Patents by Inventor Jun Minakuti
Jun Minakuti 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).
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Publication number: 20120257076Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes: an image obtaining unit which obtains an image signal; an extraction position information obtaining unit which obtains information about an extraction position, where an image is extracted, from the image signal; a correction target value calculating unit which calculates a correction target value for correcting the image signal in accordance with the position information from an image center based on the extraction position information; an image correcting unit which corrects the image signal based on the correction target value; and an image extracting unit which extracts the image based on the extraction position information.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 27, 2012Publication date: October 11, 2012Applicant: Sony CorporationInventors: Daisuke SATOU, Atsushi UEDA, Jun MINAKUTI
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Publication number: 20120218439Abstract: An image processing device includes a color temperature estimating unit configured to estimate a color temperature of a light source in imaging, a white balance adjusting unit configured to perform first white balance adjustment in which white balance of an image signal is adjusted on the basis of the estimated color temperature when the estimated color temperature is within a predetermined color temperature range, and perform second white balance adjustment in which the white balance of the image signal is adjusted on the basis of the estimated color temperature even when the estimated color temperature is not within the predetermined color temperature range, and a color region extracting unit configured to extract a color region of a specific color by using the image signal to which the second white balance adjustment is applied.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 29, 2011Publication date: August 30, 2012Applicant: SONY CORPORATIONInventors: ATSUSHI UEDA, JUN MINAKUTI, DAISUKE SATOU
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Patent number: 8237812Abstract: Imaging signal obtained through exposure for divided exposure times is A/D converted to digital imaging signal. Dark current component is subtracted from the digital imaging signal. The result of subtraction is accumulated and stored in a first memory. Next, exposure for divided exposure times is performed with the imaging device shielded from light. The obtained imaging signal is A/D converted to digital imaging signal. Dark current component is subtracted from the digital imaging signal. The result of subtraction is accumulated and stored sequentially in a second memory. The digital imaging signal stored in the second memory is subtracted from the digital imaging signal stored in the first memory. Then the result of subtraction is output. The word length allocated to one pixel in the first and second memories is longer than the word length of one A/D converted pixel.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2008Date of Patent: August 7, 2012Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Mitsuaki Kita, Nobuyuki Sato, Masashi Wakatsuki, Shinya Ishibashi, Jun Minakuti, Takahiro Koyama
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Patent number: 8237811Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes: an imaging device generating an image signal on a subject image; a shooting control mechanism dividing an exposure to be made to the imaging device in an exposure period into a plurality of times of exposures; an adding mechanism adding individual image signals obtained by the plurality of divided exposures in sequence to generate a sum image signal; an amplification control mechanism amplifying the sum image signal using a predetermined amplification factor in a first period in the exposure period to generate an amplified image signal; and a display control mechanism displaying, on a display section, the amplified image based on the amplified image signal in the first period, and displaying, on a display section, an image based on the sum image signal in a period other than the first period in the exposure period.Type: GrantFiled: August 6, 2009Date of Patent: August 7, 2012Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Jun Minakuti, Takahiro Koyama, Shinya Ishibashi, Shigeru Tsujita, Masaomi Moritsu
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Patent number: 8233059Abstract: An image sensing apparatus includes: an image sensor which generates an electrical signal commensurate with an amount of incident light, and has a photoelectric conversion characteristic comprised of a linear characteristic area where the electrical signal is outputted after being linearly converted in relation to the amount of incident light, and a logarithmic characteristic area where the electrical signal is outputted after being logarithmically converted in relation to the amount of incident light; an exposure evaluation value detector which detects an exposure evaluation value based on luminance information acquired from a subject in sensing an image of the subject; and an exposure controller which acquires a setting value for exposure based on the exposure evaluation value detected by the exposure evaluation value detector to control exposure of the image sensing apparatus, wherein the exposure controller determines a subject luminance for exposure setting based on the exposure evaluation value, and conType: GrantFiled: May 26, 2005Date of Patent: July 31, 2012Assignee: Konica Minolta Holdings, Inc.Inventors: Koichi Kamon, Kazuchika Sato, Jun Minakuti
