Patents by Inventor Toshimichi Hamada
Toshimichi Hamada 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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Publication number: 20170322714Abstract: To make it easy to select an optimal viewing environment depending on content and preference of each person when viewing an image with a head-mounted display or a large-screen display device. Evaluation values of respective elements of a visual effect with respect to viewing environments and image configurations are determined in advance. For example, when an observer tries to start image viewing, a viewing environment that is most likely to provide a desired visual effect is automatically extracted on the basis of the evaluation value determined in advance with respect to the viewing environment and the image configuration and parameters of that viewing environment are displayed in an easily understandable manner as GUIs. Further, the evaluation values of the elements of the viewing effect in the selected viewing environment are also displayed.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 31, 2015Publication date: November 9, 2017Inventors: KEISUKE SATO, NAOMASA TAKAHASHI, TOSHIMICHI HAMADA
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Patent number: 8780273Abstract: There is a signal processing apparatus, including a gamma correction circuit that performs gamma correction on an input luminance signal and generates an output luminance signal, an output-to-input ratio calculation circuit that calculates a ratio of the output luminance signal to the input luminance signal as an output-to-input ratio of a luminance signal, and a color difference correction circuit that multiplies an input color difference signal by the output-to-input ratio of the luminance signal and generates an output color difference signal. As a result, by correcting the input color difference signal using the output-to-input ratio of the luminance signal, the output color difference signal in which color difference correction has been performed in view of influence of gamma correction can be generated.Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 2011Date of Patent: July 15, 2014Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Kiyoshi Ikeda, Toshimichi Hamada, Yoichi Hirota
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Patent number: 8600219Abstract: Disclosed is a video-signal recording and playback apparatus for recording or playing back a video signal, the video-signal recording and playback apparatus comprising: extracting means for extracting a static picture from a sequence of video signals with a predetermined timing; judgment means for forming a judgment as to whether or not a static picture extracted by the extracting means can be used as a representative picture; and setting means for setting the static picture as a representative picture in accordance with an outcome of a judgment formed by the judgment means.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2006Date of Patent: December 3, 2013Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Masashi Ohta, Koichi Chotoku, Taro Suito, Toshimichi Hamada
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Patent number: 8401322Abstract: There is provided an image recording device, including: a highly-gradating unit for highly-gradating an input image having a first gradation depth, thereby generating a high gradation image having a second gradation depth higher than the first gradation depth; an image quantizing unit for quantizing the high gradation image generated by the highly-gradating unit such that a quantization error is modulated into a band with relatively low sensitivity of human visual characteristics, thereby generating a recording target image having a third gradation depth lower than the second gradation depth; an encoding unit for encoding the recording target image generated by the quantizing unit; and a recording unit for recording the recording target image encoded by the encoding unit in a recording medium.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 2010Date of Patent: March 19, 2013Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Toshimichi Hamada, Masashi Ota, Kiyoshi Ikeda, Hiromasa Naganuma, Yoichi Hirota
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Patent number: 8385673Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes: ?? modulation means for applying, when predetermined signal processing is applied to a modulated image obtained by applying ?? modulation to an image in a signal processing unit, the ?? modulation to the image, wherein a frequency characteristic of noise shaping by the ?? modulation is a characteristic opposite to a frequency characteristic of the predetermined signal processing.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 2009Date of Patent: February 26, 2013Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Makoto Tsukamoto, Toshimichi Hamada
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Patent number: 8363167Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes: a processing system performing processing on an original image; and a gradation conversion section having a gradation conversion function of receiving image data from the processing system, converting a number of bits of the image data, and expressing pseudo grayscales before the gradation conversion in a grayscale converted image, the gradation conversion section being capable of changing the gradation conversion function and performing conversion processing on the image, wherein the gradation conversion section adds and outputs a determination flag indicating whether the gradation conversion processing has been performed at the time of outputting the image data.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2009Date of Patent: January 29, 2013Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Masashi Ota, Toshimichi Hamada, Kiyoshi Ikeda, Hiromasa Naganuma, Yoichi Hirota, Naomasa Takahashi
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Publication number: 20120050618Abstract: There is a signal processing apparatus, including a gamma correction circuit that performs gamma correction on an input luminance signal and generates an output luminance signal, an output-to-input ratio calculation circuit that calculates a ratio of the output luminance signal to the input luminance signal as an output-to-input ratio of a luminance signal, and a color difference correction circuit that multiplies an input color difference signal by the output-to-input ratio of the luminance signal and generates an output color difference signal. As a result, by correcting the input color difference signal using the output-to-input ratio of the luminance signal, the output color difference signal in which color difference correction has been performed in view of influence of gamma correction can be generated.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 16, 2011Publication date: March 1, 2012Applicant: SONY CORPORATIONInventors: Kiyoshi Ikeda, Toshimichi Hamada, Yoichi Hirota
