; a communication switching valve; a low-pressure-source shut-off valve; a high-pressure source; a regulator; a pressure adjuster; and a controller, wherein, when a pressurizing state of the master cylinder is switched from a first pressurizing state to a second pressurizing state after initiation of an operation on the brake operation member, the controller executes a pressurizing-state switching control in which switching of a state of the low-pressure-source shut-off valve from an open state to a closed state and switching of a state of the communication switching valve from a closed state to an open state are carried out after a pressure-regulating state of the regulator has been switched from a first pressure-regulating state to a second pressure-regulating state by controlling the pressure adjuster to increase a second pilot pressure while the first pressurizing state is maintained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2015
    Publication date: April 5, 2018
    Applicants: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, ADVICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi NAKAOKA, Kiyoyuki UCHIDA, Masaki MARUYAMA
  • Publication number: 20170310912
    Abstract: An image capturing apparatus comprises an image sensor including a plurality of photoelectric conversion portions for each of a plurality of microlenses, performs readout control using one of a first readout method of reading out a plurality of image signals from the plurality of photoelectric conversion portions corresponding to each of the microlenses, and a second readout method of reading out an added image signal from the plurality of photoelectric conversion portions corresponding to each of the microlenses, determines whether an image signal is read out using the first readout method or the second readout method, adds the plurality of image signals read out using the first readout method, and adjusts the added image signal obtained through the addition by an increased amount of the black level that has increased due to the addition as an adjustment value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2017
    Publication date: October 26, 2017
    Inventor: Hiroshi Nakaoka
  • Patent number: 9586488
    Abstract: A first ECU estimates whether the operation of a second actuator has been started, based on the variation of the hydraulic pressure with respect to the flow rate of hydraulic fluid outputted from a first actuator. Even in a case where the operation information of the second actuator is not received, the first ECU sets the control mode to a simultaneous operation mode, when it is estimated that the operation of the second actuator has been started. In the simultaneous operation mode, a controlled parameter of linear control valves on assumption that the second actuator is operating is set up, and a stop instruction of regenerative braking is transmitted to a hybrid ECU.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroshi Nakaoka, Kei Sato, Kazunori Nimura, Kentaro Oya, Takeshi Ishida, Masaki Nanahara, Tsuyoshi Yamasaki, Yoshito Tanaka, Masayasu Ohkubo