Patents by Inventor Kenichi Honjo

Kenichi Honjo 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: 20160037053
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus of the present disclosure includes a body, an imaging unit provided in the body, the imaging unit for capturing an image of an object and generating an image, a focus lens movable in an optical axis direction, the focus lens for adjusting a focus state of the image, an evaluation value detector for detecting a focus evaluation value of the image, a movement detector for detecting a moving direction and an amount of movement of the body in the optical axis direction, and a controller for controlling movement of the focus lens. The controller determines a direction to which the focus lens is to be moved, based on the moving direction of the body in the optical axis direction detected by the movement detector and the focus evaluation value detected by the evaluation value detector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2015
    Publication date: February 4, 2016
    Inventors: KENICHI HONJO, JUNJI TAKAHATA
  • Patent number: 9071747
    Abstract: A digital camera of the present invention includes a receiving portion 155 that receives a control signal from a remote controller, and a microcomputer 110 having a live view mode controlling so that image data generated by a CMOS sensor 130 or image data obtained by subjecting the image data generated by the CMOS sensor 130 to predetermined processing is displayed on a liquid crystal monitor 150 as a moving image in real time, wherein when the receiving portion 155 receives the control signal from the remote controller, the microcomputer 110 controls so as to shift the digital camera to a live view mode. Due to this configuration, in a digital camera that includes a movable mirror and is capable of displaying a subject image in a live view through an electronic viewfinder, the operability thereof can be enhanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Ueda, Kenichi Honjo, Naoto Yumiki, Toshio Makabe, Kenji Maeda, Kaoru Mokunaka, Kazuhiko Ishimaru
  • Patent number: 8988584
    Abstract: A camera includes an imaging device; a phase difference detection unit configured to, in parallel with receipt of the light from the subject by the imaging device, perform phase difference detection using the light to detect a defocus amount of the subject; a focus lens group; a body control section configured to move the focus lens group based on the defocus amount detected by the phase difference detection unit to bring the subject into focus; and an image display section for selecting a subject to be in focus from subjects included in an image signal. The body control section is configured to, when the subject to be in focus is selected, move the focus lens group to bring the selected subject into focus. The body control section adjusts a focusing time depending on the defocus amount detected before the movement of the focus lens group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dai Shintani, Kenichi Honjo
  • Patent number: 8970759
    Abstract: A digital camera of the present invention includes a receiving portion 155 that receives a control signal from a remote controller, and a microcomputer 110 having a live view mode controlling so that image data generated by a CMOS sensor 130 or image data obtained by subjecting the image data generated by the CMOS sensor 130 to predetermined processing is displayed on a liquid crystal monitor 150 as a moving image in real time, wherein when the receiving portion 155 receives the control signal from the remote controller, the microcomputer 110 controls so as to shift the digital camera to a live view mode. Due to this configuration, in a digital camera that includes a movable mirror and is capable of displaying a subject image in a live view through an electronic viewfinder, the operability thereof can be enhanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Ueda, Kenichi Honjo, Naoto Yumiki, Toshio Makabe, Kenji Maeda, Kaoru Mokunaka, Kazuhiko Ishimaru
  • Publication number: 20140375872
    Abstract: An auto-focusing device including: an imaging unit which generates image data of a subject image; an optical system which includes a focus lens; a lens driver which drives the focus lens; a lens position detector which detects a position of the focus lens; a region detector which detects a predetermined region of the subject image; an evaluation value calculating unit which calculates an AF evaluation value; a movement determining unit which determines whether a subject is moving closer or away based on whether the predetermined region has been enlarged or reduced from the region before; and a lens controller which controls the lens driver, wherein the lens controller controls a moving direction and a moving speed of the focus lens in an autofocus operation based on a determination result of the movement determining unit, the AF evaluation value, and a position detection result for the focus lens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2014
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Inventors: Kenichi HONJO, Mitsuyoshi OKAMOTO, Koji SHIBUNO
  • Patent number: 8810717
    Abstract: The camera body includes an imaging element, a hot shoe, an internal light source, and a camera controller. The camera controller is configured to calculate an evaluation value on the basis of the image data produced by the imaging element, and perform video autofocusing on the basis of the evaluation value. When the camera controller decides that the auxiliary light is needed, and that the flash device mounted to the hot shoe has an external auxiliary light source arranged to emit near infrared light, the internal light source emits light during the video autofocusing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Kenichi Honjo, Hideki Yoshida, Keizo Ishiguro, Takayuki Hayashi
  • Patent number: 8662767
    Abstract: A camera body includes a housing, an imaging element and a body mount. The body mount is fixed to the housing, and has a portion to which an adapter can be mounted. The body mount is disposed at a position away from the light receiving face of the imaging element by the amount of a flange back. A lens back of an interchangeable lens unit is longer than the flange back. The flange back is shorter than the length obtained by subtracting the adapter length, which is the length of the adapter in the optical axis direction, from the lens back.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Kenichi Honjo, Hiroshi Ueda, Dai Shintani
