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: 8311407
    Abstract: A camera system includes an interchangeable lens and a camera body. A body controller in the camera body performs control to transmit a timing signal and a drive information signal to the interchangeable lens. A lens controller in the interchangeable lens controls drive of a focus lens based on the drive information signal and the timing signal which are received from the camera body. The drive information signal includes information of a driving time which is a period from a start of driving the focus lens until an end of driving the focus lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Shibuno, Mitsuyoshi Okamoto, Naotake Kitahira
  • Publication number: 20120274829
    Abstract: A camera body includes an imaging unit operable to generate image data by capturing an object image, a display unit operable to display an image based on the image data, and a controller operable to control the display unit. While the interchangeable lens is being demounted from the camera body, the controller controls the display unit to prohibit displaying the image based on the image data, and when the interchangeable lens is completely demounted from the camera body, the display unit displays the image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2012
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: KOJI SHIBUNO, TAIZO AOKI, TAKAO WATANABE
  • Publication number: 20120243856
    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: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2012
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: KOJI SHIBUNO
  • Patent number: 8275251
    Abstract: An interchangeable lens includes a focus lens for changing a focus state of an object image, a driving unit for driving the focus lens, a lens controller for controlling the driving unit so as to move the focus lens forward and backward along the optical axis at a predetermined drive frequency, and a storage unit for storing therein drive frequency information representing a drive frequency at which the driving unit can control. A camera body obtains the drive frequency information from the interchangeable lens and performs control while referring to the drive frequency information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Haruo Isaka, Mitsuyoshi Okamoto, Kenji Kawazoe, Naotake Kitahira, Koji Shibuno
  • Publication number: 20120237194
    Abstract: An imaging system includes an interchangeable lens and a camera body. The camera body includes a main body controller operable to transmit a reference signal for providing a reference of a driving start timing of the focus lens and delay time information indicating delay time with respect to the reference signal, to the interchangeable lens. The interchangeable lens includes a lens controller operable to control the focus lens to be driven at a timing obtained by delaying the timing provided by the reference signal by the delay time based on the reference signal and the delay time information received from the main body controller. The delay time is set so that, for example, an exposure timing of a predetermined area in the imaging element is substantially coincident with a stop period of the wobbling operation of the focus lens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2012
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: KENJI KAWAZOE, MITSUYOSHI OKAMOTO, NAOTAKE KITAHIRA, KOJI SHIBUNO
  • Publication number: 20120236182
    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: March 15, 2012
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Dai SHINTANI, Akira Koga, Koji Shibuno
  • Patent number: 8253823
    Abstract: There are provided a camera body capable of operating a drive unit of an interchangeable lens at a low drive sound level, an interchangeable lens, and an imaging apparatus including such a camera body and an interchangeable lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Shibuno, Takashi Abe, Koji Hashigami
  • Patent number: 8251602
    Abstract: An intermediate adapter includes a first terminal operable to be electrically connected to a lens detecting terminal provided on the camera body when the intermediate adapter is attached to the camera body, a second terminal operable to be electrically connected to a terminal provided on the interchangeable lens for providing a ground potential when the interchangeable lens is attached to the intermediate adapter, and a first switch interposed between the first terminal and the second terminal. The first switch is operable to electrically connect the first terminal and the second terminal when the first switch is on, and disconnect the electrical connection between the first terminal and the second terminal when the first switch is off. While the intermediate adapter is being attached to the interchangeable lens, the first switch is off to disconnect the electrical connection between the first terminal and the second terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Ueda, Koji Shibuno, Hidekazu Nakajima, Michihiko Ootsuka
  • Publication number: 20120212635
    Abstract: A camera body to which an interchangeable lens is mountable includes a receiving unit operable to receive speed information, a first controller unit operable to select a shooting mode from a moving image shooting mode and a still image shooting mode, a second controller unit capable of setting whether to operate in a silent mode provided for a situation where a drive sound of a drive unit in the interchangeable lens is desired to be at a low level during the moving image shooting mode, a third controller unit operable to generate a control signal for changing light amount which is changed by a diaphragm in the interchangeable lens, at a constant speed based on the speed information, when the moving image shooting mode is selected and the silent mode is not set, and a body transmitting unit operable to transmit the generated control signal to the interchangeable lens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2012
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takashi Abe, Koji Shibuno
  • Patent number: 8237852
    Abstract: A camera body 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, a detection unit operable to detect state of mounting/demounting the interchangeable lens to/from the camera body, and a display unit operable to display an image based on the image data. After detecting that the interchangeable lens is completely mounted to the camera body, when the detection unit detects that the interchangeable lens is being demounted from the camera body, the display unit stops displaying the image based on the image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Shibuno, Taizo Aoki, Takao Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20120183285
    Abstract: A camera system includes an interchangeable lens and a camera body. A body controller in the camera body performs control to transmit a timing signal and a drive information signal to the interchangeable lens. A lens controller in the interchangeable lens controls drive of a focus lens based on the drive information signal and the timing signal which are received from the camera body. The drive information signal includes information of a driving time which is a period from a start of driving the focus lens until an end of driving the focus lens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2012
