Patents by Inventor Shigeo Fukuoka

Shigeo Fukuoka 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: 10970845
    Abstract: It is possible to calculate transformation parameters used for image combining with a small error and to reduce a distortion that appears in a combined image The image processing apparatus includes: a feature point extraction unit configured to extract feature points corresponding to each other between both images from each of a first image and a second image, which are images obtained by capturing a paper document and whose captured ranges are different from each other; an edge extraction unit configured to extract edges corresponding to each other between both images from each of the images; a vanishing point detection unit configured to detect a vanishing point of a plane to which the paper document belongs from each of the images; a transformation parameter derivation unit configured to derive transformation parameters for image combining by using coordinates corresponding to intersections of straight lines connecting the feature points and the vanishing point, and the edges; and an image combining unit c
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shigeo Fukuoka
  • Publication number: 20180365837
    Abstract: It is possible to calculate transformation parameters used for image combining with a small error and to reduce a distortion that appears in a combined image The image processing apparatus includes: a feature point extraction unit configured to extract feature points corresponding to each other between both images from each of a first image and a second image, which are images obtained by capturing a paper document and whose captured ranges are different from each other; an edge extraction unit configured to extract edges corresponding to each other between both images from each of the images; a vanishing point detection unit configured to detect a vanishing point of a plane to which the paper document belongs from each of the images; a transformation parameter derivation unit configured to derive transformation parameters for image combining by using coordinates corresponding to intersections of straight lines connecting the feature points and the vanishing point, and the edges; and an image combining unit c
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2018
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventor: Shigeo Fukuoka
  • Patent number: 9477879
    Abstract: There is provided an information processing apparatus capable of recognizing a plurality of movable contents, obtaining movement history information about positions of the recognized contents, determining a relationship between the contents from the movement history information about the positions, and facilitating explanation of the contents by using the relationship. To this end, images of a plurality of contents having order information are projected based on the order information, which of the projected images is selected is detected, a projection unit is caused to project an image of a content related to a source content of the detected image by using a display mode based on a relationship between the source content and the related content. Through such control, the relationship between the source content and the related content is shown in an easy-to-understand manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takayuki Kawabata, Shigeo Fukuoka
  • Patent number: 9245357
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a character recognition unit configured to perform character recognition of a character region where characters exist in an image to generate character code, a detection unit configured to detect a region of the image where a feature change in the image is small, and a placement unit configured to place data obtained from the character code in the detected region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Taeko Yamazaki, Yuji Kobayashi, Shigeo Fukuoka
  • Publication number: 20150003744
    Abstract: There is provided an information processing apparatus capable of recognizing a plurality of movable contents, obtaining movement history information about positions of the recognized contents, determining a relationship between the contents from the movement history information about the positions, and facilitating explanation of the contents by using the relationship. To this end, images of a plurality of contents having order information are projected based on the order information, which of the projected images is selected is detected, a projection unit is caused to project an image of a content related to a source content of the detected image by using a display mode based on a relationship between the source content and the related content. Through such control, the relationship between the source content and the related content is shown in an easy-to-understand manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2014
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventors: Takayuki Kawabata, Shigeo Fukuoka
  • Patent number: 8452095
    Abstract: An image processing device is provided by the present invention, which includes a unit configured to acquire a pixel block contacting an enclosing border of a character rectangle extracted from an image, a determination unit configured to determine whether or not the acquired pixel block has a likelihood of noise, a unit configured to generate a noise candidate removed character rectangle by removing from the character rectangle the pixel block as to which it is determined to have the likelihood of noise, and an outputting unit configured to assess validities by performing character recognition for both of the noise candidate removed character rectangle and the character rectangle, and configured to output a recognition result for one of them having greater validity assessed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koji Maekawa, Shigeo Fukuoka
