IP Library Granted Patent US 7,438,230
Granted Patent B2
US 7,438,230 · App. 11/686,045 · Granted Oct 21, 2008

Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and image processing program

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,438,230
App. No.
11/686,045
Granted
Oct 21, 2008
Kind
B2
Abstract

An image processing apparatus, an image processing method, and an image processing program are provided. The processing apparatus, method, and program relate to image processing executed in an AF camera, etc., and make clear a variation in an image displayed during focusing operation. The image processing apparatus includes an image-capturing element that puts out an image formed through an optical system, a focus controlling unit that controls the optical system to locate it at a focusing position, using the image obtained by the image-capturing element through the optical system, and an image processing unit that forms a pseudo-image during focusing operation of the optical system caused by the focus controlling unit, the pseudo-image showing a resolution variation enlarged to be greater than that of the image obtained by the image-capturing element.

Claims (29)

1. An image processing apparatus comprising:

an image-capturing element that puts out an image formed through an optical system;

a focus controlling unit that controls the optical system to locate it at a focusing position, using the image obtained by the image-capturing element through the optical system; and

an image processing unit that forms a pseudo-image during focusing operation of the optical system caused by the focus controlling unit, the pseudo-image showing a resolution variation enlarged to be greater than that of the image obtained by the image-capturing element.

2. The image processing apparatus of claim 1 , the processing apparatus further including a memory unit that stores the image obtained by the image-capturing element.

3. An image processing apparatus comprising:

an image-capturing element that puts out an image formed through an optical system;

a focus controlling unit that controls the optical system to locate it at a focusing position, using the image obtained by the image-capturing element through the optical system; and

an image processing unit that forms a pseudo-image during focusing operation of the optical system caused by the focus controlling unit, the pseudo-image having a resolution lower than that of the image obtained by the image-capturing element, and that increases the resolution of the pseudo-image step by step or consecutively to cause the resolution to reach that of the image obtained by the image-capturing element at the focusing position.

4. An image processing method comprising the processes of:

outputting an image that is formed on an image-capturing element through an optical system;

controlling the optical system to locate it at a focusing position, using the resolution of the image obtained by the image-capturing element through the optical system as control information; and

forming a pseudo-image during focusing operation of the optical system, the pseudo-image showing a resolution variation enlarged to be greater than that of the image obtained by the image-capturing element.

5. The image processing method of claim 4 , comprising the process of causing a memory unit to store the image obtained by the image-capturing element.

6. An image processing method comprising the processes of:

outputting an image that is formed on an image-capturing element through an optical system;

controlling the optical system to locate it at a focusing position, using the resolution of the image obtained by the image-capturing element through the optical system as control information;

forming a pseudo-image during focusing operation of the optical system, the pseudo-image having a resolution lower than that of the image obtained by the image-capturing element; and

increasing the resolution of the pseudo-image step by step or consecutively to cause the resolution to reach that of the image obtained by the image-capturing element at the focusing position.

7. An image processing program, stored in a computer readable medium, for executable by a computer, comprising the steps of:

taking in an image that is formed on an image-capturing element through an optical system;

forming control information for controlling the optical system to locate it at a focusing position, using resolution information of the image obtained by the image-capturing element through the optical system; and

forming a pseudo-image during focusing operation of the optical system, the pseudo-image showing a resolution variation greater than that of the image obtained by the image-capturing element.

8. The image processing program of claim 7 , the program including the step of causing a memory unit to store the image obtained by the image-capturing element.

9. An image processing program, stored in a computer readable medium, for executable by a computer, comprising the steps of:

taking in an image that is formed on an image-capturing element through an optical system;

forming control information for controlling the optical system to locate it at a focusing position, using resolution information of the image obtained by the image-capturing element through the optical system; and

forming a pseudo-image during focusing operation of the optical system, the pseudo-image having a resolution lower than that of the image obtained by the image-capturing element; and

increasing the resolution of the pseudo-image step by step or consecutively to cause the resolution to reach that of the image obtained by the image-capturing element at the focusing position.

Assignments (5)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 26, 2024
From: YAMATO KANZAI LIMITED
To: FCNT LLC
Reel/Frame 066908/0856 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Mar 21, 2024
From: FCNT LIMITED
To: YAMATO KANZAI LIMITED
Reel/Frame 066854/0942 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Mar 19, 2024
From: FUJITSU CONNECTED TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED
To: FCNT LIMITED
Reel/Frame 066832/0399 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 20, 2018
From: FUJITSU LIMITED
To: FUJITSU CONNECTED TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED
Reel/Frame 047555/0862 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 14, 2007
From: SAIJO, MASASHI; MIYAZAKI, KIYOSHI; HARUKI, KENICHI
To: FUJITSU LIMITED
Reel/Frame 019053/0022 →