Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090174808 | Exposure control apparatus and exposure control program for vehicle-mounted electronic camera - In an exposure control apparatus for a vehicle-installed camera which captures images of an external scene ahead of the vehicle as arrays of picture elements, a measured brightness value is obtained from each image based on respective spatial-domain average brightness values of a plurality of picture element groups, such as horizontal rows of picture elements. For each of at least part of the groups, time-axis filtering is applied to a plurality of average brightness values that have been successively obtained for that group, to obtain an average brightness values with reduced effect of time-axis variations in brightness. | 07-09-2009 |
20090174809 | Exposure control apparatus and exposure control program for vehicle-mounted electronic camera - In an exposure control apparatus for exposure control of a vehicle-mounted camera which captures successive images of a scene ahead of the vehicle, two different regions (sets of picture elements) in each image are selected for use in measuring the brightness of an object such as a preceding vehicle and the brightness of the road surface, respectively. The camera exposure is controlled based upon both of these brightness measurement results. | 07-09-2009 |
20090251563 | Exposure control apparatus and exposure control program for vehicle-mounted electronic camera - In an exposure control apparatus for a vehicle-installed camera which captures images of an external scene ahead of the vehicle as respective arrays of picture elements, highest-brightness and lowest-brightness picture elements of each image are excluded from processing for measuring the brightness of a region in the scene ahead of the vehicle, thereby enabling stable measurement of brightness with reduced effects of incident light from oncoming vehicle headlights, dark patches on the road surface, etc. | 10-08-2009 |
20100033619 | Exposure determining device and image processing apparatus - In an exposure determining device, an image acquiring unit acquires a first image. The first image is picked up by an image pickup unit at a first exposure. A light-intensity detecting unit extracts areas in the first image and detects a light intensity in area. A mismatch area determining unit determines, based on the detected light intensity in each area, whether each area is a mismatch area in which an edge is estimated to be undetected due to excess or shortage of the first exposure for a corresponding one of the areas. When it is determined that one of the areas is the mismatch area, a second exposure determining unit determines a second exposure of the image pickup unit. The second exposure is matched with the light intensity in the mismatch area. | 02-11-2010 |
20100073753 | Imaging of a plurality of types of images based on light of a plurality of wavelength bands - In an optical filter, a pair of polarization filters allows transmission of light therethrough when i) the light has a wavelength band equal to or more than a first wavelength regardless of a light oscillation direction, the wavelength band including a wavelength of infrared light and ii) the light has a wavelength band less than the first wavelength and is linearly polarized. An optical rotation control element, disposed between the paired polarization filters, allows the light to be transmitted therethrough during which optical rotation of the light is changed selectively depending on application or non-application of voltage to the optical rotation control element. The polarization filters have polarization planes, respectively, which are in parallel with each other or the polarization plane of one of the polarization filters is rotated from that of the other by an angular amount of rotation resulting from the polarization of the optical rotation control element. | 03-25-2010 |
20100079612 | Method and apparatus for processing images acquired by camera mounted in vehicle - An apparatus processes an image acquired by a single camera mounted in a vehicle, the image imaging a field of view on and along a road on which the vehicle runs. In the apparatus, from the acquired image, a region indicative of a target vehicle is extracted. Based on an illuminance of the image around the target vehicle in the image, a correction region is calculated whose illuminance should be corrected. The correction region includes both the region indicative of the target vehicle and a vicinity of the region. A region of halation being predicted in the calculated correction region is calculated. The illuminance of the region of halation being predicted is corrected so that no or less halation is caused in the region of the halation being predicted. An image in which the corrected region of halation is overlapped on the acquired image is outputted. | 04-01-2010 |
20100091106 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS ADAPTED TO RECOGNIZE OBJECT IN ACQUIRED IMAGE - An image processing apparatus communicates with an image acquisition apparatus provided with an image acquisition region comprising light-shielded pixels and effective pixels. Data of an image are acquired based on output signals from the effective pixels. An edge of an object is extracted in the acquired image data using a preset edge threshold, and the object is recognized based on the extracted edge. Output signals are acquired from the light-shielded pixels and a degree of variations in noise contained in the output signals from the effective pixels is estimated based on the output signals acquired. The edge threshold is set based on the degree of variations in noise which is estimated, such that the noise having a level which exceeds the edge threshold occurs at a probability lower than a preset value. | 04-15-2010 |
