Patents by Inventor Koji Aoto

Koji Aoto 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: 9608726
    Abstract: A display device according to the present disclosure includes: a backlight control unit configured to divide the luminescence surface of the backlight into a plurality of areas, and, based on the image signal, (i) perform luminescence control in each of the plurality of areas and (ii) set off periods starting at different times for the plurality of areas. The backlight control unit performs luminescence control in a visible light communication area which is at least one area among the plurality of areas in a period in which the visible light communication signal is output, based on the visible light communication signal, instead of performing luminescence control based on the image signal, and performs the luminescence control based on the image signal, in the visible light communication area, in a period in which the visible light communication signal is not output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akihiro Ueki, Toshiyuki Maeda, Takashi Suzuki, Akira Shiokawa, Koji Aoto, Koji Nakanishi, Hideki Aoyama, Mitsuaki Oshima
  • Publication number: 20170061900
    Abstract: A display device of the present disclosure is a display device capable of outputting, by a Carousel method, a visible light communication signal including a plurality of signal units. The display device includes a display panel that displays a video signal, a visible light communication processor that encodes the signal units, divides the encoded signal units into a plurality of blocks, generates a plurality of transmission frames by using the plurality of blocks, and uses the generated transmission frames as a backlight control signal, and a backlight that illuminates the display panel from the back surface of the display panel based on the backlight control signal. With regard to the plurality of transmission frames corresponding to one of the signal units generated by the visible light communication processor, an order of the plurality of blocks is different between at least two of the transmission frames.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: AKIHIRO UEKI, TOSHIYUKI MAEDA, AKIRA SHIOKAWA, KOJI AOTO, KOJI NAKANISHI, HIDEKI AOYAMA, KENGO MIYOSHI, MITSUAKI OSHIMA
  • Patent number: 9564970
    Abstract: An information communication method is provided for obtaining information from a subject. The method includes receiving an ID list that includes a plurality of sets of identification information, and setting an exposure time of an image sensor so that a bright line corresponding to an exposure line included in the image sensor appears according to a change in luminance of the subject. The method also includes obtaining a bright line image including the bright line by the image sensor capturing the subject, and obtaining the information by demodulating data specified by a pattern of the bright line included in the obtained bright line image. The method further includes searching for a channel used to broadcast the content displayed by the subject, by searching the ID list for the obtained information, and obtaining related information associated with the channel from a server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CORPORATION OF AMERICA
    Inventors: Mitsuaki Oshima, Koji Nakanishi, Hideki Aoyama, Ikuo Fuchigami, Tsutomu Mukai, Hidehiko Shin, Yosuke Matsushita, Shigehiro Iida, Kazunori Yamada, Toshiyuki Maeda, Akihiro Ueki, Takashi Suzuki, Akira Shiokawa, Koji Aoto
  • Publication number: 20160291437
    Abstract: There is provided a display device having an electrochromic element placed in the display device. The electrochromic element has: a light transmittance of 70% or more and a light reflectance of 20% or less at a central wavelength of a visible spectrum when in a transparent state; and a light reflectance of 65% or more at the central wavelength of the visible spectrum when in a mirror state. By this, the display device is not only highly effective in terms of light-shielding, heat blocking, screening, etc., but is also switchable between a transmissive type and a reflective type.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2016
    Publication date: October 6, 2016
    Inventors: SHOTARO OGAWA, KOJI AOTO, AKIRA SHIOKAWA, MAKOTO MORITA, TAKASHI ISHIKAWA, TAKASHI SUZUKI, YASUTAKA TSUTSUI
  • Publication number: 20160218806
    Abstract: An information communication method is provided for obtaining information from a subject. The method includes receiving an ID list that includes a plurality of sets of identification information, and setting an exposure time of an image sensor so that a bright line corresponding to an exposure line included in the image sensor appears according to a change in luminance of the subject. The method also includes obtaining a bright line image including the bright line by the image sensor capturing the subject, and obtaining the information by demodulating data specified by a pattern of the bright line included in the obtained bright line image. The method further includes searching for a channel used to broadcast the content displayed by the subject, by searching the ID list for the obtained information, and obtaining related information associated with the channel from a server.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Publication date: July 28, 2016
    Applicant: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CORPORATION OF AMERICA
    Inventors: Mitsuaki OSHIMA, Koji NAKANISHI, Hideki AOYAMA, Ikuo FUCHIGAMI, Tsutomu MUKAI, Hidehiko SHIN, Yosuke MATSUSHITA, Shigehiro IIDA, Kazunori YAMADA, Toshiyuki MAEDA, Akihiro UEKI, Takashi SUZUKI, Akira SHIOKAWA, Koji AOTO
