Patents by Inventor Akinobu Seki

Akinobu Seki has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11921331
    Abstract: An optical receptacle including a first optical surface configured to allow incidence of light emitted from the light emitting element; a second optical surface configured to emit, toward the optical transmission member, light emitted from the light emitting element and advanced inside the optical receptacle; and a diffraction surface disposed on the first optical surface, on the second optical surface, or on a light path between the first optical surface and the second optical surface. The diffraction surface is configured such that primary diffraction light of the light emitted from the light emitting element reaches an end portion of the optical transmission member, and that zero-order diffraction light of the light emitted from the light emitting element does not reach the end portion of the optical transmission member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Enplas Corporation
    Inventors: Takahiro Izawa, Akinobu Seki
  • Patent number: 11726275
    Abstract: An optical receptacle optically couples a light emitting element and an optical transmission member when disposed between the light emitting element and the optical transmission member, and includes a first optical surface that allows incidence of light emitted from the light emitting element; a second optical surface that emits, toward the optical transmission member, light emitted from the light emitting element and advanced inside the optical receptacle; and a diffraction grating disposed on the first optical surface, on the second optical surface, or on a light path between the first and second optical surfaces. The diffraction grating is configured such that zero-order diffraction light of the light emitted from the light emitting element reaches an end portion of the optical transmission member, and that primary diffraction light of the light emitted from the light emitting element does not reach the end portion of the optical transmission member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Enplas Corporation
    Inventors: Takahiro Izawa, Akinobu Seki
  • Publication number: 20210302673
    Abstract: An optical receptacle optically couples a light emitting element and an optical transmission member when disposed between the light emitting element and the optical transmission member, and includes a first optical surface that allows incidence of light emitted from the light emitting element; a second optical surface that emits, toward the optical transmission member, light emitted from the light emitting element and advanced inside the optical receptacle; and a diffraction grating disposed on the first optical surface, on the second optical surface, or on a light path between the first and second optical surfaces. The diffraction grating is configured such that zero-order diffraction light of the light emitted from the light emitting element reaches an end portion of the optical transmission member, and that primary diffraction light of the light emitted from the light emitting element does not reach the end portion of the optical transmission member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2021
    Publication date: September 30, 2021
    Inventors: Takahiro Izawa, Akinobu Seki
  • Publication number: 20210173157
    Abstract: An optical receptacle including a first optical surface configured to allow incidence of light emitted from the light emitting element; a second optical surface configured to emit, toward the optical transmission member, light emitted from the light emitting element and advanced inside the optical receptacle; and a diffraction surface disposed on the first optical surface, on the second optical surface, or on a light path between the first optical surface and the second optical surface. The diffraction surface is configured such that primary diffraction light of the light emitted from the light emitting element reaches an end portion of the optical transmission member, and that zero-order diffraction light of the light emitted from the light emitting element does not reach the end portion of the optical transmission member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2020
    Publication date: June 10, 2021
    Inventors: Takahiro IZAWA, Akinobu SEKI
  • Patent number: 10910533
    Abstract: This planar light source device has a pair of substrates, a pair of irradiation plates disposed between the pair of substrates, and a plurality of light emission devices disposed on one or both of the pair of substrates. In a cross-section of the light emission devices in a direction perpendicular to the irradiation plates through an optical axis, the luminosity of light emitted in a 7.0° direction when 0° is the optical axis direction and the luminosity of light emitted in a (tan?1(t/L))° (where t represents the gap between the irradiation plates, and L represents the gap, in a direction along the pair of irradiation plates, from the surface of a light emission device disposed on one of the substrates to an end part of the other-substrate-side irradiation plate) direction or a (tan?1(t/2L))° direction satisfy a prescribed relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: ENPLAS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masayo Takizawa, Akinobu Seki
  • Publication number: 20210018162
    Abstract: This luminous flux control member has: an incident surface; two reflection surfaces and two emission surfaces. The incident surface has: a first incident surface that intersects with the light axis of the light emission element; and two second incident surfaces that sandwich the first incident surface and are disposed in a Y-axis direction that the two emission surfaces face. A plurality of first projecting ridges having ridgelines that are substantially parallel to the Y-axis direction are disposed on the first incident surface. A plurality of second projecting ridges having ridgelines that are substantially parallel to the light axis are disposed on the two emission surfaces, or a plurality of third projecting ridges having ridgelines that are substantially intersecting with the first projecting ridges are disposed on at least a part of the two reflection surfaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2019
    Publication date: January 21, 2021
    Applicant: Enplas Corporation
    Inventors: Akinobu SEKI, Hiroyuki SHINOHARA
  • Publication number: 20200235268
