Patents by Inventor Yasuo Aotsuka

Yasuo Aotsuka 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).

  • Patent number: 7683951
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging apparatus comprises: a solid-state imaging device having pixels that image light originating from a subject, by dividing the light into color signals; and a signal processor that subjects photographed image data output from the device to white balance correction at a gain corresponding to light source type(s). The device further comprises a sensor that detects light in a wavelength range which induces a difference having a predetermined value or more between radiant energy of a first light source and that of a second light source on the surface of the device. The processor comprises: a mixing ratio estimation unit that determines a mixing ratio between illumination light originating from the first light source and that originating from the second one, through use of a detection signal output from the sensor; and a gain computation unit that computes a gain where the white balance correction is to be effected, according to the mixing ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventor: Yasuo Aotsuka
  • Patent number: 7515196
    Abstract: A color solid-state imaging device used in combination with an interference-type infrared cut filter, the element comprises a coloring material which is contained in or formed on any of layers provided within an incident light path in the color solid-state imaging device, wherein the coloring material absorbs an incident light within a wavelength range in which a cut wavelength of the interference-type infrared cut filter shifts toward shorter wavelengths when the incident light obliquely enters the interference-type infrared cut filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventor: Yasuo Aotsuka
  • Patent number: 7463287
    Abstract: In a solid-state image pick-up device provided with a pixel for distinguishing a light source type in a predetermined region of the solid-state image pick-up device, a filter for transmitting a light having at least a wavelength of 505 nm to 530 nm is provided as a filter for distinguishing a light source type to be mounted on the pixel for distinguishing a light source type. It is more suitable that the filter for distinguishing a light source type should also transmit a light having a wavelength of 640 nm or more. Consequently, a sunlight and a fluorescent lamp can be distinguished from each other. In addition, it is also possible to easily distinguish an ordinary type white fluorescent lamp from the daylight color, day white color and bulb color of a 3-wavelength type fluorescent lamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventor: Yasuo Aotsuka
  • Patent number: 7317478
    Abstract: In a solid-state imaging apparatus provided with a solid-state imaging element having a plurality of pixels for subdividing incident light from a photographic subject into a plurality of color signals so as to image the photographic subject; and signal processing means for performing a white balance correcting operation based upon a gain amount corresponding to a sort of a light source with respect to photographed image data outputted from the solid-state image element; two sorts (G1, G2) of pixels whose spectral sensitivities are different from each other are provided on the solid-state imaging element as the pixel for detecting at least one color among the plurality of color signals; the signal processing means is comprised of: a mixing ratio predicting means 52 operated in such a manner that when there are plural sorts of light sources as to the incident light, a mixing ratio of illumination light emitted from the plural sorts of light sources is predicted every pixel from photographed image data acquired
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2008
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Yasuo Aotsuka
  • Patent number: 7231085
    Abstract: A chromaticity diagram is divided into a plurality of sections by a primary color line and a complementary color line of a color that does not cause hue turn, then it is decided to which section a color signal being output from an imaging device belongs, and then a color correcting operation is performed for the color signal every section. Accordingly, it is not needed to detect the flesh color itself when the hue turn of the flesh color is corrected by the color correcting operation. Any flesh color can be decided easily according to whether or not the color signal being output from the imaging device has entered into the section including the flesh color. Therefore, the appropriate color correcting operation can be applied to the flesh color.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventor: Yasuo Aotsuka
  • Patent number: 7184174
    Abstract: A color picture signal processing method includes the steps of: (a) inputting picture signal data; (b) converting the picture signal data to data of luminance Y and color differences Cr and Cb on a Y-Cr-Cb space; and (c) executing a color difference matrix calculation by using at least one pair of equations. By the invention, it may be is possible to obtain a color picture signal wherein a hue circle of a flesh color is suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2007
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasuo Aotsuka
  • Patent number: 7148920
    Abstract: There are photographing scenes which are difficult, for a conventional image pickup apparatus having a solid state image pickup device with primary color filters, to correctly judge whether an illumination light source is the sun or a fluorescent lamp. The solid image pickup device of an image pickup apparatus uses two types of red or green pixels having different spectral sensitivities. The type of a light source can be judged by using signals from the two types of the pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasuo Aotsuka
  • Patent number: 7030916
    Abstract: An image pickup system includes photodiodes with color filters. A first color filter group includes visual light color filters, and a second color filter group includes a long red color filter at 640 nm or longer or a color filter at 580 nm and one of the visual light color filters. An infrared cut filter covers all the filters. A control circuit includes a fluorescent lamp distinguishing circuit for distinguishing a fluorescent lamp from other illuminating light sources by a ratio of an output signal from the photodiode with the long red filter to an output signal from the photodiodes with the visual light color filters; and a white balance control circuit for adjusting a white balance so as to match the illuminating light source distinguished by the fluorescent lamp distinguishing circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasuo Aotsuka
