Patents by Inventor Takashi Sawao

Takashi Sawao 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: 20070120853
    Abstract: An image processing device and method, where the image processing device includes an angle detector configured to detect an angle between a reference axis of data continuity with image data made up of a plurality of pixels acquired by light signals of a real world being cast upon a plurality of detecting elements each having spatio-temporal integration effects, and a real world estimating unit configured to estimate the light signals by estimating a continuity of the real world light signals which have been lost based on the angle detected by the angle detector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2007
    Publication date: May 31, 2007
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsujiro Kondo, Junichi Ishibashi, Takashi Sawao, Takahiro Nagano, Naoki Fujiwara, Toru Miyake, Seiji Wada
  • Publication number: 20070116378
    Abstract: An image processing device, method, and program are capable of obtaining processing results which are even more accurate and even more precise as to events in the real world, taking into consideration the real world where data has been acquired. The image processing device may include a setting unit, a real world estimating unit, a pixel value generator, and a difference computer. In another embodiment, the image processing device may include a data continuity detector including a setting unit, a real world estimating unit, a difference computer, and a detector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2007
    Publication date: May 24, 2007
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tetsujiro Kondo, Naoki Fujiwara, Toru Miyake, Seiji Wada, Junichi Ishibashi, Takashi Sawao, Takahiro Nagano
  • Publication number: 20070116377
    Abstract: An image processing device, method, and a program capable of obtaining processing results which are even more accurate and even more precise as to events in the real world, taking into consideration the real world where data has been acquired. The image processing device may include a computer configured to compute a product-sum coefficient and a recorder configured to record the product-sum operation coefficient. In another embodiment, the image processing device may include a data continuity detector, a recorder, and a difference computer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2007
    Publication date: May 24, 2007
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tetsujiro Kondo, Naoki Fujiwara, Toru Miyake, Seiji Wada, Junichi Ishibashi, Takashi Sawao, Takahiro Nagano
  • Patent number: 7221778
    Abstract: The present invention allows detection of an exposure time of an image that has already been captured. A motion detector 102 detects an amount of inter-frame movement of a foreground object in a designated frame based on the designated frame and a frame preceding or subsequent to the designated frame. A mixture-ratio calculator 104 detects a mixture ratio indicating the ratio of mixture of a foreground component and a background component in a mixed area of the designated frame. In accordance with the mixture ratio, the mixture-ratio calculator 104 detects the amount of movement of the foreground object within an exposure time in which pixel data is obtained. A shutter-time calculator 106 detects a ratio of a time interval between frames to the exposure time based on the amount of inter-frame movement and the amount of movement within the exposure time of the foreground object. The present invention is applicable to an image processing apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsujiro Kondo, Naoki Fujiwara, Junichi Ishibashi, Takashi Sawao, Takahiro Nagano, Toru Miyake, Seiji Wada
  • Patent number: 7218791
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus for generating an image having a high density in the direction of time and having a natural-looking motion blur. The correlation calculators 103 and 104 respectively calculate a correlation between pixel data of a target pixel in a target frame #n from among frames and pixel data of a corresponding pixel in a first frame #n?1 next to the target frame #n and a correlation between the pixel data of the target pixel in the target frame #n and pixel data of a corresponding pixel in a second frame #n+1 next to the target frame #n. The half-side pixel value generator 105 generates first pixel data in a first synthesis frame generated between the target frame #n and one of the first frame #n?1 and the second frame #n+1 containing the corresponding pixel having the pixel data with a larger correlation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsujiro Kondo, Takahiro Nagano, Junichi Ishbashi, Takashi Sawao, Naoki Fujiwara, Seiji Wada, Toru Miyake
  • Patent number: 7206018
    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 17, 2007
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsujiro Kondo, Junichi Ishibashi, Takashi Sawao, Seiji Wada, Tohru Miyake, Takahiro Nagano, Naoki Fujiwara
  • Publication number: 20070076104
