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).
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Patent number: 8155512Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 20, 2007Date of Patent: April 10, 2012Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Kenichi Honjo, Naoto Yumiki, Kazuhiko Ishimaru
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Patent number: 8150253Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a plurality of lenses movable along an optical axis, a plurality of drivers configured to drive the plurality of lenses, respectively, and a synchronizm loss detector configured to detect a loss of synchronizm of one of the plurality of drivers. The one of the plurality of drivers is a driver that drives a lens which is heaviest in the plurality of lenses.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2010Date of Patent: April 3, 2012Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Kenichi Honjo, Hideo Onishi
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Patent number: 8111323Abstract: 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 133 or image data obtained by subjecting the image data generated by the CMOS sensor 133 to predetermined processing is displayed on a liquid crystal monitor 150 as a moving image in real time, wherein the microcomputer 110 controls so that, when the live view mode is set, the digital camera comes out of the live view mode, and setting information on the digital camera is displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 150, in accordance with the manipulation of the manipulation portion 140. 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: GrantFiled: July 6, 2010Date of Patent: February 7, 2012Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Hiroshi Ueda, Kenichi Honjo, Naoto Yumiki, Toshio Makabe, Kenji Maeda, Kaoru Mokunaka, Kazuhiko Ishimaru
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Patent number: 8077255Abstract: An imaging apparatus capable of performing phase difference detection while allowing light to enter an imaging device is provided. An imaging unit (1) includes an imaging device (10) including light receiving sections (11b, 11b, . . . ) and a substrate (11a) on which the light receiving sections (11b, 11b, . . . ) are provided and which has through holes (18a, 18a, . . . ). The imaging device (10) is configured to perform photoelectric conversion on received light. The imaging unit (1) further includes a phase difference detection unit (2) configured to perform phase difference detection on received light which has passed through the imaging device (10) via the through holes (18a, 18a, . . . ).Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 2009Date of Patent: December 13, 2011Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Dai Shintani, Kenichi Honjo
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Patent number: 8068141Abstract: An imaging device ICD, which realizes an image blurring compensation function which achieves image blurring compensation during a framing period and image blurring compensation during releasing, is provided. In the imaging device (ICD), an OIS unit control section (104) compensates image blurring occurring in an optical image by moving an optical axis of an imaging optical system (100), and compensates the image blurring by changing a position of cutout of image data outputted from an image sensor (106). An image shift amount calculation section (39x, 39y) detects image blurring information. A system controller (120) causes the OIS unit control section (104) to mainly move the optical axis during an exposure period based on the detected image blurring information, and to mainly change the position of the cutout of the image data during a period other than the exposure period, thereby compensating image blurring which occurs in a taken image.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2006Date of Patent: November 29, 2011Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventor: Kenichi Honjo
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Publication number: 20110267528Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 14, 2011Publication date: November 3, 2011Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATIONInventors: Hiroshi UEDA, Kenichi HONJO, Naoto YUMIKI, Toshio MAKABE, Kenji MAEDA, Kaoru MOKUNAKA, Kazuhiko ISHIMARU
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Patent number: 8040381Abstract: There are provided a camera system which operates the proper image blur corrector when image blur correction devices are incorporated in a camera body and in an interchangeable lens, and a method for controlling this camera system. The camera system (1) includes the camera body (3) and the interchangeable lens (2), which is removably attachable to the camera body (3). The camera body (3) has an imaging unit (71), the body image blur corrector (75), and a body microprocessor (12) configured to control the operation of the imaging unit (71) and the body image blur corrector (75). The interchangeable lens (2) has the lens image blur corrector (82) and a lens microprocessor (20) configured to control the operation of the lens image blur corrector (82). The body microcomputer (12) selects either the body or lens image blur corrector (75 or 82), sets the selected image blur corrector to a correction enabled state, and sets the other image blur corrector to a correction disabled state.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 2006Date of Patent: October 18, 2011Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Naoto Yumiki, Kenichi Honjo, Kazuhiko Ishimaru
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Publication number: 20110249150Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 8, 2011Publication date: October 13, 2011Inventors: Dai Shintani, Kenichi Honjo
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Patent number: 8035721Abstract: An imaging apparatus has an image sensor that captures the optical image of an object formed by an imaging optical system and converts the optical image into the electrical still image signal, a signal processor for dividing a representation of the image signal into a plurality of areas, and for determining a color characteristic for each area of the plurality of areas, the color characteristic consisting of a hue and/or chroma saturation, a selector for selecting at least one area of the plurality of area for which its respective color characteristic substantially corresponds to a preset color characteristic, and a focus controller for determining focus parameters of the imaging apparatus for the selected area and generating a focus control signal for adjusting the image optical system based on the focus parameters.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 2005Date of Patent: October 11, 2011Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Kenichi Honjo, Mitsuyoshi Okamoto, Minori Sato, Kenji Maeda, Seiichi Suzuki