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: KOJI SHIBUNO, MITSUYOSHI OKAMOTO, NAOTAKE KITAHIRA
  • Patent number: 8208057
    Abstract: An imaging system includes an interchangeable lens and a camera body. The camera body includes a main body controller operable to transmit a reference signal for providing a reference of a driving start timing of the focus lens and delay time information indicating delay time with respect to the reference signal, to the interchangeable lens. The interchangeable lens includes a lens controller operable to control the focus lens to be driven at a timing obtained by delaying the timing provided by the reference signal by the delay time based on the reference signal and the delay time information received from the main body controller. The delay time is set so that, for example, an exposure timing of a predetermined area in the imaging element is substantially coincident with a stop period of the wobbling operation of the focus lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Kawazoe, Mitsuyoshi Okamoto, Naotake Kitahira, Koji Shibuno
  • Patent number: 8203628
    Abstract: A camera system that can maintain a good focus state regardless of the speed of zooming during variable proportion zooming is provided. The camera system has a control portion that, based on information on the speed of the change in the focal length, determines whether to control a focus lens drive portion in either a first control mode or a second control mode. If it determines that control is to be performed in the first control mode, then the control portion controls the focus lens drive portion so that it drives a focus lens in the direction that brings a predetermined captured object into focus based on estimated values for auto focusing that have been calculated from the image data at various positions by controlling the focus lens drive portion so that the captured object distance is moved forward and backward in the optical axis direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Kenichi Honjo, Koji Shibuno, Masato Murayama
  • Patent number: 8194180
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes an optical system including a focus lens, a driver configured to drive the focus lens, a controller configured to control a supply of power to the driver, and a setting unit configured to set a power supply mode for specifying a method of supplying power to the driver. When a predetermined power supply mode is set, the controller determines according to a magnitude of a depth of field of the optical system during whether holding power for holding the state of the focus lens is supplied to the driver when the focus lens is stopped, and controls the supply of the holding power to the driver according to the result of the determination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Shibuno, Takahiro Ikeda, Hiroyuki Kawahara, Takashi Abe
  • Publication number: 20120127591
    Abstract: An interchangeable lens has a zoom lens, a zoom driver operable to drive the zoom lens along an optical axis, a focus lens, a focus driver operable to drive the focus lens along the optical axis, and a storage unit operable to store link information which links position information indicating a position of the zoom lens on the optical axis with information about a variation in magnification caused by the focus lens advancing and retreating on the optical axis with the zoom lens located at the position indicated by the position information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2012
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: MITSUYOSHI OKAMOTO, KOJI SHIBUNO, AKIHIRO OKAMOTO, TAKASHI ABE
  • Patent number: 8169535
    Abstract: An interchangeable lens mountable to a camera body includes an optical system operable to collect light from a subject to form a subject image, a diaphragm operable to adjust an amount of light of the subject image to be collected by the optical system, a driving unit operable to drive the diaphragm based upon an aperture value within a predetermined range, a storage unit operable to store speed information relating to a speed at which the driving unit can be set to drive the diaphragm, and a transmitting unit operable to transmit the speed information stored in the storage unit to the camera body. The speed information is provided for each of a plurality of aperture value ranges which are obtained by dividing the predetermined range of the aperture value, and relates to the speed indicating a settable rate of change in the light amount which changes as the driving unit drives the diaphragm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Abe, Koji Shibuno
  • Publication number: 20120099830
    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: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2011
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Koji Shibuno
  • Publication number: 20120099004
    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: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2011
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: KOJI SHIBUNO
  • Patent number: 8164680
    Abstract: An imaging system includes an interchangeable lens and a camera body. The camera body includes a second communication unit capable of communicating with a first communication unit, an imaging element operable to generate an image signal from the optical image, and a main body controller operable to transmit a reference signal for providing a reference of a driving start timing of the focus lens to the lens controller through the second and first communication units. The main body controller transmits the reference signal to the lens controller during a period for which neither communication of predetermined signals other than the reference signal nor process related to the communication is performed between the first communication unit and the second communication unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Kawazoe, Mitsuyoshi Okamoto, Naotake Kitahira, Koji Shibuno
  • Publication number: 20120070139
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes an optical system including a focus lens, a driver configured to drive the focus lens, a controller configured to control a supply of power to the driver, and a setting unit configured to set a power supply mode for specifying a method of supplying power to the driver. When a predetermined power supply mode is set, the controller determines according to a magnitude of a depth of field of the optical system during whether holding power for holding the state of the focus lens is supplied to the driver when the focus lens is stopped, and controls the supply of the holding power to the driver according to the result of the determination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2011
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: KOJI SHIBUNO, TAKAHIRO IKEDA, HIROYUKI KAWAHARA, TAKASHI ABE