Patents by Inventor Koji Shibuno

Koji Shibuno 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: 9519202
    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: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenichi Honjo, Mitsuyoshi Okamoto, Koji Shibuno
  • Patent number: 9285655
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus including an imaging unit configured to capture an image of a subject to output image data, an optical system that includes a focus lens and is configured to form an image of the subject on the imaging unit, a finder that allows a user to view the subject, a proximity sensor configured to sense proximity of an object to the finder, and a controller configured to perform a focus operation to drive the focus lens to focus on the image of the subject when the proximity sensor senses proximity of an object, and fix the position of the focus lens after completion of the focus operation until a predetermined condition is satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Koji Shibuno
  • Publication number: 20160073012
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus in the present disclosure includes an imaging unit for capturing an object image and generating image data, a focus lens for focusing the object image onto the imaging unit, an operation unit for receiving an instruction of a user, and a controller. The operation unit can set a first focus point and a second focus point that is different from the first focus point. The controller obtains information on a first focus position that is a position of the focus lens to focus on an object image at the first focus point and a second focus position that is a position of the focus lens to focus on an object image at the second focus point, before receiving from a user an instruction for capturing a moving image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2015
    Publication date: March 10, 2016
    Inventors: KOJI SHIBUNO, YUSUKE OBATA
  • Publication number: 20150271475
    Abstract: An imaging device of the present disclosure includes: an optical system including a focus lens; an imaging system configured to generate image data based on an image obtained by the optical system; a DFD processing unit configured to calculate DFD distance information regarding a subject distance based on a plurality of blur signals and a plurality of pieces of image data having different focusing positions, the image data being obtained from the imaging system following drive of the focus lens; a measuring unit configured to measure a variation of a subject image of the image data; and a control unit configured to control the DFD processing unit to calculate the DFD distance information when the variation is equal to or more than a predetermined value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2014
    Publication date: September 24, 2015
    Inventor: Koji SHIBUNO
  • Patent number: 9137447
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus capable of wirelessly communicating with a display device, including: an imaging unit configured to capture a subject image to generate a captured image; a peaking processor configured to adjust emphasis of in-focus part in the captured image according to an image quality setting of image displayed on the display device of a peaking image to be sent to the display device, to generate a peaking image including emphasized in-focus part of the captured image, when a mode for performing a peaking process on the captured image is set; and a sending unit configured to send the peaking image to the display device by wireless communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Koji Shibuno
  • Publication number: 20150222809
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus according to the present disclosure includes an imaging unit configured to generate image data by imaging an object image; a displaying unit configured to display the image data and a focus area superimposed on the image data, the focus area being a set of a plurality of focus frames; a determination unit configured to determine a number and positions of arbitrary focus frames selected from the focus area; and a control unit configured to control the imaging unit and the determination unit, and to perform focus processing on an image. The control unit performs the focus processing according to a plurality of selected focus frames when the determination unit determines that the plurality of selected focus frames are located at positions not adjacent to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2015
    Publication date: August 6, 2015
    Inventors: Kyosuke OSUKA, Koji SHIBUNO
  • Patent number: 9077892
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes an optical system including a focus lens, an imaging unit operable to capture a subject image formed by the optical system to generate image data, a driver operable to drive the focus lens along an optical axis of the optical system, and an autofocus adjusting unit operable to adjust a subject image formed on the imaging unit to be in focus by evaluating the image data generated by the imaging unit and by controlling the driver to drive the focus lens. When adjusting the subject image to be in focus anew after previously adjusting the subject image to be in focus, the autofocus adjusting unit estimates a focus position and controls the driver to drive the focus lens according to a driving method used for evaluating the image data generated by the imaging unit, and different driving methods are used for different results of the estimation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsuyoshi Okamoto, Koji Shibuno
  • Patent number: 8982246
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes an obtaining unit that obtains lens information including information indicating resolution of an optical system with respect to a position of a zoom lens, an imaging sensor that captures a subject image formed through the optical system to output image information, an image processor that performs digital zoom to electronically enlarge a subject image by performing image processing on the image information outputted from an imaging sensor, and a controller that determines, based on the obtained lens information, whether the zoom lens is located in a predetermined position and controls the image processor to perform the digital zoom on the image information outputted from the imaging sensor, when the zoom lens is located in the predetermined position. The predetermined position is a position of the zoom lens where resolution of the optical system is larger than a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Koji Shibuno
  • Publication number: 20150036001
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus capable of wirelessly communicating with a display device, including: an imaging unit configured to capture a subject image to generate a captured image; a peaking processor configured to adjust emphasis of in-focus part in the captured image according to an image quality setting of image displayed on the display device of a peaking image to be sent to the display device, to generate a peaking image including emphasized in-focus part of the captured image, when a mode for performing a peaking process on the captured image is set; and a sending unit configured to send the peaking image to the display device by wireless communication.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2014
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Applicant: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Koji SHIBUNO
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20140293108
    Abstract: An imaging device includes an imaging unit that captures light which is formed into an image through an optical system capable of housing a lens with operating force by a user; an operating unit operated by the user; a display unit that displays an image; and a controller that is capable of setting a playback mode which is an operating mode to display on the display unit an image represented by image data stored in a storage medium, and an operating mode other than the playback mode, and that sets the playback mode when the lens is housed, regardless of whether or not operation to set the playback mode has been accepted through the operating unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Koji SHIBUNO
