Patents by Inventor Tomoaki Yamanaka
Tomoaki Yamanaka 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: 11093015Abstract: An imaging apparatus to which an accessory apparatus is detachably and communicatively attachable. The imaging apparatus comprises a power supply unit configured to supply a power to the accessory apparatus; a camera control unit configured to control the power supply unit; and a camera communication unit configured to communicate with the accessory apparatus, wherein the camera communication unit receives, from the accessory apparatus, one or more settable power modes settable to the accessory apparatus and transmits, to the accessory apparatus, a request power mode corresponding to a power that the power supply unit can supply to the accessory apparatus, and wherein when one of the settable power modes corresponds to the request power mode, the power supply unit supplies the power corresponding to the request power mode.Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 2019Date of Patent: August 17, 2021Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Tomoaki Yamanaka
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Publication number: 20200073462Abstract: An imaging apparatus to which an accessory apparatus is detachably and communicatively attachable. The imaging apparatus comprises a power supply unit configured to supply a power to the accessory apparatus; a camera control unit configured to control the power supply unit; and a camera communication unit configured to communicate with the accessory apparatus, wherein the camera communication unit receives, from the accessory apparatus, one or more settable power modes settable to the accessory apparatus and transmits, to the accessory apparatus, a request power mode corresponding to a power that the power supply unit can supply to the accessory apparatus, and wherein when one of the settable power modes corresponds to the request power mode, the power supply unit supplies the power corresponding to the request power mode.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 27, 2019Publication date: March 5, 2020Inventor: Tomoaki Yamanaka
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Patent number: 10447176Abstract: A vibration type actuator control apparatus is configured to control driving of a vibration type actuator configured to move a moving body that is one of the vibrator and a contact body that contacts a vibrator. The vibration type actuator includes the vibrator in which a vibration is excited when a two-phase drive signal having a phase difference is applied to an electro-mechanical energy conversion element. The vibration type actuator control apparatus includes a drive signal generator configured to generate the two-phase drive signal. The drive signal generator changes a phase difference of the two-phase drive signal from an initial phase difference when the moving body is moved from a stopped state. The initial phase difference is determined based on a phase difference shift indicative of a shift from a phase difference set so as to stop the moving body.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2016Date of Patent: October 15, 2019Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Tomoaki Yamanaka
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Publication number: 20170194879Abstract: A vibration type actuator control apparatus is configured to control driving of a vibration type actuator configured to move a moving body that is one of the vibrator and a contact body that contacts a vibrator. The vibration type actuator includes the vibrator in which a vibration is excited when a two-phase drive signal having a phase difference is applied to an electro-mechanical energy conversion element. The vibration type actuator control apparatus includes a drive signal generator configured to generate the two-phase drive signal. The drive signal generator changes a phase difference of the two-phase drive signal from an initial phase difference when the moving body is moved from a stopped state. The initial phase difference is determined based on a phase difference shift indicative of a shift from a phase difference set so as to stop the moving body.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 13, 2016Publication date: July 6, 2017Inventor: Tomoaki Yamanaka
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Patent number: 9479098Abstract: A stepping motor control device includes a position detection sensor configured to detect a rotation position of a stepping motor, a voltage controller configured to drive the stepping motor, an advance angle controller configured to control an advance angle that is a phase difference between an excitation current applied to a coil of the stepping motor and the rotation position of the stepping motor, and a speed controller configured to control a drive speed of the stepping motor. The speed controller controls the drive speed using, in combination, voltage control by the voltage controller and advance angle control by the advance angle controller.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 2014Date of Patent: October 25, 2016Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Tomoaki Yamanaka
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Patent number: 9247118Abstract: A control unit for a stepping motor includes an encoder and a controller. The controller controls the stepping motor based on information sent from an image pickup apparatus configured to capture an object via an image pickup optical system that includes the focus lens. in a case that the image pickup apparatus performs autofocusing in capturing a still image, the controller open-loop-controls the stepping motor in at least one of a drive start period and a drive stop period of the stepping motor, and feedback-controls the stepping motor using an output of the encoder between the drive start period and the drive stop period of the stepping motor. The controller open-loop-controls the stepping motor in a case that the image pickup apparatus performs the autofocusing in capturing a motion image.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2014Date of Patent: January 26, 2016Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Tomoaki Yamanaka
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Publication number: 20150022709Abstract: A control unit for a stepping motor includes an encoder and a controller. The controller controls the stepping motor based on information sent from an image pickup apparatus configured to capture an object via an image pickup optical system that includes the focus lens. in a case that the image pickup apparatus performs autofocusing in capturing a still image, the controller open-loop-controls the stepping motor in at least one of a drive start period and a drive stop period of the stepping motor, and feedback-controls the stepping motor using an output of the encoder between the drive start period and the drive stop period of the stepping motor. The controller open-loop-controls the stepping motor in a case that the image pickup apparatus performs the autofocusing in capturing a motion image.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 30, 2014Publication date: January 22, 2015Inventor: Tomoaki YAMANAKA
