Patents by Inventor Ichiro Onuki

Ichiro Onuki 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: 9854146
    Abstract: A pair of pupil regions of an exit pupil, through which light beams received by a pair of photoelectric conversion units included in a pixel portion of a first image sensor respectively pass, are overlapped. A pair of pupil regions of an exit pupil, through which light beams received by a pair of photoelectric conversion units included in a pixel portion of a second image sensor respectively pass, are overlapped. A second base length, which is a distance between centroids of the pair of pupil regions corresponding to the pair of photoelectric conversion units included in the pixel portion of the second image sensor, is longer than a first base length, which is a distance between centroids of the pair of pupil regions corresponding to the pair of photoelectric conversion units included in the pixel portion of the first image sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Ichiro Onuki, Hirohito Kai
  • Publication number: 20160349522
    Abstract: A pair of pupil regions of an exit pupil, through which light beams received by a pair of photoelectric conversion units included in a pixel portion of a first image sensor respectively pass, are overlapped. A pair of pupil regions of an exit pupil, through which light beams received by a pair of photoelectric conversion units included in a pixel portion of a second image sensor respectively pass, are overlapped. A second base length, which is a distance between centroids of the pair of pupil regions corresponding to the pair of photoelectric conversion units included in the pixel portion of the second image sensor, is longer than a first base length, which is a distance between centroids of the pair of pupil regions corresponding to the pair of photoelectric conversion units included in the pixel portion of the first image sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2016
    Publication date: December 1, 2016
    Inventors: Ichiro Onuki, Hirohito Kai
  • Patent number: 9490281
    Abstract: An image sensor comprising a plurality of image sensing pixel groups is provided. Each of the image sensing pixel groups has a plurality of first pixels each having photoelectric conversion portions arrayed in first and second directions for first and second numbers of divisions, respectively, and a plurality of second pixels each having photoelectric conversion portions arrayed in the first and second directions for third and fourth numbers of divisions, respectively. The photoelectric conversion portions comprising the first pixel and the second pixel have a function of photoelectrically converting a plurality of images formed by divided light fluxes of a light flux from an imaging optical system and outputting a focus detection signal for phase difference detection. The first and third numbers of division are coprime natural numbers, and the second and fourth numbers of divisions are coprime natural numbers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koichi Fukuda, Ryo Yamasaki, Makoto Oikawa, Ichiro Onuki, Hideaki Yamamoto, Akihiro Nishio
  • Patent number: 9204067
    Abstract: An image sensor comprises a first imaging pixel and a second imaging pixel each of which detects an object image formed by a photographing optical system and generates a recording image. Each of the first imaging pixel and the second imaging pixel comprises a plurality of photoelectric conversion units segmented in a first direction, the plurality of photoelectric conversion units have an ability of photoelectrically converting images formed by split light beams out of a light beam from the photographing optical system and outputting focus detection signals to be used to detect a phase difference. A base-line length of photoelectric conversion units to be used to detect the phase difference included in the first imaging pixel is longer than that of photoelectric conversion units to be used to detect the phase difference included in the second imaging pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ichiro Onuki, Koichi Fukuda, Akihiro Nishio, Hideaki Yamamoto, Ryo Yamasaki, Makoto Oikawa
  • Patent number: 9167148
    Abstract: An image capture apparatus includes: an image sensor having a plurality of pixels that photoelectrically convert an object image formed by an imaging optical system, each of the pixels having one microlens and a photoelectric conversion portion that has been divided into a plurality of portions; a focus detection unit configured to correct an image shift amount detected with a phase difference detection method using focus detection signal arrays of two images obtained by the photoelectric conversion portions divided into a plurality of portions; and a controller that calculates information corresponding to a movement amount of a lens of the imaging optical system based on the image shift amount detected and corrected by the focus detection unit, and controls movement of the lens of the imaging optical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Ichiro Onuki, Akihiro Nishio, Koichi Fukuda, Yoshihito Tamaki, Yuki Yoshimura
  • Publication number: 20150222834
    Abstract: A solid-state image sensor which comprises a pixel group in which unit pixels each including a microlens and a plurality of photo-electric converters are arrayed two-dimensionally, wherein a shielding unit that shields part of all of a plurality of photo-electric converters corresponding to a single microlens is provided in a portion of the unit pixels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2015
    Publication date: August 6, 2015
    Inventors: Akihiro Nishio, Ichiro Onuki, Koichi Fukuda, Ryo Yamasaki, Hideaki Yamamoto, Makoto Oikawa
  • Publication number: 20150172577
    Abstract: An image sensor comprises a first imaging pixel and a second imaging pixel each of which detects an object image formed by a photographing optical system and generates a recording image. Each of the first imaging pixel and the second imaging pixel comprises a plurality of photoelectric conversion units segmented in a first direction, the plurality of photoelectric conversion units have an ability of photoelectrically converting images formed by split light beams out of a light beam from the photographing optical system and outputting focus detection signals to be used to detect a phase difference. A base-line length of photoelectric conversion units to be used to detect the phase difference included in the first imaging pixel is longer than that of photoelectric conversion units to be used to detect the phase difference included in the second imaging pixel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2015