  • Publication number: 20160180810
    Abstract: A display method for appropriately transmitting a visible light communication signal includes: a step of coding a visible light communication signal to generate an image having a striped pattern for visible light communication as a first visible light communication image; a step of displaying the image included in the video signal, in a predetermined frame; and a step of displaying a low-luminance image in the predetermined frame, and sequentially displaying the first visible light communication image, the low-luminance image being an identification image and having uniform luminance lower than average luminance of the image which is to be displayed, wherein in the step, after the image included in the video signal is displayed in the predetermined frame, each of the first identification image and the first visible light communication image is displayed in a same frame as the predetermined frame, for a period shorter than the predetermined frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2016
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Inventors: Toshiyuki MAEDA, Akihiro UEKI, Takashi SUZUKI, Akira SHIOKAWA, Koji AOTO, Koji NAKANISHI, Hideki AOYAMA, Mitsuaki OSHIMA
  • Publication number: 20160180779
    Abstract: A display device includes: a display panel including a display screen; a backlight having a light emission surface that illuminates the display screen of the display panel from behind; a second processor that superimposes the visible light communication signals on backlight control signals generated based on the image signal; and a second controller that divides the light emission surface of the backlight into regions and establishes a period during which control of light emission in each of the regions and control for turning off the backlight in each of the regions a different time are performed based on the backlight control signals outputted by the second processor. When superimposing the visible light communication signals on the backlight control signals, the second processor does not superimpose a visible light communication signal in a period indicating an OFF state of the backlight in the backlight control signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2016
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Inventors: Takashi SUZUKI, Toshiyuki MAEDA, Akihiro UEKI, Akira SHIOKAWA, Koji AOTO, Koji NAKANISHI, Hideki AOYAMA, Mitsuaki OSHIMA
  • Patent number: 9331779
    Abstract: An information communication method is provided for obtaining information from a subject. The information communication method includes transmitting position information indicating a position of an image sensor used to capture the subject, and receiving an ID list that is associated with the position indicated by the position information. The information communication method also includes setting an exposure time of the image sensor so that in a bright line corresponding to an exposure line included in the image sensor appears according to a change in luminance of the subject. The information communication method further includes obtaining a bright line image including the bright line, obtaining information by demodulating data specified by a cycle length or frequency of a stripe pattern of the bright line included in the obtained bright line image, and searching the ID list for identification information that includes the obtained information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CORPORATION OF AMERICA
    Inventors: Mitsuaki Oshima, Koji Nakanishi, Hideki Aoyama, Ikuo Fuchigami, Tsutomu Mukai, Hidehiko Shin, Yosuke Matsushita, Shigehiro Iida, Kazunori Yamada, Toshiyuki Maeda, Akihiro Ueki, Takashi Suzuki, Akira Shiokawa, Koji Aoto
  • Publication number: 20160086583
    Abstract: A video display method is provided that displays, on a per frame basis, an image included in a video signal. The method includes generating a first visible light communication image by encoding a visible light communication signal, the first visible light communication image being an image having a stripe pattern for visible light communication, and displaying, in a predetermined frame, the image included in the video signal. The method also includes switching a pitch of the first visible light communication image to a different pitch, and generating a second visible light communication image. The method further includes displaying the second visible light communication image that has a stripe pattern configured with a different minimum pitch, which is different in resolution from the stripe pattern of the first visible light communication image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2015
    Publication date: March 24, 2016
    Applicant: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CORPORATION OF AMERICA
    Inventors: Mitsuaki OSHIMA, Hideki AOYAMA, Koji NAKANISHI, Koji AOTO, Toshiyuki MAEDA, Akira SHIOKAWA, Akihiro UEKI, Takashi SUZUKI
  • Patent number: 9262954
    Abstract: A visible light communication signal display method of displaying (i) an image represented by video signals and (ii) an image obtained by encoding visible light communication signals includes: encoding at least part of the visible light communication signals to generate an encoded image; generating a plurality of sub-images which correspond to respective partial images obtained by dividing the encoded image and each of which (i) includes a corresponding one of the partial images and (ii) except for the corresponding partial image, is an image having a substantially uniform luminance value lower than or equal to a predetermined luminance value; and displaying, in a video display period, the image represented by the video signals, and displaying the sub-images in time series in a communication period different from the video display period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CORPORATION OF AMERICA