20110267467 | In-vehicle camera apparatus enabling recognition of tail lamp of distant preceding vehicle - A camera apparatus installated on a vehicle includes an image sensor having a RGB Bayer array of pixel sensors and a beam-splitting optical filter disposed between the camera lens assembly and the Bayer array. An incident light beam from a source such as a distant vehicle tail lamp becomes split into a plurality of light beams which become focused on respectively separate pixel sensors. Since the color of the light source is detected based on a plurality of pixel sensors, erroneous detection due to light falling on only a single R, G or B pixel sensor is prevented. | 11-03-2011 |
20120162424 | EXPOSURE CONTROL APPARATUS FOR VEHICLE-MOUNTED CAMERA - The exposure control apparatus is for performing exposure control for a camera mounted on a vehicle in accordance with brightness of a recognition area set in an image ahead of the vehicle taken by the camera. The exposure control apparatus includes a measuring means for measuring brightness of a photometric area showing a landscape more distant from the vehicle than a landscape shown by the recognition area in each of images successively taken by the camera, a detection means for detecting brightness variation with time of the photometric area based on measurement results by the measuring means for images taken by the camera at different times, and a control means configured to predict a timing at which the brightness of the recognition area changes based on the brightness variation with time of the photometric area, and perform exposure control of the camera at the predicted timing. | 06-28-2012 |
20120308082 | RECOGNITION OBJECT DETECTING APPARATUS - A recognition object detecting apparatus is provided which includes an imaging unit which generates image data representing a taken image, and a detection unit which detects a recognition object from the image represented by the image data. The imaging unit has a characteristic in which a relation between luminance and output pixel values varies depending on a luminance range. The detection unit binarizes the output pixel values of the image represented by the image data by using a plurality of threshold values to generate a to plurality of binary images, and detects the recognition object based on the plurality of binary images. | 12-06-2012 |
20130335601 | IMAGING APPARATUS WHICH SUPPRESSES FIXED PATTERN NOISE GENERATED BY AN IMAGE SENSOR OF THE APPARATUS - An imaging apparatus detects and registers fixed-noise pixels as those pixels of the image sensor which produce fixed pattern noise, and includes an optical element which disperses light that is incident on the image sensor. The detection is performed by identifying isolated high-luminance pixels within captured images and, for each isolated high-luminance pixel, evaluating the luminance values of peripherally adjacent pixels. A judgement is made as to whether an isolated high-luminance pixel is a fixed-noise pixel based upon comparing luminance values of the peripherally adjacent pixels with a predetermined threshold value, the judgement preferably being performed only while images are captured during hours of darkness. | 12-19-2013 |
20150110397 | IMAGE PROCESSING DEVICE AND METHOD - In image data having a first number of gradations, an image processing device calculates the number of pixels having luminance within a region, for each region obtained by dividing the range of luminance in the image data into a plurality of regions. The image processing device selects a region from the plurality of regions based on the number of pixels having luminance within the region. The image processing device sets the luminance of the pixels having luminance within the selected region to be within a second number of gradations that is less than the first number of gradations, and sets the luminance of pixels having luminance within a region that has not been selected to a minimum value or a maximum value. | 04-23-2015 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20110109786 | IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS - A manual input via a manual input unit while automatically changing a zoom magnification via a zoom control unit is permitted, and after the manual input, the zoom magnification is automatically changed so that a size of an object output from an object extraction unit becomes a second size in relation to an angle of view. | 05-12-2011 |
20130271746 | RANGING APPARATUS - A ranging apparatus includes a body, a substrate on which a sensor unit is mounted and fitted to a surface of the body, a sensor holder attached to the surface of the body and configured to hold the substrate, a lens unit attached to another surface of the body, and a positioning mechanism to position and connect the body, the surface and the sensor holder. The positioning mechanism includes first and second engaging parts which are provided between the body and the substrate and configured to engage the body and the substrate, and third and fourth engaging parts which are provided between the substrate and the sensor holder and configured to engage the substrate and the sensor holder. The first and second engaging parts are different in shape, and the third and fourth engaging parts are different in shape. | 10-17-2013 |
