Patents by Inventor Keiji Kunishige

Keiji Kunishige 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: 10459190
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes: an imaging unit; an image clipping unit configured to clip a predetermined area from each of images; an analyzing unit configured to analyze the sequentially clipped predetermined areas and generate an analysis result indicating an identified subject; an autofocus (AF) target determination unit configured to determine an AF target in the images based on the analysis result; an AF mode determination unit configured to select and determine an optimal AF mode based on the analysis result and a determination result; a touch panel; an input detection unit; and an imaging control unit configured to repeat control of moving a position of the predetermined area, causing the analyzing unit to analyze the predetermined area of a latest image, causing the AF target determination unit to determine the AF target, and causing the AF mode determination unit to select and determine the optimal AF mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Takeshi Suzuki, Keiji Kunishige, Akira Yukitake, Takeshi Kawawa, Yoichiro Okumura
  • Publication number: 20190289190
    Abstract: An imaging device includes an imaging unit, a sensor, and a controller. The imaging unit sequentially outputs a digital image by capturing a subject. The sensor includes a photoelectric element for receiving a part of luminous flux from the subject incident on the imaging unit. The sensor detects an AC current component of the luminous flux from the luminous flux received by the photoelectric element. The controller detects a flicker cycle in the luminous flux from the AC current component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2019
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Inventors: Keiji KUNISHIGE, Masashi TAKAHASHI
  • Patent number: 10397436
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes a signal output section configured to output a first signal according to first operation and output a second signal according to a second operation, a first image pickup section configured to continue to receive the first signal and continuously perform image pickup of a plurality of images until receiving the second signal, a second image pickup section configured to receive the second signal and perform image pickup, an image selecting section configured to select, out of the plurality of images picked up by the first image pickup section, a desired image different from an image immediately after the reception of the second signal among images picked up by the second image pickup section, and a measuring section configured to measure a time period or a number of images from the image immediately the second signal to the desired image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: Olympus Corportion
    Inventors: Satoshi Miyazaki, Keiji Kunishige
  • Publication number: 20190260928
    Abstract: An imaging device that is capable of having a fisheye lens attached to a main body, and that is capable of shooting digital images, comprising, an image sensor on which photometric domains and/or AF region are arranged, a lens communication circuit that performs communication with a lens that has been attached and acquires lens information, and a processor that detects whether or not a lens that has been attached is a circular fisheye lens based on the lens information, and, if it has been determined that the lens is a circular fisheye lens, restricts the photometric domains and/or AF regions based on an image circle of the circular fisheye lens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2019
    Publication date: August 22, 2019
    Inventors: Keiji KUNISHIGE, Masashi TAKAHASHI
  • Publication number: 20190238738
    Abstract: An imaging device includes an imaging unit, a controller, and a display. The controller changes a shutter speed series to any one of a first shutter speed series and a second shutter speed series. The controller controls an exposure time of the imaging unit according to the first shutter speed series or the second shutter speed series. The controller changes a live view display mode to any of a first live view display mode and a second live view display mode. The first live view display mode has at least an enlarged live view display mode and a normal magnification live view mode. The enlarged live view display mode is a mode in which a part of the digital image is cut out to be displayed at an enlargement magnification substantially equal to or more than a pixel equal magnification.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2019
    Publication date: August 1, 2019
    Inventors: Keiji KUNISHIGE, Masashi TAKAHASHI
  • Patent number: 10354691
    Abstract: A photographing device according to the present invention comprises: an imaging section that captures a subject image and outputs image data; a motion picture recording section that records a motion picture based on the image data; a parameter setting section that sets a photographing parameter to change a photographing state; and a parameter control section that automatically changes the photographing parameter during the recording of the motion picture regardless of the set photographing parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Keiji Kunishige, Satoshi Miyazaki, Masaomi Tomizawa, Osamu Nonaka
  • Publication number: 20190191086
    Abstract: An instrument executes: generating pieces of setting information for assigning operation functions to respective operating units; assigning the operation functions to the respective operating units based on first one of the pieces of setting information; setting one of the operating units as a setting operating unit to which an operation function for switching the first one of the pieces of setting information to second one of the pieces of the setting information assigned to the setting operating unit is assigned; changing, upon a first operation of the setting operating unit, the operation functions of the operating units based on the second one of the setting information and inhibiting a change in the operation function assigned to the setting operating unit; and returning, upon a second operation of the setting operating unit after the first operation, the operation functions of the operating units to those assigned before the first operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2018