  • Patent number: 8665360
    Abstract: A camera system includes an interchangeable lens and a camera body to which the interchangeable lens can be mounted, either directly or via an adapter. A lens microcomputer of the interchangeable lens is configured to hold lens information including information related to a focal point detection method. A body microcomputer of the camera body is configured to select a focal point detection method on the basis of lens information. The body microcomputer is configured to select a contrast detection method as the focal point detection method if the interchangeable lens is compatible with a contrast detection method. The body microcomputer is configured to select a phase difference detection method as the focal point detection method if the interchangeable lens is not compatible with a contrast detection method, and the adapter is compatible with a phase difference detection method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Dai Shintani, Kenichi Honjo, Norikazu Katsuyama
  • Publication number: 20140028889
    Abstract: A digital camera of the present invention includes a receiving portion 155 that receives a control signal from a remote controller, and a microcomputer 110 having a live view mode controlling so that image data generated by a CMOS sensor 130 or image data obtained by subjecting the image data generated by the CMOS sensor 130 to predetermined processing is displayed on a liquid crystal monitor 150 as a moving image in real time, wherein when the receiving portion 155 receives the control signal from the remote controller, the microcomputer 110 controls so as to shift the digital camera to a live view mode. Due to this configuration, in a digital camera that includes a movable mirror and is capable of displaying a subject image in a live view through an electronic viewfinder, the operability thereof can be enhanced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2013
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi UEDA, Kenichi HONJO, Naoto YUMIKI, Toshio MAKABE, Kenji MAEDA, Kaoru MOKUNAKA, Kazuhiko ISHIMARU
  • Publication number: 20140028890
    Abstract: A digital camera of the present invention includes a receiving portion 155 that receives a control signal from a remote controller, and a microcomputer 110 having a live view mode controlling so that image data generated by a CMOS sensor 130 or image data obtained by subjecting the image data generated by the CMOS sensor 130 to predetermined processing is displayed on a liquid crystal monitor 150 as a moving image in real time, wherein when the receiving portion 155 receives the control signal from the remote controller, the microcomputer 110 controls so as to shift the digital camera to a live view mode. Due to this configuration, in a digital camera that includes a movable mirror and is capable of displaying a subject image in a live view through an electronic viewfinder, the operability thereof can be enhanced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2013
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi UEDA, Kenichi HONJO, Naoto YUMIKI, Toshio MAKABE, Kenji MAEDA, Kaoru MOKUNAKA, Kazuhiko ISHIMARU
  • Patent number: 8619161
    Abstract: The interchangeable lens unit (2) includes the fourth lens group unit (78), the sixth lens group unit (77), the focus lens unit (75), the zoom ring unit (83), the focus motor (64) and the lens microcomputer (40). The focus motor (64) is fixed to the sixth lens group unit (77) and is configured to electrically drive the focus lens unit (75) in the optical axis direction with respect to the sixth lens group unit (77). The lens microcomputer (40) is configured to control the focus motor (64) so that the focus lens unit (75) is driven in one direction with respect to the sixth lens group unit (77) when the sixth lens group unit (77) is driven in one direction with respect to the imaging sensor (11) by the zoom ring unit (83).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Naoto Yumiki, Norikazu Katsuyama, Kenichi Honjo, Yosuke Yamane
  • Patent number: 8611739
    Abstract: A focus adjusting apparatus includes an optical system including a focus lens, a driver configured to move the focus lens along an optical axis of the optical system, an obtaining unit configured to periodically obtain an evaluation value of a subject image formed via the focus lens, a determining unit configured to determine a target position to which the focus lens is moved based on the evaluation value, and a controller configured to control an operation of the driver based on the determined target position. The controller controls the driver to move the focus lens at a first speed for a first period including a backlash period which is defined from start of the operation of the driver to start of an actual movement of the focus lens, and controls the driver to move the focus lens at a second speed faster than the first speed for a second period after the end of the first period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Kenichi Honjo, Mitsuyoshi Okamoto, Koji Shibuno
  • Patent number: 8553135
    Abstract: A camera system includes an interchangeable lens and a camera body. The interchangeable lens has a focal adjuster including a focus lens group, an absolute position detector configured to detect the position of the focus lens group with respect to a movable range, and a relative position detector configured to detect the movement amount of the focus lens group. The camera body has a first focal detector configured to detect the focal state on the basis of a contrast value and a second focal detector configured to detect the focal state by phase difference detection method on the basis of the optical image. When the first focal detector is used for focal adjustment, a detection of the focal state is performed on the basis of only the information obtained by the relative position detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Norikazu Katsuyama, Kenichi Honjo
  • Patent number: 8514314
