Patents by Inventor Teppei Kurita
Teppei Kurita 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).
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Patent number: 11930160Abstract: A polarization imaging unit 20 acquires a polarized image including polarization pixels with a plurality of polarization directions. An information compression unit 40 sets reference image information based on polarized image information of reference polarization pixels with at least a plurality of polarization directions in the polarized image and generates difference information between the polarized image information of each of polarization pixels different from the reference polarization pixels in the polarized image and the reference image information. In addition, the information compression unit 40 reduces the amount of information of the difference information generated for each of the polarization pixels with the plurality of polarization directions to generate compressed image information including the reference image information and the difference information with the reduced amount of information.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2019Date of Patent: March 12, 2024Assignee: SONY CORPORATIONInventors: Yuhi Kondo, Yasutaka Hirasawa, Takefumi Nagumo, Toshinori Ihara, Teppei Kurita, Legong Sun
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Patent number: 11847762Abstract: A polarization imaging unit generates, as polarization information, a polarization image including pixels in a plurality of polarization directions. An interpolation processing unit of an information processor performs interpolation processing using the polarization image obtained from the polarization imaging unit, and generates a polarization image for each polarization method. A polarization degree calculation unit calculates, for example, a polarization degree for each pixel as object surface information on the basis of the polarization image for each polarization method. A noise amount calculation unit calculates a noise amount for each pixel on the basis of the polarization image for each polarization method and the like.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2019Date of Patent: December 19, 2023Assignee: SONY CORPORATIONInventors: Teppei Kurita, Shun Kaizu, Yasutaka Hirasawa, Yuhi Kondo
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Publication number: 20230342963Abstract: An imaging device (1) according to the present disclosure includes an imaging unit (2), a signal separating unit (5), a normal line calculating unit (6), and a distance estimation unit (7). The imaging unit (2) includes a plurality of polarization lights (21 to 24) having different polarization directions of light emitted to a subject and a polarization sensor (11) and captures an image of the subject that is simultaneously irradiated with the light from the plurality of polarization lights (21 to 24). The signal separating unit (5) separates pixel signals corresponding to each of the polarization directions from the image captured by the imaging unit (2) and generates an image for every polarization direction. The normal line calculating unit (6) calculates a normal line on a surface of the subject from the image for each of the polarization directions by photometric stereo.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 4, 2020Publication date: October 26, 2023Inventors: SHINICHIRO GOMI, TEPPEI KURITA
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Patent number: 11663831Abstract: A polarized image acquisition section 11a acquires a polarized image of a target object having one or more polarization directions. A polarization parameter acquisition section 12-1 calculates the average brightness ? of a polarization model on the basis of a non-polarized image subjected to sensitivity correction. Further, the polarization parameter acquisition section 12-1 calculates the amplitude ? of the polarization model on the basis of the calculated average brightness ?, pre-stored information regarding the zenith angle ? of the normal line of the target object, a refractive index r, and reflectance property information indicative of whether a subject is diffuse reflection or specular reflection.Type: GrantFiled: October 12, 2018Date of Patent: May 30, 2023Assignee: SONY CORPORATIONInventors: Hajime Mihara, Shun Kaizu, Teppei Kurita, Yuhi Kondo, Yasutaka Hirasawa
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Patent number: 11605661Abstract: An unpolarized component image generating section generates unpolarized component image signals of specific and non-specific colors. A polarized component image generating section generates polarized component image signals of the specific and non-specific colors. A specific color polarization property detecting section detects polarization properties of the specific color using pixel signals of polarized or unpolarized pixels of the specific color having at least three polarization directions and pixel signals of polarized pixels having two polarization directions.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2018Date of Patent: March 14, 2023Assignee: SONY CORPORATIONInventors: Teppei Kurita, Ying Lu, Yuhi Kondo, Yasutaka Hirasawa
