Patents by Inventor Naoya Katoh

Naoya Katoh 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: 7616812
    Abstract: Signals are provided which allow colors in a wider color range than predetermined standards, which can be handled by apparatus according to such predetermined standards. A primary color converter converts first color signals having primary color points in a wider color range than the primary color points according to BT.709 into second color signals based on the primary colors according to BT.709. A photoelectric transducer converts the second color signals into third color signals according to photoelectric transducer characteristics defined in a numerical range wider than a range from 0 to 1.0 of color signals corresponding to a luminance signal and color difference signals according to BT. 709. A color signal converter converts the third color signals into a luminance signal and color difference signals. A corrector incorporated in the color signal converter corrects the color difference signals into color difference signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Ko Ishimoto, Koichiro Kakinuma, Takehiro Nakatsue, Tatsuhiko Matsumoto, Shuichi Haga, Hiroshi Takizuka, Yoshiki Shirochi, Naoya Katoh, Hiroshi Yamashita, Koichi Oura, Yoshihiro Kosugi, Junichi Iwai, Kazuji Uemura, Shigeo Kubota, Hideo Morita
  • Patent number: 7583303
    Abstract: An imaging device having a hybrid RGBYC color filter using a primary color system RGB filter and a complementary color system YC filter is composed. Four G filters that directly relate to resolution and that is close to a luminance signal that human eyes sense are arrayed in a checker shape so that the number of the G filters is four times larger than the number of filters of each of the other colors. An array shown in FIG. 10A is composed of low resolution rows (G, R, G, and B) and high resolution rows (C, G, Y, and G) that are alternately arrayed in each line. When signals are read if exposure times are varied for individual lines, the signals that are read can easily have a wide dynamic range. An array shown in FIG. 10B has two Gs, a low sensitivity color, and a high sensitivity color in each line and each row. Thus, the luminance difference is small in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction. Thus, the reading method in the array shown in FIG.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Takami Mizukura, Naoya Katoh, Kenji Tanaka, Masaya Kinoshita, Yutaka Yoneda, Akira Matsui
  • Publication number: 20090213251
    Abstract: An imaging device having five color filters. The five color filters include three color filters of a R (red) filter, a G (green) filter, and a B (blue) filter of a primary color system and two color filters of a Y (yellow) filter and a C (cyan) filter of a complementary system. The G filter has a checker shape G filter so that the space information of green is obtained four times larger than that of each of the other colors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2009
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Takami MIZUKURA, Naoya KATOH, Kenji TANAKA, Masaya KINOSHITA, Yutaka YONEDA, Akira MATSUI
  • Patent number: 7580064
    Abstract: A digital camera that corrects a captured image. A memory for storing the image data of an image for which tone correction is to be performed in a standard color space format. A tone correction circuit for performing tone correction. The image data is read out from the memory, and the tone correction is performed. In automatic tone correction, luminance signals of the image are statistically analyzed to categorize the image, and an appropriate correction curve is used to correct the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tatsuya Deguchi, Naoya Katoh
  • Patent number: 7562646
    Abstract: An air-intake device having a noise reduction mechanism includes a surge tank connected to an intake manifold for introducing intake air into an internal combustion engine, an air duct connected to an upstream end of the surge tank and a resonator connected to the surge tank and the air duct. The resonator forms a resonator chamber connected to both the surge tank and the air duct. The surge tank is separated from the resonator chamber by a first vibrating member, and the air duct is separated from the resonator chamber by a second vibrating member. The noises in the surge tank are offset or reduced by resonating vibrations of the first vibrating member, and the noises in the air duct are offset or reduced by resonating vibrations of the second vibrating member. Thus, the intake air noises are effectively reduced by a simple combination of the resonator and the vibrating members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Naohito Seko, Kazuhiro Hayashi, Naoya Katoh, Makoto Otsubo
  • Publication number: 20090154803
    Abstract: An information processing device, configured to perform color gamut conversion for compressing or enlarging the color gamut of image data, includes: a selecting unit configured to select a plurality of coordinate movement directions to be synthesized for determining the coordinate movement destination of a pixel to be processed during the color gamut conversion; a coordinate moving unit configured to move the coordinates of the pixel to be processed in each of the selected plurality of directions; and a synthesizing unit configured to synthesize coordinate movement in the selected plurality of directions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2008
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Takami Mizukura, Naoya Katoh
  • Publication number: 20090154798
    Abstract: An information processing device, configured to perform color gamut conversion for compressing or enlarging the color gamut of image data, includes: a selecting unit configured to select a generating method of table information for specifying a non-mapping boundary which is a boundary between a region where the coordinate movement of a pixel to be processed is not performed, and a conversion source region where the coordinate movement of the pixel to be processed is performed, and a mapping limit boundary which is a boundary other than the non-mapping region, of the conversion source region, for each hue, from a plurality of generating methods according to a predetermined condition, with the color gamut conversion; and a table information generating unit configured to generate the table information using the method selected from the plurality of generating methods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2008