    Abstract: An image signal generated by a CCD image sensor is processed by the block-generating section 28 provided in an image-signal processing section 25. A class tap and a prediction tap are thereby extracted. The class tap is output to an ADRC process section 29, and the prediction tap is output to an adaptation process section 31. The ADRC process section 29 performs an ADRC process on the input image signal, generating characteristic data. A classification process section 30 generates a class code corresponding to the characteristic data thus generated and supplies the same to an adaptation process section 31. The adaptation process section 31 reads, from a coefficient memory 32, the set of prediction coefficients which corresponds to the class code. The set of prediction coefficients and the prediction tap are applied, thereby generating all color signals, i.e., R, G and B signals, at the positions of the pixels which are to be processed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2006
    Publication date: April 5, 2007
    Inventors: Tetsujiro Kondo, Hideo Nakaya, Takashi Sawao
  • Patent number: 7181080
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to make it possible to specify a background image area, a moving object image area, and an image area in which the mixture of the background image area and the moving object image area occurs. A mixture-ratio calculator 103 extracts pixel data of a peripheral frame corresponding to a designated pixel of a designated frame of the image data as background pixel data corresponding to a background object, and also extracts designated pixel data of the designated pixel contained in the designated frame so as to generate a plurality of relational expressions indicating the relationship between the designated pixel data and the background pixel data. The mixture-ratio calculator 103 detects the mixture ratio indicating the mixture state of the objects based on the relational expressions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsujiro Kondo, Takahiro Nagano, Junichi Ishibashi, Takashi Sawao, Naoki Fujiwara, Seiji Wada, Toru Miyake
  • Patent number: 7154541
    Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, a mixture ratio indicating the state of mixture of a plurality of objects such as a background image and the image of an object is detected. A pixel value setter 502 extracts background pixel data while also extracting the date of a target pixel and a pixel in the vicinity of the target pixel. The pixel value setter 502 generates a plurality of relational equations indicating data of the target pixel and the pixel in the vicinity of the target pixel and the background pixel data. An arithmetic unit 503 calculates a mixture ratio indicating a mixed state of the plurality of objects in the real world with respect to the target pixel based on the relational equations. The present invention is applicable to an image processing apparatus that accounts for a difference between a signal detected by a sensor and the real world.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsujiro Kondo, Naoki Fujiwara, Junichi Ishibashi, Takashi Sawao, Takahiro Nagano, Toru Miyake, Seiji Wada
  • Patent number: 7139019
    Abstract: The present invention enables a movement vector of a moving object to the detected, by detecting a mixture ratio indicating the proportion of mixing with an image, or taking into consideration a region mixed with the image. A weighted frame difference computation unit 3423 outputs weighted difference. A movement compensation unit 3424 and a correlation value computing unit 3427 compute the correlation between a block of interest containing each pixel of interest of weighted difference image data, and a corresponding block of weighted difference image data of an adjacent frame. A maximum value judgment unit 3428 detects at least one of weight and a movement vector wherein correlation between weighted difference image data is greatest. The present invention can be applied to signals processing device s for processing images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2006
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsujiro Kondo, Junichi Ishibashi, Takashi Sawao, Takahiro Nagano, Naoki Fujiwara, Toru Miyake, Seiji Wada
  • Patent number: 7130464
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus in which a mixture ratio indicating the mixture state of a plurality of objects can be detected. A normal-equation adder 441 extracts mixed pixel data, and also extracts background pixel data corresponding to the mixed pixel data so as to generate relational expressions for the mixed pixel data and the background pixel data. A normal-equation calculator 442 detects a single mixture ratio in accordance with a predetermined number of consecutive frames based on the relational expressions. The present invention is applicable to an image processing apparatus in which a difference between a signal detected by a sensor and the real world is taken into consideration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsujiro Kondo, Naoki Fujiwara, Junichi Ishibashi, Takashi Sawao, Takahiro Nagano, Toru Miyake, Seiji Wada
  • Publication number: 20060233460
    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: February 13, 2004
    Publication date: October 19, 2006
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tetsujiro Kondo, Takashi Sawao, Junichi Ishibashi, Takahiro Nagano, Naoki Fujiwara, Toru Miyake, Seiji Wada
