Patents by Inventor Koichi Fukuda

Koichi Fukuda 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: 9398199
    Abstract: An image capture apparatus comprises an imaging optical system, an image sensor, a pupil division unit which limits a light beam entering each pixel on the image sensor to a specific pupil area of the imaging optical system, an incident angle determination unit which determines an incident angle to each pixel on the image sensor, an image shift unit which shifts an electric signal obtained from the image sensor, based on the incident angle determined by the incident angle determination unit and a position of a plane on which image generation is performed, and an image generation unit which synthesizes electric signals obtained from the image shift unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masafumi Kimura, Koichi Fukuda
  • Patent number: 9386217
    Abstract: An image capturing apparatus having an image sensor including focus detection pixels capable of outputting a pair of image signals for focus detection determines whether each line of the pixels of the image sensor is an addition/non-addition line that outputs the image signal suitable/unsuitable for detection of a correlation amount, obtains the correlation amount for each addition line based on the pair of image signals, add the obtained correlation amount of the addition line, counts the number of addition lines, obtains a defocus amount based on the added correlation amount, and drives a focus lens based on the defocus amount when a product of an evaluation value representing reliability of the defocus amount and a predetermined standard number of additions is smaller than the product of the number of addition lines and a standard evaluation value representing a predetermined evaluation value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Koichi Fukuda
  • Patent number: 9363429
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes an imaging plane phase-difference type first focus detecting unit and a contrast type second focus detecting unit. A saturation detecting unit detects saturation of focus detecting pixels or imaging pixels provided in an imaging element. A brightness detecting unit detects the brightness of an object. If the number of pixels detected by the saturation detecting unit exceeds a predetermined value or the brightness of an object detected by the brightness detecting unit is less than a predetermined value, a CPU controls a focus adjustment operation only using a first detection amount. Alternatively, the CPU controls a focus adjustment operation based on the result obtained by weighting processing of a first detection amount and a second detection amount in response to an increase in the number of pixels of which saturation of the outputs has been detected or a decrease in the brightness of an object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Junichi Saito, Hideaki Takamiya, Yoshihito Tamaki, Yuki Yoshimura, Koichi Fukuda
  • Publication number: 20160156867
    Abstract: An image sensor in which pixels, each having a photoelectric conversion region divided into a plurality of regions, are arranged two-dimensionally, the image sensor comprising: a first pixel, from the pixels, for which each of photoelectric conversion regions divided in a first direction receives a light beam that passes through a pupil region; and a second pixel, from the pixels, for which each of photoelectric conversion regions divided in a second direction different to the first direction receives a light beam that passes through the pupil region; wherein the first pixel outputs signals having parallax in the first direction from the photoelectric conversion regions divided in the first direction, and the second pixel outputs signals having parallax in the second direction from the photoelectric conversion regions divided in the second direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2015
    Publication date: June 2, 2016
    Inventor: Koichi Fukuda
  • Patent number: 9344624
    Abstract: An image generation method is provided for generating an output image from an input image acquired by an image sensor that has an array of multiple pixels, each of which has arranged therein multiple sub-pixels that each receive a light beam that passes through a different pupil sub-area of an imaging optical system. The method includes a step of generating multiple parallax images that respectively correspond to the different pupil sub-areas; a step of generating multiple pixel shifted images by performing different shifting for each of the parallax images according to a virtual image forming plane of the imaging optical system; and a step of generating an output image that has a higher resolution than the resolution of the parallax images from the pixel shifted images through composition processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koichi Fukuda, Masafumi Kimura, Koshi Hatakeyama, Norihito Hiasa, Shohei Tsutsumi, Tomohiro Nishiyama, Kazuhiro Yahata
  • Patent number: 9332205
    Abstract: An image pickup element includes a pixel matrix, a pupil dividing portion, and a shielding portion. Pixels in the pixel matrix include a photoelectric conversion portion, and are arranged in units of a matrix of a predetermined number of the pixels. The pupil dividing portion is arranged on a side of a light receiving surface of the photoelectric conversion portion of each pixel to divide a pupil region. The shielding portion arranged between the pupil dividing portion and the photoelectric conversion portion shields a predetermined region of the light receiving surface of the photoelectric conversion portion. The predetermined region of each pixel corresponds to any one of the divided pupil regions obtained when the pupil region is divided by the pupil dividing portion. A proportion of the predetermined region is smaller than a proportion of a region not-shielded by the shielding portion in the light receiving surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Koichi Fukuda
  • Patent number: 9300862