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Takami Mizukura, Naoya Katoh
  • Publication number: 20090080004
    Abstract: A color chart for color calibration of imaging devices that has nearly identical calibration performance as the Macbeth ColorChecker or another set of reference colors, but with substantially fewer color patches. For example, the color chart has similar 2nd order statistical characteristics, auto-correlation matrix and major principal components as the Macbeth ColorChecker. The color chart is developed by applying Orthogonal Non-negative Matrix Factorization (ONMF) to the set of reference colors, using non-negativity and smoothness constraints to achieve physically realizable colors and using orthogonality constraints to obtain similar statistical properties to that of any input set of reflectances including, but not limited to, the Macbeth ColorChecker. Seven colors provide nearly identical calibration performance to that of twenty-four colors in the Macbeth ColorChecker.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2007
    Publication date: March 26, 2009
    Applicants: SONY CORPORATION, SONY ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Xiaoling Wang, Farhan A. Baqai, Takami Mizukura, Naoya Katoh
  • Patent number: 7489346
    Abstract: In an image pick-up apparatus including an image pick-up unit comprised of color filters having different spectral characteristics, and serving to pick up image of object, there are provided an adjustment unit for adjusting color reproduction value and noise value representing noise feeling, a matrix coefficient determination unit for determining matrix coefficients on the basis of adjustment of the adjustment unit, and a matrix transform processing unit for performing matrix transform processing with respect to image which has been picked up at the image pick-up device unit on the basis of the matrix coefficients.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2009
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Takami Mizukura, Naoya Katoh, Ken Nakajima, Hiroki Nagahama
  • Publication number: 20080297604
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a test pattern signal generator for outputting a video signal adapted to display, on a display device, a test pattern of a color chart according to a standard for a first color gamut and a color chart of a test pattern according to a standard for a second color gamut which is wider than the first color gamut, the test pattern signal generator including: a color chart recording section configured to record color chart information of the standard for the first color gamut and color chart information of the standard for the second color gamut; and a test pattern signal generation section configured to generate, based on the information recorded in the color chart recording section, a video signal adapted to display test patterns in which the color charts according to the respective standards are arranged in a predetermined layout on the same screen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2008
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yutaka Imai, Naoya Katoh
  • Patent number: 7436997
    Abstract: A light source estimation method of this invention estimates from the sensor response the color characteristics of an unknown light source of an image-pickup scene, in order to improve white balance adjustment and other aspects of the quality of color reproduction; a projection conversion portion 6 projects sensor response values 5 into an image distribution 9 in an evaluation space not dependent on the image-pickup light source 2 using parameters obtained by operations which can be calorimetrically approximated from spectral sensitivity characteristics of image-pickup unit 4, which are known, and from spectral characteristics of an assumed test light source 1; an evaluation portion 10 evaluates the correctness of a plurality of the test light sources 1 based on the distribution state of sample values of the projected scene; and accordingly, the correct image-pickup light source 2 is estimated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Koichiro Ishigami, Naoya Katoh
  • Publication number: 20080246955
    Abstract: In a detection of an alcohol concentration, a first light and a second light are irradiated to a mixed liquid including a fossil fuel, an alcohol, and water, and the alcohol concentration is calculated based on amounts of the first light and the second light permeated through the mixed liquid. In the detection, a difference of a transmittance of the fossil fuel with respect to the first light and each transmittance of the alcohol and water with respect to the first light is larger than a first value. In addition, a difference of a transmittance of water with respect to the second light and each transmittance of the fossil fuel and the alcohol with respect to the second light is larger than a second value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2008
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Applicants: NIPPON SOKEN, INC., DENSO CORPORATION, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Rie Osaki, Naoya Katoh, Noriyasu Amano, Tetsuro Serai, Akikazu Uchida, Yukihiro Tsukasaki, Keiichiro Aoki
  • Publication number: 20080225135
    Abstract: characteristic are improved. An imaging device having a hybrid RGBYC color filter using a primary color system RGB filter and a complementary color system YC filter is composed. Four G filters that directly relate to resolution and that is close to a luminance signal that human eyes sense are arrayed in a checker shape so that the number of the G filters is four times larger than the number of filters of each of the other colors. An array shown in FIG. 10A is composed of low resolution rows (G, R, G, and B) and high resolution rows (C, G, Y, and G) that are alternately arrayed in each line. When signals are read if exposure times are varied for individual lines, the signals that are read can easily have a wide dynamic range. An array shown in FIG. 10B has two Gs, a low sensitivity color, and a high sensitivity color in each line and each row. Thus, the luminance difference is small in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction. Thus, the reading method in the array shown in FIG.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2006
    Publication date: September 18, 2008
    Inventors: Takami Mizukura, Naoya Katoh, Kenji Tanaka, Masaya Kinoshita, Yutaka Yoneda, Akira Matsui
  • Publication number: 20080187235