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Publication number: 20150022139Abstract: A stepping motor control device includes a position detection sensor configured to detect a rotation position of a stepping motor, a voltage controller configured to drive the stepping motor, an advance angle controller configured to control an advance angle that is a phase difference between an excitation current applied to a coil of the stepping motor and the rotation position of the stepping motor, and a speed controller configured to control a drive speed of the stepping motor. The speed controller controls the drive speed using, in combination, voltage control by the voltage controller and advance angle control by the advance angle controller.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 16, 2014Publication date: January 22, 2015Inventor: Tomoaki Yamanaka
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Patent number: 8938162Abstract: The interchangeable lens detachably attachable to a camera includes a lens communicator configured to perform communication with the camera, a motor to move or actuate a driven member included in the interchangeable lens, and a lens controller. The lens controller is configured to perform, in response to receipt, from the camera through the communication, of a drive instruction to drive the motor and a driving power supply instruction to supply a driving electric power to the motor, supply of the driving electric power to the motor.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2013Date of Patent: January 20, 2015Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Tomoaki Yamanaka
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Patent number: 8908085Abstract: The image pickup apparatus includes a memory storing first tracking data indicating a positional relationship of a magnification-varying lens and a correction lens and second tracking data indicating a positional relationship of the magnification-varying lens and an image sensor. A controller moves the correction lens and the image sensor using the first and second tracking data. An in-focus position detector detects an in-focus position using an output from the image sensor. A tracking adjuster obtains an adjustment value for adjusting the first tracking data, by using a difference between the detected in-focus position in a state where the magnification-varying lens is located at a first zoom position and the image sensor is located at a position in the second tracking data corresponding to the first zoom position and a position of the correction lens in the first tracking data corresponding to the first zoom position.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2011Date of Patent: December 9, 2014Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Tomoaki Yamanaka
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Patent number: 8902350Abstract: The interchangeable lens includes a lens controller to control drive speed of a focus actuator moving a focus lens by using speed control data. The image pickup apparatus includes a focus controller to acquire focus information by using an image pickup signal from an image sensor. The lens controller receives, from the focus controller, timing information showing a timing relating to acquisition of the focus information, performs a reachability determination for determining, by using the timing information and the speed control data, whether or not the focus lens is able to reach a target focus information acquisition position by a scheduled focus information acquisition timing and performs, when determining that the focus lens is not able to reach target focus information acquisition position by scheduled focus information acquisition timing, calculation of a predictive focus position at scheduled focus information acquisition timing by using speed control data.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 2013Date of Patent: December 2, 2014Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Tomoaki Yamanaka
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Patent number: 8605204Abstract: The method includes a first adjusting step of adjusting a first tracking curve which has been set so as to keep an in-focus state between a position of a magnification-varying lens and a position of an image sensor, and a second adjusting step of adjusting a second tracking curve which has been set so as to keep the in-focus state between the position of the magnification-varying lens and a position of the focus lens for an object distance. The magnification-varying lens is moved in an optical axis direction during a variation of magnification. The image sensor generates an image signal by photoelectrically converting an optical image formed by an image-pickup optical system. The image-pickup optical system including the magnification-varying lens and a focus lens moved in the optical axis direction during focusing.Type: GrantFiled: November 14, 2011Date of Patent: December 10, 2013Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Tomoaki Yamanaka
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Publication number: 20130308934Abstract: The interchangeable lens detachably attachable to a camera includes a lens communicator configured to perform communication with the camera, a motor to move or actuate a driven member included in the interchangeable lens, and a lens controller. The lens controller is configured to perform, in response to receipt, from the camera through the communication, of a drive instruction to drive the motor and a driving power supply instruction to supply a driving electric power to the motor, supply of the driving electric power to the motor.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 14, 2013Publication date: November 21, 2013Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Tomoaki Yamanaka