    Abstract: A camera system 100 has an imaging optical system L, an imaging component 45, a liquid crystal monitor 16, a body microprocessor 12, an aperture setting component 29, and an image display controller 15. The body microprocessor 12 allows a target aperture value and a reference aperture value to be set as set conditions and determines the reference aperture value on the basis of the target aperture value. The aperture setting component 29 adjusts a photography condition on the basis of the set conditions. The image display controller 15 displays part of a reference image a1 acquired by the imaging component 45 at the reference aperture value as a reference display image A1 in a first display region R131 and displays part of a target image b1 acquired by the imaging component 45 at the target aperture value a1 as a target display image B1 in a second display region R132.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Kenichi Honjo, Naoto Yumiki
  • Patent number: 8427574
    Abstract: A camera body (3) comprises a housing (3a), a body mount (4), an imaging sensor (11), a display section (20), a mounting detector (10d), and an image display controller (21). The display section (20) is capable of displaying an image on the basis of an image signal acquired by the imaging sensor (11). The mounting detector (10d) is capable of detecting the mounting state of an interchangeable lens unit (2) with respect to the body mount (4). The image display controller (21) controls the display section (20) so that the mounting state of the display section (20) is switched on the basis of the detection result of the mounting detector (10d).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Kenichi Honjo, Hiroshi Ueda, Masato Murayama
  • Patent number: 8411196
    Abstract: A digital camera of the present invention includes a microcomputer 110 having a live view mode controlling so that image data generated by a CMOS sensor 130 or image data obtained by subjecting the image data generated by the CMOS sensor 130 to predetermined processing is displayed on a liquid crystal monitor 150 as a moving image in real time, wherein when a release button 141 receives an instruction regarding start of an autofocus operation in a live view mode, the microcomputer 110 controls a movable mirror to enter an optical path to measure by an AF sensor 132, and thereafter, allow the movable mirror to retract from the optical path to return the digital camera to the live view mode. Due to this configuration, in a digital camera that includes a movable mirror and is capable of displaying a subject image in a live view through an electronic viewfinder, the operability thereof can be enhanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Ueda, Kenichi Honjo, Naoto Yumiki, Toshio Makabe, Kenji Maeda, Kaoru Mokunaka, Kazuhiko Ishimaru
  • Patent number: 8390733
    Abstract: A camera system includes an interchangeable lens and a camera body to which the interchangeable lens can be mounted, either directly or via an adapter. A lens microcomputer of the interchangeable lens is configured to hold lens information including information related to a focal point detection method. A body microcomputer of the camera body is configured to select a focal point detection method on the basis of lens information. The body microcomputer is configured to select a contrast detection method as the focal point detection method if the interchangeable lens is compatible with a contrast detection method. The body microcomputer is configured to select a phase difference detection method as the focal point detection method if the interchangeable lens is not compatible with a contrast detection method, and the adapter is compatible with a phase difference detection method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Dai Shintani, Kenichi Honjo, Norikazu Katsuyama
  • Patent number: 8374496
    Abstract: The camera system is constituted by the camera main body and the interchangeable lens, which is removably attachable to the camera main body. The camera main body has an imaging unit, a main body shake detector, a main body image blur corrector, and a body microcomputer configured to control the imaging unit, the shake detector, and the image blur corrector. The interchangeable lens has a shake detector, an image blur corrector, and a lens microcomputer configured to control the shake detector and the image blur corrector. The body microcomputer selects either the main body or lens shake detector, activates the selected shake detector, and stops the other shake detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Kenichi Honjo, Naoto Yumiki, Kazuhiko Ishimaru
  • Patent number: 8368796
    Abstract: A camera system has an imaging optical system, an imaging component, a liquid crystal monitor, an aperture setting component, and an image display controller. The liquid crystal monitor has a first display region and a second display region. The aperture setting component adjusts the aperture in a specific period so that the actual aperture value will be a preset value. The image display controller displays, in the first display region, a reference image acquired by the imaging component under conditions in which the aperture value is the preset value, and displays, in the second display region, a comparative image acquired by the imaging component at a different timing from that of the reference image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Kenichi Honjo, Naoto Yumiki
  • Patent number: 8319870
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus with improved convenience, which can perform various types of processing using an imaging device while performing phase difference detection, is provided. An imaging unit (1) includes an imaging device (10) for performing photoelectric conversion to convert light into an electrical signal, the imaging device (10) configured so that light passes through the imaging device (10), a phase difference detection unit (20) for receiving the light having passed through the imaging device (10) to perform phase difference detection, a focus lens group (72) for adjusting a focus position, and a body control section (5) for controlling the imaging device (10) and controlling driving of the focus lens group (72) at least based on a detection result of the phase difference detection unit. The body control section (5) performs a focus operation based on a detection result of the phase difference detection unit during exposure of the imaging device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Dai Shintani, Kenichi Honjo, Masato Murayama