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus that processes input image data includes an exposure-correction-value acquiring unit that acquires exposure correction values at plural stages with respect to an exposure control value during imaging of the input image data, an illumination-component generating unit that generates illumination components on the basis of the input image data, a gain-amount calculating unit that multiplies each of plural weighting coefficients with a multiplication coefficient corresponding to the exposure correction value corresponding to the weighting coefficient and adds up multiplied values to calculate a gain amount, and a gain applying unit that applies, for each of pixels, the gain amount calculated by the gain-amount calculating unit to the input image data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2007
    Publication date: August 7, 2008
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Masafumi Wakazono, Naoya Katoh
  • Publication number: 20080144056
    Abstract: A method of evaluating halo artifacts is described herein. The method utilizes a pattern of color patches, a color space and color difference metrics to analyze color changes which correlate to the amount of halo. The pattern of color patches is utilized in the CIE L*a*b* color space to determine an area of patch unaffected by halo of the pattern of color patches. After the area of patch unaffected by halo is determined, a Reference Value is computed by averaging the CIE L*a*b* color for the area of patch unaffected by halo. Then an Artifact Value is calculated either by averaging the CIE L*a*b* color for the area outside the area of patch unaffected by halo but before the margin or by averaging the CIE L*a*b* color on the edge of the patch. Once these values are determined, the halo quantity is calculated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2006
    Publication date: June 19, 2008
    Inventors: Florian Ciurea, Alexander Berestov, Tatsuya Deguchi, Naoya Katoh
  • Patent number: 7350496
    Abstract: A resonator is connected with an intake air pipe and forms a resonant chamber therein. The resonator includes a diaphragm, which is generally planar and is disposed between an air passage of the intake air pipe and the resonant chamber. The diaphragm forms multiple oscillation sections, which have different eigenfrequencies, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignees: Denso Corporation, Nippon Soken, Inc.
    Inventors: Toshiaki Nakayama, Sadahito Fukumori, Kazuhiro Hayashi, Naoya Katoh, Makoto Otsubo
  • Publication number: 20080017156
    Abstract: An air-intake device having a noise reduction mechanism includes a surge tank connected to an intake manifold for introducing intake air into an internal combustion engine, an air duct connected to an upstream end of the surge tank and a resonator connected to the surge tank and the air duct. The resonator forms a resonator chamber connected to both the surge tank and the air duct. The surge tank is separated from the resonator chamber by a first vibrating member, and the air duct is separated from the resonator chamber by a second vibrating member. The noises in the surge tank are offset or reduced by resonating vibrations of the first vibrating member, and the noises in the air duct are offset or reduced by resonating vibrations of the second vibrating member. Thus, the intake air noises are effectively reduced by a simple combination of the resonator and the vibrating members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2007
    Publication date: January 24, 2008
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naohito Seko, Kazuhiro Hayashi, Naoya Katoh, Makoto Otsubo
  • Publication number: 20080017440
    Abstract: A noise reduction apparatus includes an intake passage forming member defining an intake passage, a resonator, and a vibration film. Intake air drawn into a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine flows through the intake passage. The resonator has an inner volume part branching from the intake passage. The vibration film is placed to separate the intake passage from the inner volume part. The vibration film is vibrated by a sound pressure of a sound that is generated in the combustion chamber and that propagates through the intake passage. The vibration film has a projection part, which separates the vibration film into an inner vibration film part and an outer vibration film part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2007
    Publication date: January 24, 2008
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naohito Seko, Kazuhiro Hayashi, Naoya Katoh, Makoto Otsubo
  • Publication number: 20070171289
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide signals which allow colors in a wider color range than predetermined standards, which can be handled by apparatus according to such predetermined standards. A primary color converter 62 converts first color signals having primary color points in a wider color range than the primary color points according to BT.709 into second color signals based on the primary colors according to BT.709. A photoelectric transducer 63 converts the second color signals into third color signals according to photoelectric transducer characteristics defined in a numerical range wider than a range from 0 to 1.0 of color signals corresponding to a luminance signal and color difference signals according to BT.709. A color signal converter 64 converts the third color signals into a luminance signal and color difference signals. A corrector 64A incorporated in the color signal converter corrects the color difference signals into color difference signals in a range from ?0.57 to 0.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2005
    Publication date: July 26, 2007
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Ko Ishimoto, Koichiro Kakinuma, Takehiro Nakatsue, Tatsuhiko Matsumoto, Shuichi Haga, Hiroshi Takizuka, Yoshiki Shirochi, Naoya Katoh, Hiroshi Wamashita, Koichi Oura, Yoshihiro Kosugi, Junichi Iwai, Kazuji Uemura, Shigeo Kubota, Hideo Morita
  • Publication number: 20070163533
    Abstract: A resonator is connected with an intake air pipe and forms a resonant chamber therein. The resonator includes a diaphragm, which is generally planar and is disposed between an air passage of the intake air pipe and the resonant chamber. The diaphragm forms multiple oscillation sections, which have different eigenfrequencies, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2007
    Publication date: July 19, 2007
    Applicants: DENSO CORPORATION, NIPPON SOKEN, INC.
    Inventors: Toshiaki Nakayama, Sadahito Fukumori, Kazuhiro Hayashi, Naoya Katoh, Makoto Otsubo