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Patent number: 8213063Abstract: An image sensing apparatus including an image sensor having a first area and a second area and a gradation converter for applying a gradation conversion to an image signal is provided with a gradation conversion LUT storage storing at least two kinds of gradation conversion information. The image sensing apparatus is also provided with a gradation conversion information rewriting section for rewriting the gradation conversion information into new gradation conversion information. There can be provided an image sensing apparatus capable of carrying out a precise gradation conversion even in the case that the inflection point between the first area and the second area of the image sensor constantly changes.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 2005Date of Patent: July 3, 2012Assignee: Konica Minolta Holdings, Inc.Inventors: Koichi Kamon, Kazuchika Sato, Jun Minakuti, Tetuya Katagiri
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Publication number: 20110222793Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes: a conversion section converting a moving object image being an image in a region corresponding to a moving object included in a reference image and other images constituting images generated under different exposure conditions so that the moving object image in the reference image corresponding to the moving object has the exposure levels of the other images so as to generate an exposure level converted moving object image for each of the other images; a substitution section substituting the generated exposure level converted moving object image with a region corresponding to an exposure level converted moving object image of each of the other images corresponding to an exposure level as a reference exposure level at the time of generating the exposure level converted moving object image to generate a substitute image for each of the other images; and a combination section combining the substitute image and the reference image to generate a combined image.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 10, 2011Publication date: September 15, 2011Applicant: Sony CorporationInventors: Atsushi Ueda, Jun Minakuti
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Patent number: 7978240Abstract: There is provided an imaging unit: including an image sensor with a number of pixels arranged in a matrix, the pixels having color pixels where color filters are disposed, and white pixels where the color filters are not disposed; a sampling circuit section for sampling pixel signals generated in the image sensor; and a main controller for controlling the image sensor and/or the sampling circuit section to sample the pixel signals generated in the white pixels or the pixel signals generated in the color pixels sequentially in a time-series manner.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2006Date of Patent: July 12, 2011Assignee: Konica Minolta Photo Imaging, Inc.Inventors: Toshihito Kido, Jun Minakuti, Haruki Nakayama, Dai Shintani, Tsutomu Honda
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Publication number: 20110032395Abstract: There is provided an imaging unit: including an image sensor with a number of pixels arranged in a matrix, the pixels having color pixels where color filters are disposed, and white pixels where the color filters are not disposed; a sampling circuit section for sampling pixel signals generated in the image sensor; and a main controller for controlling the image sensor and/or the sampling circuit section to sample the pixel signals generated in the white pixels or the pixel signals generated in the color pixels sequentially in a time-series manner.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 19, 2010Publication date: February 10, 2011Applicant: Konica Minolta Photo Imaging, Inc.Inventors: Toshihito KIDO, Jun Minakuti, Haruki Nakayama, Dai Shintani, Tsutomu Honda
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Publication number: 20100309332Abstract: In an imaging apparatus, an imaging unit generates an acquired image of a subject. A luminance information acquirer acquires the subject's luminance information. A detector detects the subject's luminance range on the basis of the acquired luminance information. An imaging controller sets a range of exposure control values having a step that corresponds to a value obtained by multiplying the detected luminance range by a predetermined coefficient k (where 0<k<1), and then uses the imaging unit to take multiple shots (i.e., multiple imagings) set with respectively different exposure control values within the range of exposure control values. An image compositor generates a composite image by compositing image portions extracted from the plurality of images obtained via the multiple shots. When just one shot is taken, the single exposure control value set for the one shot is contained within the range of the exposure control values.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 20, 2010Publication date: December 9, 2010Applicant: SONY CORPORATIONInventors: Atsushi UEDA, Jun Minakuti