  • Publication number: 20050073592
    Abstract: In a solid-state image pick-up device provided with a pixel for distinguishing a light source type in a predetermined region of the solid-state image pick-up device, a filter for transmitting a light having at least a wavelength of 505 nm to 530 nm is provided as a filter for distinguishing a light source type to be mounted on the pixel for distinguishing a light source type. It is more suitable that the filter for distinguishing a light source type should also transmit a light having a wavelength of 640 nm or more. Consequently, a sunlight and a fluorescent lamp can be distinguished from each other. In addition, it is also possible to easily distinguish an ordinary type white fluorescent lamp from the daylight color, day white color and bulb color of a 3-wavelength type fluorescent lamp.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2003
    Publication date: April 7, 2005
    Inventor: Yasuo Aotsuka
  • Publication number: 20050068433
    Abstract: A color solid-state imaging device used in combination with an interference-type infrared cut filter, the element comprises a coloring material which is contained in or formed on any of layers provided within an incident light path in the color solid-state imaging device, wherein the coloring material absorbs an incident light within a wavelength range in which a cut wavelength of the interference-type infrared cut filter shifts toward shorter wavelengths when the incident light obliquely enters the interference-type infrared cut filter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2004
    Publication date: March 31, 2005
    Inventor: Yasuo Aotsuka
  • Publication number: 20040233298
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging apparatus comprises: a solid-state imaging device having pixels that image light originating from a subject, by dividing the light into color signals; and a signal processor that subjects photographed image data output from the device to white balance correction at a gain corresponding to light source type(s). The device further comprises a sensor that detects light in a wavelength range which induces a difference having a predetermined value or more between radiant energy of a first light source and that of a second light source on the surface of the device. The processor comprises: a mixing ratio estimation unit that determines a mixing ratio between illumination light originating from the first light source and that originating from the second one, through use of a detection signal output from the sensor; and a gain computation unit that computes a gain where the white balance correction is to be effected, according to the mixing ratio.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2004
    Publication date: November 25, 2004
    Inventor: Yasuo Aotsuka
  • Publication number: 20040105017
    Abstract: In a solid-state imaging apparatus provided with a solid-state imaging element having a plurality of pixels for subdividing incident light from a photographic subject into a plurality of color signals so as to image the photographic subject; and signal processing means for performing a white balance correcting operation based upon a gain amount corresponding to a sort of a light source with respect to photographed image data outputted from the solid-state image element; two sorts (G1, G2) of pixels whose spectral sensitivities are different from each other are provided on the solid-state imaging element as the pixel for detecting at least one color among the plurality of color signals; the signal processing means is comprised of: a mixing ratio predicting means 52 operated in such a manner that when there are plural sorts of light sources as to the incident light, a mixing ratio of illumination light emitted from the plural sorts of light sources is predicted every pixel from photographed image data acquired
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2003
    Publication date: June 3, 2004
    Inventor: Yasuo Aotsuka
  • Publication number: 20040013296
    Abstract: A chromaticity diagram is divided into a plurality of sections by a primary color line and a complementary color line of a color that does not cause hue turn, then it is decided to which section a color signal being output from an imaging device belongs, and then a color correcting operation is performed for the color signal every section. Accordingly, it is not needed to detect the flesh color itself when the hue turn of the flesh color is corrected by the color correcting operation. Any flesh color can be decided easily according to whether or not the color signal being output from the imaging device has entered into the section including the flesh color. Therefore, the appropriate color correcting operation can be applied to the flesh color.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2003
    Publication date: January 22, 2004
    Inventor: Yasuo Aotsuka
  • Publication number: 20030169354
    Abstract: There are photographing scenes which are difficult, for a conventional image pickup apparatus having a solid state image pickup device with primary color filters, to correctly judge whether an illumination light source is the sun or a fluorescent lamp. The solid image pickup device of an image pickup apparatus uses two types of red or green pixels having different spectral sensitivities. The type of a light source can be judged by using signals from the two types of the pixels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2003
    Publication date: September 11, 2003
    Applicant: FUJI PHOTO FILM CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yasuo Aotsuka
  • Publication number: 20030058357
    Abstract: An image pickup system includes photodiodes with color filters. A first color filter group includes visual light color filters, and a second color filter group includes a long red color filter at 640 nm or longer or a color filter at 580 nm and one of the visual light color filters. An infrared cut filter covers all the filters. A control circuit includes a fluorescent lamp distinguishing circuit for distinguishing a fluorescent lamp from other illuminating light sources by a ratio of an output signal from the photodiode with the long red filter to an output signal from the photodiodes with the visual light color filters; and a white balance control circuit for adjusting a white balance so as to match the illuminating light source distinguished by the fluorescent lamp distinguishing circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2002
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Applicant: Fuji Photo Film Co., LTD.