  • Publication number: 20130039537
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a character recognition unit configured to perform character recognition of a character region where characters exist in an image to generate character code, a detection unit configured to detect a region of the image where a feature change in the image is small, and a placement unit configured to place data obtained from the character code in the detected region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2012
    Publication date: February 14, 2013
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Taeko Yamazaki, Yuji Kobayashi, Shigeo Fukuoka
  • Patent number: 8229214
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an attribute information generation unit configured to generate attribute information about each pixel of input image data, a division unit configured to divide the input image data into a plurality of blocks of a predetermined size, a generation unit configured to generate a histogram of a color and a pixel existing in a focused block divided by the division unit, a color replacement unit configured to execute color replacement processing on each area defined by the histogram generated by the generation unit, a gradation presence determination unit configured to determine whether gradation exists, and a block integration unit configured, if it is determined that gradation exists, to integrate a focused area and an adjacent area to generate continuous gradation in the focused area and the adjacent area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shigeo Fukuoka, Taeko Yamazaki
  • Publication number: 20100054587
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an attribute information generation unit configured to generate attribute information about each pixel of input image data, a division unit configured to divide the input image data into a plurality of blocks of a predetermined size, a generation unit configured to generate a histogram of a color and a pixel existing in a focused block divided by the division unit, a color replacement unit configured to execute color replacement processing on each area defined by the histogram generated by the generation unit, a gradation presence determination unit configured to determine whether gradation exists, and a block integration unit configured, if it is determined that gradation exists, to integrate a focused area and an adjacent area to generate continuous gradation in the focused area and the adjacent area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2009
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shigeo Fukuoka, Taeko Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 7664321
    Abstract: This invention provides the following environment. That is, an original document file corresponding to a document to be copied is specified from image data of that document to be copied, and a print process is made based on the specified file so as to prevent deterioration of image quality. Also, when a document to be copied is not registered, a registration process is executed to suppress deterioration of image quality in an early stage. Furthermore, since the document is converted into vector data, re-use of such document is facilitated, and deterioration of image quality can be suppressed even when an image process such as enlargement or the like is made. To this end, when an original digital file cannot be specified, an apparatus of this embodiment executes a vectorization process (S54), converts the obtained vector data into a data format that can be re-used by an application (S55), and registers the converted file in a file server (S56).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shigeo Fukuoka, Hiroshi Tanioka, Akihiro Usami, Ken-Ichi Ohta, Kitahiro Kaneda, Hirohiko Ito, Shinichi Kato, Tomohiro Akiba, Tomotoshi Kanatsu, Reiji Misawa, Yoshihide Terao, Mitsuru Uzawa
  • Publication number: 20100008587
    Abstract: An image processing device is provided by the present invention, which includes a unit configured to acquire a pixel block contacting an enclosing border of a character rectangle extracted from an image, a determination unit configured to determine whether or not the acquired pixel block has a likelihood of noise, a unit configured to generate a noise candidate removed character rectangle by removing from the character rectangle the pixel block as to which it is determined to have the likelihood of noise, and an outputting unit configured to assess validities by performing character recognition for both of the noise candidate removed character rectangle and the character rectangle, and configured to output a recognition result for one of them having greater validity assessed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2009
    Publication date: January 14, 2010
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koji Maekawa, Shigeo Fukuoka
  • Publication number: 20060045386
    Abstract: This invention provides the following environment. That is, an original document file corresponding to a document to be copied is specified from image data of that document to be copied, and a print process is made based on the specified file so as to prevent deterioration of image quality. Also, when a document to be copied is not registered, a registration process is executed to suppress deterioration of image quality in an early stage. Furthermore, since the document is converted into vector data, re-use of such document is facilitated, and deterioration of image quality can be suppressed even when an image process such as enlargement or the like is made. To this end, when an original digital file cannot be specified, an apparatus of this embodiment executes a vectorization process (S54), converts the obtained vector data into a data format that can be re-used by an application (S55), and registers the converted file in a file server (S56).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2004