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Publication number: 20110019931Abstract: There is provided an image recording device, including: a highly-gradating unit for highly-gradating an input image having a first gradation depth, thereby generating a high gradation image having a second gradation depth higher than the first gradation depth; an image quantizing unit for quantizing the high gradation image generated by the highly-gradating unit such that a quantization error is modulated into a band with relatively low sensitivity of human visual characteristics, thereby generating a recording target image having a third gradation depth lower than the second gradation depth; an encoding unit for encoding the recording target image generated by the quantizing unit; and a recording unit for recording the recording target image encoded by the encoding unit in a recording medium.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 16, 2010Publication date: January 27, 2011Applicant: Sony CorporationInventors: Toshimichi HAMADA, Masashi Ota, Kiyoshi Ikeda, Hiromasa Naganuma, Yoichi Hirota
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Publication number: 20100110301Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes: a processing system performing processing on an original image; and a gradation conversion section having a gradation conversion function of receiving image data from the processing system, converting a number of bits of the image data, and expressing pseudo grayscales before the gradation conversion in a grayscale converted image, the gradation conversion section being capable of changing the gradation conversion function and performing conversion processing on the image, wherein the gradation conversion section adds and outputs a determination flag indicating whether the gradation conversion processing has been performed at the time of outputting the image data.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 21, 2009Publication date: May 6, 2010Applicant: SONY CORPORATIONInventors: Masashi Ota, Toshimichi Hamada, Kiyoshi Ikeda, Hiromasa Naganuma, Yoichi Hirota, Naomasa Takahashi
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Publication number: 20100104213Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes: ?? modulation means for applying, when predetermined signal processing is applied to a modulated image obtained by applying ?? modulation to an image in a signal processing unit, the ?? modulation to the image, wherein a frequency characteristic of noise shaping by the ?? modulation is a characteristic opposite to a frequency characteristic of the predetermined signal processing.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 14, 2009Publication date: April 29, 2010Applicant: Sony CorporationInventors: Makoto Tsukamoto, Toshimichi Hamada
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Publication number: 20100104211Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes: ?? modulation means for applying ?? modulation to an image; analog conversion means for converting a signal of the image, whose gradation is converted by the ?? modulation means, into an analog signal; digital output means for outputting a digital signal of the image after gradation conversion; and analog output means for outputting an analog signal of the image after gradation conversion. The ?? modulation means includes arithmetic means for filtering a quantization error; adding means for adding a pixel value of the image and output of the arithmetic means; quantization means for quantizing output of the adding means and outputting a quantized value; and subtracting means for calculating a difference between the output of the adding means and the quantized value. A filter coefficient for the filtering corresponding to the analog output is determined according to a frequency characteristic of the analog conversion means.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 13, 2009Publication date: April 29, 2010Applicant: Sony CorporationInventors: Yoichi Hirota, Kiyoshi Ikeda, Masashi Ota, Toshimichi Hamada, Hiromasa Naganuma, Makoto Tsukamoto
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Publication number: 20100079483Abstract: An image processing apparatus prevents the inappropriate application of error diffusion and adaptively applies palette conversion functions according to the properties of the source. A processing subsystem performs various processing with respect to an original video source. A palette converter converts the palette bit depth, having modifiable palette conversion functions for creating the illusion of expressing the pre-conversion palette tones in the post-conversion image. A controller turns on the palette converter, turns off the palette converter, or modifies the palette conversion functions thereof, in accordance with at least original source information and system-wide settings information.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 24, 2009Publication date: April 1, 2010Applicant: Sony CorporationInventors: Hiromasa Naganuma, Masashi Ota, Toshimichi Hamada, Kiyoshi Ikeda, Yoichi Hirota, Naomasa Takahashi
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Publication number: 20070104459Abstract: Disclosed is a video-signal recording and playback apparatus for recording or playing back a video signal, the video-signal recording and playback apparatus comprising: extracting means for extracting a static picture from a sequence of video signals with a predetermined timing; judgment means for forming a judgment as to whether or not a static picture extracted by the extracting means can be used as a representative picture; and setting means for setting the static picture as a representative picture in accordance with an outcome of a judgment formed by the judgment means.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2006Publication date: May 10, 2007Applicant: SONY CORPORATIONInventors: Masashi OHTA, Koichi Chotoku, Taro Suito, Toshimichi Hamada
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Patent number: 7200322Abstract: Disclosed is a video-signal recording & playback apparatus and method for recording and playing back a video signal of a television-broadcast program and a recording medium for storing a computer-readable program for controlling the video-signal recording & playback apparatus. A video-signal recording & playback apparatus includes a detection element for detecting relevant information related to a program being recorded and a modification element for automatically modifying an algorithm of detecting a program-representing picture in dependence of the relevant information.Type: GrantFiled: July 11, 2001Date of Patent: April 3, 2007Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Koichi Chotoku, Masashi Ohta, Toshimichi Hamada