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Publication number: 20230044097Abstract: An information processing device (200A, 200B, and 200C) according to the present disclosure includes a control unit (220, 220B, and 220C). The control unit (220, 220B, and 220C) acquires a captured image of a target imaged by a sensor. The captured image is an image obtained from reflected light of light emitted to the target from a plurality of light sources arranged at different positions, respectively. The control unit (220, 220B, and 220C) extracts a flat region from the captured image based on a luminance value of the captured image. The control unit (220, 220B, and 220C) calculates shape information regarding a shape of a surface of the target based on information regarding the sensor and the flat region of the captured image.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 9, 2020Publication date: February 9, 2023Inventors: TEPPEI KURITA, SHINICHIRO GOMI
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Publication number: 20220172387Abstract: An image processing apparatus according to the present discloser is an image processing apparatus having a cylindrical portion placed between a sensor configured to capture an image of a target and the target, the image processing apparatus including an acquisition section configured to acquire a first image obtained from reflected light of light irradiating the target from a point light source and a second image obtained from reflected light of light irradiating the target from a light source other than the point light source, and a calculation section configured to calculate shape information that is information regarding a surface shape of the target on the basis of a length of the cylindrical portion, the first image, and the second image.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 18, 2020Publication date: June 2, 2022Inventors: TEPPEI KURITA, SHINICHIRO GOMI
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Patent number: 11336849Abstract: A polarization imaging section 20 includes polarized pixels in each of a plurality of polarization directions. The polarization imaging section 20 includes a polarizer. The polarization imaging section 20 outputs image signals of a polarized image to a defect detecting section 35 of an image processing section 30. In a case where a difference between a pixel value of a target polarized pixel generated by the polarization imaging section and a pixel value of the target polarized pixel estimated from polarization characteristics corresponding to pixel values of peripheral pixels in a polarization direction different from a polarization direction of the target polarized pixel is greater than a predetermined allowable range, the defect detecting section 35 determines that the target polarized pixel is a defective pixel. Therefore, it is possible to detect a defect of a pixel in the polarization imaging section that generates the polarized image.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 2017Date of Patent: May 17, 2022Assignee: SONY CORPORATIONInventors: Teppei Kurita, Shun Kaizu, Yuhi Kondo, Yasutaka Hirasawa
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Publication number: 20210281786Abstract: A polarization imaging section 20 includes polarized pixels in each of a plurality of polarization directions. The polarization imaging section 20 includes a polarizer. The polarization imaging section 20 outputs image signals of a polarized image to a defect detecting section 35 of an image processing section 30. In a case where a difference between a pixel value of a target polarized pixel generated by the polarization imaging section and a pixel value of the target polarized pixel estimated from polarization characteristics corresponding to pixel values of peripheral pixels in a polarization direction different from a polarization direction of the target polarized pixel is greater than a predetermined allowable range, the defect detecting section 35 determines that the target polarized pixel is a defective pixel. Therefore, it is possible to detect a defect of a pixel in the polarization imaging section that generates the polarized image.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 13, 2017Publication date: September 9, 2021Inventors: TEPPEI KURITA, SHUN KAIZU, YUHI KONDO, YASUTAKA HIRASAWA
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Patent number: 11108951Abstract: In an image capturing unit 20, an imaging element has a 4×4-pixel area in which: pixels including at least one pixel of every color component of a plurality of color components are polarization pixels of the same polarization direction; and pixels which are not the polarization pixels constitute a majority of the 4×4-pixel area, and are non-polarization pixels. The unpolarized component calculating unit 31 of the image processing unit 30 calculates unpolarized components for each pixel and for each color component by using pixel signals of polarization pixels, and pixel signals of non-polarization pixels that are generated at the image capturing unit 20. The diffuse reflection component calculating unit 32 calculates diffuse reflection components for each pixel and for each color component by using pixel signals of polarization pixels, and pixel signals of non-polarization pixels that are generated at the image capturing unit 20.Type: GrantFiled: April 9, 2018Date of Patent: August 31, 2021Assignee: SONY CORPORATIONInventors: Teppei Kurita, Shun Kaizu, Yasutaka Hirasawa
