Patents by Inventor Mikio Watanabe

Mikio Watanabe 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: 12246792
    Abstract: A training bicycle with a removably attachable pedal unit enabling adjustment of chain slack by a simple method is provided. The detachable pedal unit is configured to enable attachable/detachable connection of a pedal crank to a bicycle body. The pedal unit includes a unit body having a unit connector for rotatably retaining and fastening to a bicycle body a pedal crank axially supporting a chain wheel. A unit receiving member fixedly installed on the bicycle body to interconnect with the unit connector. A sliding adjustment mechanism provided on the unit receiving member and the unit connector to vary and fix mutual fore-aft connection position of the unit receiving member and the unit connector in order to adjust fore-aft connection position of the bicycle detachable pedal unit relative to the bicycle body and thereby adjusting the chain tension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2025
    Assignee: VITAMIN I FACTORY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Mikio Watanabe
  • Patent number: 10757322
    Abstract: In one aspect of the present invention, when reset of a camera is received, a pan motor and a tilt motor of a pan and tilt mechanism are rotated in a first preset rotation direction, and the pan and tilt mechanism is first moved to a pan reference position and a tilt reference position. Thereafter, the pan motor and the tilt motor are rotated in a second rotation direction opposite to the first rotation direction, and the pan and tilt mechanism is moved to an initial pan position and an initial tilt position. Using a movement of the pan and tilt mechanism to initial pan and tilt positions, detection of a subject for automatic tracking is performed, and if the subject is detected, then transition to an automatic tracking state is caused to occur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Oshima, Mikio Watanabe, Takeshi Misawa, Masaya Tamaru, Daisuke Hayashi, Fuminori Irie
  • Patent number: 10638034
    Abstract: An imaging control device according to an aspect of the present invention includes a rotation instruction input unit that receives an input of an instruction of rotation of a pan and tilt mechanism of a camera, a rotation instruction output unit that outputs the rotation instruction to the camera, an image input unit that receives a live view image according to the rotation instruction from the camera, and a display control unit that causes the display unit to perform a display for superimposing the live view image input from the camera on a limit display image of a two-dimensionally displayed spherical surface indicating an imagable region and a non-imagable region respectively corresponding to within a rotation limit and out of the rotation limit of the imaging unit of the camera, and rotating the limit display image along the two-dimensionally displayed spherical surface according to the input of the rotation instruction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Daisuke Hayashi, Mikio Watanabe, Takeshi Misawa, Masaya Tamaru, Fuminori Irie, Hiroyuki Oshima
  • Patent number: 10564392
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes: a distance measurement unit that measures distance values of a plurality of points in a first area which has a focus point as a reference point; a statistical unit that calculates statistics indicating a variation in the measured distance values of the plurality of points in the first area; a size determination unit that determines the size of a second area which has the focus point as a reference point, on the basis of the calculated statistics; a contrast evaluation value calculation unit that calculates a contrast evaluation value on the basis of an image of the second area; and a focusing unit that moves a focus lens to a lens position determined on the basis of the calculated contrast evaluation value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Mikio Watanabe
  • Patent number: 10560624
    Abstract: An imaging control device according to an aspect of the present invention comprises a motion vector calculation unit that calculates a motion vector of a tracking target on the basis of a moving image obtained by an imaging unit, a tracking direction instruction input unit that receives an input of a tracking direction instruction indicating a specific tracking direction for tracking the tracking target, a tracking direction motion component extraction unit that extracts a motion component in the specific tracking direction from the motion vector of the tracking target on the basis of the tracking direction instruction; and a drive information generation unit that generates drive information of only the specific tracking direction of a pan and tilt mechanism on the basis of the extracted motion component in the specific tracking direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Oshima, Mikio Watanabe, Takeshi Misawa, Masaya Tamaru, Daisuke Hayashi, Fuminori Irie
  • Patent number: 10365090
    Abstract: In an aspect of the invention, first and second images having parallax are acquired by an imaging unit (202) including a first imaging part (202A) and a second imaging part (202B), and an angle between an imaging direction of the imaging unit (202) and a normal direction of a flat surface of an object to be inspected having the flat surface is calculated on the basis of the acquired first and second images. The pan/tilt of the imaging unit (202) are controlled by a pan/tilt control unit (210), but images for inspection showing the object to be inspected are taken and acquired by the imaging unit in a case in which the calculated angle is controlled to an angle within an allowable angle range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Mikio Watanabe, Fuminori Irie
  • Patent number: 10368003
