Patents by Inventor Yoichi Hirota

Yoichi Hirota 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: 8208074
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes: video-signal transmitting and receiving means for transmitting/receiving a video signal to/from one or more external apparatuses; image-quality-improvement processing means for applying image quality improvement processing based on an image quality improvement processing function of the information processing apparatus to the video signal; holding means for holding performance of the image quality improvement processing function concerning the image-quality-improvement processing means; CEC transmitting means for transmitting the performance held by the holding means to the external apparatuses; receiving means for receiving performances of image quality improvement processing functions of the one or more external apparatuses; and control means for comparing the performance of the image quality improvement processing function and the performances of the image quality improvement processing functions of the one or more external apparatuses received by the receiving
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Chikara Mizuno, Jun Takeshita, Hiroaki Itou, Yoichi Hirota, Hidetoshi Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 8187695
    Abstract: The present invention provides a shaping sheet that includes a base material having at least an ink layer provided on the whole surface thereof and a surface shaping layer that is present on the ink layer, contacts the ink layer, and covers the whole surface of the ink layer, in which the surface shaping layer is a crosslinked and cured product of a curable resin composition and the surface shaping layer has a concavoconvex pattern on a surface thereof. There can be obtained: a shaping sheet that has a fine concavoconvex pattern, allows elaborated shaping with a high-grade feeling, and has excellent releasability; a shaping sheet having excellent design properties and releasability that can readily control a lustrous portion and a matted portion; and further a shaping sheet whose surface is free of contamination by impurities separated out of the base material even when it is repeatedly used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Iizuka, Yoichi Hirota, Kenichi Tachihara
  • Patent number: 8184179
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes the following elements. An obtaining unit obtains a first still image, a first difficulty level indicating a complexity of the first still image, a second still image, and a second difficulty level indicating a complexity of the second still image. A combining unit combines the first and second still images at a combination ratio which is changed along a time axis to generate a moving image. An encoding unit encodes the moving image. A moving-image difficulty-level calculating unit calculates a moving-image difficulty level indicating a complexity of the moving image according to the first and second difficulty levels and the combination ratio changed along the time axis. A control unit controls a characteristic of a process of encoding the moving image according to the combination ratio changed along the time axis and the moving-image difficulty level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yoichi Hirota, Hiroshi Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20120050618
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2011
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Ikeda, Toshimichi Hamada, Yoichi Hirota
  • Publication number: 20110181705
    Abstract: A signal processing device configured to produce a first output video signal and a second output video signal as video signals for right and left eyes in a stereoscopic video, the first and second output video signals each having a predetermined number of output gradation steps, from a first input video signal and a second input video signal, the first and second input video signals each having a predetermined number of input gradation steps. A predetermined gradation value difference is produced between the gradation values of the first output video signal and the gradation values of the second output video signal to express a higher number of gradation steps than the number of output gradation steps in the stereoscopic video.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2011
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Yoichi Hirota
  • Publication number: 20110033171
    Abstract: There is provided a signal processing device which includes a change position detection unit that detects stepwise change positions of an n-bit quantized signal generated from an input signal; a density detection unit that calculates a value indicating a degree of density of the stepwise change positions detected by the change position detection unit; and a first low-frequency component extraction unit that extracts a desired low-frequency component from the input signal based on the value indicating the degree of density of the change positions calculated by the density detection unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2010
    Publication date: February 10, 2011
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Yoichi Hirota
  • Publication number: 20110019931
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2010
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Toshimichi HAMADA, Masashi Ota, Kiyoshi Ikeda, Hiromasa Naganuma, Yoichi Hirota
  • Publication number: 20100110301
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2009
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masashi Ota, Toshimichi Hamada, Kiyoshi Ikeda, Hiromasa Naganuma, Yoichi Hirota, Naomasa Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20100104211
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2009
    Publication date: April 29, 2010
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yoichi Hirota, Kiyoshi Ikeda, Masashi Ota, Toshimichi Hamada, Hiromasa Naganuma, Makoto Tsukamoto
  • Publication number: 20100079674
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes: video-signal transmitting and receiving means for transmitting/receiving a video signal to/from one or more external apparatuses; image-quality-improvement processing means for applying image quality improvement processing based on an image quality improvement processing function of the information processing apparatus to the video signal; holding means for holding performance of the image quality improvement processing function concerning the image-quality-improvement processing means; CEC transmitting means for transmitting the performance held by the holding means to the external apparatuses; receiving means for receiving performances of image quality improvement processing functions of the one or more external apparatuses; and control means for comparing the performance of the image quality improvement processing function and the performances of the image quality improvement processing functions of the one or more external apparatuses received by the receiving
