Patents by Inventor Yasuo Asakura

Yasuo Asakura 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: 9113074
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes an imaging unit that generates a pair of pieces of image data mutually having a parallax by capturing a subject, an image processing unit that performs special effect processing, which is capable of producing a visual effect by combining a plurality of pieces of image processing, on a pair of images corresponding to the pair of pieces of image data, and a region setting unit that sets a region where the image processing unit performs the special effect processing on the pair of images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuo Asakura, Mika Muto
  • Patent number: 8972625
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus includes a plurality of interfaces and a host determination controller. To the plurality of interfaces, a plurality of host candidate devices are individually connected. The plurality of host candidate devices are each capable of serving as a host device that performs control. The host determination controller is configured to determine, based on a reception signal received from one of the plurality of host candidate devices, a predetermined host candidate device serving as a transmission source of the reception signal to be a host device, and to control a disconnection and a connection of at least one of the plurality of interfaces, the at least one of the plurality of interfaces corresponding to at least one of the other host candidate devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuo Asakura, Keitarou Kondou, Makoto Noda
  • Publication number: 20130262715
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus includes a plurality of interfaces and a host determination controller. To the plurality of interfaces, a plurality of host candidate devices are individually connected. The plurality of host candidate devices are each capable of serving as a host device that performs control. The host determination controller is configured to determine, based on a reception signal received from one of the plurality of host candidate devices, a predetermined host candidate device serving as a transmission source of the reception signal to be a host device, and to control a disconnection and a connection of at least one of the plurality of interfaces, the at least one of the plurality of interfaces corresponding to at least one of the other host candidate devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasuo Asakura, Keitarou Kondou, Makoto Noda
  • Publication number: 20120163659
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes an imaging unit that generates a pair of pieces of image data mutually having a parallax by capturing a subject, an image processing unit that performs special effect processing, which is capable of producing a visual effect by combining a plurality of pieces of image processing, on a pair of images corresponding to the pair of pieces of image data, and a region setting unit that sets a region where the image processing unit performs the special effect processing on the pair of images.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2011
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Inventors: Yasuo Asakura, Mika Muto
  • Patent number: 7391460
    Abstract: A camera according to the present invention includes a picture-taking lens unit including a picture-taking optical system having a bending optical system which optically bends incident light and an optical finder unit including a finder optical system having a bending optical system which optically bends incident light. A pre-bending optical system and a post-bending optical system in the bending optical system of the optical finder unit are arranged adjacent to a pre-bending optical system and a post-bending optical system in the bending optical system of the picture-taking lens unit, respectively. The body of the camera is therefore decreased in size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Takeshi Abe, Akira Futami, Koji Kato, Takashi Okamura, Yasuo Asakura, Toshikatsu Shiozaki
  • Patent number: 7248419
    Abstract: An electronic imaging device is provided which includes a first lens group which takes in a luminous flux from a subject along a first optical axis, an optical axis conversion member which bends the luminous flux along a second optical axis which intersects with the first optical axis, a second lens which images the bent luminous flux to an imaging element, and an optical amount adjustment unit provided between the second lens group and the optical axis conversion member. An AF motor, a driving unit which drives the optical amount adjustment unit, and a zoom motor are each selectively arranged at one of four spaces formed by a first plane defined by the optical amount adjustment unit and a second plane defined by the first and second optical axes. The AF motor, the driving unit, and the zoom motor may all be arranged at one side of the second plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukinori Takahashi, Yasuo Asakura, Naoki Fujii
  • Publication number: 20060245080
    Abstract: An electronic imaging device is provided which includes a first lens group which takes in a luminous flux from a subject along a first optical axis, an optical axis conversion member which bends the luminous flux along a second optical axis which intersects with the first optical axis, a second lens which images the bent luminous flux to an imaging element, and an optical amount adjustment unit provided between the second lens group and the optical axis conversion member. An AF motor, a driving unit which drives the optical amount adjustment unit, and a zoom motor are each selectively arranged at one of four spaces formed by a first plane defined by the optical amount adjustment unit and a second plane defined by the first and second optical axes. The AF motor, the driving unit, and the zoom motor may all be arranged at one side of the second plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2006
    Publication date: November 2, 2006
    Applicant: OLYMPUS OPTICAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yukinori Takahashi, Yasuo Asakura, Naoki Fujii
  • Patent number: 7123423