    Publication date: June 20, 2019
    Inventors: Keiji KUNISHIGE, Masashi TAKAHASHI
  • Patent number: 10200562
    Abstract: An imaging device includes: an imaging unit configured to image a subject and generate image data; a display configured to display information including an image corresponding to the image data; a first recording slot mounting a first recording medium for recording the image data; a second recording slot mounting a second recording medium for recording the image data; a recording controller configured to set a recording mode between: an automatic switching mode in which recording of the image data is performed by repeatedly switching between the first and the second recording media in a predetermined order; and a simultaneous recording mode in which recording of the image data to the first and the second recording media is simultaneously performed; and a display controller configured to display setting mode information relating to the recording mode set by the recording controller in a different display mode for each recording mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masashi Takahashi, Keiji Kunishige, Katsuhisa Kawaguchi
  • Publication number: 20180348470
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes: an imaging unit; an image clipping unit configured to clip a predetermined area from each of images; an analyzing unit configured to analyze the sequentially clipped predetermined areas and generate an analysis result indicating an identified subject; an autofocus (AF) target determination unit configured to determine an AF target in the images based on the analysis result; an AF mode determination unit configured to select and determine an optimal AF mode based on the analysis result and a determination result; a touch panel; an input detection unit; and an imaging control unit configured to repeat control of moving a position of the predetermined area, causing the analyzing unit to analyze the predetermined area of a latest image, causing the AF target determination unit to determine the AF target, and causing the AF mode determination unit to select and determine the optimal AF mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2018
    Publication date: December 6, 2018
    Inventors: Takeshi SUZUKI, Keiji KUNISHIGE, Akira YUKITAKE, Takeshi KAWAWA, Yoichiro OKUMURA
  • Publication number: 20180084137
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes a signal output section configured to output a first signal according to first operation and output a second signal according to a second operation, a first image pickup section configured to continue to receive the first signal and continuously perform image pickup of a plurality of images until receiving the second signal, a second image pickup section configured to receive the second signal and perform image pickup, an image selecting section configured to select, out of the plurality of images picked up by the first image pickup section, a desired image different from an image immediately after the reception of the second signal among images picked up by the second image pickup section, and a measuring section configured to measure a time period or a number of images from the image immediately the second signal to the desired image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2017
    Publication date: March 22, 2018
    Inventors: Satoshi MIYAZAKI, Keiji KUNISHIGE
  • Patent number: 9906716
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes an image pickup device, a VCM that performs a pixel shift, and a microcomputer that causes the VCM to perform pixel shifts to a plurality of different positions and causes the image pickup device to pick up an image and acquire a plurality of images. The microcomputer causes the VCM to perform the pixel shift in pixel shift order in which an image higher in image quality than one image acquired from the image pickup device can be composed even when image processing is performed on the basis of two or more images less than a predetermined number necessary for composition of a high-quality image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Tsutomu Honda, Keiji Kunishige
  • Publication number: 20170331978
    Abstract: An imaging device includes: an imaging unit configured to image a subject and generate image data; a display configured to display information including an image corresponding to the image data; a first recording slot mounting a first recording medium for recording the image data; a second recording slot mounting a second recording medium for recording the image data; a recording controller configured to set a recording mode between: an automatic switching mode in which recording of the image data is performed by repeatedly switching between the first and the second recording media in a predetermined order; and a simultaneous recording mode in which recording of the image data to the first and the second recording media is simultaneously performed; and a display controller configured to display setting mode information relating to the recording mode set by the recording controller in a different display mode for each recording mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2017
    Publication date: November 16, 2017
    Applicant: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masashi TAKAHASHI, Keiji KUNISHIGE, Katsuhisa KAWAGUCHI
  • Patent number: 9584726
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus having multiple shooting functions includes: an imaging unit that images a subject; two operating units each receives an input of a change signal for instructing a change in shooting parameter of a preset shooting function; a release switch that receives an input of a shooting preparation signal for instructing a shooting preparation operation when pressed halfway; a setting unit that sets at least one or more shooting functions among the multiple shooting functions, to the two operating units; and a control unit that switches over the at least one or more shooting functions of the two operating units, to a limited shooting function capable of conforming to a change in a shooting condition of the subject, when the release switch is being kept pressed halfway even after the release switch is pressed halfway to fix a focal position and/or photometric value with respect to the subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keiji Kunishige, Ryuta Takeya
