Patents by Inventor Naoki Fujiwara

Naoki Fujiwara 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: 7536049
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to enable the detection of a mixture ratio indicating the mixture state of a plurality of objects, such as a background image and a moving object image. A normal-equation adder 541 extracts mixed pixel data according to a motion, and also extracts background pixel data corresponding to the mixed pixel data so as to generate relational expressions for a designated pixel. A normal-equation calculator 542 detects the mixture ratio indicating the mixture state of the objects based on the relational expressions. The normal-equation adder 541 generates the plurality of relational expressions based on a first approximation in which foreground object components change substantially linearly, and a second approximation in which the mixture ratio changes substantially linearly. The present invention is applicable to a signal processing apparatus for processing images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsujiro Kondo, Naoki Fujiwara, Junichi Ishibashi, Takashi Sawao, Takahiro Nagano, Toru Miyake, Seiji Wada
  • Patent number: 7525574
    Abstract: A signal processor 12 acquires a second signal obtained by detecting a first signal, as a signal of the real world, having a first dimension. The second signal is of a second dimension lower than the first dimension and has distortion relative to the first signal. The signal processor 12 performs signal processing which is based on the second signal to generate a third signal alleviated in distortion as compared to the second signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsujiro Kondo, Junichi Ishibashi, Takashi Sawao, Seiji Wada, Tohru Miyake, Takahiro Nagano, Naoki Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 7511730
    Abstract: A system to generate a three-dimensional image from a two-dimensional image in accordance with the mixture state of images. A foreground/background component image generator generates, from image data including a foreground area consisting of only foreground object components, a background area consisting of only background object components, and a mixed area in which the foreground object components and the background object components are mixed, a foreground component image consisting of only the foreground object components and a background component image consisting of only the background object components. A foreground-parallax-image generator generates a right-eye foreground parallax image by adding the parallax to the foreground component image, and also generates a left-eye foreground parallax image by adding the parallax to the foreground component image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsujiro Kondo, Junichi Ishibashi, Takashi Sawao, Takahiro Nagano, Naoki Fujiwara, Toru Miyake, Seiji Wada
  • Patent number: 7511093
    Abstract: A polyvinyl alcohol polymer film includes a polyvinyl alcohol polymer and a plasticizer selected from the group consisting of ethylene glycol, glycerin, propylene glycol, diethylene glycol, diglycerin, triethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol, and trimethylolpropane. The amount of the polyvinyl alcohol polymer eluted when a 10 cm square of the polyvinyl alcohol polymer film is left in 1 liter of water of 50° C. for 4 hours is from 1 to 100 ppm. The film has only a small number of defects and is useful as raw material for producing a polarization film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Kuraray Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeyuki Harita, Takanori Isozaki, Naoki Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 7483565
    Abstract: With the present invention, data continuity is used at the time of converting an input image into high-quality image data with higher quality than the input image data, to obtain processing results which are more accurate and have higher precision. A class tap extracting unit (902) and prediction tap extracting unit (906) extract a class tap and prediction tap based on data continuity of multiple perimeter pixels corresponding to a pixel of interest in the input image, detected by a data continuity detecting unit (901).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsujiro Kondo, Takashi Sawao, Junichi Ishibashi, Takahiro Nagano, Naoki Fujiwara, Toru Miyake, Seiji Wada
  • Publication number: 20090022420
    Abstract: The present invention enables processing results which are more accurate and which have higher precision as to events of the real world to be obtained. (An inverse gamma correction unit 5001 applies inverse gamma correction to an input image wherein light signals of the actual world have been projected and a part of the continuity of the light signals of the actual world has been lost, and which has been subjected to gamma correction. A data continuity detecting unit 101 detects, in the input image subjected to inverse gamma correction, data continuity corresponding to the continuity of light signals of the real world. An actual world estimating unit 102 estimates the light signals by estimating the continuity of the light signals of the real world, based on the data continuity. An image generating unit 103 generates an output image from the estimated light signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2008
    Publication date: January 22, 2009
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tetsujiro KONDO, Takashi Sawao, Junichi Ishibashi, Takahiro Nagano, Naoki Fujiwara, Toru Miyake, Seiji Wada
  • Patent number: 7477289
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to make it possible to detect the mixture state of an image. An area specifying unit 103 specifies, in correspondence with image data, a mixed area in which foreground object components forming a foreground object and background object components forming a background object are mixed and a non-mixed area formed of a foreground area consisting of only the foreground object components and a background area consisting of only the background object components. A mixture-ratio calculator 104 estimates, based on the ratio of the width of the mixed area in a predetermined direction with respect to the moving direction of the foreground object, the width of the mixed area being specified by the area information, to the distance from the position of a designated pixel to the edge of the mixed area in the predetermined direction, the mixture ratio indicating the ratio of the foreground object components and the background object components of the designated pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2009
