Patents by Inventor Akira Koga
Akira Koga 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).
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Patent number: 8693861Abstract: The lens barrel includes a first frame, a second frame, a drive actuator, and a transmission mechanism that transmits the drive force of the drive actuator. The second frame includes a substantially cylindrical main body, a gear portion, and cam grooves that include an inflection point in the range in which the zoom ratio of the optical system is varied. The transmission mechanism includes a first transmission gear portion that engages with a gear, a second transmission gear portion that is provided coaxially with the first transmission gear portion, and a clutch between the first transmission gear portion and the second transmission gear portion. The clutch temporarily disengages the drive force of the drive actuator transmitted to the first transmission gear portion, only with respect to rotation in one direction.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 2012Date of Patent: April 8, 2014Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventor: Akira Koga
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Patent number: 8665534Abstract: The lens barrel includes a first frame, a second frame configured to be rotatably supported by the first frame, a drive actuator that is disposed on the inside of the second frame, and a transmission mechanism disposed on the inside of the second frame and configured to transmit the drive force of the drive actuator to the second frame. The imaging device includes the above-mentioned lens barrel and an imaging element that converts an optical image formed by this lens barrel into image data.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 2012Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventor: Akira Koga
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Patent number: 8654216Abstract: A camera system includes a lens unit, a mount, a camera body, and a control unit. The lens unit includes at least one lens unit operation portion and changes the magnification of an optical image electrically. The mount supports removably the lens unit. The camera body includes at least one camera body operation portion. The control unit controls the lens unit so as to change the magnification of an optical image electrically in response to either one of the operation of the camera body operation portion or the operation of the lens unit operation portion. The control unit controls the lens unit so as to execute an operation that is different from the operation which changes the magnification of an optical image, in response to the other of the operation of the camera body operation portion or the operation of the lens unit operation portion.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2012Date of Patent: February 18, 2014Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Dai Shintani, Akira Koga, Koji Shibuno
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Publication number: 20130314355Abstract: An exemplary electronic device includes: a housing; a display configured to display an operation area; a touch screen panel configured to detect at least an input operation made by a user to the operation area; a first vibrator configured to vibrate at least one of the display and the touch screen panel; a second vibrator configured to vibrate the housing; and a vibration controller configured to control vibration of the first vibrator and the second vibrator in accordance with the input operation of the user to the touch screen panel.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 6, 2013Publication date: November 28, 2013Applicant: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Masahiro INATA, Yusuke ADACHI, Akira KOGA, Ryo OKUMURA, Naoto YUMIKI
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Publication number: 20130307804Abstract: An electronic device 10 according to an embodiment includes: a display section 12 for displaying an operation area 45 including a reference area 41 and a non-reference area 42; a touch panel 11 provided on a display surface side of the display section 12; an informing section 13 for informing a user of an operation status of the user; a control section 33 and 20 for controlling the operation of the informing section 13; and a distinction section 16 for distinguishing between a first operation where the user searches for the reference area 41 on the touch panel 11 and a second operation which is a key input operation to the operation area 45. The control section 33 and 20 controls the operation of the informing section 13 based on a result of distinction by the distinction section 16.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 25, 2013Publication date: November 21, 2013Applicant: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Yusuke ADACHI, Akira KOGA, Masahiro INATA, Ryo OKUMURA, Naoto YUMIKI
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Publication number: 20130307803Abstract: An electronic device 10 according to an embodiment includes: a display section 12 for displaying an operation area 40; a touch panel 11 disposed on a display surface side of the display section 12; a vibration section 13 for vibrating the touch panel 11; a vibration control section 33 for controlling a vibration pattern of the vibration section 13; and a detection section 20 for detecting whether an operation to the touch panel 11 has been made with a has been made with a finger of a user or a pen. The vibration control section 33 varies the vibration pattern of the vibration section 13 depending on whether a finger or a pen is detected by the detection section 20.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 25, 2013Publication date: November 21, 2013Applicant: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Akira KOGA, Naoto YUMIKI, Yusuke ADACHI, Masahiro INATA, Ryo OKUMURA
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Publication number: 20130265268Abstract: An electronic device 1 includes a display section 12 for displaying an input operation area 52, a touch panel 21 provided on a display surface side of the display section 12 for detecting a touch position touched by a user, a vibration section 23 for vibrating the touch panel 21, and a vibration control section 27 for controlling the vibration section 23 so as to intermittently generate unit vibrations, each of which is composed of a plurality of iterations of a vibration of a predetermined frequency. The vibration control section 27 changes a cycle T on which the unit vibrations are intermittently generated based on a touch position of the user on the touch panel 21.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 6, 2013Publication date: October 10, 2013Inventors: Ryo OKUMURA, Naoto YUMIKI, Yusuke ADACHI, Akira KOGA, Masahiro INATA