    Abstract: The present invention provides an imaging device and a time-lapse imaging method capable of simply realizing time-lapse imaging using a pan and tilt mechanism. In a preferred aspect of the present invention, an imaging device includes a pan and tilt mechanism that rotates an imaging unit in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction relative to a device body, transmits a live view image to a smartphone, displays the live view image on a display and input unit, and receives an instruction input for specifying camerawork in time-lapse imaging using the display and input unit. Accordingly, the instruction input for specifying camerawork for performing time-lapse imaging using the pan and tilt mechanism can be simply input. The imaging device controls at least the pan and tilt mechanism based on the instruction input for specifying camerawork and controls the imaging unit to perform time-lapse imaging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Daisuke Hayashi, Mikio Watanabe, Tatsuya Fujinami
  • Patent number: 10348973
    Abstract: An imaging device (pan/tilt camera) includes an imaging unit including an imaging lens and an imaging element, a pan/tilt mechanism that rotates the imaging unit in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction with respect to a camera body, an object detection unit that detects an object, which is a tracking target, from a moving image captured by the imaging unit, a pan/tilt control unit that controls the pan/tilt mechanism such that the object detected by the object detection unit is tracked, a motion sensor that detects a physical amount related to the movement of the camera body, and an operation control unit that stops the pan/tilt mechanism in a case in which the physical amount detected by the motion sensor is equal to or greater than a first threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Fuminori Irie, Masaya Tamaru, Mikio Watanabe, Takeshi Misawa, Daisuke Hayashi, Hiroyuki Oshima
  • Patent number: 10334157
    Abstract: In one aspect of the present invention, when reset of a camera is received, a pan motor and a tilt motor of a pan and tilt mechanism are rotated in a first preset rotation direction, and the pan and tilt mechanism is first moved to a pan reference position and a tilt reference position. Thereafter, the pan motor and the tilt motor are rotated in a second rotation direction opposite to the first rotation direction, and the pan and tilt mechanism is moved to an initial pan position and an initial tilt position. Using a movement of the pan and tilt mechanism to initial pan and tilt positions, detection of a subject for automatic tracking is performed, and if the subject is detected, then transition to an automatic tracking state is caused to occur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Oshima, Mikio Watanabe, Takeshi Misawa, Masaya Tamaru, Daisuke Hayashi, Fuminori Irie
  • Patent number: 10298828
    Abstract: A multi-imaging apparatus includes: a display unit; an internal imaging device that acquires a first live view image or a first image captured by a main imaging operation thereof; a wireless communication unit that performs wireless communication with an external imaging device that acquires a second live view image or a second image captured by a main imaging operation thereof; and a controller. Here, the controller receives an input of the first live view image from the internal imaging device, receives the second live view image from the external imaging device through the wireless communication unit, and causes the display unit to display the input first live view image and the received second live view image as a multi-live view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Daisuke Hayashi, Hiroyuki Oshima, Takeshi Misawa, Masaya Tamaru, Fuminori Irie, Mikio Watanabe
  • Patent number: 10212354
    Abstract: A movable imaging device includes a camera, a moving body, a definition calculation unit that calculates definition of an image for inspection, a determination unit that determines whether the definition is equal to or higher than required definition required for inspection accuracy of an object to be inspected, a pan/tilt control unit that operates a pan/tilt mechanism in a case in which the determination unit determines that the calculated definition is equal to or higher than the required definition, a moving body control unit that moves a moving body in a case in which the pan/tilt mechanism is operated and it is determined that the definition is lower than the required definition, and an imaging control unit that images the object to be inspected by the camera in a case in which it is determined that the definition is equal to or higher than the required definition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Fuminori Irie, Mikio Watanabe
  • Patent number: 10205868
    Abstract: A live view control device according to an aspect of the present invention includes a display control unit that displays each of a plurality of live view images received from a plurality of imaging devices in each of a plurality of areas of a display screen, a priority setting unit that sets a priority of the plurality of live view images, a transfer condition setting unit that sets transfer conditions including at least one of a frame rate of transfer and an image size of the transfer of the plurality of live view images on the basis of the priority of the plurality of live view images, and a communication control unit that transmits a transfer instruction for a live view image according to the set transfer conditions to the plurality of imaging devices via the wireless communication unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Daisuke Hayashi, Mikio Watanabe, Takeshi Misawa, Masaya Tamaru, Hiroyuki Oshima, Fuminori Irie
  • Patent number: 10104278
