Patents by Inventor Norio Ebihara

Norio Ebihara 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: 6483875
    Abstract: A matrix switcher selectively seizes plural compressed pictures and converts P-frames in a GOP into I-frames while modifying prediction data of B-frames in the GOP. A decoder expands the compressed pictures into original pictures. An input buffer memory converts the picture signals into component signals while converting the transfer rate. A picture processing unit performs various picture signal processing operations on the picture signals. An encoder encodes the processed picture signals for compression. An output buffer memory converts the transfer rate of sent-out data which are compressed processed signals. A controller controls processing operations by the matrix switcher, decoder, input buffer memory, picture processing unit, encoder and the output buffer memory. The compressed pictures processed by inter-frame compression can be switched smoothly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Hasebe, Satoshi Yoneya, Norio Ebihara
  • Patent number: 6314576
    Abstract: A hardware configuration suited for a digital video and audio signal broadcast system such as a near-video on-demand apparatus (NVOD apparatus) includes a compilation unit, a play-out unit, a transmission unit, and a subscriber unit. The compilation unit stores several weeks to several months worth of the video and audio signals obtained by reproducing, compressing, encoding, and editing the broadcast stock according to a long term broadcast schedule of several weeks to several months. The play-out unit stores the video and audio signals stored in the compilation unit for several days to several weeks according to a broadcast schedule of several days to several weeks, reproduces the video and audio signals which become necessary for the real time broadcast, and adds a time difference to these video and audio signals distributed to a plurality of channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2001
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Noboru Asamizuya, Norio Ebihara, Yasumasa Kodama
  • Patent number: 6286143
    Abstract: A data transmission apparatus comprising: data supplying unit for storing a plurality of types of data and simultaneously transmitting the plurality of types of data to a plurality of selected channels respectively; switching unit for outputting the plurality of types of data outputted from the data supplying unit to the selected different channels respectively; data storage unit for storing the data outputted from the selected channels after rearranging the data in a predetermined order; and data outputting unit for simultaneously outputting the data stored in the data storage unit from the plurality of channels after shifting the data by a certain amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Noboru Asamizuya, Norio Ebihara, Haruyuki Karibe, Yasumasa Kodama, Masaaki Kagawa
  • Patent number: 6233735
    Abstract: A near video-on-demand (NVOD) system and method for incorporating and/or updating a commercial (CM) or promotion video program or the like in a video program.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2001
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Norio Ebihara
  • Patent number: 6003071
    Abstract: The image data transmission apparatus for transmitting image data signal to a plurality of end devices corresponding to the request from each end device, divides the input image data signal into a plurality of unit image data to subsequently store it on the recording medium, controls operation of the plural storing means so that the unit image data for each end device is read out by time division from the recording region in each storing means which is different from each other corresponding to requests from each end device, combines the unit image data for each end device which is read out from each storing means by each end device to form image data signal for each end device, and transmits it to each correspond end device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1999
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Noboru Asamizuya, Norio Ebihara, Satoshi Yoneya, Yasumasa Kodama, Kenji Mori
  • Patent number: 5757415
    Abstract: A data transmission apparatus comprising: data supplying unit for storing a plurality of types of data and simultaneously transmitting the plurality of types of data to a plurality of selected channels respectively; switching unit for outputting the plurality of types of data outputted from the data supplying unit to the selected different channels respectively; data storage unit for storing the data outputted from the selected channels after rearranging the data in a predetermined order; and data outputting unit for simultaneously outputting the data stored in the data storage unit from the plurality of channels after shifting the data by a certain amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Noboru Asamizuya, Norio Ebihara, Haruyuki Karibe, Yasumasa Kodama, Masaaki Kagawa
  • Patent number: 5585851
    Abstract: In a video system red, green, and blue color signals, which correspond to an output video signal, are offset-sampled and thereafter supplied to a switching circuit. The offset-sampled color signals reproduced from VTRs are supplied to the switching circuit. The offset-sampled color signals selected by the switching circuit are supplied to a special effect applying apparatus, and the processed color signals are supplied to the switching circuit. The offset-sampled color signals selected by the switching circuit are decoded by way of interpolation processing to obtain the output video signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1996
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Norio Ebihara, Noboru Asamizuya, Yoshiyuki Sekine, Yasumasa Kodama
  • Patent number: 5557413
    Abstract: An image out put system including an image printer 53 for printing images on a lenticular lens sheet 16 and a computer for controlling the image printer 53, while a plurality of images are being superimposition printed on the lenticular lens sheet 16, by making the size and the feed for each pixel smaller in the first direction so as to superimpose pixels when printing, or by narrowing the shape of each pixel in this first direction and then reducing the feed for each pixel by the portion by which each of the pixels have been narrowed. It is possible to make the number of pixels per unit length of the first direction large.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1996
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Norio Ebihara, Noboru Asamizuya, Nobuchika Momochi
  • Patent number: 5341178