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Patent number: 7999969Abstract: In the case of printing while a digital camera is directly connected to a printer, it has been impossible to determine to what extent image blurring affects a print image. In an imaging device, a detection section (17A) detects blurring. An image blurring compensation section (15A) compensates image blurring. A compensation amount detection section (16) detects an image blurring compensation amount. A calculation section (19A) calculates a residual blurring amount by subtracting the image blurring compensation amount from an image blurring amount. An image recording section (12) records an image signal, as a shot image, together with the residual blurring amount. A print size specification section (91) specifies a print size of the shot image and stores a tolerance (?) of the residual blurring amount with respect to the print size.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 2006Date of Patent: August 16, 2011Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Naoto Yumiki, Kenichi Honjo
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Publication number: 20110164154Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 27, 2009Publication date: July 7, 2011Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATIONInventors: Kenichi Honjo, Hiroshi Ueda, Masato Murayama
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Publication number: 20110149142Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 18, 2009Publication date: June 23, 2011Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATIONInventors: Naoto Yumiki, Norikazu Katsuyama, Kenichi Honjo, Yosuke Yamane
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Publication number: 20110141340Abstract: A camera system for linearly driving a focus lens group by an ultrasonic actuator in a single-lens reflex digital camera to perform focusing operation by a contrast detection method is provided. A focus lens group and an ultrasonic actuator are configured as a focus unit, and the focus lens group is supported by a guide pole, and is linearly driven by the ultrasonic actuator. The focus lens unit is mechanically connected to a zoom cam ring, so that the focus lens unit is movable to a predetermined position in an optical axis direction by zoom operation. In auto-focusing operation, contrast detection is performed by an imaging device to obtain a contrast peak, and the focus lens group is moved to a predetermined position by an electronic control method, whereby focus adjustment is performed.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 2, 2008Publication date: June 16, 2011Inventors: Naoto Yumiki, Hironori Honsho, Hideaki Mukae, Yusuke Adachi, Kenichi Honjo
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Patent number: 7960895Abstract: A vibratory actuator includes a piezoelectric element, a driver element provided on the piezoelectric element and a movable body supported by the driver element. A control unit supplies a first voltage and a second voltage at the same frequency to the piezoelectric element. By supplying the first voltage and the second voltage having a difference phase from a phase of the first voltage by 90°, the piezoelectric element is lead to composite vibration of stretching and bending, thereby causing the driver to make an elliptical motion by the vibration and move the movable body. The control unit switches, during a fine mode, a phase difference between the first voltage and the second voltage between 90° and 0°.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 2008Date of Patent: June 14, 2011Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Yusuke Adachi, Hideaki Mukae, Masaru Higashionji, Eiichi Nagaoka, Kenichi Honjo
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Patent number: 7948549Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 29, 2008Date of Patent: May 24, 2011Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Kenichi Honjo, Naoto Yumiki
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Publication number: 20110103789Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: January 10, 2011Publication date: May 5, 2011Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATIONInventors: KENICHI HONJO, HIROSHI UEDA, DAI SHINTANI
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Publication number: 20110097065Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a plurality of lenses movable along an optical axis, a plurality of drivers configured to drive the plurality of lenses, respectively, and a synchronizm loss detector configured to detect a loss of synchronizm of one of the plurality of drivers. The one of the plurality of drivers is a driver that drives a lens which is heaviest in the plurality of lenses.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 20, 2010Publication date: April 28, 2011Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATIONInventors: KENICHI HONJO, HIDEO ONISHI
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Publication number: 20110090391Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 23, 2010Publication date: April 21, 2011Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATIONInventors: Kenichi Honjo, Naoto Yumiki
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Publication number: 20110069946Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 16, 2010Publication date: March 24, 2011Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATIONInventors: KENICHI HONJO, MITSUYOSHI OKAMOTO, KOJI SHIBUNO
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Patent number: 7885529Abstract: A lens position calculator is provided that determines a phase of a driving signal as a reference position of an imaging lens when an output value of a position detection sensor reaches a threshold value. The lens position calculator determines a position obtained by performing addition or subtraction on the reference position read out from a reference position storage as a judgment position, detects an output value of the position detection sensor at a timing in synchronization with the driving signal that drives a driver and at the judgment position, and judges whether the output value of the position detection sensor at the judgment position reaches the threshold value or not, so as to determine the reference position again.Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 2010Date of Patent: February 8, 2011Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Kenichi Honjo, Keiji Sakamoto, Takumi Kuwahara, Hiroyuki Kawahara