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Publication number: 20210243437Abstract: A polarization imaging unit 20 acquires a polarized image including polarization pixels with a plurality of polarization directions. An information compression unit 40 sets reference image information based on polarized image information of reference polarization pixels with at least a plurality of polarization directions in the polarized image and generates difference information between the polarized image information of each of polarization pixels different from the reference polarization pixels in the polarized image and the reference image information. In addition, the information compression unit 40 reduces the amount of information of the difference information generated for each of the polarization pixels with the plurality of polarization directions to generate compressed image information including the reference image information and the difference information with the reduced amount of information.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 6, 2019Publication date: August 5, 2021Applicant: SONY CORPORATIONInventors: Yuhi KONDO, Yasutaka HIRASAWA, Takefumi NAGUMO, Toshinori IHARA, Teppei KURITA, Legong SUN
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Patent number: 11076094Abstract: In an image capturing unit 20, an imaging element has a 4×4-pixel area in which: pixels including at least one pixel of every color component of a plurality of color components are polarization pixels of the same polarization direction; and pixels which are not the polarization pixels constitute a majority of the 4×4-pixel area, and are non-polarization pixels. The unpolarized component calculating unit 31 of the image processing unit 30 calculates unpolarized components for each pixel and for each color component by using pixel signals of polarization pixels, and pixel signals of non-polarization pixels that are generated at the image capturing unit 20. The diffuse reflection component calculating unit 32 calculates diffuse reflection components for each pixel and for each color component by using pixel signals of polarization pixels, and pixel signals of non-polarization pixels that are generated at the image capturing unit 20.Type: GrantFiled: April 9, 2018Date of Patent: July 27, 2021Assignee: SONY CORPORATIONInventors: Teppei Kurita, Shun Kaizu, Yasutaka Hirasawa
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Publication number: 20210217191Abstract: A local match processing section 361 of a parallax detecting section 36 generates a cost volume indicating a cost indicating, for each pixel and each parallax, the similarity between images acquired by imaging sections 21 and 22 that are different in viewpoint positions. A cost volume processing section 363 performs cost adjustment processing on a cost volume on the basis of a polarization image acquired by the imaging section 21, by using normal line information generated for each pixel by a normal line information generating section 31. A minimum value search processing section 365 detects, from the cost volume having undergone the cost adjustment processing, a parallax at which the similarity becomes maximum, by using the parallax-based costs of a parallax detection target pixel. A depth calculating section 37 generates depth information indicating depths of respective pixels on the basis of parallaxes detected, for the respective pixels, by the parallax detecting section 36.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 12, 2018Publication date: July 15, 2021Inventors: SHUN KAIZU, YASUTAKA HIRASAWA, TEPPEI KURITA
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Publication number: 20210211619Abstract: An information generation unit 30 acquires, from a polarization imaging unit 20, observation values in which polarization directions are at least three or more directions (m?3). A noise amount calculation unit 35-1 calculates an amount of noise on the basis of an observation value in a first polarization direction. Similarly, noise amount calculation units 35-2 to 35-m calculate amounts of noise on the basis of observation values in second to m-th polarization directions. A polarization model estimation unit 36 estimates a polarization model by using the observation values for the respective polarization directions and the amounts of noise calculated by the noise amount calculation units 35-1 to 35-m. Thus, it is possible to calculate a polarization model that is robust against noise.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 13, 2019Publication date: July 8, 2021Applicant: SONY CORPORATIONInventors: Hajime MIHARA, Shun KAIZU, Teppei KURITA, Yasutaka HIRASAWA
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Publication number: 20210201450Abstract: A polarization imaging unit 20 generates, as polarization information, a polarization image including pixels in a plurality of polarization directions. An interpolation processing unit 31 of an information processor 30 performs interpolation processing using the polarization image obtained from the polarization imaging unit 20, and generates a polarization image for each polarization method. A polarization degree calculation unit 32 calculates, for example, a polarization degree for each pixel as object surface information on the basis of the polarization image for each polarization method. A noise amount calculation unit 33 calculates a noise amount for each pixel on the basis of the polarization image for each polarization method and the like.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 31, 2019Publication date: July 1, 2021Inventors: TEPPEI KURITA, SHUN KAIZU, YASUTAKA HIRASAWA, YUHI KONDO