    Publication date: June 18, 2015
    Inventors: Ichiro Onuki, Koichi Fukuda, Akihiro Nishio, Hideaki Yamamoto, Ryo Yamasaki, Makoto Oikawa
  • Patent number: 9025060
    Abstract: A solid-state image sensor which comprises a pixel group in which unit pixels each including a microlens and a plurality of photo-electric converters are arrayed two-dimensionally, wherein a shielding unit that shields part of all of a plurality of photo-electric converters corresponding to a single microlens is provided in a portion of the unit pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akihiro Nishio, Ichiro Onuki, Koichi Fukuda, Ryo Yamasaki, Hideaki Yamamoto, Makoto Oikawa
  • Patent number: 9001262
    Abstract: An image sensor comprises a first imaging pixel and a second imaging pixel each of which detects an object image formed by a photographing optical system and generates a recording image. Each of the first imaging pixel and the second imaging pixel comprises a plurality of photoelectric conversion units segmented in a first direction, the plurality of photoelectric conversion units have an ability of photoelectrically converting images formed by split light beams out of a light beam from the photographing optical system and outputting focus detection signals to be used to detect a phase difference. A base-line length of photoelectric conversion units to be used to detect the phase difference included in the first imaging pixel is longer than that of photoelectric conversion units to be used to detect the phase difference included in the second imaging pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ichiro Onuki, Koichi Fukuda, Akihiro Nishio, Hideaki Yamamoto, Ryo Yamasaki, Makoto Oikawa
  • Publication number: 20150070548
    Abstract: An image sensor comprising a plurality of image sensing pixel groups is provided. Each of the image sensing pixel groups has a plurality of first pixels each having photoelectric conversion portions arrayed in first and second directions for first and second numbers of divisions, respectively, and a plurality of second pixels each having photoelectric conversion portions arrayed in the first and second directions for third and fourth numbers of divisions, respectively. The photoelectric conversion portions comprising the first pixel and the second pixel have a function of photoelectrically converting a plurality of images formed by divided light fluxes of a light flux from an imaging optical system and outputting a focus detection signal for phase difference detection. The first and third numbers of division are coprime natural numbers, and the second and fourth numbers of divisions are coprime natural numbers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2014
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Inventors: Koichi Fukuda, Ryo Yamasaki, Makoto Oikawa, Ichiro Onuki, Hideaki Yamamoto, Akihiro Nishio
  • Patent number: 8964079
    Abstract: An image sensor comprising a plurality of image sensing pixel groups is provided. Each of the image sensing pixel groups has a plurality of first pixels each having photoelectric conversion portions arrayed in first and second directions for first and second numbers of divisions, respectively, and a plurality of second pixels each having photoelectric conversion portions arrayed in the first and second directions for third and fourth numbers of divisions, respectively. The photoelectric conversion portions comprising the first pixel and the second pixel have a function of photoelectrically converting a plurality of images formed by divided light fluxes of a light flux from an imaging optical system and outputting a focus detection signal for phase difference detection. The first and third numbers of division are coprime natural numbers, and the second and fourth numbers of divisions are coprime natural numbers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koichi Fukuda, Ryo Yamasaki, Makoto Oikawa, Ichiro Onuki, Hideaki Yamamoto, Akihiro Nishio
  • Patent number: 8913175
    Abstract: An image sensor that output a signal for detecting a focus state of a photographing lens. The image sensor includes a microlens; a light-receiving pixel; a first focus state detection pixel pair for outputting a focus state detection signal, in which aperture areas of the first focus state detection pixel pair are small in comparison to the light-receiving pixel; and a second focus state detection pixel pair for outputting a focus state detection signal, in which aperture areas of the second focus state detection pixel pair are small in comparison to the light-receiving pixel, wherein the second focus state detection pixel pair is arranged at a position that is shifted by a predetermined amount relative to each aperture position, with respect to the microlens of the first focus state detection pixel pair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akihiko Nagano, Ichiro Onuki, Makoto Takamiya, Makoto Oikawa, Yoshitaka Hashimoto, Fumihiro Kajimura, Yasuo Suda
  • Patent number: 8711270
    Abstract: A focus detection device having imaging pixels and focus-detecting pixels using a phase-difference focus detection method implements high-precision focus detection. In the focus detection device, a plurality of pixels each having a photoelectric conversion unit for converting an incident light flux into signal charges, and a microlens having a focus position near the photoelectric conversion unit are arranged. The plurality of pixels include a plurality of imaging pixels for generating a shot image, and a plurality of focus-detecting pixels for generating an image signal for focus detection by the phase-difference focus detection method. An opening for giving a pupil division function to the focus-detecting pixel is formed using electrodes arranged to read out signal charges from the photoelectric conversion unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ichiro Onuki, Akihiko Nagano, Makoto Takamiya
  • Patent number: 8675116