    Inventor: Yasuo Aotsuka
  • Publication number: 20030038956
    Abstract: A color picture signal processing method comprises the steps of: (a) inputting picture signal data; (b) converting said picture signal data to data of luminance Y and color differences Cr and Cb on a Y-Cr-Cb space; and (c) executing a color difference matrix calculation by using at least one pair of equations (i) to (iv), wherein, Cr′=Cr×A/K+Cb×B, Cb′=Cr×C+Cb×D . . . (i), Cr′=(Cr×A+Cb×B)/K, Cb′=Cr×C+Cb×D . . . (ii), Cr′=Cr×A+Cb×B, Cb′=Cr×C+Cb×D×K . . . (iii), and Cr′=Cr×A+Cb×B, Cb′=(Cr×C+Cb×D)×K . . . (iv), where A, B, C and D are matrix coefficients, K is a function of Y larger than 0, and makes a color difference ratio H (=Cr′/Cb′) constant regardless of Y.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2002
    Publication date: February 27, 2003
    Applicant: FUJI PHOTO FILM CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yasuo Aotsuka
  • Patent number: 6234225
    Abstract: A cell electrode of a stripe rectangle shape having at least one electrode depolarizing mix layer on a current collector. A thickness of one end portion of the electrode depolarizing mix layer is thicker than an average thickness of the electrode depolarizing mix layer by 2 to 25%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2001
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsutoshi Tanaka, Masashi Ishiyama, Yasuo Aotsuka, Seiji Ishizuka, Kenichi Fukumura, Yoshinobu Katagiri
  • Patent number: 6054010
    Abstract: A method of making a cell electrode of a stripe rectangle shape having at least one electrode depolarizing mix layer on a current collector. A thickness of one end portion of the electrode depolarizing mix layer is thicker than an average thickness of the electrode depolarizing mix layer by 2 to 25%. The method comprises sequentially bond adhesive tape pieces to a strip conductive sheet, coating on electrode depolarizing mix solution on the surface of the stripe conductive sheet and peeling off the adhesive tape piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2000
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsutoshi Tanaka, Masashi Ishiyama, Yasuo Aotsuka, Seiji Ishizuka, Kenichi Fukumura, Yoshinobu Katagiri
  • Patent number: 5989747
    Abstract: A cell electrode of a stripe rectangle shape having at least one electrode depolarizing mix layer on a current collector. The thickness of two end portions of the electrode depolarizing mix layer are thicker than an average thickness of the electrode depolarizing mix layer by 2 to 25%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsutoshi Tanaka, Masashi Ishiyama, Yasuo Aotsuka, Seiji Ishizuka, Kenichi Fukumura, Yoshinobu Katagiri
  • Patent number: 5683834
    Abstract: A nonaqueous secondary battery comprising positive and negative sheet electrodes, each composed of a collector coated with an electrode material mixture containing the respective active material and a nonaqueous electrolyte containing a lithium salt, wherein the electrode material mixture is present on both the inner and the outer sides of the collector and the coating thickness of the electrode material mixture on the inner side of the collector of the positive and/or negative electrode(s) is smaller than that of the electrode material mixture on the outer side of said collector. The battery is excellent in charge and discharge cycle characteristics, and the sheet electrodes have excellent winding properties when rolled up into cylinders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 4, 1997
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Fujimoto, Yasuo Aotsuka