Patents by Inventor Tetsujiro Kondo

Tetsujiro Kondo 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: 8126179
    Abstract: A diaphragm for outputting sound by vibrating has a hole of a predetermined shape that allows another member to extend therethrough. A sound output apparatus includes a first member, the diaphragm, and a second member. The first member extends through the hole of the diaphragm, and the first member is screwed into the second member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsujiro Kondo, Junichi Shima, Akihiko Arimitsu, Takuro Ema
  • Patent number: 8121429
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an input unit configured to input a characteristic parameter indicating the characteristics of a filter process; a detection unit configured to detect, on the basis of the characteristic parameter input by the input unit, a phase shift amount between the image-captured signal and an obtained signal; a first forming unit configured to form a first prediction tap composed of a plurality of obtained pixels used to predict a target image-captured pixel value; a coefficient obtaining unit configured to obtain a first prediction coefficient generated in accordance with the characteristic parameter and the phase shift amount in order to predict the target image-captured pixel value by product-sum computation with the value of the first prediction tap; and a first computation unit configured to generate a first output signal corresponding to the image-captured signal by performing product-sum computation between the first prediction coefficient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsujiro Kondo, Sakon Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 8117345
    Abstract: A signal processing device is a predetermined signal processing device among signal processing devices which perform signal processing on an input signal that is input to any one of the signal processing devices in such a manner that the signal processing devices share signal processing. The signal processing device includes a signal processing section that performs signal processing on a first-bandwidth signal, which is included in the input signal, in accordance with a processing capability of the signal processing device to generate a first output signal; and a signal integration section that integrates a second output signal with the first output signal, and that outputs the integrated signal to a second different signal processing device, the second output signal being generated in a first different signal processing device by performing signal processing on a second-bandwidth signal, which is included in the input signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Masaaki Hattori, Tetsujiro Kondo
  • Patent number: 8116593
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes display means for displaying a zoom image resulting from enlargement of a certain area in an original image to a zoom area; important object determining means for determining whether the absolute value of the difference in pixel value between a pixel on a boundary line, which is the outermost circumference of the zoom area, and the pixel that adjoins the pixel on the boundary line in the direction perpendicular to the boundary line and outward from the zoom area is lower than or equal to a predetermined threshold value to determine whether any important object is across the boundary line; and resetting means for resetting a zoom parameter used for determining the zoom area if the important object determining means determines that any important object is across the boundary line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsujiro Kondo, Yoshinori Watanabe
  • Patent number: 8111325
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an interlace-progressive converter converting an interlace input image into a progressive intermediate image, a motion-vector detector detecting motion vectors of the input image by using a distance shorter than the pixel interval of the intermediate image, a cyclic-coefficient setting unit setting, on the basis of a vertical motion, a first cyclic coefficient for a first type of pixel and a second cyclic coefficient for a second type of pixel, a motion compensator motion-compensating, on the basis of the motion vectors, a past progressive output image to generate a motion-compensated image, and an output image generator generating a progressive output image by adding pixel values of the first type of pixels and the second type of pixels of the progressive intermediate image and the motion-compensated image by using the first cyclic coefficient and the second cyclic coefficient as weights.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsujiro Kondo, Takeshi Miyai, Masashi Uchida, Takuo Morimura, Shizuo Chikaoka, Daisuke Kikuchi, Takeshi Kunihiro, Hideki Mori
  • Patent number: 8106957
    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: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsujiro Kondo, Hideo Nakaya, Takashi Sawao
  • Patent number: 8102333
    Abstract: A display device securing mechanism to which a plurality of display devices that are linearly disposed are mountable includes a plurality of housings to which the plurality of display devices are mounted, first rotating members which rotate the corresponding housings around a rotational axis extending vertically with respect to the display devices, and a second rotating member which rotates all of the housings together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsujiro Kondo, Keiichi Totsuka, Haruo Oba, Junichiro Sakata, Yasushi Tatehira, Naohide Yamada, Kazutaka Uchida, Yoshinori Watanabe
