Patents by Inventor Kohei Fukugawa

Kohei Fukugawa 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: 20220394176
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes: an image sensor that captures a subject image formed to generate image data; a recorder that records first image data showing images sequentially captured by the image sensor at a shooting period; and a controller operates the image sensor with a frame period shorter than half period of the shooting period, to generate one or plural frames of second image data by capturing in another frame period than the frame period for capturing the first image data within the shooting period. The second image data shows an image used for control in the imaging apparatus, captured with a setting different from a setting for the first image data. The control is performed based on a plurality of frames of image data including the one or plural frames of second image data, the plurality of frames being obtained by multiple times of capturing in the shooting period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2022
    Publication date: December 8, 2022
    Inventors: Motonori OGURA, Tomohiro OOGAMI, Kohei FUKUGAWA
  • Patent number: 11394869
    Abstract: An imaging device includes an imager configured to capture a subject to generate a captured image; a recognizer configured to recognize the subject on the captured image; and a controller configured to control a focusing operation based on a focusing region set on the captured image, wherein the controller, when the subject is recognized to be present in a first determination region in a state where the focusing region is set on a predetermined region fixedly arranged on the captured image, sets the focusing region depending on a recognition result of the recognizer instead of the predetermined region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kohei Fukugawa, Naoko Takeda, Masahiro Murakami, Kuniyoshi Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20210075972
    Abstract: An imaging device includes an imager configured to capture a subject to generate a captured image; a recognizer configured to recognize the subject on the captured image; and a controller configured to control a focusing operation based on a focusing region set on the captured image, wherein the controller, when the subject is recognized to be present in a first determination region in a state where the focusing region is set on a predetermined region fixedly arranged on the captured image, sets the focusing region depending on a recognition result of the recognizer instead of the predetermined region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2020
    Publication date: March 11, 2021
    Inventors: Kohei FUKUGAWA, Naoko TAKEDA, Masahiro MURAKAMI, Kuniyoshi KOBAYASHI
  • Patent number: 10277801
    Abstract: The image capture device includes an optical system including a focus lens, a CCD that captures a subject image input via the optical system and generates an image signal, an image processor that generates image data by performing predetermined processing on the image signal generated by the CCD, and a controller. The controller performs a scan operation for detecting a focus position for each of a plurality of partial regions of image data while moving the focus lens and records a moving image by moving the focus lens while switching a moving speed of the focus lens based on information on the focus position obtained for each of the plurality of partial regions as a result of the scan operation. The plurality of partial regions is a plurality of regions obtained by dividing an image region of the image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomohiro Oogami, Mitsuyoshi Okamoto, Kohei Fukugawa, Koji Shibuno
  • Patent number: 10148844
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes an optical system, an imaging unit that captures a subject image which is input via the optical system and generates an image signal, an image processor that performs predetermined processing on the image signal generated by the imaging unit and generates image data, a display unit that displays an image represented by the image data, and a control unit that controls the image processor and the display unit. The control unit records moving image data and generates, from all or a part of a plurality of frame images composing recorded moving image data, a still image based on user's specifying of an image or an area of the image. The display unit displays one frame image among the plurality of frame images composing the recorded moving image data, as a setting image for the user to specify an image or an area of the image, and adds highlighting to an in-focus portion in the setting image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mitsuyoshi Okamoto, Tomohiro Oogami, Kohei Fukugawa, Koji Takayama
  • Publication number: 20180139380
    Abstract: The image capture device includes an optical system including a focus lens, a CCD that captures a subject image input via the optical system and generates an image signal, an image processor that generates image data by performing predetermined processing on the image signal generated by the CCD, and a controller. The controller performs a scan operation for detecting a focus position for each of a plurality of partial regions of image data while moving the focus lens and records a moving image by moving the focus lens while switching a moving speed of the focus lens based on information on the focus position obtained for each of the plurality of partial regions as a result of the scan operation. The plurality of partial regions is a plurality of regions obtained by dividing an image region of the image data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2018
