Patents Assigned to Nidec Copal Corporation
  • Publication number: 20210132326
    Abstract: An imaging device comprising a substrate upon which an imaging unit is mounted; a lens barrel holding a lens; a lens flange holding the lens barrel; and a plate holding the substrate and the lens flange. The plate has a first holding section that impels either the plate or the lens flange in the optical axis direction and fixes same and holds the other out of the substrate and the lens flange so as to be movable in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis. The other out of the substrate and the lens flange is fixed to the plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2018
    Publication date: May 6, 2021
    Applicant: NIDEC COPAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuta NAKAMURA, Koichi KUBO
  • Patent number: 10975934
    Abstract: A motor portion wherein a driveshaft protrudes from the front end of a motor case; a gear mechanism portion is provided on the front side of the motor portion; and a connecting member, between the motor portion and the gear mechanism portion, for connecting these coaxially, wherein: the angle of rotation or rotational speed, or the like, of the driveshaft can be detected through a detecting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: NIDEC COPAL CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yosuke Momose
  • Publication number: 20210105387
    Abstract: An imaging device, having a substrate for mounting an imaging portion; a lens barrel for holding a lens group; a shield plate covering the vicinity of the substrate; and a case disposed so as to cover the lens barrel, the substrate, and the shield plate, wherein: the shield plate is structured having a contacting portion that contacts another member so as to constrain movement in the optical axial direction, and a biasing portion that contacts the coupling so as to receive a biasing force in the optical axial direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2018
    Publication date: April 8, 2021
    Applicant: NIDEC COPAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuta NAKAMURA, Takuma ISHIKAWA
  • Patent number: 10942060
    Abstract: Reduces an increase in temperature of the blade member. Comprises: a blade supporting member, disposed forward of a photodetecting sensor that acts as a thermal source, having an opening 1a through which passes light that is to be incident into the photodetecting sensor; a blade member, supported movably on the blade supporting member, for opening and closing the opening; an actuator for driving the blade member open and closed, wherein: wherein the blade supporting member comprises a containing portion 1b, for containing the blade member and the actuator on a front or rear surface that is perpendicular to the optical axis of the opening, and an exposed portion that is arranged in parallel to the containing portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: Nidec Copal Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuo Shikama
  • Patent number: 10942421
    Abstract: A blade driving device includes a blade for covering an opening for an imaging device operable through motor driving and a user manual operation. A blade driving device includes a base with an opening for an imaging device, a movable member movable relative to the base in X-direction and including a slider held on the base and movable in X-direction, a blade connected to the slider, and a knob on a side of the base opposite to the slider and operable to move the blade, a motor that moves the movable member in X-direction until the blade covers or uncovers the opening in the base, and a lead screw and a driving member that transmit rotation of the motor to the slider in the movable member to move the movable member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: NIDEC COPAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenzo Imai, Daisuke Kakemizu, Taizo Takiguchi
  • Patent number: 10935873
    Abstract: An imaging device, having a substrate for mounting an imaging portion; a lens barrel for holding a lens group; a shield plate covering the vicinity of the substrate; a case disposed so as to cover the lens barrel, the substrate, and the shield plate; and a coupling, for connecting the substrate and another member, connected electrically to the ground electropotential, and a biasing portion that contacts the coupling so as to receive a biasing force in the optical axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: NIDEC COPAL CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yuta Nakamura
  • Patent number: 10921688
    Abstract: An imaging optical apparatus with a thin blade containing member for containing a blade member for limiting an opening, having an insertion portion that has an opening; an actuator for causing a blade member to slide; a containing frame for containing the actuator and the blade containing member, except for the insertion portion, having, on an outer edge, a recessed lens frame retaining portion into which the insertion portion; a lens frame, held in the lens frame retaining portion, having an insertion hole, for insertion of the insertion portion so that the center of the opening will be coaxial with the optical axis; and a clip for holding, in cooperation with the containing frame, a lens frame that is held in the lens frame retaining portion, through joining with the containing frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: NIDEC COPAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuo Shikama, Kenzo Imai, Nobuaki Watanabe, Shozo Iwato, Koji Sawanobori
  • Publication number: 20210041763