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Publication number: 20130278816Abstract: The interchangeable lens includes a lens controller to control drive speed of a focus actuator moving a focus lens by using speed control data. The image pickup apparatus includes a focus controller to acquire focus information by using an image pickup signal from an image sensor. The lens controller receives, from the focus controller, timing information showing a timing relating to acquisition of the focus information, performs a reachability determination for determining, by using the timing information and the speed control data, whether or not the focus lens is able to reach a target focus information acquisition position by a scheduled focus information acquisition timing and performs, when determining that the focus lens is not able to reach target focus information acquisition position by scheduled focus information acquisition timing, calculation of a predictive focus position at scheduled focus information acquisition timing by using speed control data.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 17, 2013Publication date: October 24, 2013Applicant: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Tomoaki YAMANAKA
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Patent number: 8355071Abstract: An optical system of the present invention includes a storage unit which stores an operated position of an operation unit and a position of an optical member. When the power supply to the optical system terminates and then restarts, a control unit compares the stored operated position and the operated position detected by a first sensing unit upon restart. If they are different, the control unit controls a driving unit such that the position of the optical member detected by a second sensing unit can be a target position. If they are the same, the control unit controls the driving unit such that the position of the optical member detected by the second sensing unit can be the stored position of the optical member.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2010Date of Patent: January 15, 2013Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Tomoaki Yamanaka
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Patent number: 8279290Abstract: In an image pickup apparatus in which image stabilization is performed based on shake sensor and movement-vector-obtaining method which can perform accurate blur correction since shake components difficult to be detected by shake sensor can be detected by the movement-vector-obtaining method, the image blur due to high frequency vibration such as vehicle vibration cannot be corrected by the movement vector in low-frame-rate shooting since the detectable frequency band narrows in high frequency. Therefore, it is necessary to optimize the combination of blur information from the angular velocity sensor and from the movement vector, according to the frequency band detectable by the movement vector depending on change in frame rate. The combination ratio of blur correction based on blur information from angular velocity sensor, acceleration sensor and blur correction based on movement vector is determined depending on frequency detectable by the movement vector which inevitably changes depending on frame rate.Type: GrantFiled: November 11, 2009Date of Patent: October 2, 2012Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Tomoaki Yamanaka
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Publication number: 20120120303Abstract: The method includes a first adjusting step of adjusting a first tracking curve which has been set so as to keep an in-focus state between a position of a magnification-varying lens and a position of an image sensor, and a second adjusting step of adjusting a second tracking curve which has been set so as to keep the in-focus state between the position of the magnification-varying lens and a position of the focus lens for an object distance. The magnification-varying lens is moved in an optical axis direction during a variation of magnification. The image sensor generates an image signal by photoelectrically converting an optical image formed by an image-pickup optical system. The image-pickup optical system including the magnification-varying lens and a focus lens moved in the optical axis direction during focusing.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 14, 2011Publication date: May 17, 2012Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Tomoaki Yamanaka
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Patent number: 8174574Abstract: An optical apparatus includes a zoom lens unit, a pan/tilt unit configured to at least one of pan the zoom lens unit and tilt the zoom lens unit, and a center-shift information storage portion configured to store a shift amount of an optical axis for every zooming position, and has a mechanism configured to correct a shift of the optical axis caused by zooming, by driving the pan/tilt unit by the shift amount of the optical axis stored in the center-shift information storage portion.Type: GrantFiled: October 17, 2008Date of Patent: May 8, 2012Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Tomoaki Yamanaka
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Publication number: 20120008037Abstract: The image pickup apparatus includes a memory storing first tracking data indicating a positional relationship of a magnification-varying lens and a correction lens and second tracking data indicating a positional relationship of the magnification-varying lens and an image sensor. A controller moves the correction lens and the image sensor using the first and second tracking data. An in-focus position detector detects an in-focus position using an output from the image sensor. A tracking adjuster obtains an adjustment value for adjusting the first tracking data, by using a difference between the detected in-focus position in a state where the magnification-varying lens is located at a first zoom position and the image sensor is located at a position in the second tracking data corresponding to the first zoom position and a position of the correction lens in the first tracking data corresponding to the first zoom position.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 12, 2011Publication date: January 12, 2012Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Tomoaki YAMANAKA
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Patent number: 8072851Abstract: A position control apparatus (optical apparatus) is disclosed which is capable of preventing disadvantages caused by the absence of a dead band while achieving a required accuracy of positional control. The position control apparatus comprises a controller which controls the drive of an object (optical member) so that the position of the object, which detected by a position detector, moves closer to a target position. The controller has a control function which does not drive the object in a case where the difference between the position detected by the position detector and the target position is within a predetermined range, and changes the predetermined range according to control modes relating to the drive of the object.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 2006Date of Patent: December 6, 2011Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Tomoaki Yamanaka