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2009
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Inventors: Chikara MIZUNO, Jun Takeshita, Hiroaki Itou, Yoichi Hirota, Hidetoshi Yamaguchi
  • Publication number: 20100079483
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2009
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Hiromasa Naganuma, Masashi Ota, Toshimichi Hamada, Kiyoshi Ikeda, Yoichi Hirota, Naomasa Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20090027512
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes the following elements. An obtaining unit obtains a first still image, a first difficulty level indicating a complexity of the first still image, a second still image, and a second difficulty level indicating a complexity of the second still image. A combining unit combines the first and second still images at a combination ratio which is changed along a time axis to generate a moving image. An encoding unit encodes the moving image. A moving-image difficulty-level calculating unit calculates a moving-image difficulty level indicating a complexity of the moving image according to the first and second difficulty levels and the combination ratio changed along the time axis. A control unit controls a characteristic of a process of encoding the moving image according to the combination ratio changed along the time axis and the moving-image difficulty level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2008
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Inventors: Yoichi Hirota, Hiroshi Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20080310516
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes: input means for inputting a video signal; decoding means for decoding the video signal; filtering means for performing predetermined filtering on the decoded video signal; and control means for calculating an average bit rate by dividing an amount of bits generated per predetermined data unit from the decoded video signal, and controlling a characteristic of the filtering in accordance with the average bit rate. When the video signal is input per image file, the control means calculates the average bit rate by dividing a file size of the image file by a playback time corresponding to the file size, and when the video signal input is sequentially input per picture, the control means calculates the average bit rate by dividing a sum of generated bits per picture for a predetermined number of frames by the predetermined number of frames and the frame rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2008
    Publication date: December 18, 2008
    Inventors: Hiroshi KOBAYASHI, Yoichi Hirota, Hiroaki Itou
  • Patent number: 7450239
    Abstract: An optical pulse evaluation device and an in-service optical pulse evaluation device is disclosed which are capable of characteristics evaluation of an optical pulse itself or a sample launched therein in a relatively high bit-rate region. The optical pulse evaluation device evaluates a pulse waveform expressing an optical intensity of the optical pulse, an instantaneous frequency of the optical pulse, or a modulated light prepared by modulating the optical pulse in a light source end. The optical pulse evaluation device also observes a waveform change after a known optical pulse is passed through a device such as an optical fiber to evaluate a waveform deterioration or a compensation behavior caused by the device. The in-service optical pulse evaluation device is capable of measuring a wavelength dispersion in an optical communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: Santec Corporation
    Inventors: Noboru Uehara, Yuichi Takushima, Yasuyuki Ozeki, Yoichi Hirota
  • Publication number: 20070231583
    Abstract: The present invention provides a shaping sheet that includes a base material having at least an ink layer provided on the whole surface thereof and a surface shaping layer that is present on the ink layer, contacts the ink layer, and covers the whole surface of the ink layer, in which the surface shaping layer is a crosslinked and cured product of a curable resin composition and the surface shaping layer has a concavoconvex pattern on a surface thereof. There can be obtained: a shaping sheet that has a fine concavoconvex pattern, allows elaborated shaping with a high-grade feeling, and has excellent releasability; a shaping sheet having excellent design properties and releasability that can readily control a lustrous portion and a matted portion; and further a shaping sheet whose surface is free of contamination by impurities separated out of the base material even when it is repeatedly used.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Publication date: October 4, 2007
    Inventors: Takashi Ilzuka, Yoichi Hirota, Kenichi Tachihara
  • Publication number: 20050219543
    Abstract: To obtain an optical pulse evaluation device and an in-service optical pulse evaluation device, which are capable of characteristics evaluation of an optical pulse itself or a sample launched therein, in a relatively high bit-rate region. Optical pulse 42 output repeatedly from an optical pulse light source 43 at a frequency fREP passes through sample 93 n sample stage 91 to be scanned by tunable wavelength optical band pass filter 47. A detection result by photodiode 51 is input in phase detection circuit 45 accompanying with the reference frequency fREP and the result is operated by operation unit 58C of personal computer 52 to know a spectral phase and a spectral intensity of the optical pulse passed through sample 93. Correcting this by applying the operation result in the state, where sample 93 has been removed enables to evaluate characteristics such as deterioration of optical pulse 42 by using sample 93. It is also possible to evaluate a waveform of optical pulse 42 as a light source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2005
    Publication date: October 6, 2005
    Inventors: Noboru Uehara, Yuichi Takushima, Yasuyuki Ozeki, Yoichi Hirota
  • Patent number: 5656359
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a decorative sheet having an appearance, feeling and touch which are remarkably resemble to those of the grain of natural wood, and being excellent also in material characteristics such as abrasion resistance and heat resistance. The decorative sheet of the invention is characterized in that it comprises a substrate sheet, and a grain-pattern-printed layer having a grain pattern, formed on the substrate sheet, and that a built-up printed portion is provided on at least a part of a vessel pattern portion in the grain pattern of the grain-pattern-printed layer in such a manner that the built-up printed portion substantially corresponds with the vessel pattern portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 12, 1997
    Assignee: Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoichi Hirota, Ichiro Kawahata, Takashi Matano