Patents by Inventor Arata Sakamoto

Arata Sakamoto 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: 9019625
    Abstract: A lens advancing device of the present invention includes an advancing ring holding the lens unit; a holder supporting the advancing ring; an operation unit; and a came surface formed on one of the advancing ring and the holder, and an abutting part formed on the other of the advancing ring and the holder and is engageable with the cam surface. The lens unit is disposed along an optical axis by rotating the advancing ring and thereby changing the engaging position between the cam surface and the abutting part. The lens advancing device further includes a pressing part retaining the elastic body be abutment to make the elastic body exert the elastic force upon the advancing ring and press the abutting part against the came surface. This reduces changes of resistance in rotational operation of the advancing ring between photographing modes, which makes the user feel less uncomfortable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kouichirou Matsuoka, Arata Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 8994268
    Abstract: A compact strobe device includes the following components: a flash discharge tube having an anode and a cathode; a conductive reflector storing a part of the flash discharge tube; a trigger coil having a hollow core, and a primary winding and a secondary winding around the core; and a conductor connecting the secondary winding of the trigger coil and the reflector. The trigger coil has an end of the flash discharge tube inserted into the core, and includes at an end thereof adjacent to the reflector, a secondary terminal connected to the secondary winding. The reflector has a bottom in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the flash discharge tube, the outer peripheral surface covering at least the region extending from the anode to the cathode. The conductor has a first contact portion in contact with the secondary terminal of the trigger coil, and a second contact portion in contact with the bottom of the reflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Arata Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 8922120
    Abstract: A compact strobe device includes the following components: a flash discharge tube having an anode on one side thereof and a cathode on the other side thereof; a conductive reflector composing an external trigger electrode, the reflector being in contact with and storing a part of the flash discharge tube; a trigger coil having a primary winding and a secondary winding wound around a hollow core; and an elastic conductor connecting the secondary winding of the trigger coil and the reflector. The trigger coil has an end of the flash discharge tube inserted into the core, and includes, at the end thereof adjacent to the reflector, a secondary terminal connected to the secondary winding. The conductor elastically deforms to be in contact with the secondary terminal of the trigger coil and a lateral side of the reflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Arata Sakamoto
  • Publication number: 20140167596
    Abstract: A compact strobe device includes the following components: a flash discharge tube having an anode and a cathode; a conductive reflector storing a part of the flash discharge tube; a trigger coil having a hollow core, and a primary winding and a secondary winding around the core; and a conductor connecting the secondary winding of the trigger coil and the reflector. The trigger coil has an end of the flash discharge tube inserted into the core, and includes at an end thereof adjacent to the reflector, a secondary terminal connected to the secondary winding. The reflector has a bottom in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the flash discharge tube, the outer peripheral surface covering at least the region extending from the anode to the cathode. The conductor has a first contact portion in contact with the secondary terminal of the trigger coil, and a second contact portion in contact with the bottom of the reflector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2012
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Arata Sakamoto
  • Publication number: 20140139099
    Abstract: A compact strobe device includes the following components: a flash discharge tube having an anode on one side thereof and a cathode on the other side thereof; a conductive reflector composing an external trigger electrode, the reflector being in contact with and storing a part of the flash discharge tube; a trigger coil having a primary winding and a secondary winding wound around a hollow core; and an elastic conductor connecting the secondary winding of the trigger coil and the reflector. The trigger coil has an end of the flash discharge tube inserted into the core, and includes, at the end thereof adjacent to the reflector, a secondary terminal connected to the secondary winding. The conductor elastically deforms to be in contact with the secondary terminal of the trigger coil and a lateral side of the reflector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2012
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Arata Sakamoto
  • Publication number: 20140078599