  • Patent number: 8103114
    Abstract: A motion-vector detector determines the centroid of pixels on a reference frame that is identified with position information set in a database and associated with a feature address corresponding to a feature of a target pixel. The motion-vector detector detects, as a motion vector of the target pixel, a vector that has a starting point at a pixel on the reference frame which corresponds to the target pixel on a current frame and has an end point at the determined centroid. The present invention can be applied to an apparatus for generating a motion vector and allows prompt detection of a motion vector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsujiro Kondo, Yasushi Tatehira, Junichi Ishibashi, Seiji Wada, Yasuhiro Suto
  • Patent number: 8102395
    Abstract: A system and method displays a realistic image that allows a user to readily grasp his/her own positional relationship and also to experience a sense of presence. An outer dome screen is disposed so as to surround a user, and an immersion image such as the scenery of the surroundings of an object is displayed thereon. An inner dome screen is disposed inside the outer dome screen, and it displays a bird's-eye image of the object as perceived by the vision of the user when the object is viewed from a viewpoint of the user. In this case, the user is allowed to readily grasp his/her own positional relationship by the bird's-eye image and is allowed to experience a sense of presence by the immersion image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsujiro Kondo, Yuji Okumura, Tsugihiko Haga, Tetsuya Murakami, Kenji Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8098944
    Abstract: A motion-vector detector determines the centroid of pixels on a reference frame that is identified with position information set in a database and associated with a feature address corresponding to a feature of a target pixel. The motion-vector detector detects, as a motion vector of the target pixel, a vector that has a starting point at a pixel on the reference frame which corresponds to the target pixel on a current frame and has an end point at the determined centroid. The present invention can be applied to an apparatus for generating a motion vector and allows prompt detection of a motion vector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsujiro Kondo, Yasushi Tatehira, Junichi Ishibashi, Seiji Wada, Yasuhiro Suto
  • Patent number: 8086587
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus searches search target frame images in video data to find a frame image matching a search query frame image. An extractor extracts characteristic quantities expressing the characteristics of respective images. A reliability judge judges the reliability of the values of each characteristic quantity in a characteristic quantity group extracted from the search query frame. If certain characteristic quantity values in the search query frame are judged to be of low reliability, the converter converts those values into predetermined values. Values are similarly converted for all search target frames. A comparer compares the converted characteristic quantities in the search query frame to the converted characteristic quantities in all search target frames. On the basis of the comparisons, a decision unit then chooses a search solution frame that matches the search query frame. In so doing, search processing robustness with respect to data variance is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Michimasa Obana, Tetsujiro Kondo
  • Patent number: 8082216
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes: strength estimation means for calculating an operation frequency for each predetermined time period from an operation history, and estimating a time period of the operation frequency which exceeds a predetermined value as a time period over which the user has a strong desire to adjust; detecting means for calculating, from the operation history, an operation frequency for each function of the electronic apparatus of the operation history in a time period corresponding to the time period of the strong desire to adjust estimated by the strength estimation means, and detecting a feature of the adjustment operation made by the user for the function of the electronic apparatus, the feature corresponding to the operation frequency for each function of the electronic apparatus; and determination means for determining a function, desired by the user to adjust, of the electronic apparatus, the function corresponding to the feature detected by the detecting means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Michimasa Obana, Tetsujiro Kondo
  • Patent number: 8077214
    Abstract: A signal processing apparatus includes: an input unit receiving a first image generated by a first camera and higher-resolution second images generated by a plurality of second cameras; a similar portion detecting unit detecting a similar portion between part of a subject included in the first image and a subject included in each of the second images; an image synthesizing unit pasting the second images at positions corresponding to the detected similar portions within the first image to generate a synthesized image; an imaging area detecting unit detecting an area, for which image information is insufficient in the first image and is difficult to complement by the second cameras, as a non-imageable area from the synthesized image; and a camera parameter calculation unit changing a camera parameter for controlling the second camera that captures the second image by which the image information insufficient in the first image is complemented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsujiro Kondo, Tetsushi Kokubo, Kenji Tanaka, Hitoshi Mukai, Kazumasa Tanaka, Hiroyuki Morisaki, Hirofumi Hibi