    Abstract: A focus detection apparatus includes an image forming optical system, an image sensing unit which photoelectrically converts the object image, and a focus detection unit which detects the focus state of the imaging optical system from a pixel signal from the image sensing unit. The focus detection unit includes a first focus detection pixel which divides the exit pupil of the image forming optical system in the first direction and receives a light beam, and a second focus detection pixel which divides the exit pupil of the image forming optical system in the second direction different from the first direction, and receives a light beam. The first and second focus detection pixels are periodically arranged near the lattice points of a 2-dimensional lattice formed from first lattice lines set in a predetermined unit area of the image sensing unit, and second lattice lines crossing the first lattice lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Ichiro Onuki
  • Publication number: 20130235253
    Abstract: An image capture apparatus includes: an image sensor having a plurality of pixels that photoelectrically convert an object image formed by an imaging optical system, each of the pixels having one microlens and a photoelectric conversion portion that has been divided into a plurality of portions; a focus detection unit configured to correct an image shift amount detected with a phase difference detection method using focus detection signal arrays of two images obtained by the photoelectric conversion portions divided into a plurality of portions; and a controller that calculates information corresponding to a movement amount of a lens of the imaging optical system based on the image shift amount detected and corrected by the focus detection unit, and controls movement of the lens of the imaging optical system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2013
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Ichiro Onuki, Akihiro Nishio, Koichi Fukuda, Yoshihito Tamaki, Yuki Yoshimura
  • Publication number: 20120300104
    Abstract: An image sensor comprises a first imaging pixel and a second imaging pixel each of which detects an object image formed by a photographing optical system and generates a recording image. Each of the first imaging pixel and the second imaging pixel comprises a plurality of photoelectric conversion units segmented in a first direction, the plurality of photoelectric conversion units have an ability of photoelectrically converting images formed by split light beams out of a light beam from the photographing optical system and outputting focus detection signals to be used to detect a phase difference. A base-line length of photoelectric conversion units to be used to detect the phase difference included in the first imaging pixel is longer than that of photoelectric conversion units to be used to detect the phase difference included in the second imaging pixel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2012
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Ichiro Onuki, Koichi Fukuda, Akihiro Nishio, Hideaki Yamamoto, Ryo Yamasaki, Makoto Oikawa
  • Publication number: 20120268634
    Abstract: An image sensor comprising a plurality of image sensing pixel groups is provided. Each of the image sensing pixel groups has a plurality of first pixels each having photoelectric conversion portions arrayed in first and second directions for first and second numbers of divisions, respectively, and a plurality of second pixels each having photoelectric conversion portions arrayed in the first and second directions for third and fourth numbers of divisions, respectively. The photoelectric conversion portions comprising the first pixel and the second pixel have a function of photoelectrically converting a plurality of images formed by divided light fluxes of a light flux from an imaging optical system and outputting a focus detection signal for phase difference detection. The first and third numbers of division are coprime natural numbers, and the second and fourth numbers of divisions are coprime natural numbers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2012
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koichi Fukuda, Ryo Yamasaki, Makoto Oikawa, Ichiro Onuki, Hideaki Yamamoto, Akihiro Nishio
  • Publication number: 20120249846
    Abstract: A solid-state image sensor which comprises a pixel group in which unit pixels each including a microlens and a plurality of photo-electric converters are arrayed two-dimensionally, wherein a shielding unit that shields part of all of a plurality of photo-electric converters corresponding to a single microlens is provided in a portion of the unit pixels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2012
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Akihiro Nishio, Ichiro Onuki, Koichi Fukuda, Ryo Yamasaki, Hideaki Yamamoto, Makoto Oikawa
  • Patent number: 8081843
    Abstract: An image-pickup apparatus is provided which allows a user to accurately and easily know the out-of-focus amount for various images or objects. The image-pickup apparatus which picks up an image of an object comprises a producing unit for producing a pair of object images, the object images being displaced from each other in accordance with a displacement of the object from an in-focus position in an optical axis direction, an image combining unit for superposing and combining the pair of object images produced by the producing unit into an image, and a display unit for displaying the image resulting from the combination by the image combining unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Ichiro Onuki
  • Publication number: 20110169997
    Abstract: An image sensor that output a signal for detecting a focus state of a photographing lens. The image sensor includes a microlens; a light-receiving pixel; a first focus state detection pixel pair for outputting a focus state detection signal, in which aperture areas of the first focus state detection pixel pair are small in comparison to the light-receiving pixel; and a second focus state detection pixel pair for outputting a focus state detection signal, in which aperture areas of the second focus state detection pixel pair are small in comparison to the light-receiving pixel, wherein the second focus state detection pixel pair is arranged at a position that is shifted by a predetermined amount relative to each aperture position, with respect to the microlens of the first focus state detection pixel pair.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2009
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Akihiko Nagano, Ichiro Onuki, Makoto Takamiya, Makoto Oikawa, Yoshitaka Hashimoto, Fumihiro Kajimura, Yasuo Suda