Patents by Inventor Yasuhiro Morimoto

Yasuhiro Morimoto 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: 20060239653
    Abstract: A small and slim digital camera with an improved grip and a large display unit. The digital camera takes a picture of an object via a lens unit installed in a front surface of a case of the digital camera. The digital camera includes: a case has: a main body in which a lens unit is formed on a front surface of the main body; and a side portion of the case which is pivotably coupled to the main body to be able to pivot toward the lens unit with respect to the main body; and a manipulating unit which is exposed to the outside between the main body and the side portion at a rear surface of the case when the side portion is pivoted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2006
    Publication date: October 26, 2006
    Applicant: Samsung Techwin Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Morimoto
  • Patent number: 7099559
    Abstract: An image processing device gives an alarm if deletion of image is directed in a state that the image has not yet been transferred from an image recording medium into a storage medium having a larger capacity. Also, when a deletion operation is performed for image, the image processing device compresses and stores the corresponding image file in accordance with an evaluation rank based on history data for the image. Therefore, the image processing device allows effective use of the storage medium having a limited capacity by contriving compression processing of the image file.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahito Niikawa, Kenji Nakamura, Yasuhiro Morimoto, Katsuyuki Nanba
  • Patent number: 7084916
    Abstract: The digital camera has the function of registering a captured image or the like in an album file and includes a display such as an LCD and a switch button (QV button) for switching a display image on the display. An image to be displayed on the display is changed in response to depression of a switch button among a live view image in a capturing mode, a reproduction image regarding a data file in a reproduction mode, and an album image regarding an album file in an album reproduction mode. For example, in response to depression of the switch button, the images are sequentially displayed in the above-described order. Preferably, when a captured file is not stored, a reproduced image is not displayed. When an album file is not registered, an album image is not displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Morimoto, Masahito Niikawa
  • Publication number: 20060119709
    Abstract: A digital imaging apparatus with a plurality of displays that can display the same content or different content. In a first mode, the same image content may be displayed on both displays, in a second mode, image content may be displayed on one of the displays, and in a third mode, different content may be displayed on the two displays simultaneously. The displays may be of different sizes to accommodate displaying image content in a normal mode or in a wide mode. The viewing angle of two orthogonally disposed displays may be selected so that the displays provide a substantially combined continuous viewing angle greater than 90 degrees.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2005
    Publication date: June 8, 2006
    Applicant: Samsung Techwin Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Morimoto
  • Patent number: 7046279
    Abstract: An image taking apparatus includes an image sensor which picks up an image of a photographic object and a selector which selects a first photographing mode or a second photographing mode and a controller. The second photographing mode is a mode for composing a plurality of picked-up images to create a composite image. The controller makes the image sensor pickup a photographic object image on the first photographing condition when the first photographing mode is selected by the selector, and makes the image sensor pick up a plurality of images of photographic objects on the second photographing condition different from said first photographing condition when the second photographing mode is selected by the selector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mutsuhiro Yamanaka, Kazuchika Sato, Noriyuki Okisu, Yasuhiro Morimoto, Hiroaki Kubo, Keiji Tamai, Kazuki Akaho, Shinichi Fujii
  • Patent number: 6963374
    Abstract: Digital camera techniques improve the convenience of a live view display and the like. Image processing in a digital camera includes image processing (i.e., live view processing) for real-time display of a subject on a liquid crystal monitor and image processing performed on image signals followed by image capture for recording. Both the image processing is performed by a single common image processor. In image capture for recording, high-priority live view processing (Pc) is performed between writing (Pa) of image signals outputted from a CCD into memory and captured image processing (Pb). This shortens the time of not displaying a live view image, thereby preventing a shutter release opportunity from being missed and improving the convenience of a live view display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2005
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Nakamura, Yasuhiro Morimoto, Hiroaki Kubo, Hitoshi Yano
  • Patent number: 6940555