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Patent number: 7164846Abstract: Disclosed is a video-signal recording and playback apparatus for recording or playing back a video signal, the video-signal recording and playback apparatus comprising: extracting means for extracting a static picture from a sequence of video signals with a predetermined timing; judgment means for forming a judgment as to whether or not a static picture extracted by the extracting means can be used as a representative picture; and setting means for setting the static picture as a representative picture in accordance with an outcome of a judgment formed by the judgment means.Type: GrantFiled: July 11, 2001Date of Patent: January 16, 2007Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Masashi Ohta, Koichi Chotoku, Taro Suito, Toshimichi Hamada
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Publication number: 20060280480Abstract: A data processing device includes a video input/output circuit for inputting an input video signal and outputting an output video signal. A detection circuit detects a first synchronizing signal in the input video signal input. Using a second synchronizing signal different from the first synchronizing signal, the video input/output circuit outputs the output video signal. The data processing device further includes a storage medium, a controller and an audio input circuit for inputting an audio signal using the second synchronizing signal. The controller controls recording of the inputted audio signal through the audio input circuit and recording of the output video signal onto the storage medium, such that the inputted audio signal and the output video signal are synchronized by the second synchronizing signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 15, 2006Publication date: December 14, 2006Applicant: Sony CorporationInventors: Hajime Nitta, Toshimichi Hamada, Masashi Ohta, Kiyoshi Ota
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Patent number: 7113692Abstract: A recording/reproducing device has an NTSC decoder which receives a video signal and outputs a video signal, an MPEG audio encoder which receives an audio signal and outputs an audio signal, and a synchronous control circuit which detects a synchronizing signal from the video signal input to the NTSC decoder and uses that signal to generate an output synchronizing signal that is different from the input synchronizing signal. The output synchronizing signal is used to output the video signal from the NTSC decoder. In the recording/reproducing device, the NTSC decoder and the MPEG audio encoder provide a delay to the input video signal and audio signal, respectively, and output the video signal and audio signal in accordance with the output synchronizing signal generated by the synchronous control circuit.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2001Date of Patent: September 26, 2006Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Hajime Nitta, Toshimichi Hamada, Masashi Ohta, Kiyoshi Ota
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Patent number: 6847776Abstract: In a signal record/playback apparatus and its method which performs the recording for recording a signal on the recording medium DISK and the playback for playing back the recorded signal from the recording medium DISK at the same time, the recording position and the playback position are set independently and arbitrarily. Record starting position information PREC on the recording medium DISK for starting the recording is stored, playback starting position information PPB on the recording medium DISK for starting the playback is stored, and the recording based on the record starting position information PREC and the playback based on the playback starting position information PPB are independently performed, so as to realize a signal record/playback apparatus and its method which can set the record starting position PREC and the playback starting position PPB arbitrarily.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 1999Date of Patent: January 25, 2005Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Masami Tomita, Takao Takahashi, Masashi Ohta, Hiroshi Kobayashi, Toshiya Akiba, Noboru Murabayashi, Toshimichi Hamada, Taro Suito, Katsunari Miyata, Koichi Chotoku
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Patent number: 6757484Abstract: A system for recording an input video signal input to an A/D conversion processing section on a recording medium in accordance with a recording clock generated by a recording system synchronous control section, and for outputting the video signal recorded on the recording medium to outside in accordance with a reproducing system synchronous control section. When switching and outputting a recording video signal input to the A/D conversion processing section and a reproduction video signal recorded on the recording medium and then decoded and output by an MPEG AV decoder, the recording video signal is temporarily stored in a frame synchronizer, and the recording video signal stored in the frame synchronizer and the reproduction video signal decoded by the MPEG AV decoder are switched and output in accordance with a reproduction clock generated by the reproducing system synchronous control section.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2001Date of Patent: June 29, 2004Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Hajime Nitta, Toshimichi Hamada, Masashi Ohta, Kiyoshi Ota
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Patent number: 6728473Abstract: A moving picture recording and reproduction apparatus and method as well as a medium are disclosed by which, upon recording of a television program, representative pictures from which contents of a program can be grasped can be recorded. Frame pictures are extracted from moving pictures being recorded, and accuracy values with which a character is present in the frame pictures are calculated. Further, accuracy values with which the phase of a person is present in the frame pictures are calculated, and the levels of an audio signal corresponding to the frame pictures are detected. Then, evaluation values are calculated using results of the calculations and the detection, and a maximum one of the evaluation values is detected. Thereafter, the frame picture corresponding to the maximum evaluation value is reduced in size and recorded onto a recording medium so that it may be used as an index upon playing back of the recording medium.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2000Date of Patent: April 27, 2004Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Koichi Chotoku, Masashi Ohta, Toshimichi Hamada