Patents by Inventor Tokuichiro Yamada

Tokuichiro Yamada 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: 11089203
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus uses an image pickup device. A manual focus adjusting unit is configured to control a focus lens in response to a user's input operation. An edge detecting unit is configured to detect edge components from an image signal obtained by the image pickup device and to output detection levels of the detected edge components. A color signal replacement unit is configured to replace a signal of a pixel corresponding to the detection level with a predetermined color signal when the detection level satisfies a predetermined condition. A display unit is configured to display an image based on an output image signal from the color signal replacement unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Inventors: Tokuichiro Yamada, Tsutomu Kume
  • Publication number: 20190028649
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus uses an image pickup device. A manual focus adjusting unit is configured to control a focus lens in response to a user's input operation. An edge detecting unit is configured to detect edge components from an image signal obtained by the image pickup device and to output detection levels of the detected edge components. A color signal replacement unit is configured to replace a signal of a pixel corresponding to the detection level with a predetermined color signal when the detection level satisfies a predetermined condition. A display unit is configured to display an image based on an output image signal from the color signal replacement unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2018
    Publication date: January 24, 2019
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tokuichiro Yamada, Tsutomu Kume
  • Patent number: 10116869
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus uses an image pickup device. A manual focus adjusting unit is configured to control a focus lens in response to a user's input operation. An edge detecting unit is configured to detect edge components from an image signal obtained by the image pickup device and to output detection levels of the detected edge components. A color signal replacement unit is configured to replace a signal of a pixel corresponding to the detection level with a predetermined color signal when the detection level satisfies a predetermined condition. A display unit is configured to display an image based on an output image signal from the color signal replacement unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tokuichiro Yamada, Tsutomu Kume
  • Publication number: 20170104937
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus uses an image pickup device. A manual focus adjusting unit is configured to control a focus lens in response to a user's input operation. An edge detecting unit is configured to detect edge components from an image signal obtained by the image pickup device and to output detection levels of the detected edge components. A color signal replacement unit is configured to replace a signal of a pixel corresponding to the detection level with a predetermined color signal when the detection level satisfies a predetermined condition. A display unit is configured to display an image based on an output image signal from the color signal replacement unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2016
    Publication date: April 13, 2017
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tokuichiro Yamada, Tsutomu Kume
  • Patent number: 9554032
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus uses an image pickup device. A manual focus adjusting unit is configured to control a focus lens in response to a user's input operation. An edge detecting unit is configured to detect edge components from an image signal obtained by the image pickup device and to output detection levels of the detected edge components. A color signal replacement unit is configured to replace a signal of a pixel corresponding to the detection level with a predetermined color signal when the detection level satisfies a predetermined condition. A display unit is configured to display an image based on an output image signal from the color signal replacement unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tokuichiro Yamada, Tsutomu Kume
  • Publication number: 20150156403
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus uses an image pickup device. A manual focus adjusting unit is configured to control a focus lens in response to a user's input operation. An edge detecting unit is configured to detect edge components from an image signal obtained by the image pickup device and to output detection levels of tine detected edge components. A color signal replacement unit is configured to replace a signal of a pixel corresponding to the detection level with a predetermined color signal when the detection level satisfies a predetermined condition. A display unit is configured to display an image based on an output image signal from the color signal replacement unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2015
    Publication date: June 4, 2015
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tokuichiro Yamada, Tsutomu Kume
  • Patent number: 8988589
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus uses an image pickup device. A manual focus adjusting unit is configured to control a focus lens in response to a user's input operation. An edge detecting unit is configured to detect edge components from an image signal obtained by the image pickup device and to output detection levels of the detected edge components. A color signal replacement unit is configured to replace a signal of a pixel corresponding to the detection level with a predetermined color signal when the detection level satisfies a predetermined condition. A display unit is configured to display an image based on an output image signal from the color signal replacement unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tokuichiro Yamada, Tsutomu Kume
  • Publication number: 20140002716
