Patents by Inventor Munehiro Nakatani

Munehiro Nakatani 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).

  • Publication number: 20210350159
    Abstract: An imaging device is mounted on or built into a moving body, and the imaging device includes: a camera that captures an image of surroundings of the moving body; an image processing part that processes an image captured by the camera; and a post-processing part that transmits or records an image processed by the image processing part, wherein the image processing part detects personal information contained in an image captured by the camera, and performs image processing for disabling determination of the personal information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2021
    Publication date: November 11, 2021
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Motoki KANZAWA, Munehiro NAKATANI
  • Patent number: 7733511
    Abstract: The invention provides an image processing system which can give different securities to data of respective receivers with a simple operation and, in this case, which can realize shortening of time for communication to a destination and suppression of use of memory resources. A plurality of regions preset in image data are related to destinations, code data constituting one of regions corresponding to the destinations or the other regions is replaced with code data which make pieces of information included in the regions invisible in the JPEG2000 file transmitted to the destinations, and the JPEG2000 file after the replacing process is transmitted to the destinations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenichi Takahashi, Kaitaku Ozawa, Munehiro Nakatani
  • Patent number: 7522315
    Abstract: When image data are sent through a network, bit streams of hierarchically encoded JPEG 2000 data of a plurality of pages of a document are formed by prioritizing resolution, and the bit streams of the plurality of pages are divided in a plurality of files based on the unit of hierarchical encoding such as resolution or layer level. Then, the plurality of files of all the pages are arranged into a plurality of combinations thereof based on resolution or layer level. Then, an electronic mail is written and sent to the same destination for each of the combinations by attaching all the files included therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenichi Takahashi, Munehiro Nakatani, Kaitaku Ozawa, Toshiya Shozaki
  • Patent number: 7483582
    Abstract: On JPEG2000 coding apparatus, the coding process is performed by discriminating an area defined by each object contained in image data and specifying type of the object, performing character recognition processing on the area discriminated as that containing a character to produce a text data and producing an XML data corresponding to said text data, adding an XML box that can store a specific data into a bit stream constructing said JPEG2000 file so as to be positioned in back of a predetermined level of wavelet decomposition and causing said XML box to store said XML data. On the other hand, on JPEG2000 decoding apparatus, the decoding process is performed by causing user to select whether to read an XML box added into a bit stream of JPEG2000 file in the middle of JPEG2000 decoding process, and processing the XML data stored in the XML box to acquire a text data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Kaitaku Ozawa, Kenichi Takahashi, Munehiro Nakatani
  • Patent number: 7373000
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus for performing at least one of JPEG 2000 encoding and decoding processes, including: a JPEG 2000 hardware encoder-decoder including a memory that performs wavelet transform and inverse transform of image information up to a specific tile size using only hardware components; an acquirer for acquiring a tile size information of image data to be encoded or decoded; a determiner for determining whether the acquired tile size can be processed using only said JPEG 2000 hardware encoder-decoder or not; a selector for selecting one of a first and second process based on result of a decision by said determiner, the first process being wavelet transform and inverse transform process performed using only components constituting said JPEG 2000 hardware encoder-decoder and the second process being wavelet transform and inverse transform process performed using components other than components constituting said JPEG 2000 hardware encoder-decoder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Kaitaku Ozawa, Kenichi Takahashi, Munehiro Nakatani
  • Patent number: 7266215
    Abstract: An additional data useful for the management of copies of a document for an image forming apparatus is embedded in a hard copy of the document. The additional data is embedded in an inherent image of a document as discrete dots arranged in a prescribed format. Preferably, the size of each of said discrete dots is not so large as to be recognized easily with naked eyes. The additional data can be embedded in unit of blocks. Further, the density of the discrete dots is different from the density adjacent to the discrete dots. The image data for embedding an additional data can be obtained by reading a document, or by receiving data sent from a computer or read from a floppy disk. An additional data embedded in a hard copy can be extracted from the image data on the hard copy. Further, the production of a copy according to the image data can be controlled according to the extracted additional data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshikazu Ikenoue, Hideo Kumashiro, Munehiro Nakatani
  • Publication number: 20070195992
    Abstract: An additional data useful for the management of copies of a document for an image forming apparatus is embedded in a hard copy of the document. The additional data is embedded in an inherent image of a document as discrete dots arranged in a prescribed format. Preferably, the size of each of said discrete dots is not so large as to be recognized easily with naked eyes. The additional data can be embedded in unit of blocks. Further, the density of the discrete dots is different from the density adjacent to the discrete dots. The image data for embedding an additional data can be obtained by reading a document, or by receiving data sent from a computer or read from a floppy disk. An additional data embedded in a hard copy can be extracted from the image data on the hard copy. Further, the production of a copy according to the image data can be controlled according to the extracted additional data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2007