    Abstract: A control apparatus includes a first calculation unit configured to calculate a first defocus amount by a phase-difference detection method using a first signal and a second signal, a second calculation unit configured to calculate a second defocus amount based on a contrast evaluation value of a synthesized signal, an instruction unit configured to give an instruction of focus control, and a control unit configured to perform the focus control in response to the instruction of the focus control by the instruction unit, the synthesized signal is a signal obtained by relatively shifting phases of the first and second signals and synthesizing the first and second signals, and the control unit refers to the second defocus amount prior to the first defocus amount in the focus control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Junichi Saito, Koichi Fukuda, Hideaki Takamiya, Yoshihito Tamaki, Yuki Yoshimura
  • Publication number: 20160068502
    Abstract: The present invention describes compounds according to formula I: and compounds according to formula II: and additional related flavonoid compounds, as well as the use of the compounds in methods for the prevention or treatment of IL-17A-mediated disease in a subject.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2015
    Publication date: March 10, 2016
    Inventors: Xiaoxia Li, Caini Liu, Jun Qin, Liang Zhu, Koichi Fukuda
  • Patent number: 9279955
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus which can perform an AF of a high speed and a high focusing precision by simultaneously realizing a phase difference AF and a contrast AF, decides arrange where a contrast evaluation can be performed on the basis of a correspondence relation between each pixel of an image pickup element which is restricted by pupil division means provided for restricting light of an optical image of an object which enters each pixel of the image pickup element to light from a specific exit pupil area of a photographing lens and the specific exit pupil area of the photographing lens, and decides a focus evaluation value of the object in accordance with the decided range from a contrast focus position or a correlation focus position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masafumi Kimura, Koichi Fukuda
  • Publication number: 20160044230
    Abstract: Signals of pixels are acquired from an image sensor in which a first pixel, a second pixel, and an imaging pixel are arranged, the first pixel receiving light flux that is restricted to light flux passing through a first portion of a pupil area of an imaging optical system, the second pixel receiving light flux that is restricted to light flux passing through a second portion that is different from the first portion of the pupil area, and the imaging pixel being different from the first and second pixels. Based on the acquired signals, estimated signals at a position at which the first and second pixel is not arranged are estimated. A defocus amount of the imaging optical system is calculated based on evaluation values obtained based on the estimated signals and the signals from the first and second pixels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2015
    Publication date: February 11, 2016
    Inventors: Yuki Yoshimura, Koichi Fukuda, Junichi Saito, Hideaki Takamiya, Yoshihito Tamaki
  • Patent number: 9237281
    Abstract: The image sensor 107 includes plural pixels each including a microlens and plural photoelectric conversion portions separated from one another with a separating zone thereamong and photoelectrically converting light fluxes passing through the microlens. The microlens includes a separating zone side lens portion overlapping the separating zone in an optical axis direction of the microlens. When the photoelectric conversion portions photoelectrically convert the light fluxes passing through mutually different areas of an exit pupil of an image capturing optical system, the separating zone side lens portion provides no power or a negative power for a light flux entering the separating zone side lens portion in the light fluxes entering the microlens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Koichi Fukuda
  • Publication number: 20160005459
    Abstract: A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device according to an embodiment includes a memory cell array having a plurality of memory cell transistors connected in series therein; a plurality of bit lines; and a control circuit for executing a read operation. The control circuit is configured capable of executing the read operation, the read operation charging the bit line and applying a read voltage to the control gate electrode of the memory cell transistor to determine whether the memory cell transistor is conductive and the bit line discharges or not. The control circuit is configured to, in the read operation, be capable of executing the read operation targeting the memory cell transistors connected to a portion of the plurality of bit lines, and not execute a charging operation in those other of the bit lines where the connected memory cell transistors are not targeted by the read operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2015
    Publication date: January 7, 2016
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Rieko FUNATSUKI, Koichi FUKUDA
  • Patent number: 9231009
    Abstract: In an image sensor, if a pixel for focusing has a structure having a light-shielding layer for performing pupil division, between the micro lens and the photoelectric conversion unit, the pixel may be configured such that the focal position of the micro lens is positioned further on the micro lens side than the light-shielding layer, and the distance from the focal position of the micro lens to the light-shielding layer is greater than 0 and less than nF?, where n is the refractive index at the focal position of the micro lens, F is the aperture value of the micro lens, and ? is the diffraction limit of the micro lens. This enables variation in the pupil intensity distribution of the pixel for focusing due to positional production tolerance of components to be suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Koichi Fukuda
  • Patent number: 9204067
    Abstract: An image sensor comprises a first imaging pixel and a second imaging pixel each of which detects an object image formed by a photographing optical system and generates a recording image. Each of the first imaging pixel and the second imaging pixel comprises a plurality of photoelectric conversion units segmented in a first direction, the plurality of photoelectric conversion units have an ability of photoelectrically converting images formed by split light beams out of a light beam from the photographing optical system and outputting focus detection signals to be used to detect a phase difference. A base-line length of photoelectric conversion units to be used to detect the phase difference included in the first imaging pixel is longer than that of photoelectric conversion units to be used to detect the phase difference included in the second imaging pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ichiro Onuki, Koichi Fukuda, Akihiro Nishio, Hideaki Yamamoto, Ryo Yamasaki, Makoto Oikawa
