I will have another update on the latest patent applications from Japan in few hours. First, the latest patent applications filed in the US:
US patent application 20100238540 proposes a way of eliminating harmful UV light in the lens in order to protect your eyes (if your sun glasses have UV filter, why not your lens?):
“An optical element capable of cutting off the ultraviolet light is very valuable in various uses. For example, when the optical element capable of cutting off the ultraviolet light is used in binoculars and spectacles, it can prevent the harmful ultraviolet light from entering eyes. When the optical element capable of cutting off the ultraviolet light is located on the object side of a member with low ultraviolet light resistance (a lens, a CCD, or the like), it can prevent deterioration of the member with low ultraviolet light resistance. In an optical system of an ordinary camera, an ultraviolet cut filter is interposed in front of a CCD.”
“Incidentally, the present inventor has considered realizing fine movie reproduction by using the plural still image frames which are continuously photographed as his or her material. When such a function is realized, images stored as the still images can be disclosed as movies in electronic albums or websites on the Internet, which makes image appreciation even more enjoyable.
Moreover, when the plural still image frames are reproduced as a movie image by a image editing software or the like, it is possible to view a vast number of still images in a short period of time. Additionally, it is also possible to quickly find a desired still image from the vast number of the still images by this movie reproduction.
In such a movie reproduction, approximately 18 to 30 image frames per second are generally necessary in order to display smooth motion like in films or television programs.”
US patent application 20100259471 is for a new type of head mount display device with gyroscope sensor that will detect user’s head motion (Nikon already has a similar product – the Media Port UP300x video headset):
“There is known a head-mount display device that detects a user’s head motion and exercises control according to specific motions. For detecting a head motion, such a head-mount display device uses various kinds of sensors such as for example a gyro sensor (angular velocity sensor), an acceleration sensor, a magnetic sensor, and the like. Various techniques have been developed in order to improve operability of a head-mount display device based on such various kinds of sensors.”
“The present invention is directed to a method for estimating a blur direction of motion blur in a blurred image. The method includes the steps of blurring the blurred image along a first test direction to create an artificially blurred first test image, blurring the blurred image along a second test direction to create an artificially blurred second test image, and evaluating the test images to estimate the blur direction. As an overview, in certain embodiments, the proposed method for estimating the prevailing blur direction of motion blur is based on blurring the blurred image in a plurality of different test directions, and finding the test direction for which the blurred image changes the least by the additional blurring. The main idea behind this method is that when more blur is applied to the blurred image in a test direction that is similar to the blur direction, the difference in the image appearance is relatively small. However, when more blur is applied to the blurred image in a test direction that is very different to the blur direction, the difference in the image appearance is relatively large.”
US patent application 20100265403 is for a projector – it seems that Nikon is continuing working in this area (Coolpix s1100pj):
“A projector apparatus includes: a projection unit that projects an image onto a projection surface; a reflectance distribution detection unit that detects a reflectance distribution at the projection surface; a density distribution detection unit that detects a density distribution of a base pattern on the projection surface; a smoothing unit that smooths the reflectance distribution and the density distribution; an input unit that inputs image data; a correction unit that corrects the input image data based upon the smoothed reflectance distribution and the smoothed density distribution; and a control circuit that controls the projection unit so as to project the image based upon the correction image data.”
US patent Application 20100238560 appears to be for the already announced Nikkor 16-35mm f/4 VR lens:
