Patents by Inventor Mitsuyoshi Okamoto
Mitsuyoshi Okamoto 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).
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Patent number: 8521016Abstract: In a camera system including an interchangeable lens and a camera body, a body controller performs control a drive signal transmission unit to drive a focus lens in a predetermined direction, and transmit a timing signal to the interchangeable lens. The lens controller performs control to detect a position of the focus lens in synchronization with the timing signal received from the camera body and store the detected position in a storage unit.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2009Date of Patent: August 27, 2013Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Koji Shibuno, Junji Takahata, Mitsuyoshi Okamoto, Naotake Kitahira
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Patent number: 8493498Abstract: An imaging apparatus system includes an interchangeable lens 100 and a camera body 200. The interchangeable lens 100 includes an optical system configured to generate an optical image of a subject, a first communication unit 106, and a lens controller 105 configured to control driving of the optical system in synchronization with a reference signal received through the first communication unit. The camera body 200 includes a second communication unit 201 that can communicate with the first communication unit 106, and a body controller 203 configured to send the reference signal to the lens controller 105 through the second communication unit 201. The body controller 203 sends announcement information preliminarily announcing switching of the cycle of the reference signal, to the lens controller 105. The lens controller 105, when receiving the announcement information from the camera body, performs a preparation operation for switching the cycle of the reference signal.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2009Date of Patent: July 23, 2013Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Kenji Kawazoe, Mitsuyoshi Okamoto, Koji Shibuno
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Patent number: 8488047Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 27, 2009Date of Patent: July 16, 2013Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Mitsuyoshi Okamoto, Koji Shibuno
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Patent number: 8463118Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 30, 2012Date of Patent: June 11, 2013Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Kenji Kawazoe, Mitsuyoshi Okamoto, Naotake Kitahira, Koji Shibuno
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Patent number: 8422876Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 16, 2012Date of Patent: April 16, 2013Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Haruo Isaka, Mitsuyoshi Okamoto, Kenji Kawazoe, Naotake Kitahira, Koji Shibuno
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Patent number: 8422877Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 30, 2012Date of Patent: April 16, 2013Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Kenji Kawazoe, Mitsuyoshi Okamoto, Naotake Kitahira, Koji Shibuno
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Publication number: 20130088580Abstract: A camera body (100) comprises a body mount (150), a CMOS image sensor (110), and a characteristic information acquisition component 143. The body mount (150) is provided so as to allow the mounting of an interchangeable lens unit (200). The CMOS image sensor (110) converts an optical image into an electrical signal. The characteristic information acquisition component (143) makes it possible to acquire an extraction position correction amount (L11) from the interchangeable lens unit (200) mounted to the body mount (150). The extraction position correction amount (L11) indicates the distance from a center (ICL) and a center (ICR) corresponding to when the convergence point distance is infinity, to an extraction center (ACL2) and an extraction center (ACR2) corresponding to a recommended convergence point distance (L10) of the interchangeable lens unit (200).Type: ApplicationFiled: February 8, 2011Publication date: April 11, 2013Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATIONInventors: Takahiro Ikeda, Mitsuyoshi Okamoto, Hiroshi Ueda
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Publication number: 20120307131Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 16, 2012Publication date: December 6, 2012Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATIONInventors: HARUO ISAKA, MITSUYOSHI OKAMOTO, KENJI KAWAZOE, NAOTAKE KITAHIRA, KOJI SHIBUNO
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Patent number: 8326139Abstract: In a camera system according to the present invention, a lens controller obtains an exposure synchronizing signal that is generated by a camera controller from a camera body, causes a configuration formed of a first encoder, a second encoder and a counter to detect the position of a focus lens according to the obtained exposure synchronizing signal, and notifies the camera body of the detected position of the focus lens. The camera controller associates the position of the focus lens or the mechanism member obtained from the lens controller with an AF evaluation value based on the exposure synchronizing signal, and controls an autofocus operation of the camera system based on the position and AF evaluation value that are associated with each other. With this configuration, it is possible to improve the accuracy of an autofocus operation with a contrast system.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2011Date of Patent: December 4, 2012Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Kouji Shibuno, Mitsuyoshi Okamoto, Taizo Aoki