  • Publication number: 20150319359
    Abstract: An image capturing apparatus having an image sensor including focus detection pixels capable of outputting a pair of image signals for focus detection determines whether each line of the pixels of the image sensor is an addition/non-addition line that outputs the image signal suitable/unsuitable for detection of a correlation amount, obtains the correlation amount for each addition line based on the pair of image signals, add the obtained correlation amount of the addition line, counts the number of addition lines, obtains a defocus amount based on the added correlation amount, and drives a focus lens based on the defocus amount when a product of an evaluation value representing reliability of the defocus amount and a predetermined standard number of additions is smaller than the product of the number of addition lines and a standard evaluation value representing a predetermined evaluation value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2015
    Publication date: November 5, 2015
    Inventor: Koichi Fukuda
  • Patent number: 9165964
    Abstract: An image sensor in which each pixel includes a first sub-pixel including a first semiconductor layer, a second sub-pixel including a second semiconductor layer having a polarity different from a polarity of the first semiconductor layer, a third semiconductor layer having a polarity equal to the polarity of the first semiconductor layer, and a microlens, and which includes a plurality of pixels in which the first semiconductor is included in the second semiconductor layer, and the second semiconductor layer is included in the third semiconductor layer, wherein a center of gravity position of a light-receiving surface defining the first semiconductor layer is different from a center of gravity position of a light-receiving surface defining both the first semiconductor layer and the second semiconductor layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Koichi Fukuda
  • Patent number: 9167148
    Abstract: An image capture apparatus includes: an image sensor having a plurality of pixels that photoelectrically convert an object image formed by an imaging optical system, each of the pixels having one microlens and a photoelectric conversion portion that has been divided into a plurality of portions; a focus detection unit configured to correct an image shift amount detected with a phase difference detection method using focus detection signal arrays of two images obtained by the photoelectric conversion portions divided into a plurality of portions; and a controller that calculates information corresponding to a movement amount of a lens of the imaging optical system based on the image shift amount detected and corrected by the focus detection unit, and controls movement of the lens of the imaging optical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Ichiro Onuki, Akihiro Nishio, Koichi Fukuda, Yoshihito Tamaki, Yuki Yoshimura
  • Publication number: 20150296128
    Abstract: A control apparatus includes a first calculation unit configured to calculate a first defocus amount by a phase-difference detection method using a first signal and a second signal, a second calculation unit configured to calculate a second defocus amount based on a contrast evaluation value of a synthesized signal, an instruction unit configured to give an instruction of focus control, and a control unit configured to perform the focus control in response to the instruction of the focus control by the instruction unit, the synthesized signal is a signal obtained by relatively shifting phases of the first and second signals and synthesizing the first and second signals, and the control unit refers to the second defocus amount prior to the first defocus amount in the focus control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2015
    Publication date: October 15, 2015
    Inventors: Junichi Saito, Koichi Fukuda, Hideaki Takamiya, Yoshihito Tamaki, Yuki Yoshimura
  • Publication number: 20150271425
    Abstract: An image pickup element includes a pixel matrix, a pupil dividing portion, and a shielding portion. Pixels in the pixel matrix include a photoelectric conversion portion, and are arranged in units of a matrix of a predetermined number of the pixels. The pupil dividing portion is arranged on a side of a light receiving surface of the photoelectric conversion portion of each pixel to divide a pupil region. The shielding portion arranged between the pupil dividing portion and the photoelectric conversion portion shields a predetermined region of the light receiving surface of the photoelectric conversion portion. The predetermined region of each pixel corresponds to any one of the divided pupil regions obtained when the pupil region is divided by the pupil dividing portion. A proportion of the predetermined region is smaller than a proportion of a region not-shielded by the shielding portion in the light receiving surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2015
    Publication date: September 24, 2015
    Inventor: Koichi Fukuda
  • Publication number: 20150249782
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus for processing image pickup signals of subpixels of an image pickup element including a plurality of unit pixels each of which has a plurality of subpixels for receiving light passing through different partial pupil areas of a focusing optical system and generating image data of a photographed image, obtains in-focus information of the photographed image, sets a first area and a second area different from the first area onto the photographed image on the basis of the obtained in-focus information, and adds a part of the image pickup signals of the subpixels obtained from the image pickup element so that the number of image pickup signals of the subpixels per unit pixel in the image data of the photographed image corresponding to the first area is larger than that of the image data of the photographed image corresponding to the second area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2013
    Publication date: September 3, 2015
    Inventor: Koichi Fukuda