Patents by Inventor Toru Iwane

Toru Iwane 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: 20140168395
    Abstract: A three-dimensional image display device includes: an input unit that inputs image data; a first image conversion unit that converts the image data to first image display data which include 2-D information; a display unit having a plurality of display pixels disposed in a two-dimensional pattern, which emits light fluxes from the plurality of display pixels in correspondence to the first image display data; and a micro-lens array having a plurality of micro-lenses disposed in a two-dimensional pattern, via which a three-dimensional image or a two-dimensional image is formed by combining the light fluxes emitted from the plurality of display pixels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2012
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Toru Iwane
  • Patent number: 8749657
    Abstract: An image-capturing device includes: a photographic optical system; a photoelectric conversion element array made up with a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements arrayed therein; a micro-lens array made up with a plurality of micro-lenses arrayed therein; a data creation unit that creates pixel data at a plurality of pixels on a specific image forming plane by applying filter matrix data to output signals provided from the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements; and an image synthesis unit that synthetically generates an image on the specific image forming plane at a given position assumed along an optical axis of the photographic optical system, based upon the pixel data. The filter matrix data assume a two-dimensional data array pattern conforming to a specific intensity distribution with a distribution center thereof set at an element corresponding to a central position of a projection image of each of the plurality of pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Toru Iwane
  • Patent number: 8680451
    Abstract: A light receiving device that receives light having passed through an image forming optical system and outputs a light reception signal includes: a light receiving element array formed by arraying a plurality of light receiving elements; a micro-lens array disposed between the image forming optical system and the light receiving element array, which includes a plurality of micro-lenses arrayed in correspondence to the plurality of light receiving elements; and a storage unit that stores position-related information pertaining to a relative positional relationship assumed by the micro-lens array and the light receiving element array with respect to a plane perpendicular to optical axes of the micro-lenses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Toru Iwane
  • Patent number: 8537261
    Abstract: An image-capturing apparatus includes: a micro-lens array that includes a plurality of micro-lenses arrayed therein; an image sensor that includes arrayed therein a plurality of pixels that capture a plurality of pupil projection images, each corresponding to a pupil of an optical system projected via one of the plurality of micro-lenses as a light flux from the optical system passes through the micro-lens array; a photographic image generation unit that generates, based upon an output from the image sensor, a photographic image including a partial image corresponding to each of the plurality of pupil projection images; and an arithmetic operation unit that executes position calculation to determine a center position of the partial image by scanning the photographic image in reference to a reference image corresponding to the partial image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Toru Iwane
  • Patent number: 8526807
    Abstract: Disclosed in a focus detecting apparatus comprising: a micro lens array arranged with a plurality of micro lenses, a photo detector that has a plurality of detecting elements provided in correspondence with the micro lenses and receives light flux from an optical system via the micro lenses; and a focus detector that selects a pair of groups of detecting elements from the plurality of detecting elements based on an F-value of the optical system and a brightness of the light flux from the optical system and detects a focus adjustment status of the optical system based on a pair of light receiving signals obtained in the groups of detecting elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Toru Iwane
  • Publication number: 20120287331
    Abstract: An image-capturing device includes: a plurality of micro-lenses disposed in a two-dimensional pattern near a focal plane of an image forming optical system; an image sensor that includes a two-dimensional array of element groups each corresponding to one of the micro-lenses and made up with a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements which receive, via the micro-lenses light fluxes from a subject having passed through the photographic optical system and output image signals; and a synthesizing unit that combines the image signals output from the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements based upon information so as to generate synthetic image data in correspondence to a plurality of image forming areas present on a given image forming plane of the image forming optical system, the information specifying positions of the photoelectric conversion elements output image signals that are to be used for generating synthetic image data for each image forming area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2012
    Publication date: November 15, 2012
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Toru IWANE
  • Publication number: 20120280987
    Abstract: An image display device includes: an input unit that inputs image data constituted with pixel data, each set of the pixel data being generated based upon a plurality of image signals output from a plurality of image-capturing pixels arrayed in correspondence to a plurality of photographic micro-lenses distinct from one another; a generation unit that generates display image data containing three-dimensional information based upon the image data; a display unit constituted with a plurality of display pixels disposed in a two-dimensional pattern, which emits light fluxes from the plurality of display pixels in correspondence to the display image data; and a micro-lens array that includes a plurality of micro-lenses, via which a three-dimensional image is formed by combining the light fluxes emitted from the plurality of display pixels, disposed in a two-dimensional array pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2012
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Toru IWANE
  • Patent number: 8237097
    Abstract: A focus detecting apparatus includes: a micro lens array having plural micro lenses; a photo-detector having detecting elements corresponding with the micro lenses and receiving light flux from an optical system via the micro lenses; a center detector detecting a center position of each micro lens; an image generator generating an image from the center position of each micro lens and photo-detector output; a contrast detector detecting contrast values of an image signal of the image; a calculator calculating an integrated value by accumulating contrast values for each of plural partial images from the image; and a focus detector detecting focus adjustment status by calculating an image shift amount caused from light fluxes passed through different pupil areas of the optical system based on output of the detecting elements corresponding to the partial images from which a maximum value is obtained among the integrated values calculated by the calculator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Toru Iwane
  • Patent number: 8194209
    Abstract: An optical low-pass filter is constituted with a liquid crystal substrate including a layer of liquid crystal. The optical low-pass filter includes: a first liquid crystal part in which the liquid crystal is aligned along a first direction; and a second liquid crystal part in which the liquid crystal is aligned along a second direction different from the first direction. The first liquid crystal part and the second liquid crystal part are disposed in an alternately repeated fashion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Toru Iwane
  • Patent number: 8098984