    Abstract: An image taking apparatus includes an image sensor which takes a plurality of images different in focal distance, a processor which creates a pan-focus image focused on each of different photographic objects from the plurality of images taken by the image sensor, a discriminator which discriminates whether or not it is appropriate to create the pan-focus image, and a controller which forbids the processor to create the pan-focus image when the discriminator discriminates that it is not appropriate to create the pan-focus image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Noriyuki Okisu, Yuji Taguchi, Yasuhiro Morimoto, Shinichi Fujii
  • Patent number: 6927794
    Abstract: The CPU 17 accesses multiple slots 41a and 41b in a digital camera 1 at regular intervals to detect whether or not memory cards 40a and 40b are mounted in the slots 41a and 41b, respectively. Based on whether or not memory cards 40a and 40b are mounted in the slots 41a and 41b, respectively, the CPU 17 selects one slot as the slot to be accessed. There are three modes available as the mode from which to perform this selection, i.e., a fixed mode, a priority mode and a manual operation mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Kubo, Yasuhiro Morimoto
  • Patent number: 6834130
    Abstract: An image retrieval system for retrieving a plurality of images recorded in a recording medium, records data concerning operations and processing for image files as history data. A desired image is found based on the history data. Further, an image is found based on a combination of photographing condition in a photographing operation, and the history data of the operations executed for the image file. Therefore, the image retrieval system allows the image to be efficiently, exactly, and conveniently found without a trouble of assigning key information to the image file.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2004
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahito Niikawa, Kenji Nakamura, Yasuhiro Morimoto, Katsuyuki Nanba
  • Patent number: 6806905
    Abstract: A digital camera is provided with a display for displaying an image of an object and a specifying unit for specifying a plurality of measuring points on the display. An actual area of a region surrounded by the plurality of measuring points specified by the specifying unit are calculated by a calculator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2004
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Morimoto, Masahito Niikawa
  • Publication number: 20040185973
    Abstract: A power transmission comprises a belt type continuously variable ratio-change mechanism CVT and a fixed ratio rotational transmission mechanism GT, which transmit the rotational driving force of a primary shaft 1 rotationally driven by an engine to a countershaft 3 with a speed ratio change. The continuously variable ratio-change mechanism comprises a drive pulley 10, a driven pulley 15 and a metal belt 14 while the fixed ratio rotational transmission mechanism GT comprises a forward drive gear train, a forward output transmission gear train, and a reverse drive gear train. The forward drive gear train transmits the rotation of an input drive gear 31 on the primary shaft 1 through an idler gear 32 to a LOW driven gear 33 on a secondary shaft 2, and the forward output transmission gear train transmits the rotation of the secondary shaft 2 to the countershaft 3.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2004
    Publication date: September 23, 2004
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
    Inventors: Takao Sato, Shinji Kamiya, Yasuhiro Morimoto, Toru Kamoshida, Toshiyuki Yumoto
  • Publication number: 20040179124
    Abstract: The digital camera has the function of registering, as an album file, a favorite image of the user or the like out of images captured by photographing or the like. When it is detected that an album file corresponding to a captured file to be registered into an album has been already generated, a warning of overlap registration is outputted. Another album file for a data file of which album file has been already generated may be prohibited from being generated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2003
    Publication date: September 16, 2004
    Applicant: MINOLTA CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Morimoto, Masahito Niikawa
  • Publication number: 20040179122
    Abstract: The digital camera has the function of registering a captured image or the like in an album file and includes a display such as an LCD and a switch button (QV button) for switching a display image on the display. An image to be displayed on the display is changed in response to depression of a switch button among a live view image in a capturing mode, a reproduction image regarding a data file in a reproduction mode, and an album image regarding an album file in an album reproduction mode. For example, in response to depression of the switch button, the images are sequentially displayed in the above-described order. Preferably, when a captured file is not stored, a reproduced image is not displayed. When an album file is not registered, an album image is not displayed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2003
    Publication date: September 16, 2004
    Applicant: MINOLTA CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Morimoto, Masahito Niikawa
  • Patent number: 6774935
    Abstract: A digital camera includes a connector for connecting another digital camera and an interface for exchanging data between the digital camera and another digital camera. When another digital camera is connected to the connector, another digital camera is be controlled by a controller via the interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Morimoto, Hirokazu Naruto