20160037086 | IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD FOR SAME - Provided is a compound-eye image pickup apparatus in which a plurality of imaging units, each of which configured to photoelectrically convert an optical image focused by a single focal lens with different focal length so as to output a signal, are arranged in the form of a matrix. An image processing unit performs an electronic zoom process for changing a cut-out area of an image and a filtering process for an image signal. A system controller obtains information relating a change in zoom magnification from a zoom changing unit and data relating to a zoom control method from a zoom control method storage unit so as to instruct a zoom controller to perform zoom control. Upon change of an angle of view by controlling the electronic zoom process and the switching of the single focal lens, the zoom controller controls the filtering process performed by the image processing unit so as to equalize the resolution before and after the switching of the single focal lens. | 02-04-2016 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20130116401 | Production Process of Poly(Arylene Sulfide) and Production Apparatus Thereof - A production process of a poly(arylene sulfide) (PAS), including a polymerization step of forming a PAS from a sulfur source that is an alkali metal (hydro)sulfides and a dihalo-aromatic compound in an organic amide solvent; a separation step of PAS particles; a countercurrent washing step that is a step of washing the PAS particles with water and/or an organic solvent, wherein a downward current of a PAS particle-containing aqueous slurry is continuously brought into countercurrent contact with an upward current of a washing liquid; a PAS particle re-separation step of capturing a washing waste liquid by a PAS particle re-separating unit, in which a micro-slit filter has been installed, and then re-separating the PAS particles from the micro-slit filter, preferably using a backwashing unit, to discharge them; and a collecting step of the PAS particles discharged, and a production apparatus of a poly(arylene sulfide). | 05-09-2013 |
20130253147 | Production Process of Poly(Arylene Sulfide) and Poly(Arylene Sulfide) - A production process of a poly(arylene sulfide), including (a) a polymerization step of polymerizing at least one sulfur source selected from the group consisting of alkali metal sulfides and alkali metal hydrosulfides and a dihalo-aromatic compound in an organic amide solvent to form a polymer; (b) a separation step of separating the polymer from a liquid reaction mixture containing the polymer formed after the polymerization step; (c) a washing step of washing the polymer with at least one washing liquid selected from the group consisting of water, an organic solvent and a mixed solution of water and an organic solvent as desired; and (d) an aqueous oxidizing solution treatment step of treating the polymer by bringing the polymer into contact with an aqueous oxidizing solution. | 09-26-2013 |
20140322576 | Lithium Ion Battery - A high-input and high-output battery having a large capacity while guaranteeing safety is provided. As a composition of an electrolytic solution, a composition ratio of ethylene carbonate (EC) is 20 vol % or more and 30 vol % or less, and a composition ratio of dimethyl carbonate (DMC) is 36 vol % or more and 50 vol % or less, and a composition ratio η (DMC/EMC) of dimethyl carbonate (DMC) and ethyl methyl carbonate (EMC) is 1.05≦η≦1.7. Furthermore, a composition ratio of an additive is 0.1 wt. % or more and 1.0 wt. % or less, and a concentration of lithium salt is 1.0 mol/L or more and 1.5 mol/L or less. | 10-30-2014 |
20140363708 | Lithium Ion Battery - In a lithium ion battery provided with a cleavage valve that discharges gas in accordance with an internal pressure rise, and a discharge capacity X of the battery being 30 Ah or more and less than 100 Ah, a positive electrode composite contains a mixed active material of layered lithium nickel manganese cobalt composite oxide (NMC) and spinel lithium manganese oxide (sp-Mn). A density of the positive electrode composite is 2.4 to 2.7 g/cm | 12-11-2014 |
20140370346 | Lithium Ion Battery - A high-input and high-output battery having a large capacity while guaranteeing safety is provided. In a lithium ion battery having an electrode wound group in which a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator are wound and an electrolytic solution provided in a battery container, a discharge capacity of the battery being 30 Ah or more, the positive electrode has a current collector and a positive electrode composite applied to both surfaces of the current collector, and the positive electrode composite has following configuration. The positive electrode composite contains a mixed active material of layered lithium nickel manganese cobalt composite oxide (NMC) and spinel lithium manganese oxide (sp-Mn), a density of the positive electrode composite is 2.4 g/cm | 12-18-2014 |
20150017499 | Lithium Ion Battery - In a lithium ion battery having an electrode wound group in which a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator are wound and an electrolytic solution provided in a battery container, a discharge capacity of the battery being 30 Ah or more and 125 Ah or less, the positive electrode has a current collector and a positive electrode composite applied to both surfaces of the current collector, and the positive electrode composite has following configuration. The positive electrode composite contains a mixed active material of layered lithium nickel manganese cobalt composite oxide (NMC) and olivine lithium iron phosphate (LFP), a density of the positive electrode composite is 2.0 g/cm | 01-15-2015 |