    Abstract: To enable continuous operational control of the blade member with high resolution and good accuracy, even when achieving miniaturization and thickness reduction in a blade driving device, through enabling smooth movement of a movable member in a blade driving device. A blade driving device 1 comprises: a base member 2 that has an opening 2A; one or a plurality of blade members 3 that operate so as to advance into the opening 2A or withdraw from the opening 2A; a driving member 4 that moves within a plane that is perpendicular to the optical axis that passes through the opening 2A, to drive the blade member 3; and supporting members 7 that are provided between the base member 2 and the driving member 4, so as to provide sliding support or elastic support of the driving member 4 in a state that is separated from the base member 2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2020
    Publication date: February 11, 2021
    Applicant: Nidec Copal Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuo SHIKAMA, Longji BAI, Nobuaki WATANABE
  • Patent number: 10908692
    Abstract: A touchpad module includes a movable plate in which one surface is an operation surface of a touchpad, a support member including a facing portion facing the other surface of the movable plate, damper members for connecting the movable plate and the support member, and an actuator for vibrating the movable plate. The actuator includes an air-core coil and a magnet facing each other in a first direction in which the other surface faces the facing portion. The air-core coil is fixed to the other surface, and the magnet is fixed to the facing portion. The actuator vibrates the movable plate in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction by energizing the air-core coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: NIDEC COPAL CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takashi Mori
  • Patent number: 10893180
    Abstract: An imaging device having a substrate having an imaging unit mounted thereupon; a lens barrel holding a lens; a holder holding the lens barrel and being connected to the substrate; and a first elastic body impelling the substrate in a first direction perpendicular to the optical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: Nidec Copal Corporation
    Inventor: Yuta Nakamura
  • Patent number: 10816875
    Abstract: To enable adjustment of a lens frame (lens barrel) independently, and also to enable a reduction in thickness along the optical axial direction. A blade driving device having a driving member for moving on a plane; a frame for containing the driving member; a thin blade supporting unit that protrudes to the outside, along the direction of movement of the driving member, from a portion of the thickness of the frame, and that has an opening, around the optical axis, along the direction of thickness of the frame; and a blade member that is supported on the blade supporting unit, and that is moved by the driving member, to advance into the opening; wherein the outer peripheral edge of the frame has a recessed portion at the position at which the blade supporting unit protrudes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: NIDEC COPAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenzo Imai, Kazuo Shikama, Longji Bai, Nobuaki Watanabe, Shozo Iwato
  • Patent number: 10809595
    Abstract: To enable continuous operational control of the blade member with high resolution and good accuracy, even when achieving miniaturization and thickness reduction in a blade driving device, through enabling smooth movement of a movable member in a blade driving device. A blade driving device 1 comprises: a base member 2 that has an opening 2A; one or a plurality of blade members 3 that operate so as to advance into the opening 2A or withdraw from the opening 2A; a driving member 4 that moves within a plane that is perpendicular to the optical axis that passes through the opening 2A, to drive the blade member 3; and supporting members 7 that are provided between the base member 2 and the driving member 4, so as to provide sliding support or elastic support of the driving member 4 in a state that is separated from the base member 2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Nidec Copal Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuo Shikama, Longji Bai, Nobuaki Watanabe
  • Patent number: 10801884
    Abstract: The use of a blade driving device including a first plate wherein a first opening portion is formed; a blade formed so as to enable opening/closing of the first opening portion; a driving mechanism driving the blade; and a cover, wherein a second opening portion is formed so as to essentially overlap the first opening portion, and formed so as to cover the base plate and the driving mechanism portion. Because the base plate and driving mechanism portion are covered by the cover, when compared to the conventional structure, this enables the transmission, without variability, of heat in relation to the driving mechanism portion and the base plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: NIDEC COPAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naofumi Horio, Hiroshi Miyazaki, Shigemi Takahashi
  • Patent number: 10793085
    Abstract: An imaging device includes a lens barrel for supporting, while enclosing, one or more lenses; an imaging element for detecting light that passes through the lens; a lens holder for supporting the lens barrel; an elastic body that is disposed so as to bias the lens barrel relative to the lens holder; and an upper case that is formed so as to enable connection with an external member. The lens holder and the upper case are formed integrally. In such an imaging device, the lens holder and the upper case are formed integrally, and thus when compared to a configuration wherein the lens holder and the upper case are structured separately, the number of components can be reduced, thereby enabling a reduction in costs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: Nidec Copal Corporation