    Abstract: This planar light source device has a pair of substrates, a pair of irradiation plates disposed between the pair of substrates, and a plurality of light emission devices disposed on one or both of the pair of substrates. In a cross-section of the light emission devices in a direction perpendicular to the irradiation plates through an optical axis, the luminosity of light emitted in a 7.0° direction when 0° is the optical axis direction and the luminosity of light emitted in a (tan?1(t/L))° (where t represents the gap between the irradiation plates, and L represents the gap, in a direction along the pair of irradiation plates, from the surface of a light emission device disposed on one of the substrates to an end part of the other-substrate-side irradiation plate) direction or a (tan?1(t/2L))° direction satisfy a prescribed relationship.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2018
    Publication date: July 23, 2020
    Inventors: Masayo TAKIZAWA, Akinobu SEKI
  • Patent number: 10563825
    Abstract: A portion of the light from the light emitted by a light-emitting element enters the entrance region, then, is reflected by the first reflective surface on the same side as this entrance region with respect to the optical axis serving as a boundary, and is caused to exit from the second reflective surface on this same side. Another portion of the light enters the entrance region, is reflected by the second reflective surface and the third reflective surface, in this order, on the same side as this entrance region with respect to the optical axis serving as the boundary, is then caused to exit from the connection surface on this same side, re-enters from the first reflective surface or the connection surface on the opposite side with respect to the optical axis, and is then caused to exit from the second reflective surface on this opposite side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: Enplas Corporation
    Inventors: Akinobu Seki, Masayo Takizawa
  • Patent number: 10520163
    Abstract: A light bundle control member of the present invention comprises: an entry plane on which light emitted from a light emitting element becomes incident; two reflecting planes which are arranged across the entry plane in positions opposing the light emitting element, and which respectively reflect some of the light entering via the entry plane in two directions that are substantially perpendicular to the optical axis of the light emitting element and opposed to each other; and two output planes which are arranged opposing each other across the two reflecting planes, and which respectively cause the light reflected by the two reflecting planes to be externally output. Each of the two output planes has a plurality of first ridges arranged thereon, wherein, as viewed from the output plane side, a ridge line of the plurality of first ridges is substantially parallel with the optical axis of the light emitting element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: Enplas Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Shinohara, Akinobu Seki
  • Patent number: 10480721
    Abstract: This luminous flux control member has an entry region, a first fully reflective surface, an exit surface, a second fully reflective surface, a third fully reflective surface, and a connection surface. Some of the light emitted by the light-emission element enters via the entry region, subsequently reflects off the first fully reflective surface, and exits from the exit surface. The remainder of the light emitted by the light-emission element enters via the entry region, reflects off the second fully reflective surface and the third fully reflective surface in the stated order, exits from the connection surface, enters again via the first fully reflective surface, and subsequently exits from the exit surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: ENPLAS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Akinobu Seki
  • Publication number: 20190285245
    Abstract: A light bundle control member of the present invention comprises: an entry plane on which light emitted from a light emitting element becomes incident; two reflecting planes which are arranged across the entry plane in positions opposing the light emitting element, and which respectively reflect some of the light entering via the entry plane in two directions that are substantially perpendicular to the optical axis of the light emitting element and opposed to each other; and two output planes which are arranged opposing each other across the two reflecting planes, and which respectively cause the light reflected by the two reflecting planes to be externally output. Each of the two output planes has a plurality of first ridges arranged thereon, wherein, as viewed from the output plane side, a ridge line of the plurality of first ridges is substantially parallel with the optical axis of the light emitting element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2017
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Inventors: Hiroyuki SHINOHARA, Akinobu SEKI
  • Patent number: 10190730
    Abstract: A light beam control member according to the present invention comprises: an incidence surface including a first incidence surface arranged spaced apart from a center axis, and a second incidence surface arranged by surrounding the first incidence surface; an upper total reflection surface arranged opposite the incidence surface, and causing the light incident on the incidence surface to reflect in a direction away from the center axis; a lower total reflection surface arranged between the center axis and the first incidence surface and surrounding the center axis, and causing part of the light incident on the first incidence surface to reflect toward the upper total reflection surface; and an emission surface arranged outside the upper total reflection surface and surrounding the center axis, and causing the light reflected from the upper total reflection surface to be emitted to the outside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: ENPLAS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kyouhei Yamada, Akinobu Seki, Masayo Takizawa
  • Publication number: 20190011086
    Abstract: A portion of the light from the light emitted by a light-emitting element enters the entrance region, then, is reflected by the first reflective surface on the same side as this entrance region with respect to the optical axis serving as a boundary, and is caused to exit from the second reflective surface on this same side. Another portion of the light enters the entrance region, is reflected by the second reflective surface and the third reflective surface, in this order, on the same side as this entrance region with respect to the optical axis serving as the boundary, is then caused to exit from the connection surface on this same side, re-enters from the first reflective surface or the connection surface on the opposite side with respect to the optical axis, and is then caused to exit from the second reflective surface on this opposite side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2016