    Abstract: An electronic imaging device is provided which includes a first lens group which takes in a luminous flux from a subject along a first optical axis, an optical axis conversion member which bends the luminous flux along a second optical axis which intersects with the first optical axis, a second lens which images the bent luminous flux to an imaging element, and an optical amount adjustment unit provided between the second lens group and the optical axis conversion member. An AF motor, a driving unit which drives the optical amount adjustment unit, and a zoom motor are each selectively arranged at one of four spaces formed by a first plane defined by the optical amount adjustment unit and a second plane defined by the first and second optical axes. The AF motor, the driving unit, and the zoom motor may all be arranged at one side of the second plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukinori Takahashi, Yasuo Asakura, Naoki Fujii
  • Patent number: 6888574
    Abstract: An electronic still camera includes a stand-by mode switch and is capable of setting a stand-by mode in which a power and/or driving pulse is supplied to a CCD so that the mode can immediately shift to an image pickup operation upon a release instruction by a release switch. In the camera, a plurality of sensors for detecting contact or approach of a hand to make an image pickup operation are provided dispersedly at different positions, respectively. If the stand-by mode is set by the stand-by mode switch and all the sensors detect contact or approach of the hand, each processing in an AE processing section, AF processing section, and AWB processing section is carried out as a preliminary operation for image pickup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2005
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventor: Yasuo Asakura
  • Publication number: 20050052536
    Abstract: An electronic imaging device is provided which includes a first lens group which takes in a luminous flux from a subject along a first optical axis, an optical axis conversion member which bends the luminous flux along a second optical axis which intersects with the first optical axis, a second lens which images the bent luminous flux to an imaging element, and an optical amount adjustment unit provided between the second lens group and the optical axis conversion member. An AF motor, a driving unit which drives the optical amount adjustment unit, and a zoom motor are each selectively arranged at one of four spaces formed by a first plane defined by the optical amount adjustment unit and a second plane defined by the first and second optical axes. The AF motor, the driving unit, and the zoom motor may all be arranged at one side of the second plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2004
    Publication date: March 10, 2005
    Applicant: OLYMPUS OPTICAL CO., LTD
    Inventors: Tatsuji Higuchi, Masaaki Daigaku, Yukinori Takahashi, Yasuo Asakura, Naoki Fujii
  • Patent number: 6829011
    Abstract: The first electronic imaging device, which performs a photoelectric-conversion of a subject light with an imaging element and records it, according to the present invention is characterized by comprising a first lens arranged along a first optical axis to take a luminous flux from the subject, an optical axis conversion material which bends the luminous flux which passes the first lens along a second optical axis which intersects with the first optical axis, a second lens which images the luminous flux bent along the second optical axis to the imaging element arranged on the second optical axis, and an optical amount adjustment device provided between the imaging element and the optical axis conversion material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2004
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsuji Higuchi, Masaaki Daigaku, Yukinori Takahashi, Yasuo Asakura, Naoki Fujii
  • Publication number: 20040238143
    Abstract: To provide a sleeve for a press roll and a sleeve mounted press roll, wherein a cylindrical sleeve (1) to be used by externally mounting on a press roll (2) comprises a cylindrical main layer (11) composed with a composite material, where a fiber reinforcing material is bound with a matrix resin, the first cover layer (12) is formed on an outer peripheral surface of the main layer (11), and the second cover layer (13) is formed on an inner circumference surface of said main layer (11).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2003
    Publication date: December 2, 2004
    Applicant: ATSUSHI KITAMURA
    Inventors: Atsushi Kitamura, Yasuo Asakura
  • Patent number: 6778777
    Abstract: An electronic camera having therein a CCD (image sensing device). A lens barrel is mounted on a camera body thereof. As focusing means, this camera has therein a ranging unit in an active AF manner and a contrast detector in a contrast AF manner using subject light from the lens barrel. A grip portion is arranged at the left side (as seen from the subject) of the camera body. A peak portion is arranged over the grip portion. A ranging window for the ranging unit is arranged over the peak portion. When the camera body is held, it is possible to prevent fingers from moving to the front of the ranging window and covering the window by the peak portion. Even if the lens barrel has a large aperture, it is also possible to arrange the ranging unit on the front portion of the camera body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoki Fujii, Yasuo Asakura
  • Publication number: 20030107667
    Abstract: A camera according to the present invention includes a picture-taking lens unit including a picture-taking optical system having a bending optical system which optically bends incident light and an optical finder unit including a finder optical system having a bending optical system which optically bends incident light. A pre-bending optical system and a post-bending optical system in the bending optical system of the optical finder unit are arranged adjacent to a pre-bending optical system and a post-bending optical system in the bending optical system of the picture-taking lens unit, respectively. The body of the camera is therefore decreased in size.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2002
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Inventors: Takeshi Abe, Akira Futami, Koji Kato, Takashi Okamura, Yasuo Asakura, Toshikatsu Shiozaki
  • Patent number: 6247855