    Abstract: Disclosed is a focus detecting apparatus detecting an image offset of an optical system. The apparatus comprises a micro lens array arranged with a plurality of micro lenses, a photo-detector having a plurality of detecting elements provided so as to correspond to each of the plurality of micro lenses and receiving an optical beam from the optical system via the micro lenses, and a calculator that selects a pair of detecting elements from the plurality of detecting elements in accordance with a plurality of aperture values of the optical system and calculates an image offset of the optical system based on outputs from the pair of detecting elements. The pair of detecting elements receive respectively a pair of optical beams passing through different areas of the optical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Toru Iwane
  • Patent number: 8040316
    Abstract: A display element includes a display substrate that comprises a liquid crystal; and a plurality of diffraction gratings having different diffraction modes, arranged in regions of the single display substrate that are different from one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Toru Iwane
  • Publication number: 20110228131
    Abstract: An image-capturing apparatus includes: a micro-lens array that includes a plurality of micro-lenses arrayed therein; an image sensor that includes arrayed therein a plurality of pixels that capture a plurality of pupil projection images, each corresponding to a pupil of an optical system projected via one of the plurality of micro-lenses as a light flux from the optical system passes through the micro-lens array; a photographic image generation unit that generates, based upon an output from the image sensor, a photographic image including a partial image corresponding to each of the plurality of pupil projection images; and an arithmetic operation unit that executes position calculation to determine a center position of the partial image by scanning the photographic image in reference to a reference image corresponding to the partial image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2010
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Toru IWANE
  • Publication number: 20110205388
    Abstract: An image-capturing device includes: a photographic optical system; a photoelectric conversion element array made up with a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements, arrayed therein; a micro-lens array made up with a plurality of micro-lenses arrayed therein; a data creation unit that creates pixel data at a plurality of pixels on a specific image forming plane by applying filter matrix data to output signals provided from the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements; and an image synthesis unit that synthetically generates an image on the specific image forming plane at a given position assumed along an optical axis of the photographic optical system, based upon the pixel data. The filter matrix data assume a two-dimensional data array pattern conforming to a specific intensity distribution with a distribution center thereof set at an element corresponding to a central position of a projection image of each of the plurality of pixels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2009
    Publication date: August 25, 2011
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Toru Iwane
  • Patent number: 7973928
    Abstract: The spectroscopic instrument includes a plurality of first lenses arranged one-dimensionally or two-dimensionally; an aperture opening provided near a focal plane of each of the plurality of first lenses; a spectroscopic unit that spectrally distribute the light that has passed through the aperture opening; and a light receiving unit that receives the light spectrally distributed by the spectroscopic unit. The image producing device includes: the spectroscopic instrument; an imaging unit that captures an image formed by an imaging optical system; and an image processing unit that acquires a lighting condition from a result of spectroscopy by the spectroscopic instrument and performs color conversion processing depending on the lighting condition on an image captured by the imaging unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Toru Iwane
  • Publication number: 20110135292
    Abstract: Disclosed in a focus detecting apparatus comprising: a micro lens array arranged with a plurality of micro lenses, a photo detector that has a plurality of detecting elements provided in correspondence with the micro lenses and receives light flux from an optical system via the micro lenses; and a focus detector that selects a pair of groups of detecting elements from the plurality of detecting elements based on an F-value of the optical system and a brightness of the light flux from the optical system and detects a focus adjustment status of the optical system based on a pair of light receiving signals obtained in the groups of detecting elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2011
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Toru IWANE
  • Publication number: 20110091192
    Abstract: Disclosed in a focus detecting apparatus comprising: a micro lens array (161) arranged with a plurality of micro lenses (161a); a photo-detector (162) that has detecting elements (162a) provided in correspondence with the micro lenses and receives light flux from an optical system via the micro lenses; a center detecting means (163C-1) that detects a center position of each micro lens from a position of detecting element having conjugate relationship with a pupil position of the optical system; an image generating means (163C-2) that generates a two-dimensional image from the center position of each micro lens and an output of the photo-detector; a contrast detecting means (163D) that detects contrast values of image signal of the two-dimensional image; a calculation means (163D) that calculates an integrated value to be obtained by accumulating the contrast values for each of a plurality of partial images from the two-dimensional image; and a focus detecting means (163G) that detects a focus adjustment statu
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Publication date: April 21, 2011
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Toru IWANE
  • Publication number: 20110019184
    Abstract: A light receiving device that receives light having passed through an image forming optical system and outputs a light reception signal includes: a light receiving element array formed by arraying a plurality of light receiving elements; a micro-lens array disposed between the image forming optical system and the light receiving element array, which includes a plurality of micro-lenses arrayed in correspondence to the plurality of light receiving elements; and a storage unit that stores position-related information pertaining to a relative positional relationship assumed by the micro-lens array and the light receiving element array with respect to a plane perpendicular to optical axes of the micro-lenses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2008
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Toru Iwane
  • Patent number: 7847226
    Abstract: A light detection device includes a lens array of a plurality of lenses arranged in the form of a honeycomb; and a photoelectric device array of a plurality of photoelectric devices for each of the plurality of lenses. The plurality of photoelectric devices is arranged under each of the plurality of lenses. Also disclosed are a focus detection device provided with the light detection device, and an imaging apparatus provided with the focus detection device as well as a method of producing such a light detection device and a method of detecting a focus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Toru Iwane
  • Patent number: 7825981
    Abstract: A high-polymer optical low-pass filter is produced by cutting out of a high polymer material achieving optical anisotropy diagonally relative to an optic axis thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Toru Iwane, Takashi Matsubara
  • Patent number: 7796181
    Abstract: A color temperature conversion element includes a diffractive optical element that includes a polymer and a liquid crystal and diffracts light with a specific wavelength in incident light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Toru Iwane