    Publication date: August 23, 2007
    Inventors: Yoshikazu Ikenoue, Hideo Kumashiro, Munehiro Nakatani
  • Publication number: 20040218210
    Abstract: Code data of a plurality of images are acquired from an external recording medium recording hierarchically encoded data of the plurality of images in the order of the unit of hierarchically encoding such as resolution. First, the code data is acquired only at a low level of the unit of hierarchical encoding from the external recording medium over the plurality of images, and the acquired code data are decoded.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2004
    Publication date: November 4, 2004
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA BUSINESS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Toshiya Shozaki, Munehiro Nakatani, Kenichi Takahashi, Kaitaku Ozawa
  • Publication number: 20040207872
    Abstract: The invention provides an image processing system which can give different securities to data of respective receivers with a simple operation and, in this case, which can realize shortening of time for communication to a destination and suppression of use of memory resources. A plurality of regions preset in image data are related to destinations, code data constituting one of regions corresponding to the destinations or the other regions is replaced with code data which make pieces of information included in the regions invisible in the JPEG2000 file transmitted to the destinations, and the JPEG2000 file after the replacing process is transmitted to the destinations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2004
    Publication date: October 21, 2004
    Applicant: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenichi Takahashi, Kaitaku Ozawa, Munehiro Nakatani
  • Publication number: 20040207870
    Abstract: When image data are sent through a network, bit streams of hierarchically encoded JPEG 2000 data of a plurality of pages of a document are formed by prioritizing resolution, and the bit streams of the plurality of pages are divided in a plurality of files based on the unit of hierarchical encoding such as resolution or layer level. Then, the plurality of files of all the pages are arranged into a plurality of combinations thereof based on resolution or layer level. Then, an electronic mail is written and sent to the same destination for each of the combinations by attaching all the files included therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2003
    Publication date: October 21, 2004
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA BUSINESS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Kenichi Takahashi, Munehiro Nakatani, Kaitaku Ozawa, Toshiya Shozaki
  • Publication number: 20040190784
    Abstract: On JPEG2000 coding apparatus, the coding process is performed by discriminating an area defined by each object contained in image data and specifying type of the object, performing character recognition processing on the area discriminated as that containing a character to produce a text data and producing an XML data corresponding to said text data, adding an XML box that can store a specific data into a bit stream constructing said JPEG2000 file so as to be positioned in back of a predetermined level of wavelet decomposition and causing said XML box to store said XML data. On the other hand, on JPEG2000 decoding apparatus, the decoding process is performed by causing user to select whether to read an XML box added into a bit stream of JPEG2000 file in the middle of JPEG2000 decoding process, and processing the XML data stored in the XML box to acquire a text data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2004
    Publication date: September 30, 2004
    Applicant: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Kaitaku Ozawa, Kenichi Takahashi, Munehiro Nakatani
  • Publication number: 20040179741
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus for performing at least one of JPEG 2000 encoding and decoding processes, comprising: a JPEG 2000 hardware encoder-decoder which has a memory for wavelet transform and inverse transform with a specific capacity and performs wavelet transform and inverse transform of image information up to said specific tile size using said memory by only hardware components; an acquirer of tile size information for acquiring a tile size information of image data to be encoded or decoded; a determiner for determining whether said tile size acquired by said acquirer can be processed using only components constituting said JPEG 2000 hardware encoder-decoder or not; a selector for selecting one of a first process and a second process based on result of decision by said determiner, the first process being wavelet transform and inverse transform process performed using only components constituting said JPEG 2000 hardware encoder-decoder and the second process being wavelet transform and inverse transf
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2003
    Publication date: September 16, 2004
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA BUSINESS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Kaitaku Ozawa, Kenichi Takahashi, Munehiro Nakatani
  • Publication number: 20040105571
    Abstract: An additional data useful for the management of copies of a document for an image forming apparatus is embedded in a hard copy of the document. The additional data is embedded in an inherent image of a document as discrete dots arranged in a prescribed format. Preferably, the size of each of said discrete dots is not so large as to be recognized easily with naked eyes. The additional data can be embedded in unit of blocks. Further, the density of the discrete dots is different from the density adjacent to the discrete dots. The image data for embedding an additional data can be obtained by reading a document, or by receiving data sent from a computer or read from a floppy disk. An additional data embedded in a hard copy can be extracted from the image data on the hard copy. Further, the production of a copy according to the image data can be controlled according to the extracted additional data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2003
    Publication date: June 3, 2004
