Patents by Inventor Yumi Watanabe

Yumi Watanabe 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: 11822211
    Abstract: A focus adjustment device obtains a correction value for correcting a result of autofocus, from aberration information regarding at least one of an astigmatism, a chromatic aberration, and a spherical aberration of an imaging optical system, and focus detection information regarding the autofocus. The focus adjustment device then controls a position of a focusing lens that the imaging optical system has, based on a result of the autofocus corrected using the correction value. By correcting the result of the autofocus while considering at least a focus condition of a photographic image, a focus detection error caused by an aberration of the optical system can be accurately corrected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yumi Watanabe, Hideyuki Hamano
  • Publication number: 20210333690
    Abstract: A focus adjustment device obtains a correction value for correcting a result of autofocus, from aberration information regarding at least one of an astigmatism, a chromatic aberration, and a spherical aberration of an imaging optical system, and focus detection information regarding the autofocus. The focus adjustment device then controls a position of a focusing lens that the imaging optical system has, based on a result of the autofocus corrected using the correction value. By correcting the result of the autofocus while considering at least a focus condition of a photographic image, a focus detection error caused by an aberration of the optical system can be accurately corrected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2021
    Publication date: October 28, 2021
    Inventors: Yumi Watanabe, Hideyuki Hamano
  • Patent number: 11099459
    Abstract: A focus adjustment device obtains a correction value for correcting a result of autofocus, from aberration information regarding at least one of an astigmatism, a chromatic aberration, and a spherical aberration of an imaging optical system, and focus detection information regarding the autofocus. The focus adjustment device then controls a position of a focusing lens that the imaging optical system has, based on a result of the autofocus corrected using the correction value. By correcting the result of the autofocus while considering at least a focus condition of a photographic image, a focus detection error caused by an aberration of the optical system can be accurately corrected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yumi Watanabe, Hideyuki Hamano
  • Patent number: 10212334
    Abstract: A focusing adjustment apparatus includes a focusing unit, a first acquisition unit, a second acquisition unit, and a control unit. The focusing unit outputs a first signal for a focusing operation. The first acquisition unit acquires first information, which is related to characteristics of a signal used for outputting the first signal, and second information, which is related to characteristics of a captured image and is predetermined. The second acquisition unit acquires third information on aberrations of an imaging optical system. The control unit calculates a correction value based on the first information, the second information, and the third information. By using the correction value, the control unit changes the first signal, output from the focusing unit, to a second signal used in the focusing operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideyuki Hamano, Yumi Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20180316041
    Abstract: A battery includes an electrode body having a substantially cylindrical shape and an outer package member having a film shape. The outer package member includes a housing portion that has a substantially cylindrical shape and is configured to house the electrode body; and seal portions that are provided on three sides of a periphery of the housing portion excluding a folded portion provided on a first peripheral surface side of the housing portion. At least one of the seal portions provided on an end surface of the housing portion is displaced from a center position of the end surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2018
    Publication date: November 1, 2018
    Inventors: Yoshiichi HORIKOSHI, Yusuke TANJI, Yumi WATANABE
  • Publication number: 20180299748
    Abstract: A focus adjustment device obtains a correction value for correcting a result of autofocus, from aberration information regarding at least one of an astigmatism, a chromatic aberration, and a spherical aberration of an imaging optical system, and focus detection information regarding the autofocus. The focus adjustment device then controls a position of a focusing lens that the imaging optical system has, based on a result of the autofocus corrected using the correction value. By correcting the result of the autofocus while considering at least a focus condition of a photographic image, a focus detection error caused by an aberration of the optical system can be accurately corrected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2018
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Inventors: Yumi Watanabe, Hideyuki Hamano
  • Publication number: 20180241933
    Abstract: A focusing adjustment apparatus includes a focusing unit, a first acquisition unit, a second acquisition unit, and a control unit. The focusing unit outputs a first signal for a focusing operation. The first acquisition unit acquires first information, which is related to characteristics of a signal used for outputting the first signal, and second information, which is related to characteristics of a captured image and is predetermined. The second acquisition unit acquires third information on aberrations of an imaging optical system. The control unit calculates a correction value based on the first information, the second information, and the third information. By using the correction value, the control unit changes the first signal, output from the focusing unit, to a second signal used in the focusing operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2018
    Publication date: August 23, 2018
    Inventors: Hideyuki Hamano, Yumi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 10025162