  • Publication number: 20170025150
    Abstract: A photographing device according to the present invention comprises: an imaging section that captures a subject image and outputs image data; a motion picture recording section that records a motion picture based on the image data; a parameter setting section that sets a photographing parameter to change a photographing state; and a parameter control section that automatically changes the photographing parameter during the recording of the motion picture regardless of the set photographing parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2016
    Publication date: January 26, 2017
    Inventors: Keiji KUNISHIGE, Satoshi MIYAZAKI, Masaomi TOMIZAWA, Osamu NONAKA
  • Publication number: 20160373649
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes an image pickup device, a VCM that performs a pixel shift, and a microcomputer that causes the VCM to perform pixel shifts to a plurality of different positions and causes the image pickup device to pick up an image and acquire a plurality of images. The microcomputer causes the VCM to perform the pixel shift in pixel shift order in which an image higher in image quality than one image acquired from the image pickup device can be composed even when image processing is performed on the basis of two or more images less than a predetermined number necessary for composition of a high-quality image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2016
    Publication date: December 22, 2016
    Inventors: Tsutomu HONDA, Keiji KUNISHIGE
  • Patent number: 9467621
    Abstract: A photographing device according to the present invention comprises: an imaging section that captures a subject image and outputs image data; a motion picture recording section that records a motion picture based on the image data; a parameter setting section that sets a photographing parameter to change a photographing state; and a parameter control section that automatically changes the photographing parameter during the recording of the motion picture regardless of the set photographing parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Keiji Kunishige, Satoshi Miyazaki, Masaomi Tomizawa, Osamu Nonaka
  • Patent number: 9294684
    Abstract: A photographing apparatus according to the present invention comprises: an accumulation control section controlling an accumulation operation in an imaging section; an accumulation start timing setting section setting a timing of accumulation start in the imaging section; and a flash light emission control section controlling the start and stop of light emission in the flash light emission section, wherein the accumulation control section instructs the flash light emission control section to start the flash light emission and causes the imaging section to start the accumulation based on an output of the accumulation start timing setting section, and the flash light emission control section causes the flash light emission to be started in response to the flash light emission start instruction of the accumulation control section and causes the flash light emission section to stop the light emission based on an appropriate light emission amount output by an exposure calculation section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshinao Shimada, Keiji Kunishige
  • Patent number: 9277125
    Abstract: An imaging device includes a moving image special effect image processing unit that performs image processing of applying a first special effect causing a visual effect over a plurality of frames corresponding to image data of a moving image, and image processing of applying a second special effect corresponding to the first special effect to a still image captured during moving image capturing using image data of a moving image captured before the still image, and a control unit that controls an application form of the first and second special effects in the moving image special effect image processing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Keiji Kunishige, Manabu Ichikawa
  • Publication number: 20160028955
    Abstract: A camera according to the present invention, which is capable of continuous shooting before and after a still image shot according to photographer's operation, comprises: an imaging section converting an object image into image data; a still image shooting section obtaining image data of the still image according to release operation; a continuous shooting section obtaining the image data by continuous shooting before and after the obtaining of the still image in the still image shooting section; an image processing section performing image processing which is different from that of the image data obtained by the still image shooting section and changed sequentially, on the image data obtained by the continuous shooting section; and a recording section recording the image data image-processed by the image processing section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2015
    Publication date: January 28, 2016
    Inventors: Keiji KUNISHIGE, Satoshi MIYAZAKI, Osamu NONAKA
  • Patent number: 9210318
    Abstract: An imaging device of the present invention comprises a facial organ detection section for detecting eyes from a digital image, an eye-priority AF section for setting an AF region to a detected eye and focusing on the eye, and an image processing section for carrying out image processing on the digital image to feather the periphery of an eye that the eye-priority AF section has focused on, wherein the facial organ detection section detects facial organs from a digital image that has been captured by the imaging section, and determines inclination of a face based on the detected facial organs, the eye-priority AF section selects one eye based on the inclination of the face, and carries out focusing on the selected eye, and the image processing section carries out processing to feather eyes that have not been selected, and varies feathering strength in accordance with inclination of the face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventor: Keiji Kunishige