  • Patent number: 8077978
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus may include a feature quantity extraction unit configured to extract a feature quantity from an image, a setting unit configured to set setting information including a plurality of setting items used to perform processing upon the image so that a designated setting item can be changed among the setting items; and a recording unit configured to associate the setting information with a feature quantity of the image and record them.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Masanori Machimura, Tetsujiro Kondo, Kazutaka Ando, Yasunobu Node, Michimasa Obana, Kei Hiraizumi, Masato Akao
  • Patent number: 8073274
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus may include a feature value extraction unit adapted to extract a feature value from an image, a setting unit adapted to set setting-information defining a process to be performed on the image, an editing unit adapted to edit the setting-information set by the setting unit, and recording unit adapted to record the setting-information edited by the editing unit, in association with the feature value of the image, on a data recording medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Kei Hiraizumi, Tetsujiro Kondo, Kazutaka Ando, Yasunobu Node, Michimasa Obana, Masanori Machimura, Masato Akao
  • Patent number: 8073145
    Abstract: In a sound-source signal separating method, a target sound-source signal in an input audio signal is enhanced, the input audio signal being from a mixture of acoustic signals from a plurality of sound sources picked up by a plurality of sound pickup devices. The pitch of the target sound-source signal in the input audio signal is detected, and the target sound-source signal is separated from the input audio signal based on the detected pitch and the enhanced sound-source signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsujiro Kondo, Akihiko Arimitsu, Hiroshi Ichiki, Junichi Shima
  • Patent number: 8072491
    Abstract: An information processing system includes a sensor that obtains sensor data. The system also includes a feature extracting mechanism that extracts a feature of an object based on the sensor data obtained by the sensor. Further, the system includes an event determining mechanism that obtains the feature extracted by the feature extracting mechanism so as to determine whether an event has occurred based on determination parameters. In addition, the system includes a display-data generating mechanism that generates, when an occurrence of the event is determined by the event determining mechanism, display data including event data for reporting the occurrence of the event. A display displays an indication based on the event data. An input reception mechanism receives an input based on the indication displayed by the display. A controller turns off a power source of the sensor based on the input received by the input reception mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsujiro Kondo, Naoki Kobayashi, Yasuhiro Fujimori, Yasuaki Takahashi, Koji Ohta, Naoki Takeda
  • Patent number: 8073058
    Abstract: This invention relates to a memory device and the like that are preferably applied to a case where motion vector is detected using a block matching. Pixel data of a first frame (a reference frame) is stored in a unit A of memory cell array portion 20a in straight binary format. Pixel data of a second frame (a search frame) is stored in a unit B of memory cell array portion 20b in two's complement format. The units A and B have a plurality of memory cells, respectively. Word lines WL related to the pixel data of the first and second frames are simultaneously activated so that charges accumulated in capacitors of each of the memory cells can be combined along one bit line BL. A/D converter 53 outputs a digital signal (absolute difference value) having a value that corresponds to a total amount of charges. When reading the pixel data, a subtraction and a conversion into the absolute difference value are simultaneously performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsujiro Kondo, Wataru Niitsuma, Naoki Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 8068672
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a feature value extractor configured to extract a feature value from an image; a setting unit configured to set setting information for applying a process to the image; and a recorder configured to record the setting information in association with the feature value of the image in a data recording medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yasunobu Node, Tetsujiro Kondo, Kazutaka Ando, Kel Hiraizumi, Michimasa Obana, Masanori Machimura, Masato Akao
  • Patent number: 8063830
    Abstract: A planar antenna device is mounted on a board including a dielectric layer and two conductor layers vertically sandwiching the dielectric layer. The upper conductor layer includes a first radiating element having an end portion connected through a via hole to a ground formed by the lower conductor layer, a second radiating element having an open end portion, first and second ground conductors connected to respective base portions of the first and second radiating elements via resistors, and a feeder line configured to feed power to the first and second radiating elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiro Yoshioka, Masato Kikuchi, Shunsuke Mochizuki, Ryosuke Araki, Masaki Handa, Takashi Nakanishi, Hiroto Kimura, Seiji Wada, Hiroshi Ichiki, Tetsujiro Kondo