    Abstract: A lens protecting cover-attached camera includes a moving mechanism. Thus, a simple mechanism is used to turn on or off a main power switch and for opening or closing a lens protecting cover responsively to manipulations performed on a single manipulating member. A supporting shaft for supporting the lens protecting cover is placed so as to be parallel to a plane substantially perpendicular to the optical axis of a photographic lens. When the supporting shaft is moved along the optical axis of the photographic lens, the moving mechanism causes the lens protecting cover to rotate around the supporting shaft at the center from a closed position to an open position. At the closed position, the lens protecting cover shields the face of the photographic lens. At the open position, the lens protecting cover exposes the face of the lens. Moreover, the moving mechanism turns on or off the power switch in response to a movement made along the optical axis of the photographic lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2001
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsumi Motohashi, Yuji Kobayashi, Naohiro Tsuchida, Takashi Muroi, Yuji Imai, Yasuo Asakura
  • Patent number: 6213654
    Abstract: A camera comprises a fixed lens barrel including a moving lens barrel movable to a collapsed position for non-photography and to a thrust position for photography, and a lens cover capable of pivoting with support shafts, which lie parallel to a plane substantially perpendicular to the optical axis of a photography lens, as a center so as to move to a closed position at which at least part of the face of the photography lens is shielded and to an open position at which the face of the photography lens is exposed. When the lens cover is open, if an external force is applied in a direction in which the lens cover is further opened, the lens cover comes off from the support shafts. The support shafts are formed with two shaft members whose distal portions are formed with tapered surfaces and which are constrained to move in directions in which they are separated from each other. The support shafts are mounted on a member which allows the support shafts to move along the optical axis of the photography lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideaki Kume, Takaaki Ue, Masatoshi Sato, Yasuo Asakura
  • Patent number: 6132110
    Abstract: A camera comprises a fixed lens barrel including a moving lens barrel moveable to a collapsed position for non-photography and to a thrust position for photography, and a lens cover capable of pivoting with support shafts, which lie parallel to a plane substantially perpendicular to the optical axis of a photography lens, as a center so as to move to a closed position at which at least part of the face of the photography lens is shielded and to an open position at which the face of the photography lens is exposed. When the lens cover is open, if an external force is applied in a direction in which the lens cover is further opened, the lens cover separates from the support shafts. The support shafts are formed with two shaft members whose distal portions are formed with tapered surfaces and which are constrained to move in directions in which they are separated from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideaki Kume, Takaaki Ue, Yasuo Asakura, Tatsuya Suzuki
  • Patent number: 6033130
    Abstract: A lens cover mounted camera with a lens cover movable to selectively assume at least a closing condition that covers a front surface of a photographing lens and an opening condition that exposes the front surface of the photographing lens, and further having a lens cover operating member for conducting the opening and closing operations of the lens cover and further for shifting the lens cover in directions of the optical axis of the photographing lens. When the camera is switched to a using condition or a non-using condition, the lens cover is respectively shifted to an opening position or a closing position through the lens cover operating member. This design minimizes the protruding quantity of the lens cover from a camera body and prevents the lens cover from being easily broken even if a careless external force or shock works on the lens cover during the use of the camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2000
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Muroi, Yuji Kobayashi, Katsumi Motohashi, Sumio Kawai, Yuji Imai, Yasuo Asakura, Tatsuya Suzuki
  • Patent number: 5987268
    Abstract: A film loading device of a camera receiving a film accommodating type cartridge has a cartridge chamber lid turnably supported in a loose state and a positioning shaft having a slidingly supported inclined portion attached to a presser member fixed to the chamber lid. When a cartridge is loaded and the cartridge chamber lid is turned in a closing direction, a fitting portion of the lid is fitted to a cartridge chamber and the positioning shaft is inserted into the positioning hole of the cartridge by being smoothly guided by the inclined surface position thereof and perfectly engaged with the hole. The positioning shaft is securely and smoothly inserted into the loaded cartridge in the film loading device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: Olympus Optical, Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Keita Takahashi, Yasuo Asakura
  • Patent number: 5933285
    Abstract: A lens barrel with a stationary frame fixed relative to a camera body; a flare diaphragm movable in a direction of an optical axis for cutting off harmful incident light; an urging spring urging the flare diaphragm in the direction of the optical axis; a third group frame including a protruding portion which is driven into abutting contact with the flare diaphragm to restrict a position of the flare diaphragm in the direction of the optical axis, the third group frame being moved in the direction of the optical axis; and, a supporting shaft rigidly positioned on the stationary frame. The supporting shaft guides the movable flare diaphragm in the direction of the optical axis, while being snugly fitted to the flare diaphragm. In addition, the supporting shaft includes a stepped front portion for restricting such movement of the flare diaphragm to a predetermined position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1999
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsuhiro Sato, Tamotsu Koiwai, Yasuo Asakura