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus uses an image pickup device. A manual focus adjusting unit is configured to control a focus lens in response to a user's input operation. An edge detecting unit is configured to detect edge components from an image signal obtained by the image pickup device and to output detection levels of the detected edge components. A color signal replacement unit is configured to replace a signal of a pixel corresponding to the detection level with a predetermined color signal when the detection level satisfies a predetermined condition. A display unit is configured to display an image based on an output image signal from the color signal replacement unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2013
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tokuichiro Yamada, Tsutomu Kume
  • Patent number: 8576328
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus uses an image pickup device. A manual focus adjusting unit is configured to control a focus lens in response to a user's input operation. An edge detecting unit is configured to detect edge components from an image signal obtained by the image pickup device and to output detection levels of the detected edge components. A color signal replacement unit is configured to replace a signal of a pixel corresponding to the detection level with a predetermined color signal when the detection level satisfies a predetermined condition. A display unit is configured to display an image based on an output image signal from the color signal replacement unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tokuichiro Yamada, Tsutomu Kume
  • Publication number: 20110122286
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus uses an image pickup device. A manual focus adjusting unit is configured to control a focus lens in response to a user's input operation. An edge detecting unit is configured to detect edge components from an image signal obtained by the image pickup device and to output detection levels of the detected edge components. A color signal replacement unit is configured to replace a signal of a pixel corresponding to the detection level with a predetermined color signal when the detection level satisfies a predetermined condition. A display unit is configured to display an image based on an output image signal from the color signal replacement unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2011
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tokuichiro Yamada, Tsutomu Kume
  • Patent number: 7940990
    Abstract: An image signal processing apparatus may include a partial image data block obtaining unit configured to obtain partial image data blocks by dividing image data corresponding to a predetermined screen having a predetermined number of horizontal and vertical pixels into image data portions, each having a predetermined number of partial horizontal and vertical pixels, at predetermined positions; a packet generating unit configured to generate packets, each storing one of the partial image data blocks; and one or more signal processing units configured to receive the packets from a transmission path through which the image data is transmitted, perform signal processing in units of partial image data blocks stored in the packets, and output the image data in the form of packets to the transmission path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tokuichiro Yamada, Zhiwen Li, Ken Nakajima, Kenichi Sakai
  • Patent number: 7898595
    Abstract: A method for converting frames that can display smooth moving images is provided. A memory (16) to which image data of frames in the NTSC format is written is provided. A memory controller (14) for retrieving image data of an odd field and an even field from the memory (16) every odd field period and even field period in the frame period of the PAL format is provided. An interpolating circuit (76) is provided. The interpolating circuit (76) mixes the image data of the odd field retrieved by the memory controller (14) and image data of a next odd field at a predetermined ratio to output as image data of an odd field in the frame period of the PAL format, and mixes the retrieved image data of the even field and image data of a next even field at a predetermined ratio to output as image data of an even field in the frame period of the PAL format. A coefficient-generating circuit (73) for changing the mixing ratios in the interpolating circuit (76) every field period of the PAL format is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tsutomu Kume, Shinya Ishii, Tokuichiro Yamada, Yoshinori Tomita
  • Patent number: 7889270
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus using a solid image pickup device includes a manual focus adjusting unit configured to control the position of a focus lens in response to a user's input operation; an edge detecting unit configured to detect edge components of each pixel from an image signal obtained by image pickup and to output detection levels of the detected edge components; a color signal replacement unit configured to replace a signal of a pixel corresponding to the detection level or signals of pixels in a predetermined range containing the corresponding pixel on the image signal with a predetermined color signal when the detection level is equal to or higher than a predetermined value; and a display unit configured to display an image based on an output image signal from the color signal replacement unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tokuichiro Yamada, Tsutomu Kume
  • Patent number: 7671913
    Abstract: A circuit for converting the format of image data, the motion of the image data being smooth, includes a memory (16) to which moving image data in the NTSC format is written; a memory controller (14) retrieving respective signals, from the memory (16), required for producing image data of an odd field and an even field in the PAL format; line-interpolating circuits (73) and (74) converting retrieved image data into first image data and second image, respectively, both image data having the line frequency of the PAL format; a frame-interpolating circuit (75) outputting the image data of the odd field in the PAL format by mixing image data of the odd field of the first image data and image data of the odd field of the second image data at a predetermined mixing ratio, and outputting the image data of the even field in the PAL format by mixing image data of the even field of the first image data and image data of the even field of the second image data at a predetermined mixing ratio; and a coefficient-generatin
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tsutomu Kume, Tokuichiro Yamada
  • Patent number: 7411617