  • Publication number: 20060227219
    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: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2006
    Publication date: October 12, 2006
    Inventors: Tetsujiro Kondo, Junichi Ishibashi, Takashi Sawao, Seiji Wada, Tohru Miyake, Takahiro Nagano, Naoki Fujiwara
  • Publication number: 20060227218
    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: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2006
    Publication date: October 12, 2006
    Inventors: Tetsujiro Kondo, Junichi Ishibashi, Takashi Sawao, Seiji Wada, Tohru Miyake, Takahiro Nagano, Naoki Fujiwara
  • Publication number: 20060227220
    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: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2006
    Publication date: October 12, 2006
    Inventors: Tetsujiro Kondo, Junichi Ishibashi, Takashi Sawao, Seiji Wada, Tohru Miyake, Takahiro Nagano, Naoki Fujiwara
  • Publication number: 20060221211
    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: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2006
    Publication date: October 5, 2006
    Inventors: Tetsujiro Kondo, Junichi Ishibashi, Takashi Sawao, Seiji Wada, Tohru Miyake, Takahiro Nagano, Naoki Fujiwara
  • Publication number: 20060159368
    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. A non-continuity component extracting unit 201 detects discontinuity portions of pixel values of multiple pixels in an input image. A peak detecting unit 202 detects a peak of change of pixel values from a discontinuity portion. A monotonous increase/decrease detecting unit 203 detects monotonous increase/decrease regions wherein pixel values increase or decrease monotonously from the peak. A continuousness detecting unit 204 detects a monotonous increase/decrease region where another monotonous increase/decrease region of the monotonous increase/decrease regions exists at an adjacent position on the screen, as a continuity region having data continuity. A data continuity direction detecting unit 301 detects the direction of continuousness of the continuity region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2004
    Publication date: July 20, 2006
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tetsujiro Kondo, Takashi Sawao, Junichi Ishibashi, Takahiro Nagano, Naoki Fujiwara, Toru Miyake, Seiji Wada
  • Publication number: 20060147128
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an image processing device and method, and a program, capable of obtaining processing results which are even more accurate and even more precise as to events in the real world, taking into consideration the real world where data has been acquired. In the event that the light signal in the actual world 1 represented with the light signal function F has predetermined continuity, the actual world estimating unit 102 estimates the light signal function F by approximating the light signal function F with a predetermined approximation function f using weighting provided in accordance with importance to the pixels within an input image (image data including continuity of data corresponding to continuity) from the sensor 2, and data continuity information (data continuity information corresponding to continuity of the input image data) from the data continuity detecting unit 101. The present invention can be applied to an image processing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2004
    Publication date: July 6, 2006
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tetsujiro Kondo, Naoki Fujiwara, Toru Miyake, Seiji Wada, Junichi Ishibashi, Takashi Sawao, Takahiro Nagano
  • Publication number: 20060146198
    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: February 13, 2004
    Publication date: July 6, 2006
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsujiro Kondo, Takashi Sawao, Junichi Ishibashi, Takahiro Nagano, Naoki Fujiwara, Toru Miyake, Seiji Wada
  • Publication number: 20060140497
    Abstract: The present invention relates an image processing device and method, recording medium, and program. A simple-type angle detecting unit 901 simply detects the angle as continuity using correlation from an input image. A determining unit 902, based on the angle thus simply obtained, connects a switch 903 to a terminal 903a in the event the angle is closer to the horizontal direction or the vertical direction, and outputs the angle information simply detected to a regression-type angle detecting unit 904. The regression-type angle detecting unit 904 statistically detects and outputs the angle as continuity in a regression equation. On the other hand, in the event that the angle as continuity simply obtained is closer to 45 degrees, the determining unit 902 connects the switch 903 and a terminal 903b. At this time, a gradient-type angle detecting unit 905 detects and outputs the direction of continuity from the input image in a gradient equation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2004
    Publication date: June 29, 2006
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsujiro Kondo, Takahiro Nagano, Junichi Ishibashi, Takashi Sawao, Naoki Fujiwara, Seiji Wada, Toru Miyake