Patents by Inventor Masanori Kanemaru

Masanori Kanemaru 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: 8633937
    Abstract: A memory section provides an input buffer capable of holding image data being a processing target of each processing by an image processing unit, and an output buffer capable of holding image data being a processing result. Through an input section, a user selects a plurality of kinds of processing to be executed by the image processing unit, and an execution sequence of the plurality of kinds of processing. A controller section reserves, based on information selected by a user through the input section, an input buffer and an output buffer for each processing in the memory section, sets an input-output connection relation between the buffers, and notifies, based on the set connection relation, the image processing unit of address information of the input buffer in the memory section and the output buffer for each processing sequentially executed by the image processing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Hisashi Nishimaki, Masanori Kanemaru
  • Patent number: 8213496
    Abstract: A motion-vector-setting section (31) sets a motion vector in units of pixel in a target image. Based on the motion vector, a target-pixel-setting section (35) sets a target pixel for each image in plural images to be processed. A motion-blur-amount-setting section (33) sets a motion blur amount in units of pixel based on the motion vector and the exposure-time ratio set in units of image in the exposure-time-ratio-setting section (32). A processing-region-setting section (36) sets processing regions corresponding to the target pixel for each of the plural images based on the motion blur amount. A processing-coefficient-setting section (37) sets processing coefficients based on the motion blur amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Takahiro Nagano, Tetsujiro Kondo, Tsutomu Watanabe, Junichi Ishibashi, Hisakazu Shiraki, Naoki Fujiwara, Masanori Kanemaru, Shinichiro Kaneko, Yasuhiro Suto
  • Patent number: 8139152
    Abstract: An apparatus for processing an image includes a motion vector detector, a motion-blurring-mitigated image generator, and a spatial resolution creation unit. The motion vector detector is configured to detect a motion vector by using an image that is made up of multiple pixels and acquired by an image sensor having time integration effects. The motion-blurring-mitigated image generator is configured to generate a motion-blurring-mitigated image in which motion blurring of a moving object is mitigated by using the motion vector detected by the motion vector detector on the assumption that a pixel value of pixel of the moving object in the image is a value obtained by integrating, in a time direction, a pixel value of each pixel in which no motion blurring that corresponds to the moving object occur as it is moved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsujiro Kondo, Masanori Kanemaru
  • Publication number: 20110316863
    Abstract: A memory section provides an input buffer capable of holding image data being a processing target of each processing by an image processing unit, and an output buffer capable of holding image data being a processing result. Through an input section, a user selects a plurality of kinds of processing to be executed by the image processing unit, and an execution sequence of the plurality of kinds of processing. A controller section reserves, based on information selected by a user through the input section, an input buffer and an output buffer for each processing in the memory section, sets an input-output connection relation between the buffers, and notifies, based on the set connection relation, the image processing unit of address information of the input buffer in the memory section and the output buffer for each processing sequentially executed by the image processing unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2011
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Inventors: Hisashi Nishimaki, Masanori Kanemaru
  • Patent number: 7940993
    Abstract: A motion-setting section (61) sets a motion amount and a motion direction for obtaining processing coefficients. A student-image-generating section (62) generates student images obtained by adding a motion blur to a teacher image not only based on the set motion amount and the set motion direction but also by changing at least one of the motion amount and motion direction in a specific ratio and student images obtained by adding no motion blur to the teacher image. A prediction-tap-extracting section (64) extracts, in order to extract a main term that mainly contains component of the target pixel, at least a pixel value of pixel in the student image whose space position roughly agrees with space position of the target pixel in the teacher image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Takahiro Nagano, Tetsujiro Kondo, Tsutomu Watanabe, Junichi Ishibashi, Hisakazu Shiraki, Naoki Fujiwara, Masanori Kanemaru, Shinichiro Kaneko, Yasuhiro Suto
  • Patent number: 7903890
    Abstract: A target-pixel-setting section (31) sets a target pixel in a target image to be predicted. A motion-direction-detecting section (32) detects a motion direction corresponding to the target pixel. A pixel-value-extracting section (36) extracts from peripheral images corresponding to the target image, in order to extract a main term that mainly contains component of the target pixel in a moving object that encounters a motion blur in the peripheral images, at least pixel values of pixels in the peripheral images whose space position roughly agree with space position of the target pixel. A processing-coefficient-setting section (37a) sets a specific motion-blur-removing-processing coefficient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Takahiro Nagano, Tetsujiro Kondo, Tsutomu Watanabe, Junichi Ishibashi, Hisakazu Shiraki, Naoki Fujiwara, Masanori Kanemaru, Shinichiro Kaneko, Yasuhiro Suto
  • Patent number: 7825930