    Applicant: MINOLTA CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshikazu Ikenoue, Hideo Kumashiro, Munehiro Nakatani
  • Patent number: 6738491
    Abstract: Additional data useful for the management of copies of a document for an image forming apparatus is embedded in a hard copy of the document. The additional data is embedded in an image of a document as discrete dots arranged in a prescribed format. Preferably, the size of each of said discrete dots is such as not to be recognized easily with the naked eye. The image data for embedding the additional data can be obtained by reading a document, or by receiving data sent from a computer. Additional data embedded in a hard copy can be extracted from the image data on the hard copy. Further, the production of a copy according to the image data, can be controlled according to the extracted additional data. Additional data is generated for each copy according to the extracted additional data for embedding it in a hard copy to identify each copy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshikazu Ikenoue, Hideo Kumashiro, Munehiro Nakatani
  • Patent number: 6615291
    Abstract: A bus monitor section 8 calculates bus-occupancy rate for each of the DMA control sections 1 to 3 connected to a bus 5 in accordance with bus-use permission signals ack1 to ack3, respectively. Furthermore, a bus-use reconcilement section 6 changes manners of bus-use reconcilement control when the sum of a plurality of bus-occupancy rate exceeds “50”, a predetermined threshold. Thereby, this method avoids occurrences such that a specific device occupies the bus 5 or vice versa, a specific device cannot get access to the bus 5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuo Kamei, Kenichi Morita, Takeshi Minami, Kazunori Shionoya, Munehiro Nakatani
  • Publication number: 20020135810
    Abstract: An additional data useful for the management of copies of a document for an image forming apparatus is embedded in a hard copy of the document. The additional data is embedded in an inherent image of a document as discrete dots arranged in a prescribed format. Preferably, the size of each of said discrete dots is not so large as to be recognized easily with naked eyes. The additional data can be embedded in unit of blocks. Further, the density of the discrete dots is different from the density adjacent to the discrete dots. The image data for embedding an additional data can be obtained by reading a document, or by receiving data sent from a computer or read from a floppy disk. An additional data embedded in a hard copy can be extracted from the image data on the hard copy. Further, the production of a copy according to the image data can be controlled according to the extracted additional data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2002
    Publication date: September 26, 2002
    Applicant: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshikazu Ikenoue, Hideo Kumashiro, Munehiro Nakatani
  • Patent number: 6335801
    Abstract: With facsimile apparatuses wherein color image data is coded, a facsimile on a calling side codes image data by replacing the image data with a codeword indicative of a white run-length or a black run-length, represents color information by combining specific codewords among the codewords and represents image data including color image only by codewords by combining the coded image data and the color information. A facsimile on a called side receives transmitted image data, determines color information represented by a combination of specific codewords among the codewords in the received image data, and outputs image data as specific color image when the color image is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2002
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Munehiro Nakatani, Masamichi Sugiura, Hideo Muramatsu
  • Patent number: 6307981
    Abstract: A memory error detecting device for an image forming apparatus having a memory unit, a first generating means, a second generating means, a comparison means, and a memory error warning means. The first generating means generates first information related to first image data input to the memory unit. The second generating means generates second information related to second image data output from the memory unit. The comparison means compares the first information with the second information, and generates a comparison result signal. The memory error warning means signifies an error in the memory unit when the comparison result signal indicates that the first information differs from the second information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2001
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuo Kamei, Munehiro Nakatani
  • Patent number: 6111667
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus capable of outputting high quality image by correcting deviations of respective positions or inclinations of a plurality of sheets of document simultaneously placed on a document base and an image forming apparatus connected to the image processing apparatus and capable of forming a copy with no inclination in respect of paper. Image data with the corrected position or corrected inclination is provided by processing the image signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuhiro Mishima, Munehiro Nakatani, Kazuhiro Ueda, Eiji Hanada
  • Patent number: 6034796
    Abstract: In data processing wherein image data are processed by dividing them into blocks, a chroma data W is obtained from the color difference data W.sub.R and W.sub.B, and the color difference data W.sub.R and W.sub.B are corrected according to an amplitude of the chroma data W. For example, if the chroma W is smaller than a prescribed threshold value, the color difference data W.sub.R and W.sub.B are set as zero. Then, the so-called block distortion can be prevented. The degree of the correction may depend on the amplitude of the chroma data W. On the other hand, DC coefficients of discrete cosine transform coefficients of adjacent blocks are compared with each other. When the DC coefficients are different from each other, block distortion occurs if they represent a same image. Then, if differences of DC coefficients of discrete cosine transform coefficients of adjacent blocks are small with each other, the DC coefficients are corrected to tend to have similar values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2000
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Suzuki, Munehiro Nakatani, Kazuomi Sakatani