    Abstract: In an aspect of the present invention, assignment and a rotation direction of a pan motor and a tilt motor of each key of a cross key are set on the basis of the installation posture of the camera. Accordingly, it is possible to operate the cross key without discomfort when the camera is caused to perform a pan operation or a tilt operation using the cross key. Further, if the camera is caused to perform the pan operation using the cross key and a specific condition under which a video rotates is discriminated from a tilt angle, a display of a corresponding icon of the cross key is switched from a first icon indicating an up and down direction or a left and right direction to a second icon indicating a rotation direction. Accordingly, it is possible not to cause discomfort even when a video rotates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Oshima, Mikio Watanabe, Takeshi Misawa, Masaya Tamaru, Daisuke Hayashi, Fuminori Irie
  • Patent number: 10104281
    Abstract: A smartphone which functions as a moving editing device includes: a wireless communication unit that is connected to plural cameras capable of performing moving image capturing in a wireless manner and acquires one or plural live view images from the plural cameras; a display panel that displays the acquired one or plural live view images; an operation panel that performs switching between live view images displayed on the display panel by a manual operation; a storage unit that stores operation history information indicating an operation history in the operation panel; and a main controller which functions as a moving image editing unit that performs moving image editing for automatically creating, after the moving image capturing in the plural cameras is terminated, one moving image based on plural moving images respectively captured by the plural cameras and the operation history information stored in the storage unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Oshima, Mikio Watanabe, Takeshi Misawa, Masaya Tamaru, Daisuke Hayashi, Fuminori Irie
  • Patent number: 10079973
    Abstract: Provided are an imaging device operation device, an operation method, and a program that can simply and rapidly operate a pan/tilt mechanism such that an imaging unit is located at a desired position. A pan/tilt operation device includes a touch panel in which a touch centering detection region is set, predetermined pan angle rotation instruction regions are set on the left and right sides of the touch centering detection region, and predetermined tilt angle rotation instruction regions are set on the upper and lower sides of the touch centering detection region, a touch centering instruction unit, a predetermined pan angle rotation instruction unit that outputs an instruction to pan a pan/tilt mechanism at a predetermined pan angle, and a predetermined tilt angle rotation instruction unit that outputs an instruction to tilt the pan/tilt mechanism at a predetermined tilt angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Fuminori Irie, Mikio Watanabe, Takeshi Misawa, Masaya Tamaru, Daisuke Hayashi, Hiroyuki Oshima
  • Patent number: 10063781
    Abstract: A live view control device according to an aspect of the present invention includes a radio wave intensity detection unit that detects radio wave intensity with respect to each of a plurality of imaging devices, a priority setting unit that sets a priority of a plurality of live view images on the basis of the detected radio wave intensity, a transfer condition setting unit that sets transfer conditions including at least one of a frame rate of transfer and an image size of the transfer of each of the plurality of live view images on the basis of the priorities of the plurality of live view images, and a communication control unit that transmits the set transfer conditions to the plurality of imaging devices via a wireless communication unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Daisuke Hayashi, Mikio Watanabe, Takeshi Misawa, Masaya Tamaru, Hiroyuki Oshima, Fuminori Irie
  • Patent number: 10021287
    Abstract: An imaging control device 100 includes a control communication unit 110 that communicates with a plurality of imaging devices and an overall control unit 101. The overall control unit 101 transmits an imaging preparation command to prepare imaging to each of the plurality of imaging devices 10 through the control communication unit 110 in response to an instruction received through an instruction receiving unit, receives preparation completion information indicating the completion of preparation for imaging from each of the plurality of imaging devices 10 through the control communication unit 110, and transmits a captured image acquisition command to acquire a captured image to each of the plurality of imaging devices 10 through the control communication unit 110 after receiving the preparation completion information from the plurality of imaging devices 10.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Fuminori Irie, Mikio Watanabe, Takeshi Misawa, Masaya Tamaru, Daisuke Hayashi, Hiroyuki Oshima
  • Patent number: 9954247
    Abstract: A cathode mixture, a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery, and manufacture method thereof are provided. The cathode mixture for a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery includes: a cathode active material having an olivine type crystal structure; and an inorganic oxide which does not contribute to charge and discharge. A particle diameter A of the cathode active material lies within a range from 0.1 ?m or more to 0.5 ?m or less. There is a relation of A>B between the particle diameter A of the cathode active material and a particle diameter B of the inorganic oxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takehiko Ishii, Mikio Watanabe
  • Patent number: D949057
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: VITAMIN-I FACTORY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Mikio Watanabe
  • Patent number: D1060139
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2025
    Assignee: VITAMIN-I FACTORY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Mikio Watanabe