    Publication date: May 17, 2018
    Inventors: Tomohiro OOGAMI, Mitsuyoshi OKAMOTO, Kohei FUKUGAWA, Koji SHIBUNO
  • Publication number: 20170264773
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes an optical system, an imaging unit that captures a subject image which is input via the optical system and generates an image signal, an image processor that performs predetermined processing on the image signal generated by the imaging unit and generates image data, a display unit that displays an image represented by the image data, and a control unit that controls the image processor and the display unit. The control unit records moving image data and generates, from all or a part of a plurality of frame images composing recorded moving image data, a still image based on user's specifying of an image or an area of the image. The display unit displays one frame image among the plurality of frame images composing the recorded moving image data, as a setting image for the user to specify an image or an area of the image, and adds highlighting to an in-focus portion in the setting image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2016
    Publication date: September 14, 2017
    Inventors: Mitsuyoshi OKAMOTO, Tomohiro OOGAMI, Kohei FUKUGAWA, Koji TAKAYAMA
  • Patent number: 8994793
    Abstract: A digital camera includes a first optical system including a first optical axis; a second optical system including a second optical axis which is different from the first optical axis; a first image sensor and a second image sensor for detecting subject images; and a controller for performing focus control on each optical system and for instructing each image sensor to execute shooting operation. The controller instructs the first image sensor and the second image sensor to execute shooting operation at a first timing when the focus operation for the first optical system is finished or a second timing when the focus operation for the second optical system is finished, which is later.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kohei Fukugawa, Shogo Sasaki
  • Patent number: 8339473
    Abstract: A video camera includes an image sensor. The image sensor repeatedly outputs an object scene image captured on an imaging surface. A CPU detects a luminance component of the object scene image outputted from the image sensor, i.e., an AE/AWB evaluation value, and also detects a high-frequency component of the object scene image outputted from the image sensor, i.e., an AF evaluation value. Moreover, the CPU executes a flicker determining process for determining whether or not a flicker is occurred based on the luminance component of the object scene image. However, prior to the flicker determining process, whether or not there is a dynamic object in the object scene is determined based on the high-frequency component of the object scene image. The flicker determining process is prohibited when there is the dynamic object while it is permitted when there is no dynamic object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kohei Fukugawa, Kazuhiro Tsujino
  • Patent number: 8243165
    Abstract: A video camera includes an image sensor. The image sensor repeatedly outputs an object scene image produced on an imaging surface having a plurality of pixels lined up in a vertical direction. A driver repeatedly executes an exposing operation for exposing the imaging surface for each pixel lined up in a vertical direction. A CPU repeatedly detects a plurality of luminance values respectively corresponding to a plurality of flicker evaluation areas allocated to the imaging surface in a manner to be located at positions different from one another in a vertical direction, based on the object scene image outputted from the image sensor. Moreover, the CPU determines the presence or absence of a flicker based on the plurality of luminance values thus detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Fujiwara, Kazuhiro Tsujino, Kohei Fukugawa
  • Patent number: 8174610
    Abstract: A camera includes an image sensor, and a plurality of metering areas are assigned to an object scene captured by the image sensor. A CPU evaluates a luminance of the object scene for each metering area, and binarizes each of the plurality of obtained luminance evaluated values. Furthermore, on the basis of the plurality of binarized luminance evaluated values, a width of a high luminance area included in the object scene is calculated while a width of an adjacent area adjacent to the high luminance area out of a low luminance area included in the object scene is calculated. Then, each of the plurality of luminance evaluated values is corrected on the basis of a ratio between the width of the calculated adjacent area and the width of the calculated high luminance area. An exposure amount to the image sensor is adjusted on the basis of the luminance evaluated values thus corrected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kohei Fukugawa, Kazuhiro Tsujino
  • Patent number: 8077252
