Patents by Inventor Tomoomi Ito

Tomoomi Ito 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: 20230185163
    Abstract: Provided are a device and a method by which high-precision auto focus (AF) processing can be performed while a focus lens or a zoom lens is being operated. An interchangeable lens acquires position information regarding a focus lens and a zoom lens at a predetermined time interval during an exposure time period of detection information acquisition pixels for use in calculation of a defocus amount (DF), and outputs the position information to an imaging device. The imaging device calculates the defocus amount (DF) by using information regarding the detection information acquisition pixels, calculates a reference focus lens position (Ref_fc) by using points, on a cam curve, corresponding to the inputted lens position information, calculates a target focus lens position (Tgt_fc) in an in-focus position, from the reference focus lens position (Ref_fc) and the defocus amount (DF), and outputs the target focus lens position (Tgt_fc) to the interchangeable lens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2022
    Publication date: June 15, 2023
    Inventors: Tomoomi Ito, Yoshinori Yamatsuta, Shinichi Fujii
  • Patent number: 11523065
    Abstract: To suppress a difference in brightness and darkness in a captured image caused by a difference in an exposure start time by a rolling shutter even if the exposure period is not changed. Provided is an imaging device including a gain setting unit configured to set a gain for each line in which a plurality of pixels is arrayed, the plurality of pixels being two-dimensionally arranged in a matrix in an image sensor, on the basis of diaphragm drive information regarding a diaphragm drive locus representing a time-series change in a diaphragm value. Thereby, the difference in brightness and darkness in a captured image caused by the difference in an exposure start time by a rolling shutter can be suppressed even if the exposure period is not changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomoomi Ito, Nobuhiro Doi, Syohei Uchida, Yusuke Mimura
  • Patent number: 11493829
    Abstract: Provided are a device and a method by which high-precision auto focus (AF) processing can be performed while a focus lens or a zoom lens is being operated. An interchangeable lens acquires position information regarding a focus lens and a zoom lens at a predetermined time interval during an exposure time period of detection information acquisition pixels for use in calculation of a defocus amount (DF), and outputs the position information to an imaging device. The imaging device calculates the defocus amount (DF) by using information regarding the detection information acquisition pixels, calculates a reference focus lens position (Ref_fc) by using points, on a cam curve, corresponding to the inputted lens position information, calculates a target focus lens position (Tgt_fc) in an in-focus position, from the reference focus lens position (Ref_fc) and the defocus amount (DF), and outputs the target focus lens position (Tgt_fc) to the interchangeable lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Sony Group Corporation
    Inventors: Tomoomi Ito, Yoshinori Yamatsuta, Shinichi Fujii
  • Patent number: 11221462
    Abstract: There is provided a lens unit equipped with multiple focus lenses provided inside a lens barrel, multiple actuators corresponding to the respective multiple focus lenses and configured to move each of the multiple focus lenses inside the lens barrel, and a control circuit configured to control movement of the multiple focus lenses according to different rules between a case of a position of each of the multiple focus lenses being inside a designated range of satisfactory optical performance, and a case of being outside the range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomoomi Ito, Rui Chen, Makoto Kanai, Fumikazu Kanetaka, Naoki Miyagawa
  • Publication number: 20210218873
    Abstract: To suppress a difference in brightness and darkness in a captured image caused by a difference in an exposure start time by a rolling shutter even if the exposure period is not changed. Provided is an imaging device including a gain setting unit configured to set a gain for each line in which a plurality of pixels is arrayed, the plurality of pixels being two-dimensionally arranged in a matrix in an image sensor, on the basis of diaphragm drive information regarding a diaphragm drive locus representing a time-series change in a diaphragm value. Thereby, the difference in brightness and darkness in a captured image caused by the difference in an exposure start time by a rolling shutter can be suppressed even if the exposure period is not changed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2019
    Publication date: July 15, 2021
    Inventors: TOMOOMI ITO, NOBUHIRO DOI, SYOHEI UCHIDA, YUSUKE MIMURA
  • Patent number: 10698296
    Abstract: Provided is an interchangeable lens including: a lens position detection unit configured to detect a position of a lens; a motor configured to move a movable lens frame to which the lens is fixed; a driving state detection unit configured to detect a driving state of the motor; and a control unit configured to decide a driving speed of the motor based on a difference between a target speed, which is based on a difference between a target position of the lens acquired from an imaging device and the position of the lens detected by the lens position detection unit, and a speed according to the driving state detected by the driving state detection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tomoomi Ito, Toru Katagiri
  • Publication number: 20200174342
    Abstract: Provided are a device and a method by which high-precision auto focus (AF) processing can be performed while a focus lens or a zoom lens is being operated. An interchangeable lens acquires position information regarding a focus lens and a zoom lens at a predetermined time interval during an exposure time period of detection information acquisition pixels for use in calculation of a defocus amount (DF), and outputs the position information to an imaging device. The imaging device calculates the defocus amount (DF) by using information regarding the detection information acquisition pixels, calculates a reference focus lens position (Ref_fc) by using points, on a cam curve, corresponding to the inputted lens position information, calculates a target focus lens position (Tgt_fc) in an in-focus position, from the reference focus lens position (Ref_fc) and the defocus amount (DF), and outputs the target focus lens position (Tgt_fc) to the interchangeable lens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2018
