Patents by Inventor Nobukazu Yoshida

Nobukazu Yoshida 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: 20240196108
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus acquires lens information, combines a plurality of images with different focus positions based on information about an imaging magnification acquired from the lens information to generate a combined image with a depth of field deeper than that of each of the plurality of images, and detects a main object. In a case where the processor has not detected the main object, the processor is configured to combine the plurality of images based on the information about the imaging magnification.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2023
    Publication date: June 13, 2024
    Inventors: Hinako NAKAMURA, Nobukazu YOSHIDA
  • Patent number: 12010433
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a composition unit configured to composite a plurality of captured images to generate a composite image, a recording control unit configured to record the captured images or the composite image as a recorded image in a recording unit, and a determination unit configured to determine an imaging mode or a method of composition performed by the composition unit, in which the recording control unit records type data determined on the basis of a result of the determination in association with the recorded image that is captured or composited according to the imaging mode or the method of composition determined by the determination unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Akimitsu Yoshida, Hideki Kadoi, Gou Yamashita, Nobukazu Yoshida
  • Publication number: 20230353868
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus to which an accessory is detachably attached includes a first processing unit communicable with the accessory by a first communication method, and a second processing unit communicable with the accessory by a second communication method. The first processing unit receives accessory information from the accessory by the first communication method. The second processing unit communicates with the accessory by the second communication method based on the accessory information. The electronic apparatus has a first power state and a second power state in which power is lower than that of the first power state. The first processing unit communicates with the accessory by the first communication method in the first power state and the second power state. The second processing unit communicates with the accessory by the second communication method in the first power state, but does not in the second power state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2023
    Publication date: November 2, 2023
    Inventors: Takuo Tsuchiya, Nobukazu Yoshida
  • Patent number: 11743582
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus to which an accessory is detachably attached includes a first processing unit communicable with the accessory by a first communication method, and a second processing unit communicable with the accessory by a second communication method. The first processing unit receives accessory information from the accessory by the first communication method. The second processing unit communicates with the accessory by the second communication method based on the accessory information. The electronic apparatus has a first power state and a second power state in which power is lower than that of the first power state. The first processing unit communicates with the accessory by the first communication method in the first power state and the second power state. The second processing unit communicates with the accessory by the second communication method in the first power state, but does not in the second power state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takuo Tsuchiya, Nobukazu Yoshida
  • Publication number: 20220345616
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus to which an accessory is detachably attached includes a first processing unit communicable with the accessory by a first communication method, and a second processing unit communicable with the accessory by a second communication method. The first processing unit receives accessory information from the accessory by the first communication method. The second processing unit communicates with the accessory by the second communication method based on the accessory information. The electronic apparatus has a first power state and a second power state in which power is lower than that of the first power state. The first processing unit communicates with the accessory by the first communication method in the first power state and the second power state. The second processing unit communicates with the accessory by the second communication method in the first power state, but does not in the second power state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2022
    Publication date: October 27, 2022
    Inventors: Takuo Tsuchiya, Nobukazu Yoshida
  • Publication number: 20210400192
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a composition unit configured to composite a plurality of captured images to generate a composite image, a recording control unit configured to record the captured images or the composite image as a recorded image in a recording unit, and a determination unit configured to determine an imaging mode or a method of composition performed by the composition unit, in which the recording control unit records type data determined on the basis of a result of the determination in association with the recorded image that is captured or composited according to the imaging mode or the method of composition determined by the determination unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2021
    Publication date: December 23, 2021
    Inventors: Akimitsu Yoshida, Hideki Kadoi, Gou Yamashita, Nobukazu Yoshida
  • Patent number: 11039082
