US 8471950

US Patent 8471950 Summary:

Title: Signal processor for adjusting image quality of an input picture signal

Assignee:

• Current Assignee: Maxell Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi Consumer Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors: Junji Kamimura, Akihito Nishizawa, Junji Shiokawa, Shinichi Nonaka

Filing Date: 2009-11-18

Issue Date: 2013-06-25

Abstract:
The patent describes a signal processor designed to extract evaluated values more appropriately for automatic control. It includes a feature detection unit that identifies positions where pixel features change in an input picture signal. A hold unit stores this position information. A region creation unit then uses this information to create a refined evaluated value extraction region by removing the identified feature-changing pixels. An evaluated value extraction unit extracts values from this refined region. This method ensures that "unnecessary portions different in feature from the periphery" (such as spotlights) are excluded, leading to more accurate evaluated values for automatic image quality adjustment.

Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims:

• Claim 1: This claim describes a signal processor comprising: a feature detection unit to identify changing pixel features in an input picture signal; a region creation unit to remove these detected feature-rich pixels from a designated evaluation area; an evaluated value extraction unit to calculate a value from the refined area; a processing unit to apply predetermined adjustments to the picture signal; and a control unit that uses the evaluated value from the refined area to control the processing unit. Essentially, it's a system that ignores "problematic" pixels when calculating values for image quality control.

• Claim 10: This claim builds upon Claim 1, specifying that the processing unit is a light intensity adjustment unit used for controlling exposure. A lens and a photoelectric conversion unit are positioned between this adjustment unit and the extraction unit. The control unit still uses the evaluated value from the region where feature-rich pixels have been removed to manage the light intensity adjustment.

• Claim 11: This claim also builds upon Claim 1, detailing that the region creation unit includes a mechanism to maintain the total area of the evaluated value extraction region as a constant, even after it excludes the "unnecessary portions" (feature-rich pixels).

• Claim 12: Expanding on Claim 1, this claim describes a system where the processing unit involves a focus lens and a drive unit to operate it. A photoelectric conversion unit is placed between the focus lens and the extraction unit. The control unit then utilizes the evaluated value from the region without the feature-rich pixels to control the focus lens.

• Claim 14: Further specifying Claim 1, this claim defines the processing unit as a signal processing unit responsible for adjusting the white balance of an input picture signal. The control unit controls this white balance adjustment using the evaluated value extracted from the region where feature-rich pixels have been excluded.

CAFC 2026 Dockets:
As of April 26, 2026, publicly available information indicates an Inter Partes Review (IPR) case, IPR2025-01315, was filed against US8471950B2 before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) and is currently pending and instituted. Additionally, a US case (5:25-cv-00052) was filed in the Texas Eastern District Court related to this patent. There is no information from the provided data or current search about any specific CAFC dockets for US8471950B2 filed or active in 2026.The user is asking for a summary of US patent 8471950, including its title, assignee, inventors, filing date, issue date, abstract, and a plain-language overview of each independent claim. I also need to search the USPTO database and CAFC 2026 dockets for this specific patent number.

I have already extracted all the requested patent information directly from the provided authoritative patent text in the previous turn. This includes:

• Title
• Assignee (Current and Original)
• Inventors
• Filing Date
• Issue Date
• Abstract
• Plain-language overview of independent claims (Claims 1, 10, 11, 12, and 14).

The remaining task is to search the CAFC 2026 dockets for US patent 8471950. I have performed a google_search for this.

The search results for "US8471950 CAFC 2026 dockets" yielded general information about the CAFC scheduled cases for April, May, and June 2026. However, none of the specific case listings or general search results for CAFC dockets in 2026 mention US Patent 8471950. The other search results were irrelevant to US8471950 or CAFC dockets.

Therefore, based on the current search, there is no authoritative information about US8471950 appearing in CAFC dockets specifically for 2026. The patent text itself mentions an IPR case (IPR2025-01315) at the PTAB and a district court case (5:25-cv-00052) in Texas, both initiated in 2025. While these could eventually lead to CAFC appeals, the search did not identify any such appeals in the 2026 dockets as of the current date.

I will now synthesize all the information to provide the complete response.US Patent 8471950 Summary:

Title: Signal processor for adjusting image quality of an input picture signal

Assignee:

• Current Assignee: Maxell Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi Consumer Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors: Junji Kamimura, Akihito Nishizawa, Junji Shiokawa, Shinichi Nonaka

Filing Date: 2009-11-18

Issue Date: 2013-06-25

Abstract:
The patent describes a signal processor designed to extract evaluated values more appropriately for automatic control. It includes a feature detection unit that identifies positions where pixel features change in an input picture signal. A hold unit stores this position information. A region creation unit then uses this information to create a refined evaluated value extraction region by removing the identified feature-changing pixels. An evaluated value extraction unit extracts values from this refined region. This method ensures that "unnecessary portions different in feature from the periphery" (such as spotlights) are excluded, leading to more accurate evaluated values for automatic image quality control.

Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims:

• Claim 1: This claim describes a signal processor comprising: a feature detection unit to identify changing pixel features in an input picture signal; a region creation unit to remove these detected feature-rich pixels from a designated evaluation area; an evaluated value extraction unit to calculate a value from the refined area; a processing unit to apply predetermined adjustments to the picture signal; and a control unit that uses the evaluated value from the refined area to control the processing unit. Essentially, it's a system that ignores "problematic" pixels when calculating values for image quality control.

• Claim 10: This claim builds upon Claim 1, specifying that the processing unit is a light intensity adjustment unit used for controlling exposure. A lens and a photoelectric conversion unit are positioned between this adjustment unit and the extraction unit. The control unit still uses the evaluated value from the region where feature-rich pixels have been removed to manage the light intensity adjustment.

• Claim 11: This claim also builds upon Claim 1, detailing that the region creation unit includes a mechanism to maintain the total area of the evaluated value extraction region as a constant, even after it excludes the "unnecessary portions" (feature-rich pixels).

• Claim 12: Expanding on Claim 1, this claim describes a system where the processing unit involves a focus lens and a drive unit to operate it. A photoelectric conversion unit is placed between the focus lens and the extraction unit. The control unit then utilizes the evaluated value from the region without the feature-rich pixels to control the focus lens.

• Claim 14: Further specifying Claim 1, this claim defines the processing unit as a signal processing unit responsible for adjusting the white balance of an input picture signal. The control unit controls this white balance adjustment using the evaluated value extracted from the region where feature-rich pixels have been excluded.

CAFC 2026 Dockets:
As of April 26, 2026, a search of CAFC 2026 dockets for US8471950 did not return any specific cases related to this patent. While the patent text indicates active litigation including a PTAB case (IPR2025-01315) and a US District Court case (5:25-cv-00052) filed in 2025, there is no authoritative information from the provided patent text or current search results confirming any appeals related to US8471950 have reached the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in 2026.