    Inventors: Mitsuaki Oshima, Koji Nakanishi, Hideki Aoyama, Koji Aoto, Toshiyuki Maeda, Akira Shiokawa, Akihiro Ueki, Takashi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 9247180
    Abstract: A video display method in which a visible light communication signal can be appropriately transmitted includes: Step SL 11 of generating a first visible light communication image that is an image having a stripe pattern for visible light communication, by encoding the visible light communication signal; Step SL12 of displaying, in a predetermined frame, an image included in the video signal; and Step SL13 of displaying, in the predetermined frame, the first visible light communication image sequentially thereafter an identification image that is an image having luminance uniformly lower than average luminance of the image that is displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CORPORATION OF AMERICA
    Inventors: Mitsuaki Oshima, Hideki Aoyama, Koji Nakanishi, Koji Aoto, Toshiyuki Maeda, Akira Shiokawa, Akihiro Ueki, Takashi Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20150341539
    Abstract: An information communication method is provided for obtaining information from a subject. The information communication method includes transmitting position information indicating a position of an image sensor used to capture the subject, and receiving an ID list that is associated with the position indicated by the position information. The information communication method also includes setting an exposure time of the image sensor so that in a bright line corresponding to an exposure line included in the image sensor appears according to a change in luminance of the subject. The information communication method further includes obtaining a bright line image including the bright line, obtaining information by demodulating data specified by a cycle length or frequency of a stripe pattern of the bright line included in the obtained bright line image, and searching the ID list for identification information that includes the obtained information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2015
    Publication date: November 26, 2015
    Applicant: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CORPORATION OF AMERICA
    Inventors: Mitsuaki OSHIMA, Koji NAKANISHI, Hideki AOYAMA, Ikuo FUCHIGAMI, Tsutomu MUKAI, Hidehiko SHIN, Yosuke MATSUSHITA, Shigehiro IIDA, Kazunori YAMADA, Toshiyuki MAEDA, Akihiro UEKI, Takashi SUZUKI, Akira SHIOKAWA, Koji AOTO
  • Patent number: 9184838
    Abstract: An information communication method for obtaining information from a subject includes transmitting position information indicating a position of an image sensor used to capture the subject, and receiving an ID list that is associated with the position indicated by the position information. The method also includes setting an exposure time of the image sensor so that a bright line corresponding to an exposure line included in the image sensor appears according to a change in luminance of the subject. The method further includes obtaining a bright line image including the bright line by capturing the subject that changes in luminance by the image sensor with the set exposure time, obtaining the information by demodulating data specified by a pattern of the bright line included in the obtained bright line image, and searching the ID list for identification information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CORPORATION OF AMERICA
    Inventors: Mitsuaki Oshima, Koji Nakanishi, Hideki Aoyama, Ikuo Fuchigami, Tsutomu Mukai, Hidehiko Shin, Yosuke Matsushita, Shigehiro Ilda, Kazunori Yamada, Toshiyuki Maeda, Akihiro Ueki, Takashi Suzuki, Akira Shiokawa, Koji Aoto
  • Publication number: 20150222355
    Abstract: A display device according to the present disclosure includes: a backlight control unit configured to divide the luminescence surface of the backlight into a plurality of areas, and, based on the image signal, (i) perform luminescence control in each of the plurality of areas and (ii) set off periods starting at different times for the plurality of areas. The backlight control unit performs luminescence control in a visible light communication area which is at least one area among the plurality of areas in a period in which the visible light communication signal is output, based on the visible light communication signal, instead of performing luminescence control based on the image signal, and performs the luminescence control based on the image signal, in the visible light communication area, in a period in which the visible light communication signal is not output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2015
    Publication date: August 6, 2015
    Inventors: Akihiro UEKI, Toshiyuki MAEDA, Takashi SUZUKI, Akira SHIOKAWA, Koji AOTO, Koji NAKANISHI, Hideki AOYAMA, Mitsuaki OSHIMA
  • Patent number: 9008352
    Abstract: A video display method which allows a visible light communication signal to be appropriately transmitted includes: Step SL21 of generating an image having a stripe pattern as a visible light communication image; Step SL22 of calculating average luminance of the visible light communication image; Step SL23 of generating a visible light superimposition image by superimposing the visible light communication image only on, among one or more sub-images included in an image of a video signal that is displayed in the frame, a sub-image that is displayed in a specific sub-frame that is, among one or more sub-frames in each of which a corresponding one of the one or more sub-images is displayed, a sub-frame for representing the average luminance calculated; and Step SL24 of displaying the visible light superimposition image in the specific sub-frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Corporation of America