    Abstract: A focus adjustment device obtains a correction value for correcting a result of autofocus, from aberration information regarding at least one of an astigmatism, a chromatic aberration, and a spherical aberration of an imaging optical system, and focus detection information regarding the autofocus. The focus adjustment device then controls a position of a focusing lens that the imaging optical system has, based on a result of the autofocus corrected using the correction value. By correcting the result of the autofocus while considering at least a focus condition of a photographic image, a focus detection error caused by an aberration of the optical system can be accurately corrected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yumi Watanabe, Hideyuki Hamano
  • Patent number: 9998652
    Abstract: A focusing adjustment apparatus includes a focusing unit, a first acquisition unit, a second acquisition unit, and a control unit. The focusing unit outputs a first signal for a focusing operation. The first acquisition unit acquires first information, which is related to characteristics of a signal used for outputting the first signal, and second information, which is related to characteristics of a captured image and is predetermined. The second acquisition unit acquires third information on aberrations of an imaging optical system. The control unit calculates a correction value based on the first information, the second information, and the third information. By using the correction value, the control unit changes the first signal, output from the focusing unit, to a second signal used in the focusing operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideyuki Hamano, Yumi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 9843710
    Abstract: A focusing adjustment apparatus includes a recording unit, a focusing adjustment unit, a calculation unit, and a calculation unit. The recording unit records a recording signal output from an image sensor. The focusing adjustment unit adjusts focusing on an object image entering the image sensor based on information about an image-forming position in a first evaluation band of the recording signal. The calculation unit calculates the image-forming position in the first evaluation band of the recording signal by correcting, using a correction value, an image-forming position in a second evaluation band of a focusing adjustment signal obtained from the image sensor. The calculation unit changes the correction value using information about the first evaluation band of the recording signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideyuki Hamano, Yumi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 9742984
    Abstract: An image capturing apparatus comprises an image pickup device with a plurality of pixels each of which includes at least two photoelectric conversion portions, a readout unit configured to read out a first image signal and an added signal obtained by adding the first image signal and a second image signal, a subtraction unit configured to subtract the first image signal from the added signal, a focus detection unit configured to detect a focus state based on the first and the second image signal, and a limiter unit configured to suppress an output of the first photoelectric conversion portion and an output of the second photoelectric conversion portion not to exceed a predetermined threshold, wherein the limiter unit suppresses the output of the first photoelectric conversion portion and the second photoelectric conversion portion for different color filters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akihiko Kanda, Yumi Watanabe, Shun Nakamura
  • Patent number: 9641741
    Abstract: In a focus detection apparatus having a plurality of filters suitable for processing of signals having different frequencies, a setting unit sets a thinning rate in a main-scanning direction of an image sensor depending on a filter to be used, a control unit controls to read image signals sequentially with the set thinning rate and store the read image signals in a storage unit, a processing unit processes the stored image signals with the filter and obtains a focus state evaluation value in a sub-scanning direction of the image sensor and a focus control unit performs the focus control processing based on the focus state evaluation value. If the filter to be used is for a second frequency that is higher than a first frequency, the setting unit sets a lower thinning rate than that for a filter for the first frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yumi Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20170064193
    Abstract: A focusing adjustment apparatus includes a focusing unit, a first acquisition unit, a second acquisition unit, and a control unit. The focusing unit outputs a first signal for a focusing operation. The first acquisition unit acquires first information, which is related to characteristics of a signal used for outputting the first signal, and second information, which is related to characteristics of a captured image and is predetermined. The second acquisition unit acquires third information on aberrations of an imaging optical system. The control unit calculates a correction value based on the first information, the second information, and the third information. By using the correction value, the control unit changes the first signal, output from the focusing unit, to a second signal used in the focusing operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: Hideyuki Hamano, Yumi Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20160191789
    Abstract: An image capturing apparatus comprises an image pickup device with a plurality of pixels each of which includes at least two photoelectric conversion portions, a readout unit configured to read out a first image signal and an added signal obtained by adding the first image signal and a second image signal, a subtraction unit configured to subtract the first image signal from the added signal, a focus detection unit configured to detect a focus state based on the first and the second image signal, and a limiter unit configured to suppress an output of the first photoelectric conversion portion and an output of the second photoelectric conversion portion not to exceed a predetermined threshold, wherein the limiter unit suppresses the output of the first photoelectric conversion portion and the second photoelectric conversion portion for different color filters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2016