    Abstract: In image-data recording processing performed when a video output conforms to the PAL system, a display-signal processing section receives image data having a frame rate of 30 Hz recorded in a memory, through a bus, converts the image data to image data having an NTSC frame rate of 29.97 Hz by a frame-rate conversion method in which thinning out is performed according to the ratio of frame rates, and outputs it to a display section and a codec-IC interface. The display-signal processing section also converts to image data having a PAL frame rate of 25 Hz, and outputs it to a video-output interface. In other words, image data is processed at a frame rate not related to the output, and then converted to image data having a frame rate suited for the output, and output. This invention can be used in digital cameras.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tsutomu Kume, Shinya Ishii, Tokuichiro Yamada
  • Publication number: 20080137972
    Abstract: An image signal processing apparatus may include a partial image data block obtaining unit configured to obtain partial image data blocks by dividing image data corresponding to a predetermined screen having a predetermined number of horizontal and vertical pixels into image data portions, each having a predetermined number of partial horizontal and vertical pixels, at predetermined positions; a packet generating unit configured to generate packets, each storing one of the partial image data blocks; and one or more signal processing units configured to receive the packets from a transmission path through which the image data is transmitted, perform signal processing in units of partial image data blocks stored in the packets, and output the image data in the form of packets to the transmission path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2007
    Publication date: June 12, 2008
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tokuichiro Yamada, Zhiwen Li, Ken Nakajima, Kenichi Sakai
  • Publication number: 20070052836
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus using a solid image pickup device includes a manual focus adjusting unit configured to control the position of a focus lens in response to a user's input operation; an edge detecting unit configured to detect edge components of each pixel from an image signal obtained by image pickup and to output detection levels of the detected edge components; a color signal replacement unit configured to replace a signal of a pixel corresponding to the detection level or signals of pixels in a predetermined range containing the corresponding pixel on the image signal with a predetermined color signal when the detection level is equal to or higher than a predetermined value; and a display unit configured to display an image based on an output image signal from the color signal replacement unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2006
    Publication date: March 8, 2007
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tokuichiro Yamada, Tsutomu Kume
  • Publication number: 20060256236
    Abstract: A method for converting frames that can display smooth moving images is provided. A memory (16) to which image data of frames in the NTSC format is written is provided. A memory controller (14) for retrieving image data of an odd field and an even field from the memory (16) every odd field period and even field period in the frame period of the PAL format is provided. An interpolating circuit (76) is provided. The interpolating circuit (76) mixes the image data of the odd field retrieved by the memory controller (14) and image data of a next odd field at a predetermined ratio to output as image data of an odd field in the frame period of the PAL format, and mixes the retrieved image data of the even field and image data of a next even field at a predetermined ratio to output as image data of an even field in the frame period of the PAL format. A coefficient-generating circuit (73) for changing the mixing ratios in the interpolating circuit (76) every field period of the PAL format is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2003
    Publication date: November 16, 2006
    Inventors: Tsutomu Kume, Shinya Ishii, Tokuichiro Yamada, Yoshinori Tomita
  • Publication number: 20050237427
    Abstract: A circuit for converting the format of image data, the motion of the image data being smooth, includes a memory (16) to which moving image data in the NTSC format is written; a memory controller (14) retrieving respective signals, from the memory (16), required for producing image data of an odd field and an even field in the PAL format; line-interpolating circuits (73) and (74) converting retrieved image data into first image data and second image, respectively, both image data having the line frequency of the PAL format; a frame-interpolating circuit (75) outputting the image data of the odd field in the PAL format by mixing image data of the odd field of the first image data and image data of the odd field of the second image data at a predetermined mixing ratio, and outputting the image data of the even field in the PAL format by mixing image data of the even field of the first image data and image data of the even field of the second image data at a predetermined mixing ratio; and a coefficient-generatin
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2004
    Publication date: October 27, 2005
    Inventors: Tsutomu Kume, Tokuichiro Yamada
  • Publication number: 20040119847
    Abstract: In image-data recording processing performed when a video output conforms to the PAL system, a display-signal processing section receives image data having a frame rate of 30 Hz recorded in a memory, through a bus, converts the image data to image data having an NTSC frame rate of 29.97 Hz by a frame-rate conversion method in which thinning out is performed according to the ratio of frame rates, and outputs it to a display section and a codec-IC interface. The display-signal processing section also converts to image data having a PAL frame rate of 25 Hz, and outputs it to a video-output interface. In other words, image data is processed at a frame rate not related to the output, and then converted to image data having a frame rate suited for the output, and output. This invention can be used in digital cameras.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2003
    Publication date: June 24, 2004
    Inventors: Tsutomu Kume, Shinya Ishii, Tokuichiro Yamada