20150044534 | Lithium Ion Battery - A high-input and high-output battery having a large capacity while guaranteeing safety is provided. In a lithium ion battery having an electrode wound group in which a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator are wound and an electrolytic solution provided in a battery container, a discharge capacity of the battery being 30 Ah or more, the positive electrode has a current collector and a positive electrode composite applied to both surfaces of the current collector, and the positive electrode composite has following configuration. The positive electrode composite contains a mixed active material of layered lithium nickel manganese cobalt composite oxide (NMC) and spinel lithium manganese oxide (sp-Mn), a density of the positive electrode composite is 2.4 g/cm | 02-12-2015 |
20160006077 | Lithium Ion Battery - A high-input and high-output battery having a large capacity while guaranteeing safety is provided. As a composition of an electrolytic solution, a composition ratio of ethylene carbonate (EC) is 20 vol % or more and 30 vol % or less, and a composition ratio of dimethyl carbonate (DMC) is 36 vol % or more and 50 vol % or less, and a composition ratio η (DMC/EMC) of dimethyl carbonate (DMC) and ethyl methyl carbonate (EMC) is 1.0≦η≦1.7. Furthermore, a composition ratio of an additive is 0.1 wt. % or more and 1.0 wt. % or less, and a concentration of lithium salt is 1.0 mol/L or more and 1.5 mol/L or less. | 01-07-2016 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20130263637 | PRESS FORMING METHOD FOR STEEL PLATE - A press forming method forming an extended part by extension in a later forming period after deep drawing, the deep drawing process carried out with working at 100-250° C., and the extension forming process carried out colder at less than 50° C., whereby the extended part is formed by extension in a cup shaped low parts formed by deep drawing. Thus, press forming products containing formed elements can be deep drawing formed and extension formed at a high forming rate of 10 mm/sec or greater, which can assure high productivity. By making a steel plate temperature 100-350° C. during press forming and by making the forming rate in the later forming period where extension forming is carried out slower than the forming rate in an earlier forming period where extension forming is not carried out, cracking of the extended part can be prevented and press forming limitations can be improved. | 10-10-2013 |
20140044988 | HIGH-STRENGTH STEEL SHEET EXCELLENT IN WORKABILITY AND MANUFACTURING METHOD THEREOF - Provided are: a high-strength steel sheet which is improved in both elongation and local formability and thus exhibits excellent workability; and a manufacturing method thereof. The high-strength steel sheet contains C, Si, Mn, Al, P and S with the remainder including iron and unavoidable impurities, and has a metal structure which includes polygonal ferrite, bainite, tempered martensite, and retained austenite. In the metal structure, (1) the bainite has a composite microstructure including both a high-temperature-formed bainite having an average distance between adjacent regions of retained austenite and/or carbide of 1 μm or more and a low-temperature-formed bainite having an average distance between adjacent regions of retained austenite and/or carbide of less than 1 μm each identified upon observation with a scanning electron microscope; and (2) the retained austenite is present in a volume percentage of 5% or more of the entire metal structure as determined by a saturation magnetization measurement. | 02-13-2014 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20150086079 | VEHICLE CONTROL SYSTEM AND IMAGE SENSOR - A vehicle control system includes a light-receiving section which has a plurality of filters having different pass bands, and a plurality of light-receiving elements, each of which receives incident light via any one of the filters; an image data generation section which, when receiving general image data which is an output of the light-receiving section, extracts outputs of the light-receiving elements correlated to the filters to generate discrete image data, which is image data for each of the filters; an image data processing section which detects at least one object, based on the discrete image data generated by the image data generation section or composite image data generated by combining the discrete image data; and a vehicle control section which performs vehicle control, according to the object detected by the image data processing section. | 03-26-2015 |
20150117715 | RECOGNITION OBJECT DETECTING APPARATUS - A recognition object detecting apparatus is provided which includes an imaging unit which generates image data representing a taken image, and a detection unit which detects a recognition object from the image represented by the image data. The imaging unit has a characteristic in which a relation between luminance and output pixel values varies depending on a luminance range. The detection unit binarizes the output pixel values of the image represented by the image data by using a plurality of threshold values to generate a plurality of binary images, and detects the recognition object based on the plurality of binary images. | 04-30-2015 |
20160039358 | IN-VEHICLE CAMERA AND VEHICLE CONTROL SYSTEM - An in-vehicle camera is provide which has a case and a lens, and which is attached in a vehicle interior so that the lens is exposed at a top face of the case and the top face is opposed to a windshield or another window. The top face has an angular shape bent at a ridge line passing through the top face. The lens is positioned in the vicinity of the ridge line. The in-vehicle camera includes a hood attached to a front portion of the case, the front portion being positioned at a front side of the case with respect to the lens. | 02-11-2016 |