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Patent number: 7839440Abstract: There is provided an imaging unit: including an image sensor with a number of pixels arranged in a matrix, the pixels having color pixels where color filters are disposed, and white pixels where the color filters are not disposed; a sampling circuit section for sampling pixel signals generated in the image sensor; and a main controller for controlling the image sensor and/or the sampling circuit section to sample the pixel signals generated in the white pixels or the pixel signals generated in the color pixels sequentially in a time-series manner.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2006Date of Patent: November 23, 2010Assignee: Konica Minolta Photo Imaging, Inc.Inventors: Toshihito Kido, Jun Minakuti, Haruki Nakayama, Dai Shintani, Tsutomu Honda
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Patent number: 7805068Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a viewfinder optical system that observes a subject image input from a photography optical system. The imaging apparatus also includes a transmissive member upon which is provided a line image indicating detection positions of photography supporting information relating to photography conditions, within a photography region. The photography conditions are at least one of setting information relating to a focus and setting information relating to an exposure. The imaging apparatus further includes an imaging device that acquires a photographed image relating to the subject image, the line image having been superimposed on the photographed image. In addition, the imaging apparatus includes a processing unit that corrects a part of the line image extracted from the line image shown in the photographed image, the part of the line image having been extracted corresponding to the photography conditions that have been set.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2008Date of Patent: September 28, 2010Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Daisuke Sato, Jun Minakuti, Hiroshi Tachibana, Tadayuki Miyamoto
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Publication number: 20100182451Abstract: Imaging signal obtained through exposure for divided exposure times is A/D converted to digital imaging signal. Dark current component is subtracted from the digital imaging signal. The result of subtraction is accumulated and stored in a first memory. Next, exposure for divided exposure times is performed with the imaging device shielded from light. The obtained imaging signal is A/D converted to digital imaging signal. Dark current component is subtracted from the digital imaging signal. The result of subtraction is accumulated and stored sequentially in a second memory. The digital imaging signal stored in the second memory is subtracted from the digital imaging signal stored in the first memory. Then the result of subtraction is output. The word length allocated to one pixel in the first and second memories is longer than the word length of one A/D converted pixel.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 5, 2008Publication date: July 22, 2010Applicant: SONY CORPORATIONInventors: Mitsuaki Kita, Nobuyuki Sato, Masashi Wakatsuki, Shinya Ishibashi, Jun Minakuti, Takahiro Koyama
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Patent number: 7714928Abstract: An image sensing apparatus is provided with an image sensor having a photoelectric conversion characteristic having a linear characteristic area where an electrical signal is outputted after being linearly converted in relation to an amount of an incident light and a logarithmic characteristic area where the electrical signal is outputted after being logarithmically converted in relation to the amount of the incident light; an evaluation value detector for detecting exposure evaluation values concerning an exposure control based on a luminance information of a subject; and a central control unit for controlling the exposure based on the exposure evaluation values detected by the evaluation value detector.Type: GrantFiled: January 12, 2005Date of Patent: May 11, 2010Assignee: Konica Minolta Holdings, Inc.Inventors: Koichi Kamon, Kazuchika Sato, Jun Minakuti
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Publication number: 20100079616Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes: an imaging device generating an image signal on a subject image; a shooting control mechanism dividing an exposure to be made to the imaging device in an exposure period into a plurality of times of exposures; an adding mechanism adding individual image signals obtained by the plurality of divided exposures in sequence to generate a sum image signal; an amplification control mechanism amplifying the sum image signal using a predetermined amplification factor in a first period in the exposure period to generate an amplified image signal; and a display control mechanism displaying, on a display section, the amplified image based on the amplified image signal in the first period, and displaying, on a display section, an image based on the sum image signal in a period other than the first period in the exposure period.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 6, 2009Publication date: April 1, 2010Applicant: Sony CorporationInventors: Jun MINAKUTI, Takahiro Koyama, Shinya Ishibashi, Shigeru Tsujita, Masaomi Moritsu