    Inventors: Mitsuaki Oshima, Hideki Aoyama, Koji Nakanishi, Koji Aoto, Toshiyuki Maeda, Akira Shiokawa, Akihiro Ueki, Takashi Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20150070522
    Abstract: An information communication method for obtaining information from a subject includes transmitting position information indicating a position of an image sensor used to capture the subject, and receiving an ID list that is associated with the position indicated by the position information. The method also includes setting an exposure time of the image sensor so that a bright line corresponding to an exposure line included in the image sensor appears according to a change in luminance of the subject. The method further includes obtaining a bright line image including the bright line by capturing the subject that changes in luminance by the image sensor with the set exposure time, obtaining the information by demodulating data specified by a pattern of the bright line included in the obtained bright line image, and searching the ID list for identification information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2014
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Applicant: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CORPORATION OF AMERICA
    Inventors: Mitsuaki OSHIMA, Koji NAKANISHI, Hideki AOYAMA, Ikuo FUCHIGAMI, Tsutomu MUKAI, Hidehiko SHIN, Yosuke MATSUSHITA, Shigehiro IIDA, Kazunori YAMADA, Toshiyuki MAEDA, Akihiro UEKI, Takashi SUZUKI, Akira SHIOKAWA, Koji AOTO
  • Patent number: 8922666
    Abstract: An information communication method that enables communication between various devices includes: transmitting position information indicating a position of an image sensor; receiving an ID list; setting an exposure time of the image sensor; obtaining a bright line image including a bright line, by capturing a subject by the image sensor; obtaining information by demodulating data specified by a pattern of the bright line included in the obtained bright line image; and searching the ID list for identification information that includes the obtained information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Corporation of America
    Inventors: Mitsuaki Oshima, Koji Nakanishi, Hideki Aoyama, Ikuo Fuchigami, Tsutomu Mukai, Hidehiko Shin, Yosuke Matsushita, Shigehiro Iida, Kazunori Yamada, Toshiyuki Maeda, Akihiro Ueki, Takashi Suzuki, Akira Shiokawa, Koji Aoto
  • Publication number: 20140205136
    Abstract: A visible light communication signal display method of displaying (i) an image represented by video signals and (ii) an image obtained by encoding visible light communication signals includes: encoding at least part of the visible light communication signals to generate an encoded image; generating a plurality of sub-images which correspond to respective partial images obtained by dividing the encoded image and each of which (i) includes a corresponding one of the partial images and (ii) except for the corresponding partial image, is an image having a substantially uniform luminance value lower than or equal to a predetermined luminance value; and displaying, in a video display period, the image represented by the video signals, and displaying the sub-images in time series in a communication period different from the video display period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mitsuaki OSHIMA, Koji NAKANISHI, Hideki AOYAMA, Koji AOTO, Toshiyuki MAEDA, Akira SHIOKAWA, Akihiro UEKI, Takashi SUZUKI
  • Publication number: 20140204129
    Abstract: A display method capable of reducing the probability of communication error without causing significant deterioration of picture quality includes: specifying, as a specified light emission period, a light emission period in which light emission is performed for greater than or equal to a time required for transmitting a block included in a visible light communication signal, out of one or more light emission periods in which light emission is performed for displaying an image included in a video signal; and transmitting the block of the visible light communication signal by luminance changing in the specified light emission period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mitsuaki OSHIMA, Koji NAKANISHI, Hideki AOYAMA, Koji AOTO, Akira SHIOKAWA, Toshiyuki MAEDA, Akihiro UEKI, Takashi SUZUKI
  • Publication number: 20140186052
    Abstract: An information communication method that enables communication between various devices includes: transmitting position information indicating a position of an image sensor; receiving an ID list; setting an exposure time of the image sensor; obtaining a bright line image including a bright line, by capturing a subject by the image sensor; obtaining information by demodulating data specified by a pattern of the bright line included in the obtained bright line image; and searching the ID list for identification information that includes the obtained information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2013
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mitsuaki OSHIMA, Koji NAKANISHI, Hideki AOYAMA, Ikuo FUCHIGAMI, Tsutomu MUKAI, Hidehiko SHIN, Yosuke MATSUSHITA, Shigehiro IIDA, Kazunori YAMADA, Toshiyuki MAEDA, Akihiro UEKI, Takashi SUZUKI, Akira SHIOKAWA, Koji AOTO