  • Patent number: 8830353
    Abstract: An interchangeable lens mountable to a camera body, includes a driving object to be driven, an operating unit that receives an operation performed by a user to provide an instruction for driving the driving object, a driver that drives the driving object, and a lens controller that controls the driver. The lens controller notifies the camera body of information about drive of the driving object corresponding to the operation received by the operating unit, and thereafter, controls the driver to drive the driving object when obtaining information indicating permission for driving the driving object from the camera body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Koji Shibuno
  • Patent number: 8767119
    Abstract: An interchangeable lens mountable to a camera body, includes a focus lens operable to adjust a focus state of a subject, a driver operable to drive the focus lens by repeatedly performing slight advancing and retreating of the focus lens along an optical axis, a lens-side obtaining unit operable to obtain a control signal for driving the driver from the camera body, and a lens-side transmission unit operable to transmit, to the camera body, information about a direction of slight advancing and retreating operations of the focus lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Mitsuyoshi Okamoto, Koji Shibuno, Akihiro Okamoto
  • Patent number: 8761591
    Abstract: An interchangeable lens attachable to a camera body includes a first operable member, a second operable member, an operation member for receiving user's operation for the first operable member or the second operable member, an obtaining unit configured to obtain, from the camera body, selection information for selecting the operable member to be assigned to the operation member, and a controller configured to make the operation member function as a member for operating either one of the first operable member and the second operable member based on the selection information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Koji Shibuno
  • Patent number: 8736746
    Abstract: An imaging device is provided that includes a first imaging element, a second imaging element, and a focal point detector. The first imaging element includes a first opto-electrical converter configured to convert light into an electrical signal. The second imaging element is configured and arranged to receive light incident on and passing through the first opto-electrical converter. The second imaging element includes a second opto-electrical converter configured to convert the light coming from the first opto-electrical converter into an electrical signal. The focal point detector is configured to perform focal point detection based on first image data obtained by the first imaging element and second image data obtained by the second imaging element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Dai Shintani, Koji Shibuno
  • Patent number: 8724012
    Abstract: A camera body including a receiving unit that receives an operation by a user, an obtaining unit that obtains driving method information indicating a capability of controlling a focus lens from a mounted interchangeable lens, a body controller that controls the camera body and generates a control signal for controlling the interchangeable lens, and a sending unit that sends the control signal to the interchangeable lens. The body controller determines control of the interchangeable lens by referring to the driving method information to generate a control signal that instructs the interchangeable lens to perform the determined control. The receiving unit receives a selection of one driving method setting menu from a plurality of driving method setting menus, and makes a driving method setting menu, which uses a driving method other than the driving method indicated by the driving method information, unselectable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Ueda, Koji Shibuno
  • Patent number: 8717451
    Abstract: The camera body includes a synchronizing signal generator that generates a synchronizing signal, a body controller that controls the camera body and generates a command to control the interchangeable lens. The body controller performs control to send the interchangeable lens a command to set the interchangeable lens to a synchronous mode in which operation of the interchangeable lens is controlled in synchronization with the synchronizing signal and a command to set the interchangeable lens to an asynchronous mode which is a mode other than the synchronous mode. The interchangeable lens includes a lens controller that controls the operation of the interchangeable lens. The lens controller controls the operation of the interchangeable lens in the synchronous mode or the asynchronous mode according to the command received from the camera body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Mitsuyoshi Okamoto, Kenji Kawazoe, Naotake Kitahira, Koji Shibuno
  • Publication number: 20140118575
    Abstract: A camera system includes a lens unit, a mount, a camera body, and a control unit. The lens unit includes at least one lens unit operation portion and changes the magnification of an optical image electrically. The mount supports removably the lens unit. The camera body includes at least one camera body operation portion. The control unit controls the lens unit so as to change the magnification of an optical image electrically in response to either one of the operation of the camera body operation portion or the operation of the lens unit operation portion. The control unit controls the lens unit so as to execute an operation that is different from the operation which changes the magnification of an optical image, in response to the other of the operation of the camera body operation portion or the operation of the lens unit operation portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2014
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Dai SHINTANI, Akira KOGA, Koji SHIBUNO
  • Patent number: 8704907
    Abstract: A camera body to which an interchangeable lens is mountable, includes an imaging unit operable to generate image data by capturing an object image, an acquisition unit operable to acquire optical data of the interchangeable lens from the interchangeable lens, a correction unit operable to correct the image data generated by the imaging unit based on the optical data acquired by the acquisition unit, and a display unit operable to display an image based on the image data. After the camera body is turned on, the display unit does not display the image based on the image data generated by the imaging unit, until the correction unit completes correction of the image data generated by the imaging unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Shibuno, Taizo Aoki, Takao Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20140092269
    Abstract: A camera system includes an interchangeable lens and a camera body. The camera body includes a first detecting unit for detecting an autofocus evaluation value, a second detecting unit for detecting that a position of a focus lens comes close to a focus position before running past the focus position, and a signal generating unit. In an autofocus control, the signal generating unit generates a control signal for controlling a driving unit to drive the focus lens at a first speed before the second detecting unit detects that the position of the focus lens comes close to the focus position, and to drive the focus lens at a second speed lower than the first speed based on a change rate of the autofocus evaluation value after the second detecting unit detects that the position of the focus lens comes close to the focus position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: MITSUYOSHI OKAMOTO, KOJI SHIBUNO