    Publication date: June 30, 2016
    Inventors: Akihiko Kanda, Yumi Watanabe, Shun Nakamura
  • Patent number: 9313469
    Abstract: An image capturing apparatus comprises an image pickup device with a plurality of pixels each of which includes at least two photoelectric conversion portions, a readout unit configured to read out a first image signal and an added signal obtained by adding the first image signal and a second image signal, a subtraction unit configured to subtract the first image signal from the added signal, a focus detection unit configured to detect a focus state based on the first and the second image signal, and a limiter unit configured to suppress an output of the first photoelectric conversion portion and an output of the second photoelectric conversion portion not to exceed a predetermined threshold, wherein the limiter unit suppresses the output of the first photoelectric conversion portion and the second photoelectric conversion portion for different color filters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Akihiko Kanda, Yumi Watanabe, Shun Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20150316833
    Abstract: A focus adjustment device obtains a correction value for correcting a result of autofocus, from aberration information regarding at least one of an astigmatism, a chromatic aberration, and a spherical aberration of an imaging optical system, and focus detection information regarding the autofocus. The focus adjustment device then controls a position of a focusing lens that the imaging optical system has, based on a result of the autofocus corrected using the correction value. By correcting the result of the autofocus while considering at least a focus condition of a photographic image, a focus detection error caused by an aberration of the optical system can be accurately corrected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2015
    Publication date: November 5, 2015
    Inventors: Yumi Watanabe, Hideyuki Hamano
  • Publication number: 20150207984
    Abstract: A focusing adjustment apparatus includes a recording unit, a focusing adjustment unit, a calculation unit, and a calculation unit. The recording unit records a recording signal output from an image sensor. The focusing adjustment unit adjusts focusing on an object image entering the image sensor based on information about an image-forming position in a first evaluation band of the recording signal. The calculation unit calculates the image-forming position in the first evaluation band of the recording signal by correcting, using a correction value, an image-forming position in a second evaluation band of a focusing adjustment signal obtained from the image sensor. The calculation unit changes the correction value using information about the first evaluation band of the recording signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2015
    Publication date: July 23, 2015
    Inventors: Hideyuki Hamano, Yumi Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20150062379
    Abstract: In a focus detection apparatus having a plurality of filters suitable for processing of signals having different frequencies, a setting unit sets a thinning rate in a main-scanning direction of an image sensor depending on a filter to be used, a control unit controls to read image signals sequentially with the set thinning rate and store the read image signals in a storage unit, a processing unit processes the stored image signals with the filter and obtains a focus state evaluation value in a sub-scanning direction of the image sensor and a focus control unit performs the focus control processing based on the focus state evaluation value. If the filter to be used is for a second frequency that is higher than a first frequency, the setting unit sets a lower thinning rate than that for a filter for the first frequency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventor: Yumi Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20140307134
    Abstract: An image capturing apparatus comprises an image pickup device with a plurality of pixels each of which includes at least two photoelectric conversion portions, a readout unit configured to read out a first image signal and an added signal obtained by adding the first image signal and a second image signal, a subtraction unit configured to subtract the first image signal from the added signal, a focus detection unit configured to detect a focus state based on the first and the second image signal, and a limiter unit configured to suppress an output of the first photoelectric conversion portion and an output of the second photoelectric conversion portion not to exceed a predetermined threshold, wherein the limiter unit suppresses the output of the first photoelectric conversion portion and the second photoelectric conversion portion for different color filters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2014
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Akihiko Kanda, Yumi Watanabe, Shun Nakamura
  • Patent number: 8363251
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus that converts image data into print data is provided. The apparatus includes a conversion unit configured to generate first and second print data from the image data using an error diffusion method, each piece of second print data corresponding to one of the plurality of passes; and a printing unit configured to print the second print data. The conversion unit converts the image data into the first print data using the error diffusion method, generates constraint specifying the non-print pixels in the first print data as non-print pixels in the second print data, and converts the image data into the plurality of pieces of second print data, each piece of second print data being used in one of the plurality of passes, through an error diffusion method with the constraint. The printing unit prints the second print data in each of the plurality of passes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yumi Watanabe, Tomokazu Yanai