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsujiro Kondo, Seiji Wada, Junichi Ishibashi, Takashi Sawao, Naoki Fujiwara, Takahiro Nagano, Toru Miyake
  • Patent number: 7477761
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for separating a background image and an object image. The apparatus comprises an area specifying unit for specifying areas of the image. The area specifying unit specifies, in a first period-of time, an uncovered background area in which foreground object components and background object components are mixed. The area specifying unit specifies, in a second period of time, a foreground area consisting of only the foreground object components and a background area consisting of only the background object components. The area specifying unit specifies, in a third period of time, a covered background area in which the foreground object components and the background object components are mixed. A mixture-ratio calculator detects a mixture ratio indicating a ratio of the foreground object components and the background object components. A separator separates the pixel data into the foreground object components and the background object components based on the mixture ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2009
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsujiro Kondo, Seiji Wada, Junichi Ishibashi, Takashi Sawao, Naoki Fujiwara, Takahiro Nagano, Toru Miyake
  • Patent number: 7474817
    Abstract: An integrated optical waveguide has a first optical waveguide, a second optical waveguide, and a groove. The second optical waveguide is coupled to the first optical waveguide and has a refractive index that is different from the first optical waveguide. The groove is disposed so as to traverse an optical path of the first optical waveguide and is separated from an interface between the first optical waveguide and the second optical waveguide by a predetermined spacing. The spacing from the interface and the width of the groove are determined such that reflection at a boundary between the first optical waveguide and the second optical waveguide is weakened. A semiconductor board may be disposed at a boundary between the first optical waveguide and the second optical waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignee: Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation.
    Inventors: Nobuhiro Nunoya, Yasuo Shibata, Naoki Fujiwara, Nobuhiro Kikuchi, Yuichi Tomori
  • Publication number: 20090006874
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an information processing apparatus includes: an information processing apparatus main body receiving a supply of power from power supplies disposed at outside or inside; one or a plurality of connection connectors constituted to be able to attach/detach an external apparatus, and having at least one signal terminal transmitting/receiving signals between the information processing apparatus main body and the external apparatus and at least one power terminal supplying the power from the power supplies to the external apparatus; a power supply state changing portion having a switch provided between the power supply and the power terminal, and capable of changing the switch to either one of a connection state or a non-connection state; and a power supply state control portion having user setting information set by a user concerning a control method of the power supply state changing portion, and performing a control to change the switch to either one of the connection state or the n
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2008
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventor: Naoki Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 7471864
    Abstract: An integrated optical waveguide has first, second, and third optical waveguiding regions. The second optical waveguiding region has a refractive index different from that of the first optical waveguiding region. The second optical waveguiding region has an interface surface with the first optical waveguiding region that is inclined with respect to the waveguide direction of the first optical waveguiding region. The third optical waveguiding region has an interface surface with the second optical waveguiding region that is disposed such that a refraction direction through the interface surface is in line with the waveguide direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation
    Inventors: Nobuhiro Nunoya, Yasuo Shibata, Naoki Fujiwara, Nobuhiro Kikuchi, Yuichi Tomori
  • Publication number: 20080293884
    Abstract: Disclosed is a synthetic resin emulsion powder obtained by spray-drying a composition that comprises an emulsion (A) where the dispersoid is a polymer that having one or more unsaturated monomer units selected from ethylenic unsaturated monomers and dienic monomers, and a polyvinyl alcohol (B) having, in the molecule, from 1 to 12 mol % of ethylene units. The emulsion powder has good redispersibility and good water resistance. Its redispersion well form good films and has good storage stability at low temperatures. The emulsion powder is favorable for additives to hydraulic substances, as it well disperses in hydraulic substances such as cement mortar and gives hardened articles of high mechanical strength. The emulsion powder is also favorable for joint materials for hydraulic substances, as its adhesiveness and durability are both good and gives jointed articles of high mechanical strength.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2008
    Publication date: November 27, 2008
    Applicant: KURARAY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Seiji Tanimoto, Tetsuo Murakami, Masato Nakamae, Naoki Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 7450764
    Abstract: With the present invention, data continuity is used at the time of converting an input image into high-quality image data with higher quality than the input image data, to obtain processing results which are more accurate and have higher precision. A class tap extracting unit (902) and prediction tap extracting unit (906) extract a class tap and prediction tap based on data continuity of multiple perimeter pixels corresponding to a pixel of interest in the input image, detected by a data continuity detecting unit (901).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsujiro Kondo, Takashi Sawao, Junichi Ishibashi, Takahiro Nagano, Naoki Fujiwara, Toru Miyake, Seiji Wada