    Abstract: A first recording/reproducing unit 1, a second recording/reproducing unit 2 and a third recording/reproducing unit 3 are interconnected by a routing switch 4 to which is connected a bit rate converter 5 having first to third bit rate converting circuits 10 to 12 enabling data exchange between the recording/reproducing units 1 to 3. When the transmitting VTR and the receiving VTR are decided, the routing switch 4 transmits data from the transmitting VTR to the bit rate converter 5 where the bit rate of the data is changed to the bit rate handled by the receiving VTR before the data is supplied to the receiving VTR. Data exchange may be made between VTRs having different data bit rates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1994
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Norio Ebihara, Masakatsu Kaburagi
  • Patent number: 5231512
    Abstract: An editing apparatus for editing digital video signals employs a number of video recording and/or reproduction devices, a signal processing mechanism, and a switching mechanism, wherein the number of transfer lines and the area occupied by the associated connectors is decreased by converting parallel signals into serial format.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1993
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Norio Ebihara, Satoru Kusaka, Tsutomu Takamori, Tetsuro Kato, Masakatsu Kaburagi, Kiyoshi Inoue
  • Patent number: 5040149
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory includes an input buffer means for storing inputted data, an output buffer means for storing the data and for outputting the data and a storage means for storing the data outputted from the input buffer means and for transferring the data to the output buffer means. The input buffer means includes a plurality of memories having equal capacity. The output buffer means also includes a plurality of memories having equal capacity. The memory means have memory capacity of a divisor of memory capacity per line of the storage means. In addition, the semiconductor memory can also include a dividing means for dividing image data outputted from said input buffer into smaller data units to be written on said storage means and a recombining means for said smaller data units outputted from said storage means to supply to said output buffer means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 13, 1991
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Norio Ebihara, Takayuki Sasaki, Hiroyuki Kita, Yoshihito Ohsawa
  • Patent number: 4864402
    Abstract: A video memory, for use with a video tape recorder, a television receiver of the like to process a picture, is simplified and can achieve the functions of a time base corrector, a noise reducer and a comb filter, so as to considerably improve the quality of a video picture. A frequency converting circuit for use with the video memory includes a comparator for comparing first and second address signals and an address correction circuit connected to receive an output signal from the comparator. When a crossing occurs between the first and second address signals, the sequential order in which an address signal is supplied to the memory is switched by the address correcting circuit, to thereby derive a continuous output signal from the memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 5, 1989
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Norio Ebihara, Takayuki Sasaki, Hiroyuki Kita, Yoshihito Ohsawa
  • Patent number: 4641202
    Abstract: A video signal reproducing apparatus having a driving mechanism for driving a magnetic tape on which a video signal is recorded as succeeding video tracks and a transducing head device for reproducing the video signal from the succeeding video tracks mounted on a cylindrical drum around which the magnetic tape is wrapped, the transducing head device having a bimorph plate and a transducing head mounted thereon is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 1984
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1987
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Nakamura, Tetsuro Kato, Norio Ebihara
  • Patent number: 4242705
    Abstract: A recursive noise reduction system for a television system uses the spatial correlation in a frame difference signal derived by element-by-element subtraction of an incoming video signal from corresponding picture elements of a relatively noise-free stored video signal to redue noise in a video signal. The spatial correlation is used to suppress the components of the frame difference signal which are due to frame-to-frame changes in the video resulting from motion in the scene, thus producing a signal which contains substantially only the noise in the incoming video. The noise signal thus derived is subtracted from the incoming video signal to produce a noise-reduced output signal for display or recording. The noise-reduced output signal and the incoming video are added together in varying proportions according to the amount of scene-to-scene motion detected and the sum is stored for use in subsequent treatment of new incoming video.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1979
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1980
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Norio Ebihara
  • Patent number: 4163258
    Abstract: A method of and apparatus for reducing the noise of an input signal, such as a composite video signal. An orthogonal transform of the input signal is derived, this orthogonal transform having n transformed signal components. At least some of these signal components are suppressed if their respective signal levels are less than a threshold level. Preferably, the n transformed signal components correspond to different portions of the input signal; and those components representing the higher frequency portions are suppressed if their signal levels are less than the threshold level. Following this signal suppression, the n transformed signal components are reconverted into substantially the input signal, less the suppressed components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1976
    Date of Patent: July 31, 1979
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Norio Ebihara, Kaichi Tatsuzawa
  • Patent number: 4015288
    Abstract: A write clock generator of a digital time base corrector for removing time base errors from color video signals includes a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) in a phase lock loop by which the oscillator output or write clock pulses, after being suitably divided, are compared, as to phase, with the horizontal synchronizing signals and the burst signals separated from the video signals for controlling the VCO on the basis of both comparisons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1976
    Date of Patent: March 29, 1977
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Norio Ebihara, Mitsushige Tatami