  • Publication number: 20040152292
    Abstract: The present invention is a method and apparatus for forming a bump for semiconductor interconnect applications, such as reverse wire bonding or stud bumping for flip chip interconnections. The bump is formed by (1) ball bonding at the bump site, (2) raising the capillary a predetermined height after forming the ball bond with the wire paying out of the capillary tip, (3) moving the capillary laterally a predetermined distance, preferably in a direction toward the site of other end of the wire loop, if the bump is to be used as the platform for a stitch bond of a wire loop, (4) raising the capillary further, and (5) moving the capillary diagonally downwardly and in the opposite direction of the first lateral motion. The wire is then severed by raising the capillary, closing the clamps and raising the capillary again to snap the wire pigtail off at the bump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2002
    Publication date: August 5, 2004
    Inventors: Stephen Babinetz, Takashi Tsujimura, Hiroyuki Ohtsubo, Yasuhiro Morimoto
  • Patent number: 6592489
    Abstract: In a transmission with a built-in planetary gear mechanism which has an element to be fixed to a casing of the transmission, inner elements are sub-assembled by mounting a plurality of transmission constituting members inclusive of the planetary gear mechanism. After containing the inner elements inside the casing, the element to be fixed is arranged to be fixable to the casing from a peripheral wall portion of the casing. The element to be fixed is fixed to the cylinder portion of a hydraulic brake to be built in the transmission. The cylinder portion is fixed to the casing by means of fixing members which are inserted into the casing from an outside of the peripheral wall portion of the transmission casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2003
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shigeru Tajima, Masahiro Imamura, Yasuhiro Morimoto
  • Patent number: 6536960
    Abstract: In a digital camera having a half mirror retractable out of the optical path and an optical viewfinder receiving light reflected from the half mirror, the sensitivity of an image-sensing device is set as specified by the user. When a relatively high sensitivity is specified, an image to be recorded is shot with the half mirror operated as a quick-return mirror, and, when a relatively low sensitivity is specified, an image to be recorded is shot with the half mirror kept in the optical path. A sensitivity that cannot be coped with simply by changing the position of the half mirror is set by adjusting, in conjunction therewith, the output gain of the image-sensing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Kubo, Yasuhiro Morimoto
  • Patent number: 6538896
    Abstract: A surface mount type electronic component includes a substantially rectangular case substrate, an electronic element mounted on the case substrate along the longitudinal direction, and a cap which is fixed onto the case substrate in such a manner as to cover the electronic element. First and second top-surface electrodes and first and second bottom-surface electrodes, which extend along the width direction of the case substrate, are arranged with a spacing on the top surface and the bottom surface of the case substrate, respectively. The first top-surface electrode and the first bottom-surface electrode are connected to each other via a first side electrode disposed on the side surface of the case substrate, and the second top-surface electrode and the second bottom-surface electrode are connected to each other via a second side electrode disposed on the side surface of the case substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eitaro Kameda, Toshiyuki Baba, Hideaki Kuroda, Yasuhiro Morimoto
  • Publication number: 20030035652
    Abstract: In a digital camera having a half mirror retractable out of the optical path and an optical viewfinder receiving light reflected from the half mirror, the sensitivity of an image-sensing device is set as specified by the user. When a relatively high sensitivity is specified, an image to be recorded is shot with the half mirror operated as a quick-return mirror, and, when a relatively low sensitivity is specified, an image to be recorded is shot with the half mirror kept in the optical path. A sensitivity that cannot be coped with simply by changing the position of the half mirror is set by adjusting, in conjunction therewith, the output gain of the image-sensing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2000
    Publication date: February 20, 2003
    Applicant: MINOLTA CO., LTD
    Inventors: Hiroaki Kubo, Yasuhiro Morimoto
  • Patent number: 6487366
    Abstract: A camera includes an image sensor for sensing an image of an object to be photographed and producing an image data, a first memory for storing information concerning compression, a setting device for setting a compression ratio based on the information stored in the first memory, a compression device for compressing the image data at the set compression ratio, and a second memory for storing the compressed image data. Also, This camera includes a displaying device for displaying an image corresponding to the compressed image data in the viewfinder system so that the photographer can observe the image quality deterioration caused by the compression.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Morimoto, Hisanori Itoh