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Publication number: 20130100540Abstract: The lens barrel includes a first frame, a second frame, a drive actuator, and a transmission mechanism that transmits the drive force of the drive actuator. The second frame includes a substantially cylindrical main body, a gear portion, and cam grooves that include an inflection point in the range in which the zoom ratio of the optical system is varied. The transmission mechanism includes a first transmission gear portion that engages with a gear, a second transmission gear portion that is provided coaxially with the first transmission gear portion, and a clutch between the first transmission gear portion and the second transmission gear portion. The clutch temporarily disengages the drive force of the drive actuator transmitted to the first transmission gear portion, only with respect to rotation in one direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 30, 2012Publication date: April 25, 2013Applicant: Panasonic CorporationInventor: Akira KOGA
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Publication number: 20130077949Abstract: The lens barrel includes a first frame, a second frame, a drive actuator, and a transmission mechanism. The second frame includes a substantially cylindrical main body and a gear portion. The gear portion is disposed on the inner peripheral part of the main body. The gear portion transmits the drive force of the drive actuator via the transmission mechanism. The transmission mechanism includes a first transmission gear portion that engages with the gear portion, and a second transmission gear portion that is provided coaxially with the first transmission gear portion. The transmission mechanism includes a clutch. The clutch can temporarily disengage the transmission of the drive force between the first transmission gear portion and the second transmission gear portion. The imaging device includes the above-mentioned lens barrel and an imaging element that converts an optical image formed by the above-mentioned lens barrel into image data.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 30, 2012Publication date: March 28, 2013Applicant: Panasonic CorporationInventor: Akira KOGA
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Publication number: 20130033770Abstract: The lens barrel includes a first frame, a second frame configured to be rotatably supported by the first frame, a drive actuator that is disposed on the inside of the second frame, and a transmission mechanism disposed on the inside of the second frame and configured to transmit the drive force of the drive actuator to the second frame. The imaging device includes the above-mentioned lens barrel and an imaging element that converts an optical image formed by this lens barrel into image data.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 30, 2012Publication date: February 7, 2013Applicant: Panasonic CorporationInventor: Akira KOGA
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Publication number: 20130033761Abstract: The imaging device includes a lens barrel, which itself includes a first frame, a second frame rotatably supported by the first frame, a lens mount including a contact face that comes into contact with the main body of a camera body, and a linking portion for linking the lens mount and the first frame on the outside of the contact face, with at least part of the second frame being disposed between the linking portion and the contact face along the optical axis direction; and an imaging element for converting an optical image formed by the lens barrel into image data.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 30, 2012Publication date: February 7, 2013Applicant: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Akira KOGA, Daisuke Ito
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Publication number: 20130027789Abstract: A lens barrel is provided that includes an optical system and a plurality of interface units. The optical system includes an optical axis and a focal distance. The focal distance is configured to be adjusted by the optical system. The plurality of interface units includes a first interface unit and a second interface unit. Each of the first interface unit and the second interface unit are configured to accept from a user an operation to adjust the focal distance. Each of the first interface unit and the second interface unit are configured to be operated around the optical axis.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 16, 2011Publication date: January 31, 2013Applicant: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Takeo Santo, Akira Koga
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Publication number: 20130021687Abstract: A lens barrel is provided that includes an optical system, an actuator, a plurality of interface units, and a controller. The lens barrel supports the optical system that includes an optical axis and a zooming lens group. The optical system is configured to adjust the focal distance of the lens barrel. The actuator is configured to drive the zooming lens group so as to adjust the focal distance. The plurality of interface units includes a first interface unit and a second interface unit. Each of the first interface unit and the second interface unit accepts an adjustment operation from a user. The controller is configured to instruct the actuator to change the focal distance when the first interface unit and the second interface unit each accept an adjustment operation. The first interface unit and the second interface unit are circumferentially disposed around the periphery of the lens barrel.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 16, 2011Publication date: January 24, 2013Applicant: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Takeo Santo, Akira Koga