    Abstract: A signal processing device, signal processing method, and program and recording medium, whereby images and the like closer approximating real world signals can be obtained. The signal processing device includes a processing region setting unit, a movement vector setting unit, and a real world estimating unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsujiro Kondo, Masanori Kanemaru, Takahiro Nagano
  • Patent number: 7814039
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a signal processing device which learns operations made by a user without the user knowing, and which can perform processing optimal to the user based on the learning results. At a learning unit 22, operating signals supplied according to user operations are monitored, and judgment is made whether or not these can be used for learning. In the event that the operating signals are learning operating signals which can be used for learning, the learning unit 22 learns a correction norm which is the norm for correcting input signals, based on the learning operating signals. On the other hand, at a correcting unit 21, post-correction signals, wherein the input signals are corrected based on the correction norm obtained by learning, are output as output signals. The present invention can be applied to an NR (Noise Reduction) circuit which removes noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsujiro Kondo, Kazushi Yoshikawa, Tetsushi Kokubo, Hisakazu Shiraki, Michimasa Obana, Hideo Kasama, Masanori Kanemaru
  • Patent number: 7760156
    Abstract: On the transmission side, a background picture and objects #1 to #3 are transmitted at a transmission rate R/4 each. On the reception side, a picture composed of the objects #1 to #3 and the background picture is displayed with a particular spatial resolution and a particular temporal resolution. Thus, on the reception side, when the object #1 is dragged at particular time t1, on the transmission side, the transmission of the background picture and the objects #2 and #3 is stopped. Only the object #1 is transmitted at the transmission rate R of the transmission path. Therefore, a picture of which the spatial resolution of the object #1 dragged is improved is displayed at the sacrifice of the temporal resolution of the picture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsujiro Kondo, Naoki Kobayashi, Masanori Kanemaru
  • Patent number: 7750925
    Abstract: A signal processing device, signal processing method, and program and recording medium, whereby images and the like closer approximating real world signals can be obtained. The signal processing device includes a movement vector setting unit and a real world estimating unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsujiro Kondo, Masanori Kanemaru, Takahiro Nagano
  • Patent number: 7750943
    Abstract: A shooting-information-detecting section detects shooting information from an image pick-up section. A motion-detecting section detects a motion direction of an image on an overall screen based on a motion direction of the image pick-up section contained in the shooting information. A processing-region-setting section sets a processing region in at least any one of a predicted target image and a peripheral image thereof, which correspond to a target pixel in the predicted target image. A processing-coefficient-setting section sets a motion-blur-removing-processing coefficient that corresponds to the motion direction detected in the motion-detecting section. A pixel-value-generating section generates a pixel value that corresponds to the target pixel based on a pixel value of a pixel in the processing region set in the processing-region-setting section and the processing coefficient set in the processing-coefficient-setting section. Motion-blur-removing processing can be accurately performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Takahiro Nagano, Tetsujiro Kondo, Tsutomu Watanabe, Junichi Ishibashi, Hisakazu Shiraki, Naoki Fujiwara, Masanori Kanemaru, Shinichiro Kaneko, Yasuhiro Suto
  • Publication number: 20100165129
    Abstract: An apparatus for processing an image includes a motion vector detector, a motion-blurring-mitigated image generator, and a spatial resolution creation unit. The motion vector detector is configured to detect a motion vector by using an image that is made up of multiple pixels and acquired by an image sensor having time integration effects. The motion-blurring-mitigated image generator is configured to generate a motion-blurring-mitigated image in which motion blurring of a moving object is mitigated by using the motion vector detected by the motion vector detector on the assumption that a pixel value of pixel of the moving object in the image is a value obtained by integrating, in a time direction, a pixel value of each pixel in which no motion blurring that corresponds to the moving object occur as it is moved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2010
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tetsujiro KONDO, Masanori KANEMARU
  • Patent number: 7746359
    Abstract: A signal processing device, signal processing method, and program and recording medium whereby images and the like closer approximating real world signals can be obtained. The signal processing device includes a movement vector setting unit, a model generator, an equation generator, and a real world waveform estimating unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsujiro Kondo, Masanori Kanemaru, Takahiro Nagano
  • Patent number: 7710498
    Abstract: A motion vector detection section detects a motion vector by using an image that is made up of multiple pixels and acquired by an image sensor having time integration effects. A time resolution creation section generates an image that has a higher time resolution by using the detected motion vector and the image made up of the multiple pixels. A motion-blurring-mitigated image generation section generates a motion-blurring-mitigated image in which motion blurring of a moving object is mitigated by using the detected motion vector on the assumption that a pixel value of pixel of the moving object in the image is a value obtained by integrating, in a time direction, a pixel value of each pixel in which no motion blurring that corresponds to the moving object occur as it is moved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsujiro Kondo, Masanori Kanemaru