  • Patent number: 7447378
    Abstract: The present invention enables processing results which are more accurate and which have higher precision as to events of the real world to be obtained. (An inverse gamma correction unit 5001 applies inverse gamma correction to an input image wherein light signals of the actual world have been projected and a part of the continuity of the light signals of the actual world has been lost, and which has been subjected to gamma correction. A data continuity detecting unit 101 detects, in the input image subjected to inverse gamma correction, data continuity corresponding to the continuity of light signals of the real world. An actual world estimating unit 102 estimates the light signals by estimating the continuity of the light signals of the real world, based on the data continuity. An image generating unit 103 generates an output image from the estimated light signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsujiro Kondo, Takashi Sawao, Junichi Ishibashi, Takahiro Nagano, Naoki Fujiwara, Toru Miyake, Seiji Wada
  • Publication number: 20080259169
    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: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2005
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takahiro Nagano, Tetsujiro Kondo, Tsutomu Watanabe, Junichi Ishibashi, Hisakazu Shiraki, Naoki Fujiwara, Masanori Kanemaru, Shinichiro Kaneko, Yasuhiro Suto
  • Patent number: 7439311
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing a polymer by conducting polymerization in a polymerization reactor having an inner wall covered with an anti-fouling agent comprising an aqueous solution containing a polyvinyl alcohol obtained through saponification of a polyvinyl ester that contains monomer units having a silyl group. In the present invention, the polyvinyl alcohol satisfies the following formulae (I) and (II): 370<P×S<9000 ??(I) where P indicates the viscosity-average degree of polymerization of the polyvinyl alcohol, and S indicates the content (mole %) of the monomer units having a silyl group of formula (1) in the polyvinyl alcohol; 0.2/100?(A?B)/(B)?75/100 ??(II) where A indicates the content (ppm) of silicon atoms in the polyvinyl alcohol, and B indicates the content (ppm) of silicon atoms in the polyvinyl alcohol that was washed with sodium hydroxide-containing methanol and then washed with methanol by Soxhlet extraction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Kuraray Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaki Kato, Kazuyuki Somemiya, Takeshi Kusudou, Naoki Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 7439300
    Abstract: The present invention provides polyvinyl alcohol based (PVA) whose solubility in water varies with a small temperature change to a sufficiently great degree. In manufacturing a polyvinyl alcohol based polymer by: progressing a transesterification reaction of a polyvinyl ester based polymer with alcohol in a liquid reaction mixture including the polyvinyl ester based polymer, the alcohol, and a basic compound; precipitating the polyvinyl ester based polymer, at least a part of which has been transesterified with the alcohol, out of the liquid reaction mixture; and further progressing the transesterification reaction in the liquid reaction mixture including the polyvinyl ester based polymer that has precipitated, the liquid reaction mixture has a temperature of 75° C. to 150° C. when the polyvinyl ester based polymer, at least a part of which has been transesterified, starts precipitating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Kuraray Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hisamichi Yanai, Yoshihiro Tokuda, Jin Tokuyasu, Kimiko Miyata, Naoki Fujiwara, Takeshi Kusudou
  • Publication number: 20080214861
    Abstract: A simple and easy-to-use method for producing a 2-hydroxyester compound using a cyanohydrin compound, as a raw material, is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2006
    Publication date: September 4, 2008
    Applicant: NIPPOH CHEMICALS CO., LTD
    Inventors: Ichiro Kozono, Naoki Fujiwara, Daisuke Hino
  • Publication number: 20080199072
    Abstract: With the present invention, data continuity is used at the time of converting an input image into high-quality image data with higher quality than the input image data, to obtain processing results which are more accurate and have higher precision. A class tap extracting unit (902) and prediction tap extracting unit (906) extract a class tap and prediction tap based on data continuity of multiple perimeter pixels corresponding to a pixel of interest in the input image, detected by a data continuity detecting unit (901).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2008
    Publication date: August 21, 2008
    Applicant: Sony corporation
    Inventors: Tetsujiro Kondo, Takashi Sawao, Junichi Ishibashi, Takahiro Nagano, Naoki Fujiwara, Toru Miyake, Seiji Wada
  • Patent number: 7412075
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a picture processing apparatus that allows detection of an area in which a plurality of objects, such as a background picture and a picture of a moving object, is mixed. A background picture generation unit 121 generates a background picture based on picture data. A binary object picture extraction unit 121 detects a correlation value between each pixel in picture data of a frame under consideration and a pixel in the background picture at a position corresponding to the pixel in the picture data of the frame under consideration. A temporal change detection unit 123 detects a mixed area in the frame under consideration, in which a plurality of real-world objects is mixed, based on a temporal change of the correlation value at each pixel position. The present invention can be applied to a picture processing apparatus that takes difference between a signal detected by a sensor and the real world into consideration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsujiro Kondo, Junichi Ishibashi, Takashi Sawao, Takahiro Nagano, Naoki Fujiwara, Toru Miyake, Seiji Wada