    Inventor: Yuta Nakamura
  • Patent number: 10788731
    Abstract: Because a thin blade is disposed in a space that has a thickness in the optical axial direction, which contains a coil and a magnet, when the blade is driven the blade tends to become unstable, making smooth operation of the thin blade difficult. A blade driving device has a driving member; a frame that is provided with a driving frame chamber that contains the driving member; a blade supporting unit that has an opening and that structures a blade chamber that is separate from the driving frame chamber; and a blade member that is contained in the blade chamber, and that is moved by the driving member to advance into the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: NIDEC COPAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuo Shikama, Shozo Iwato, Kenzo Imai, Longji Bai, Nobuaki Watanabe
  • Patent number: 10773659
    Abstract: An electronic component mounting member, comprising: a flexible substrate, having flexibility, for connecting with another member, comprising: a main unit portion on which electronic components are mounted, and an extending portion, formed extending from the main unit portion, and having a terminal for connecting to another member; and a bending suppressing member disposed in the vicinity of a boundary line between the main unit portion and the extending portion, wherein: the flexible substrate has a cutout formed in the vicinity of the boundary line, and is connected to the other member in a state wherein the boundary line is bent. This enables provision of an electronic component mounting member for vehicle mounting, or the like, for preventing the occurrence of, for example, cracking of solder of electronic components that are mounted, even when using a flexible substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: Nidec Copal Corporation
    Inventor: Yuta Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20200274407
    Abstract: A motor with a permanent magnet is provided. A motor has a rotor and an annular drive magnet surrounding the rotor. The drive magnet includes a plurality of magnetized areas having an entire circumference divided into a multiple of at equiangular intervals and includes a plurality of divided areas having an entire circumference divided into the same number as the number of magnetized areas at equiangular intervals. The two adjacent magnetized areas have different polarities. In an inner circumferential surface of each divided area in the drive magnet, a distance D from a rotation center line of the rotor becomes longer from a center in a circumferential direction toward both ends of the area. A magnetization polarization line of the two adjacent magnetized areas deviates from a boundary between the two adjacent divided areas in the circumferential direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2020
    Publication date: August 27, 2020
    Applicant: NIDEC COPAL CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hidenobu ITOU
  • Patent number: 10754226
    Abstract: A blade driving device comprising: a driving member; one or more blade members that are caused to undergo sliding motion by the driving member; a blade supporting unit for supporting the blade member slidably; and a frame for containing the driving member and a portion of the blade supporting unit, wherein the blade supporting unit comprises a blade chamber for containing a blade member between opposing thin plate members, along with an insertion portion that has an opening and that protrudes from a frame, wherein the opposing thin plate members are integrated together at least the tip end of the insertion portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: NIDEC COPAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shozo Iwato, Koji Sawanobori, Kazuo Shikama, Kenzo Imai, Nobuaki Watanabe
  • Patent number: 10715709
    Abstract: An imaging device has a lens holding member; a base member for holding the lens holding member; and a substrate to which the base member is secured. The lens holding member holds at least one lens. The base member has a contact surface that is perpendicular to an optical axis of the lens, and contacts an end face of the lens holding member in a state wherein the lens holding member is held; and an opening portion through which passes the optical axis of the lens, provided in the contact surface. The substrate has an imaging element on which light that has passed through the lens and through the opening portion of the base member is incident.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: NIDEC COPAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuta Nakamura, Ryo Kikuta
  • Patent number: 10680501
    Abstract: A vibration actuator has a frame; a first spring, supported on one end within the frame and the other end vibrates along an axial direction. A second spring, supported on one end within the frame, and the other end vibrates along the axial direction. A first weight connected to the other end of the first spring and a second weight connected to the other end of the second spring. A magnet portion protrudes in the axial direction is in the first weight and a coil wrapped around the magnet portion is in the second weight. A driving current of a frequency that is a first resonant frequency set by the spring constant of the first spring and the mass of the first weight or a second resonant frequency set by the spring constant of the second spring and the mass of the second weight is applied to the coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Nidec Copal Corporation
    Inventor: Shin Odajima