  • Patent number: 7710461
    Abstract: A motion-vector-setting section (31) sets a first motion vector in units of pixel in a target image. An exposure-time-ratio-setting section (32) sets in units of image an exposure time ratio that is a ratio between a time interval of the target image and a period of exposure time. A motion-blur-amount-setting section (33) sets a motion blur amount in units of pixel based on the exposure time ratio and the first motion vector. Based on the motion amount, a processing-region-setting section (36) sets processing regions as well as a processing-coefficient-setting section (37) sets processing coefficients. A pixel-value-generating section (38) generates pixel values that correspond to the target pixel from pixel values in the processing region and the processing coefficients. A motion-blur-adding section (41) adds a motion blur to an image containing the pixel value generated based on an input second motion vector and the first motion vector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Takahiro Nagano, Tetsujiro Kondo, Tsutomu Watanabe, Junichi Ishibashi, Hisakazu Shiraki, Naoki Fujiwara, Masanori Kanemaru, Shinichiro Kaneko, Yasuhiro Suto
  • Patent number: 7684635
    Abstract: A signal processing device and signal processing method, and program and recording medium, whereby images and the like closer approximating real world signals can be obtained. An object which is moving at a movement amount v in the horizontal direction is photographed, and an image wherein the object is blurred is input into a signal processing device. A continuity setting unit supplies the movement amount v of the object to an actual world estimating unit as continuity information. The actual world estimating unit estimates a pixel value for an image without blurring, by computing a normal equation comprising a model equation which models the relation of the pixel values in the input image and the pixel values in an image without blurring according to the movement amount v, and a constraint condition expression which constrains between the pixels in an image without blurring, and supplies this to an image generating unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsujiro Kondo, Tetsushi Kokubo, Kazushi Yoshikawa, Hisakazu Shiraki, Michimasa Obana, Hideo Kasama, Masanori Kanemaru
  • Patent number: 7672536
    Abstract: A signal processing device, signal processing method, and program and recording medium which provide images and the like closer approximating real world signals. The signal processing device includes a processing region setting unit, a motion vector setting unit, a model generator, a normal equation generator, a weighting change unit, and a real world estimating unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsujiro Kondo, Kazushi Yoshikawa, Tetsushi Kokubo, Hisakazu Shiraki, Michimasa Obana, Masanori Kanemaru, Hideo Kasama
  • Patent number: 7672526
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a signal processing device and signal processing method, and program and recording medium, whereby images and the like closer approximating real world signals can be obtained. With regard to an input image of dimensions fewer than the dimensions of actual world light signals, wherein actual world light signals have been projected and a part of the continuity of the actual world light signals has been lost, actual world signals are estimated at an actual world signal estimating unit 10003 from the input image within a processing region set at a processing region setting unit 10001, corresponding to continuity set at a continuity setting unit 10002. On the other hand, information relating to at least one of processing region, continuity, and actual world signals, is supplied from a user I/F 10006 to the processing region setting unit 10001, continuity setting unit 10002, or actual world signal estimating unit 10003, according to user operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsujiro Kondo, Kazushi Yoshikawa, Tetsushi Kokubo, Hisakazu Shiraki, Michimasa Obana, Masanori Kanemaru, Hideo Kasama
  • Patent number: 7633513
    Abstract: A signal processing device and signal processing method, and program and recording medium, whereby images and the like closer approximating real world signals can be obtained. An actual world estimating unit estimates the actual world function, assuming that the pixel value of each pixel corresponding to a position in the x direction of image data wherein real world light signals are projected on a plurality of pixels each having the time-space integration effects, and part of the continuity of the real world light signals has been lost is a pixel value acquired by integrating the actual world function corresponding to the real world light signals approximated with a spline function in the x direction. An image generating unit generates an image by integrating the actual world function in the x direction in predetermined increments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsujiro Kondo, Masanori Kanemaru, Takahiro Nagano
  • Patent number: 7512285
    Abstract: A signal processing device, signal processing method, and program and recording medium which provide images and the like closer approximating real world signals. The signal processing device includes a processing region setting unit, a movement vector setting unit, a model generator, a normal equation generator, an activity detector, a weighting change unit, and a real world estimating unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsujiro Kondo, Tetsushi Kokubo, Kazushi Yoshikawa, Hisakazu Shiraki, Michimasa Obana, Hideo Kasama, Masanori Kanemaru