    Abstract: An electronic camera includes an image sensor having an imaging surface for capturing an object scene through a focus lens. When the object scene captured by the imaging surface includes a face portion of a human, a CPU designates, as a focal-point search area a first imaging area for covering an outline of the face portion. The CPU also designates, as a frequency-component detection area, a second imaging area that is smaller than the first imaging area and is for capturing an inner side of the outline of the face portion. Subsequently, the CPU obtains a high-frequency AF evaluation value and a mid-frequency AF evaluation value detected corresponding to the frequency-component detection area, and designates, as a lens moving range, a range different depending upon a relative ratio between the high-frequency AF evaluation value and the mid-frequency AF evaluation value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kohei Fukugawa, Kazuhiro Tsujino
  • Publication number: 20100141791
    Abstract: A video camera includes an image sensor. The image sensor repeatedly outputs an object scene image produced on an imaging surface having a plurality of pixels lined up in a vertical direction. A driver repeatedly executes an exposing operation for exposing the imaging surface for each pixel lined up in a vertical direction. A CPU repeatedly detects a plurality of luminance values respectively corresponding to a plurality of flicker evaluation areas allocated to the imaging surface in a manner to be located at positions different from one another in a vertical direction, based on the object scene image outputted from the image sensor. Moreover, the CPU determines the presence or absence of a flicker based on the plurality of luminance values thus detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2009
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Applicant: SANYO ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takeshi Fujiwara, Kazuhiro Tsujino, Kohei Fukugawa
  • Publication number: 20100013954
    Abstract: A video camera includes an image sensor. The image sensor repeatedly outputs an object scene image captured on an imaging surface. A CPU detects a luminance component of the object scene image outputted from the image sensor, i.e., an AE/AWB evaluation value, and also detects a high-frequency component of the object scene image outputted from the image sensor, i.e., an AF evaluation value. Moreover the CPU executes a flicker determining process for determining whether or not a flicker is occurred based on the luminance component of the object scene image. However, prior to the flicker determining process, whether or not there is a dynamic object in the object scene is determined based on the high-frequency component of the object scene image. The flicker determining process is prohibited when there is the dynamic object while it is permitted when there is no dynamic object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2009
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Applicant: SANYO ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kohei Fukugawa, Kazuhiro Tsujino
  • Publication number: 20090059059
    Abstract: An electronic camera includes an image sensor having an imaging surface for capturing an object scene through a focus lens. When the object scene captured by the imaging surface includes a face portion of a human, a CPU designates, as a focal-point search area a first imaging area for covering an outline of the face portion. The CPU also designates, as a frequency-component detection area, a second imaging area that is smaller than the first imaging area and is for capturing an inner side of the outline of the face portion. Subsequently, the CPU obtains a high-frequency AF evaluation value and a mid-frequency AF evaluation value detected corresponding to the frequency-component detection area, and designates, as a lens moving range, a range different depending upon a relative ratio between the high-frequency AF evaluation value and the mid-frequency AF evaluation value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2008
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Applicant: SANYO ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kohei FUKUGAWA, Kazuhiro Tsujino
  • Publication number: 20080316355
    Abstract: A camera includes an image sensor, and a plurality of metering areas are assigned to an object scene captured by the image sensor. A CPU evaluates a luminance of the object scene for each metering area, and binarizes each of the plurality of obtained luminance evaluated values. Furthermore, on the basis of the plurality of binarized luminance evaluated values, a width of a high luminance area included in the object scene is calculated while a width of an adjacent area adjacent to the high luminance area out of a low luminance area included in the object scene is calculated. Then, each of the plurality of luminance evaluated values is corrected on the basis of a ratio between the width of the calculated adjacent area and the width of the calculated high luminance area. An exposure amount to the image sensor is adjusted on the basis of the luminance evaluated values thus corrected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2008
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Applicant: SANYO ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kohei Fukugawa, Kazuhiro Tsujino