    Abstract: An image capturing apparatus, comprising: an image sensor configured to capture an image of a subject and output image signals, a dividing unit configured to vertically divide the image signals into a plurality of regions, a detection unit configured to detect flicker based on a signal level of each of the plurality of regions, and a control unit configured to cause a plurality of image captures with different exposure conditions to be performed using the image sensor, wherein the detection unit, by adjusting a phase of a flicker appearing in each of the plurality of image signals obtained by the plurality of image captures, detects a flicker from the plurality of image signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hinako Nakamura, Nobukazu Yoshida
  • Publication number: 20200169658
    Abstract: An image capturing apparatus, comprising: an image sensor configured to capture an image of a subject and output image signals, a dividing unit configured to vertically divide the image signals into a plurality of regions, a detection unit configured to detect flicker based on a signal level of each of the plurality of regions, and a control unit configured to cause a plurality of image captures with different exposure conditions to be performed using the image sensor, wherein the detection unit, by adjusting a phase of a flicker appearing in each of the plurality of image signals obtained by the plurality of image captures, detects a flicker from the plurality of image signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2019
    Publication date: May 28, 2020
    Inventors: Hinako Nakamura, Nobukazu Yoshida
  • Patent number: 10423050
    Abstract: An illumination apparatus which is capable of appropriately determining whether or not a radiating direction of a flash is deviated from a direction targeted by a user and preventing degradation in user convenience. The illumination apparatus has a movable unit that has a light-emitting unit, and a main body unit that holds the movable unit rotatably in a predetermined direction. A present angle of the movable unit with respect to the main body unit is detected, and a difference between the present angle and a target angle to which the movable unit is to be moved is obtained. When the difference is smaller than a threshold value, it is determined that there is no angular deviation of the movable unit. The threshold value used in the determination varies with the target angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Nobukazu Yoshida
  • Patent number: 10412304
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus capable of preventing degradation of user-friendliness during execution of automatic bounce drive control. A strobe device can change an irradiation direction of light from a strobe head. The automatic bounce drive control determines an irradiation direction of the light based on a result of ranging of a target object, and drives the strobe head in the determined irradiation direction. When a switch unrelated to the automatic bounce drive control is operated during execution of the control, out of control related to an operation of the switch and the automatic bounce drive control, the automatic bounce drive control is preferentially executed, whereas when a switch related to the automatic bounce drive control is operated during execution of the control, out of the control related to an operation of the switch and the automatic bounce drive control, control related to the operation of the switch is preferentially executed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Nobukazu Yoshida
  • Publication number: 20180314137
    Abstract: An illumination apparatus which is capable of appropriately determining whether or not a radiating direction of a flash is deviated from a direction targeted by a user and preventing degradation in user convenience. The illumination apparatus has a movable unit that has a light-emitting unit, and a main body unit that holds the movable unit rotatably in a predetermined direction. A present angle of the movable unit with respect to the main body unit is detected, and a difference between the present angle and a target angle to which the movable unit is to be moved is obtained. When the difference is smaller than a threshold value, it is determined that there is no angular deviation of the movable unit. The threshold value used in the determination varies with the target angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2018
    Publication date: November 1, 2018
    Inventor: Nobukazu Yoshida
  • Publication number: 20180115712
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus capable of preventing degradation of user-friendliness during execution of automatic bounce drive control. A strobe device can change an irradiation direction of light from a strobe head. The automatic bounce drive control determines an irradiation direction of the light based on a result of ranging of a target object, and drives the strobe head in the determined irradiation direction. When a switch unrelated to the automatic bounce drive control is operated during execution of the control, out of control related to an operation of the switch and the automatic bounce drive control, the automatic bounce drive control is preferentially executed, whereas when a switch related to the automatic bounce drive control is operated during execution of the control, out of the control related to an operation of the switch and the automatic bounce drive control, control related to the operation of the switch is preferentially executed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2017
    Publication date: April 26, 2018
    Inventor: Nobukazu Yoshida
  • Patent number: 9525815
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a light emission unit, an instruction unit, and a light emission determination unit. The light emission unit moves between a light and a non-light emission position. The instruction unit changes, in response to a user's manual operation, to a first state giving an instruction to prepare for capturing a subject's image. In response to setting the instruction unit to the first state, the light emission determination unit makes a light emission determination based on a captured scene. In response to setting the instruction unit to the first state and where the light emission determination unit determines that the light emission unit does not emit light, the light emission determination unit determines that the light emission unit emits light, in response to a user's operation for moving the light emission unit to the light emission position while the instruction unit is kept in the first state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Nobukazu Yoshida