    Abstract: A lens advancing device of the present invention includes an advancing ring holding the lens unit; a holder supporting the advancing ring; an operation unit; and a came surface formed on one of the advancing ring and the holder, and an abutting part formed on the other of the advancing ring and the holder and is engageble with the cam surface. The lens unit is disposed along an optical axis by rotating the advancing ring and thereby changing the engaging position between the cam surface and the abutting part. The lens advancing device further includes a pressing part retaining the elastic body be abutment to make the elastic body exert the elastic force upon the advancing ring and press the abutting part against the came surface. This reduces changes of resistance in rotational operation of the advancing ring between photographing modes, which makes the user feel less uncomfortable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2012
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kouichirou Matsuoka, Arata Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 8339051
    Abstract: The electronic flash unit disclosed comprises: a transformer (14) to vary voltages of a power supply; an accumulator (16) composed of a main capacitor (17) to charge an electric energy supplied from the transformer (14); a lamp unit (4) provided with a flashlamp (20), set inside of a reflector (19), that flashes by discharging of energy storages in the main capacitor (17) upon applying a voltage on a trigger terminal (21); and a trigger circuit (10) to generate the voltage to apply on the trigger terminal (21), wherein at least the lamp unit (4) is coated with an insulation material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Hirohiko Ina, Arata Sakamoto, Shohei Uno, Toshinori Maki, Katsumi Horinishi, Naoyuki Furutsuka, Hajime Mitsui, Kazue Nakagawa, Katsuji Ishikawa, Hisashi Ogura, Mitsuo Fuke, Katsunori Kawabata, Takashi Umehara, Katsushi Sumisaki
  • Patent number: 7652434
    Abstract: The electronic flash unit disclosed comprises: a transformer (14) to vary voltages of a power supply; an accumulator (16) composed of a main capacitor (17) to charge an electric energy supplied from the transformer (14); a lamp unit (4) provided with a flashlamp (20), set inside of a reflector (19), that flashes by discharging of energy storages in the main capacitor (17) upon applying a voltage on a trigger terminal (21); and a trigger circuit (10) to generate the voltage to apply on the trigger terminal (21), wherein at least the lamp unit (4) is coated with an insulation material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: Panasonic Photo & Lighting Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirohiko Ina, Arata Sakamoto, Shohei Uno, Toshinori Maki, Katsumi Horinishi, Naoyuki Furutsuka, Hajime Mitsui, Kazue Nakagawa, Katsuji Ishikawa, Hisashi Ogura, Mitsuo Fuke, Katsunori Kawabata, Takashi Umehara, Katsushi Sumisaki
  • Publication number: 20070170869
    Abstract: The electronic flash unit disclosed comprises: a transformer (14) to vary voltages of a power supply; an accumulator (16) composed of a main capacitor (17) to charge an electric energy supplied from the transformer (14); a lamp unit (4) provided with a flashlamp (20), set inside of a reflector (19), that flashes by discharging of energy storages in the main capacitor (17) upon applying a voltage on a trigger terminal (21); and a trigger circuit (10) to generate the voltage to apply on the trigger terminal (21), wherein at least the lamp unit (4) is coated with an insulation material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2007
    Publication date: July 26, 2007
    Applicant: PANASONIC PHOTO & LIGHTING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hirohiko Ina, Arata Sakamoto, Shohei Uno, Toshinori Maki, Katsumi Horinishi, Naoyuki Furutsuka, Hajime Mitsui, Kazue Nakagawa, Katsuji Ishikawa, Hisashi Ogura, Mitsuo Fuke, Katsunori Kawabata, Takashi Umehara, Katsushi Sumisaki
  • Patent number: 7049021
    Abstract: 1. A conductive composition for a polymer electrolyte fuel cell separator comprising: 1) a conductive component composed of graphite particles and optionally fine graphite particles; and 2) a thermoplastic resin and/or a thermosetting resin, 3) the graphite particles having an average particle diameter D1 of 55 to 65 ?m, 4) the melt viscosity being 1×102 to 5×103 Pa·s at 320° C., and 5) the weight ratio of (the graphite particles and optionally the fine graphite particles)/(the thermoplastic resin and/or the thermosetting resin) being 95/5 to 75/25.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: Osaka Gas Company Limited
    Inventors: Arata Sakamoto, Hiroyuki Okazaki
  • Publication number: 20050007030
    Abstract: The electronic flash unit disclosed comprises: a transformer (14) to vary voltages of a power supply; an accumulator (16) composed of a main capacitor (17) to charge an electric energy supplied from the transformer (14); a lamp unit (4) provided with a flashlamp (20), set inside of a reflector (19), that flashes by discharging of energy storages in the main capacitor (17) upon applying a voltage on a trigger terminal (21); and a trigger circuit (10) to generate the voltage to apply on the trigger terminal (21), wherein at least the lamp unit (4) is coated with an insulation material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2002
    Publication date: January 13, 2005
    Inventors: Hirohiko Ina, Arata Sakamoto, Shohei Uno, Toshinori Maki, Katsumi Horinishi, Naoyuki Furutsuka, Hajime Mitsui, Kazue Nakagawa, Katsuji Ishikawa, Hisashi Ogura, Mitsuo Fuke, Katsunori Kawabata, Takashi Umehara, Katsushi Sumisaki
  • Publication number: 20030180597
    Abstract: 1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2002
    Publication date: September 25, 2003
    Inventors: Arata Sakamoto, Hiroyuki Okazaki