    Publication date: March 2, 2006
    Inventors: Shigeo Fukuoka, Hiroshi Tanioka, Akihiro Usami, Ken-ichi Ohta, Kitahiro Kaneda, Hirohiko Ito, Shinichi Kato, Tomohiro Akiba, Tomotoshi Kanatsu, Reiji Misawa, Yoshihide Terao, Mitsuru Uzawa
  • Patent number: 6473196
    Abstract: A user designates a two-sided copying mode, a reduced-scale copying mode, a vertical or horizontal binding direction, and the like from a control panel. An original image is magnification-varied at a designated reduction magnification, and the reduced image is stored in a page memory. In the case of an odd page (front surface) in a single-sided or two-sided copying mode, a &ggr; conversion circuit reads out and outputs stored image data in the normal order, thus forming images. On the other hand, in the case of an even page (back page) in the two-sided copying mode, whether the horizontal or vertical binding direction is designated is checked. If the binding direction agrees with the reversing axis direction of a paper sheet upon copying, images are read out in the normal order. When the vertical binding direction is designated, images are read out in an order opposite to the normal order, so that each page is rotated through 180°. Images are copied in the designated layout.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akihiro Usami, Makoto Takaoka, Masahiro Funada, Shigeo Fukuoka, Rieko Akiba, Tomotoshi Kanatsu
  • Patent number: 6360028
    Abstract: Disclosed is an image forming apparatus capable of performing image formation by automatically discriminating and correcting the direction of an original without sorting originals including both portrait and landscape ones. Image data is read, and the direction of the read image is discriminated. In accordance with the discrimination result, a synthesis image to be synthesized suited to the direction of the image is selected. The synthesis image is rotated, where necessary, so that the synthesis image points in the same direction as the read image, and the two images having the same direction are synthesized and output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hajime Kaji, Shigeo Fukuoka
  • Patent number: 6356657
    Abstract: An image block is detected by raster scanning an input image and chasing surrounding black pixels around a detected black pixel as the start point in sequence. Further, by judging the feature of the detected image block, the attribute of the image block can be judged. Also, by comparing the detected image block with a predetermined window, it is possible to determine whether or not the image block is noise, whereby image processing of higher accuracy can be effected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2002
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Makoto Takaoka, Shugoro Ueno, Tetsuomi Tanaka, Shigeo Fukuoka
  • Patent number: 6314213
    Abstract: The direction of the document in the original image read by an image reader unit (101) is discriminated by a document direction discrimination unit (102). Rotation processing and the like are performed for the original image in accordance with the discriminated direction. The resultant image is output onto a recording paper sheet. When a fault diagnosis unit (103) diagnoses the document direction discrimination unit (102) and determines that the unit is faulty, the image processing apparatus recognizes the direction of the document in the original image on the basis of information provided from the operator through an operation unit (109), and executes the above processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2001
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nobuaki Miyahara, Makoto Takaoka, Keizo Isemura, Shigeo Fukuoka
  • Publication number: 20010013938
    Abstract: A user designates a two-sided copying mode, a reduced-scale copying mode, a vertical or horizontal binding direction, and the like from a control panel. An original image is magnification-varied at a designated reduction magnification, and the reduced image is stored in a page memory. In the case of an odd page (front surface) in a single-sided or two-sided copying mode, a &ggr; conversion circuit reads out and outputs stored image data in the normal order, thus forming images. On the other hand, in the case of an even page (back page) in the two-sided copying mode, whether the horizontal or vertical binding direction is designated is checked. If the binding direction agrees with the reversing axis direction of a paper sheet upon copying, images are read out in the normal order. When the vertical binding direction is designated, images are read out in an order opposite to the normal order, so that each page is rotated through 180°. Images are copied in the designated layout.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 1997
    Publication date: August 16, 2001
    Inventors: AKIHIRO USAMI, MAKOTO TAKAOKA, MASAHIRO FUNADA, SHIGEO FUKUOKA, RIEKO AKIBA, TOMOTOSHI KANATSU
  • Patent number: 5960229
    Abstract: The type of a document placed on the platen of an image forming apparatus is designated by the operator, a character area in the document is discriminated based upon an image signal obtained by reading the document, the orientation of the document is sensed based upon the discriminated character area and the type of document designated, and the image signal is processed based upon the sensed orientation of the document so as to obtain correctly oriented text at output of a prescribed image, such as a double-sided print image or layout of images of reduced size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shigeo Fukuoka, Masahiro Funada, Yukari Toda