  • Patent number: 9338358
    Abstract: An image capture apparatus includes an image data acquisition unit which acquires image data, a photometry unit which performs photometry using the image data, an exposure control unit which performs exposure control when the image data acquisition unit acquires image data, a gain control unit which performs gain control for the image data, a display unit which displays a captured image reflecting the exposure compensation value set by a setting unit, and a control unit which controls to, when the exposure compensation value falls within a predetermined range, reflect the exposure compensation value on the exposure control by the exposure control unit, and when the exposure compensation value falls outside the predetermined range, reflect the exposure compensation value on the exposure control by the exposure control unit and the gain control by the gain control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Nobukazu Yoshida
  • Patent number: 9204034
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an object distance information acquisition unit configured to acquire information regarding a distance to an object detected from acquired image data, a distance information acquisition unit configured to divide the image data into small areas and acquire object distance information for each of the small areas, a determination unit configured to determine a blurring level for each of the small areas, and a blurring processing unit configured to perform blurring processing on the image data based on the blurring level. The determination unit identifies an object located within a predetermined distance from a main object based on the distance information acquired by the object distance information acquisition unit, and determines a distance group of the identified object as a non-blur area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Nobukazu Yoshida
  • Publication number: 20150156408
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a light emission unit, an instruction unit, and a light emission determination unit. The light emission unit moves between a light and a non-light emission position. The instruction unit changes, in response to a user's manual operation, to a first state giving an instruction to prepare for capturing a subject's image. In response to setting the instruction unit to the first state, the light emission determination unit makes a light emission determination based on a captured scene. In response to setting the instruction unit to the first state and where the light emission determination unit determines that the light emission unit does not emit light, the light emission determination unit determines that the light emission unit emits light, in response to a user's operation for moving the light emission unit to the light emission position while the instruction unit is kept in the first state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2014
    Publication date: June 4, 2015
    Inventor: Nobukazu Yoshida
  • Publication number: 20140185870
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an object distance information acquisition unit configured to acquire information regarding a distance to an object detected from acquired image data, a distance information acquisition unit configured to divide the image data into small areas and acquire object distance information for each of the small areas, a determination unit configured to determine a blurring level for each of the small areas, and a blurring processing unit configured to perform blurring processing on the image data based on the blurring level. The determination unit identifies an object located within a predetermined distance from a main object based on the distance information acquired by the object distance information acquisition unit, and determines a distance group of the identified object as a non-blur area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2013
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Nobukazu Yoshida
  • Patent number: 8570398
    Abstract: In an image processing apparatus which can store a pickuped image file in a new folder, the user's convenience is improved, and the creation of unnecessary folders is suppressed. If a preset condition for the creation of a new folder is satisfied, a new folder is created when a next shooting instruction is issued (S125). Creating a new folder when a shooting is actually performed prevents the creation of an empty folder. In addition, since a folder creation condition can be set in advance, there is no need to execute a sequence of creating a folder for every shooting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuichi Nakase, Nobukazu Yoshida
  • Patent number: RE45629
    Abstract: Subjects are detected in a captured image and a main subject is selected from the detected subjects. Focusing areas are set up that correspond to the detected subjects and focus detection is performed in the focusing areas that have been set up. When providing in-focus indication representing focus detection results, focus detection results associated with the particular focusing area among the focusing areas that corresponds to the main subject are displayed in a manner different from focus detection results associated with those focusing areas within the depth of field that correspond to subjects other than the main subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Nobukazu Yoshida, Akira Kubota
  • Patent number: RE46834
    Abstract: Subjects are detected in a captured image and a main subject is selected from the detected subjects. Focusing areas are set up that correspond to the detected subjects and focus detection is performed in the focusing areas that have been set up. When providing in-focus indication representing focus detection results, focus detection results associated with the particular focusing area among the focusing areas that corresponds to the main subject are displayed in a manner different from focus detection results associated with those focusing areas within the depth of field that correspond to subjects other than the main subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nobukazu Yoshida, Akira Kubota