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Patent number: 8311407Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 26, 2009Date of Patent: November 13, 2012Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Koji Shibuno, Mitsuyoshi Okamoto, Naotake Kitahira
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Patent number: 8275251Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 15, 2009Date of Patent: September 25, 2012Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Haruo Isaka, Mitsuyoshi Okamoto, Kenji Kawazoe, Naotake Kitahira, Koji Shibuno
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Publication number: 20120236128Abstract: The camera body includes the body mount, the CMOS imaging sensor, and the identification information acquisition section. The body mount is provided so that the interchangeable lens unit can be mounted. The CMOS imaging sensor is configured to convert an optical image into an image signal. The identification information acquisition section is configured to acquire lens identification information indicating whether or not an interchangeable lens unit is compatible with three-dimensional imaging from the interchangeable lens unit mounted to the body mount.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 21, 2011Publication date: September 20, 2012Applicant: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Hiroshi Ueda, Kouji Shibuno, Takahiro Ikeda, Mitsuyoshi Okamoto, Takayuki Hayashi
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Publication number: 20120237194Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 30, 2012Publication date: September 20, 2012Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATIONInventors: KENJI KAWAZOE, MITSUYOSHI OKAMOTO, NAOTAKE KITAHIRA, KOJI SHIBUNO
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Publication number: 20120183285Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 26, 2012Publication date: July 19, 2012Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATIONInventors: KOJI SHIBUNO, MITSUYOSHI OKAMOTO, NAOTAKE KITAHIRA
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Patent number: 8208057Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 26, 2009Date of Patent: June 26, 2012Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Kenji Kawazoe, Mitsuyoshi Okamoto, Naotake Kitahira, Koji Shibuno
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Publication number: 20120127591Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: January 24, 2012Publication date: May 24, 2012Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATIONInventors: MITSUYOSHI OKAMOTO, KOJI SHIBUNO, AKIHIRO OKAMOTO, TAKASHI ABE
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Patent number: 8164680Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 26, 2009Date of Patent: April 24, 2012Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Kenji Kawazoe, Mitsuyoshi Okamoto, Naotake Kitahira, Koji Shibuno
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Publication number: 20120082444Abstract: A camera system having a camera body and an interchangeable lens is made more convenient to use. A camera system 1 includes an interchangeable lens unit 2 and a camera body 3. A body microcomputer 10 of the camera body 3 decides whether or not the interchangeable lens unit 2 is compatible with moving picture mode on the basis of lens information about the interchangeable lens unit 2. If the interchangeable lens unit 2 is not compatible with moving picture mode, the body microcomputer 10 prevents the operation of an imaging sensor 11 from being set to moving picture mode.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 13, 2011Publication date: April 5, 2012Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATIONInventors: NAOTO YUMIKI, MITSUYOSHI OKAMOTO
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Publication number: 20120076482Abstract: In a camera system according to the present invention, a lens controller obtains an exposure synchronizing signal that is generated by a camera controller from a camera body, causes a configuration formed of a first encoder, a second encoder and a counter to detect the position of a focus lens according to the obtained exposure synchronizing signal, and notifies the camera body of the detected position of the focus lens. The camera controller associates the position of the focus lens or the mechanism member obtained from the lens controller with an AF evaluation value based on the exposure synchronizing signal, and controls an autofocus operation of the camera system based on the position and AF evaluation value that are associated with each other. With this configuration, it is possible to improve the accuracy of an autofocus operation with a contrast system.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 7, 2011Publication date: March 29, 2012Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATIONInventors: Kouji SHIBUNO, Mitsuyoshi OKAMOTO, Taizo AOKI
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Publication number: 20120069148Abstract: The image production device includes a deviation detecting device and an information production section. The deviation detecting device is configured to calculate the amount of relative deviation of left-eye image data and right-eye image data included with input image data. The information production section is configured to produce evaluation information related to the suitability of three-dimensional imaging based on reference information produced by the deviation detecting device which calculates the relative deviation amount.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 4, 2011Publication date: March 22, 2012Applicant: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Yuki Ueda, Mitsuyoshi Okamoto