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Publication number: 20100073516Abstract: An image capturing apparatus including: an image sensor generating an image signal; a photographing control section performing a photographing operation in which an exposure of the image sensor is divided into a plurality of exposures in accordance with a predetermined exposure time; an addition section adding sequentially the image signals obtained at each exposure; an amplification ratio calculation section calculating an amplification ratio of the added image signal on the basis of the predetermined exposure time; an amplification section amplifying the added image signal by using the amplification ratio to compensate for insufficient exposure for the predetermined exposure time; and a display control section displaying information related to the amplified image signal; wherein the photographing control section ends the photographing operation when instructed by a user, and determines that the amplified image signal is a captured image obtained by performing the photographing operation with the predeterminType: ApplicationFiled: September 24, 2009Publication date: March 25, 2010Applicant: SONY CORPORATIONInventors: Jun MINAKUTI, Takahiro Koyama, Shinya Ishibashi, Shigeru Tsujita, Masaomi Moritsu
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Patent number: 7667764Abstract: An image sensing apparatus is constructed in such a manner that a calculation priority setter 5111 (5111a) sets a priority between exposure amount control by an exposure amount control parameter calculator 511 (511a) serving as exposure amount controller, and dynamic range control by a dynamic range control parameter calculator 512 (512a) serving as dynamic range controller. Exposure control is executed by performing the exposure amount control and the dynamic range control based on a photoelectric conversion characteristic, by using exposure evaluation values detected by an evaluation value detector 405, based on the priority set by the calculation priority setter 5111 (5111a).Type: GrantFiled: June 2, 2005Date of Patent: February 23, 2010Assignee: Konica Minolta Holdings, Inc.Inventors: Koichi Kamon, Kazuchika Sato, Jun Minakuti
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Patent number: 7545412Abstract: A database obtained based on the photoelectric conversion characteristics for R and G signals and a database obtained based on the photoelectric conversion characteristics for G and B signals are stored in LUTs respectively. Signal value calculators read out the databases from the LUTs respectively and perform white balance processing on the R and B signals respectively.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 2004Date of Patent: June 9, 2009Assignee: Konica Minolta Holdings, Inc.Inventors: Jun Minakuti, Koichi Kamon, Masayuki Kusuda
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Patent number: 7508422Abstract: An image sensing apparatus is provided with an image sensor having a photoelectric conversion characteristic comprised of a linear characteristic area where an electrical signal is outputted after being linearly converted in relation to an amount of an incident light and a logarithmic characteristic area where the electrical signal is outputted after being logarithmically converted in relation to the amount of the incident light. An evaluation value detector of a signal processing unit detects evaluation values concerning an image sensing control from each of the linear characteristic area and the logarithmic characteristic area upon picking up an image of a subject based on pieces of subject luminance information in the respective areas. A central control unit (image sensing controller) carries out the image sensing control based on the evaluation values corresponding to the respective areas detected by the evaluation value detector.Type: GrantFiled: February 7, 2005Date of Patent: March 24, 2009Assignee: Konica Minolta Holdings, Inc.Inventors: Koichi Kamon, Kazuchika Sato, Jun Minakuti
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Publication number: 20080298797Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes: a viewfinder optical system configured to observe a subject image input from a photography optical system; a transmissive member upon which is provided a line image indicating detection positions of photography supporting information relating to photography conditions, within a photography region; an imaging device configured to acquire a photographed image relating to the subject image upon which the line image has been superimposed; and a line image correcting unit for correcting a part of the line image extracted from the line image shown in the photographed image, the part of the line image having been extracted corresponding to the photography conditions that have been set.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 7, 2008Publication date: December 4, 2008Applicant: Sony CorporationInventors: Daisuke SATO, Jun Minakuti, Hiroshi Tachibana, Tadayuki Miyamoto