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Inventors: Akinobu SEKI, Masayo TAKIZAWA
  • Publication number: 20180156393
    Abstract: This luminous flux control member has an entry region, a first fully reflective surface, an exit surface, a second fully reflective surface, a third fully reflective surface, and a connection surface. Some of the light emitted by the light-emission element enters via the entry region, subsequently reflects off the first fully reflective surface, and exits from the exit surface. The remainder of the light emitted by the light-emission element enters via the entry region, reflects off the second fully reflective surface and the third fully reflective surface in the stated order, exits from the connection surface, enters again via the first fully reflective surface, and subsequently exits from the exit surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2016
    Publication date: June 7, 2018
    Inventor: Akinobu SEKI
  • Publication number: 20180128430
    Abstract: A light beam control member according to the present invention comprises: an incidence surface including a first incidence surface arranged spaced apart from a center axis, and a second incidence surface arranged by surrounding the first incidence surface; an upper total reflection surface arranged opposite the incidence surface, and causing the light incident on the incidence surface to reflect in a direction away from the center axis; a lower total reflection surface arranged between the center axis and the first incidence surface and surrounding the center axis, and causing part of the light incident on the first incidence surface to reflect toward the upper total reflection surface; and an emission surface arranged outside the upper total reflection surface and surrounding the center axis, and causing the light reflected from the upper total reflection surface to be emitted to the outside.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2016
    Publication date: May 10, 2018
    Inventors: Kyouhei YAMADA, Akinobu SEKI, Masayo TAKIZAWA
  • Patent number: 9863614
    Abstract: A beam-control member has a substantially cylindrical holder that is light-permeable, and a first beam-control member disposed on an end surface of the holder, the first beam-control member reflecting part of the light emitted from a light-emitting element and admitting part of the light. A guide protrusion and a tab are provided on the end surface of the holder. A concave portion corresponding to the tab is provided on an outer circumferential part of one surface of the first beam-control member. The first beam-control member is radially mated in a rotatable manner along the guide protrusion. Rotating the first beam-control member on the end surface of the holder so that the tab and the concave portion engage causes the first beam-control member to be secured on the end surface of the holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: ENPLAS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akinobu Seki, Noriyuki Kawahara
  • Patent number: 9222646
    Abstract: A luminous flux control member (120) has: a light input surface (121) having inputted thereto light that has been outputted from a light emitting element (110); a total reflecting surface (122) which totally reflects a part of the light inputted from the light input surface (121); and a light output surface (123), which outputs a part of the light inputted from the light input surface (121), and the light reflected by the total reflecting surface (122). The light output surface (123) of the luminous flux control member (120) has a substantially toroidal shape or a saddle-like shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: ENPLAS Corporation
    Inventor: Akinobu Seki
  • Patent number: 8939618
    Abstract: Light flux controlling member (140) includes: light controlling emission surface (141) for controlling the distribution of light emitted from light emitting element (130); back surface (143) that is positioned on a side opposite light controlling emission surface (141); boss (145) that is formed on back surface (143) side; and annular concave part (146) that is formed in the vicinity of a base end of boss (145). Annular concave part (146) has inside surface (146a) that is smoothly connected to an outer peripheral surface of the base end of boss (145) and that has an arc-shaped cross-section in an axial direction of boss (145).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Enplas Corporation
    Inventors: Noriyuki Kawahara, Akinobu Seki
  • Publication number: 20150009679
    Abstract: A beam-control member has a substantially cylindrical holder that is light-permeable, and a first beam-control member disposed on an end surface of the holder, the first beam-control member reflecting part of the light emitted from a light-emitting element and admitting part of the light. A guide protrusion and a tab are provided on the end surface of the holder. A concave portion corresponding to the tab is provided on an outer circumferential part of one surface of the first beam-control member. The first beam-control member is radially mated in a rotatable manner along the guide protrusion. Rotating the first beam-control member on the end surface of the holder so that the tab and the concave portion engage causes the first beam-control member to be secured on the end surface of the holder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2013
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Inventors: Akinobu Seki, Noriyuki Kawahara
  • Patent number: 8926156
    Abstract: A light-emitting device combining a first luminous flux control member having a total reflection surface and emitting light from an emission surface in a narrow angle range centered mainly on an optical axis, and a second luminous flux control member arranged to surround the total reflection surface of the first luminous flux control member. The second luminous flux control member (102) of the light-emitting device is provided with a second incidence surface (126a) and a second emitting surface (126b). Of the light emitted from the light-emitting element (200), the light incident to the second incidence surface (126a) is within a range of angles ? larger than a largest angle to the optical axis of the light incident to the first luminous flux control member (101).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Enplas Corporation
    Inventors: Akinobu Seki, Hiroshi Takatori, Kyouhei Yamada, Masato Nakamura, Masayo Takizawa, Noriyuki Kawahara