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Patent number: 8351142Abstract: A drive unit includes a lens frame configured to support a lens, a movable body located outside the lens and configured to be movable with the lens frame, and a vibratory actuator configured to drive the movable body. The vibratory actuator includes an actuator main body contacting the movable body, an opposite member provided at a position which is opposite to the actuator main body so that the movable body is sandwiched between the actuator main body and the opposite member, and a connecting member configured to connect the actuator main body and the opposite member and to bias them toward the movable body. The connecting member is not provided at a side of the movable body where the lens frame is provided, but is provided at an opposite side of the movable body to the side where the lens frame is provided, as viewed in the optical direction.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2011Date of Patent: January 8, 2013Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Hideyuki Hashi, Akira Koga, Hideaki Mukae, Eiichi Nagaoka
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Publication number: 20120236182Abstract: A camera system includes a lens unit, a mount, a camera body, and a control unit. The lens unit includes at least one lens unit operation portion and changes the magnification of an optical image electrically. The mount supports removably the lens unit. The camera body includes at least one camera body operation portion. The control unit controls the lens unit so as to change the magnification of an optical image electrically in response to either one of the operation of the camera body operation portion or the operation of the lens unit operation portion. The control unit controls the lens unit so as to execute an operation that is different from the operation which changes the magnification of an optical image, in response to the other of the operation of the camera body operation portion or the operation of the lens unit operation portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2012Publication date: September 20, 2012Applicant: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Dai SHINTANI, Akira Koga, Koji Shibuno
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Publication number: 20110255185Abstract: A drive unit includes a lens frame configured to support a lens, a movable body located outside the lens and configured to be movable with the lens frame, and a vibratory actuator configured to drive the movable body. The vibratory actuator includes an actuator main body contacting the movable body, an opposite member provided at a position which is opposite to the actuator main body so that the movable body is sandwiched between the actuator main body and the opposite member, and a connecting member configured to connect the actuator main body and the opposite member and to bias them toward the movable body. The connecting member is not provided at a side of the movable body where the lens frame is provided, but is provided at an opposite side of the movable body to the side where the lens frame is provided, as viewed in the optical direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 14, 2011Publication date: October 20, 2011Inventors: Hideyuki HASHI, Akira KOGA, Hideaki MUKAE, Eiichi NAGAOKA
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Patent number: 7185990Abstract: A projection display apparatus for expanding and projecting an image, which is formed by an optical modulator, using a projection lens. A light source illuminates the optical modulator. A first lens array divides light emitted from the light source into a plurality of partial luminous fluxes. A second lens array superimposes the plurality of partial luminous fluxes emitted from the first lens array onto the optical modulator. A diaphragm mechanism is disposed between the light source and the optical modulator, and controls an amount of light from the light source. A traveling direction of the light emitted from the light source is defined as a Z-axis, a direction perpendicular to the Z-axis is defined as an X-axis, and a direction perpendicular to a plane formed by the Z-axis and the X-axis is defined as a Y-axis. An area of an opening of the diaphragm mechanism changes in a direction of the X-axis or the Y-axis.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 2004Date of Patent: March 6, 2007Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Akira Koga, Takaaki Tanaka, Takehiro Okada
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Publication number: 20060050248Abstract: A projection display apparatus for expanding and projecting an image, which is formed by an optical modulator, using a projection lens. A light source illuminates the optical modulator. A first lens array divides light emitted from the light source into a plurality of partial luminous fluxes. A second lens array superimposes the plurality of partial luminous fluxes emitted from the first lens array onto the optical modulator. A diaphragm mechanism is disposed between the light source and the optical modulator, and controls an amount of light from the light source. A traveling direction of the light emitted from the light source is defined as a Z-axis, a direction perpendicular to the Z-axis is defined as an X-axis, and a direction perpendicular to a plane formed by the Z-axis and the X-axis is defined as a Y-axis. An area of an opening of the diaphragm mechanism changes in a direction of the X-axis or the Y-axis.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 1, 2004Publication date: March 9, 2006Inventors: Akira Koga, Takaaki Tanaka, Takehiro Okada
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Patent number: 6311974Abstract: Light-emitting means for emitting a light beam for sterilizing a gaming medium is disposed in a gaming machine itself at a position where the light beam irradiates a stored gaming medium or a passing gaming medium, the light-emitting means being shielded from eyes of a player. In particular, the gaming machine is a ball-shooting gaming machine or a coin or medal gaming machine. Specifically, the light-emitting means is disposed at a position where the light beam irradiates a gaming medium flowing into storage means within the gaming machine or a gaming medium stored in the storage means. Specifically, the light-emitting means is disposed at a position where the light beam irradiates a gaming medium stored in a tray located outside the gaming machine. Preferably, the light beam is an ultraviolet ray. As a consequence, the antibacterial specification of the gaming machine becomes more effective, and an antibacterial specification is newly realized in the case of the coin or medal gaming machine.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 1999Date of Patent: November 6, 2001Assignee: Aruze CorporationInventor: Akira Koga