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Publication number: 20210174127Abstract: A polarized image acquisition section 11a acquires a polarized image of a target object having one or more polarization directions. A polarization parameter acquisition section 12-1 calculates the average brightness ? of a polarization model on the basis of a non-polarized image subjected to sensitivity correction. Further, the polarization parameter acquisition section 12-1 calculates the amplitude ? of the polarization model on the basis of the calculated average brightness ?, pre-stored information regarding the zenith angle ? of the normal line of the target object, a refractive index r, and reflectance property information indicative of whether a subject is diffuse reflection or specular reflection.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 12, 2018Publication date: June 10, 2021Inventors: HAJIME MIHARA, SHUN KAIZU, TEPPEI KURITA, YUHI KONDO, YASUTAKA HIRASAWA
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Publication number: 20210152749Abstract: The polarization imaging unit 20 acquires a polarization image of a subject, and outputs the polarization image to the image processing unit 30. An interpolation processing unit 31 of the image processing apparatus 30 performs interpolation processing by using the polarization image acquired by the polarization imaging unit 20 to generate an image signal for each polarization component and each color component. A component image generation unit 32 calculates a specular reflection component and a diffuse reflection component for each pixel and for each color component, and generates, as component images, a specular reflection image representing the specular reflection components and a diffuse reflection image representing the diffuse reflection components. A target image generation unit 33 sets gain for each pixel of the component images by using a learned model on the basis of the component images.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 31, 2019Publication date: May 20, 2021Inventors: TEPPEI KURITA, SHUN KAIZU
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Patent number: 10904503Abstract: A correction information generation section 50 emits measurement light having uniform intensity onto a polarized image acquisition section 20 acquiring a polarized image. Further, on the basis of a measured polarized image acquired from the polarized image acquisition section 20, the correction information generation section 50 generates variation correction information for correcting sensitivity variations caused in the measured polarized image due to difference in polarization direction, and causes a correction information storage section 30 to store the generated variation correction information. A correction processing section 40 then corrects the sensitivity variations caused in the polarized image acquired by the polarized image acquisition section 20 due to the difference in polarization direction by using the pre-generated variation correction information stored in the correction information storage section 30.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2019Date of Patent: January 26, 2021Assignee: SONY CORPORATIONInventors: Yuhi Kondo, Shun Kaizu, Teppei Kurita, Tuo Zhuang, Yasutaka Hirasawa, Ying Lu
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Patent number: 10848727Abstract: A correction information generation section 50 emits measurement light having uniform intensity onto a polarized image acquisition section 20 acquiring a polarized image. Further, on the basis of a measured polarized image acquired from the polarized image acquisition section 20, the correction information generation section 50 generates variation correction information for correcting sensitivity variations caused in the measured polarized image due to difference in polarization direction, and causes a correction information storage section 30 to store the generated variation correction information. A correction processing section 40 then corrects the sensitivity variations caused in the polarized image acquired by the polarized image acquisition section 20 due to the difference in polarization direction by using the pre-generated variation correction information stored in the correction information storage section 30.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 2017Date of Patent: November 24, 2020Assignee: SONY CORPORATIONInventors: Yuhi Kondo, Shun Kaizu, Teppei Kurita, Tuo Zhuang, Yasutaka Hirasawa, Ying Lu
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Publication number: 20200350353Abstract: An unpolarized component image generating section 32-1 generates unpolarized component image signals of specific and non-specific colors. A polarized component image generating section 33-1 generates polarized component image signals of the specific and non-specific colors. A specific color polarization property detecting section 34-1 detects polarization properties of the specific color using pixel signals of polarized or unpolarized pixels of the specific color having at least three polarization directions and pixel signals of polarized pixels having two polarization directions.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 18, 2018Publication date: November 5, 2020Inventors: TEPPEI KURITA, YING LU, YUHI KONDO, YASUTAKA HIRASAWA