    Publication date: June 4, 2020
    Inventors: Tomoomi Ito, Yoshinori Yamatsuta, Shinichi Fujii
  • Publication number: 20200162651
    Abstract: There is provided a lens unit equipped with multiple focus lenses provided inside a lens barrel, multiple actuators corresponding to the respective multiple focus lenses and configured to move each of the multiple focus lenses inside the lens barrel, and a control circuit configured to control movement of the multiple focus lenses according to different rules between a case of a position of each of the multiple focus lenses being inside a designated range of satisfactory optical performance, and a case of being outside the range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2020
    Publication date: May 21, 2020
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomoomi Ito, Rui Chen, Makoto Kanai, Fumikazu Kanetaka, Naoki Miyagawa
  • Patent number: 10567631
    Abstract: There is provided a lens unit equipped with multiple focus lenses provided inside a lens barrel, multiple actuators corresponding to the respective multiple focus lenses and configured to move each of the multiple focus lenses inside the lens barrel, and a control circuit configured to control movement of the multiple focus lenses according to different rules between a case of a position of each of the multiple focus lenses being inside a designated range of satisfactory optical performance, and a case of being outside the range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomoomi Ito, Rui Chen, Makoto Kanai, Fumikazu Kanetaka, Naoki Miyagawa
  • Publication number: 20180013942
    Abstract: There is provided a lens unit equipped with multiple focus lenses provided inside a lens barrel, multiple actuators corresponding to the respective multiple focus lenses and configured to move each of the multiple focus lenses inside the lens barrel, and a control circuit configured to control movement of the multiple focus lenses according to different rules between a case of a position of each of the multiple focus lenses being inside a designated range of satisfactory optical performance, and a case of being outside the range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2017
    Publication date: January 11, 2018
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tomoomi Ito, Rui Chen, Makoto Kanai, Fumikazu Kanetaka, Naoki Miyagawa
  • Patent number: 9813603
    Abstract: There is provided a lens unit equipped with multiple focus lenses provided inside a lens barrel, multiple actuators corresponding to the respective multiple focus lenses and configured to move each of the multiple focus lenses inside the lens barrel, and a control circuit configured to control movement of the multiple focus lenses according to different rules between a case of a position of each of the multiple focus lenses being inside a designated range of satisfactory optical performance, and a case of being outside the range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomoomi Ito, Rui Chen, Makoto Kanai, Fumikazu Kanetaka, Naoki Miyagawa
  • Publication number: 20170223246
    Abstract: There is provided a lens unit equipped with multiple focus lenses provided inside a lens barrel, multiple actuators corresponding to the respective multiple focus lenses and configured to move each of the multiple focus lenses inside the lens barrel, and a control circuit configured to control movement of the multiple focus lenses according to different rules between a case of a position of each of the multiple focus lenses being inside a designated range of satisfactory optical performance, and a case of being outside the range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2016
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomoomi ITO, Rui CHEN, Makoto KANAI, Fumikazu KANETAKA, Naoki MIYAGAWA
  • Publication number: 20170219913
    Abstract: Provided is an interchangeable lens including: a lens position detection unit configured to detect a position of a lens; a motor configured to move a movable lens frame to which the lens is fixed; a driving state detection unit configured to detect a driving state of the motor; and a control unit configured to decide a driving speed of the motor based on a difference between a target speed, which is based on a difference between a target position of the lens acquired from an imaging device and the position of the lens detected by the lens position detection unit, and a speed according to the driving state detected by the driving state detection unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2016
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tomoomi Ito, Toru Katagiri
  • Patent number: 7822334
    Abstract: An imaging device includes an imaging unit that obtains an image signal relating to a subject, a driving unit that drives a focus lens, a first detecting unit that performs focus detection based on a contrast detection method to detect an in-focus position of the focus lens, a second detecting unit that performs focus detection based on a phase difference detection method, while the focus lens is being driven toward the in-focus position, to detect a provisional in-focus position of the focus lens, and an in-focus control unit that controls the driving unit to drive the focus lens to pass through the provisional in-focus position and then return to the in-focus position. Focus detection information is obtained at least for a given range of positions, and is stored in a predetermined storage unit. The in-focus position is detected based on the stored focus detection information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Riichi Ono, Shinichi Fujii, Tomoomi Ito
  • Publication number: 20090067828
    Abstract: An imaging device includes an imaging unit that obtains an image signal relating to a subject, a driving unit that drives a focus lens, a first detecting unit that performs focus detection based on a contrast detection method to detect an in-focus position of the focus lens, a second detecting unit that performs focus detection based on a phase difference detection method, while the focus lens is being driven toward the in-focus position, to detect a provisional in-focus position of the focus lens, and an in-focus control unit that controls the driving unit to drive the focus lens to pass through the provisional in-focus position and then return to the in-focus position. Focus detection information is obtained at least for a given range of positions, and is stored in a predetermined storage unit. The in-focus position is detected based on the stored focus detection information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2008
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Riichi ONO, Shinichi Fujii, Tomoomi Ito