Patents by Inventor Hidetada Tanaka

Hidetada Tanaka 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).

  • Publication number: 20230151942
    Abstract: A vehicle headlight (10) includes a light source unit (30) including a plurality of light emitting elements (35), a reflector (39) that scans light from the plurality of light emitting elements (35) to form a light distribution pattern (350), and a control unit (60). The control unit (60) controls the light source unit (30) such that the light amount of light emitted from some light emitting elements to a predetermined region (AR) overlapping a target object does not change and the light amount of light emitted from other some light emitting elements to the predetermined region (AR) overlapping the target object changes among the light emitting elements that emit light to the predetermined region (AR) overlapping the target object in the superimposition region (PA).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2021
    Publication date: May 18, 2023
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuta MARUYAMA, Hidetada TANAKA
  • Patent number: 11573000
    Abstract: An optical unit includes a first light source, a second light source, a rotary reflector that rotates about an axis of rotation while reflecting first light emitted from the first light source, and a projection lens that projects the first light reflected by the rotary reflector into a light illuminating direction of the optical unit to form a first light distribution pattern. The second light source is disposed such that second light emitted from the second light source enters the projection lens without being reflected by the rotary reflector. The projection lens is configured to project the second light into the light illuminating direction of the optical unit to form a second light distribution pattern such that the second light distribution pattern overlaps an end portion of the first light distribution pattern in a right-left direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazutoshi Sakurai, Hidetada Tanaka
  • Patent number: 11441753
    Abstract: An optical unit includes a first light source, a second light source, a rotary reflector that rotates about an axis of rotation while reflecting first light emitted from the first light source, and a projection lens that projects the first light reflected by the rotary reflector into a light illuminating direction of the optical unit to form a first light distribution pattern. The second light source is disposed such that second light emitted from the second light source enters the projection lens without being reflected by the rotary reflector. The projection lens is configured to project the second light into the light illuminating direction of the optical unit to form a second light distribution pattern such that the second light distribution pattern overlaps an end portion of the first light distribution pattern in a right-left direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazutoshi Sakurai, Hidetada Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20220221124
    Abstract: An optical unit includes a first light source, a second light source, a rotary reflector that rotates about an axis of rotation while reflecting first light emitted from the first light source, and a projection lens that projects the first light reflected by the rotary reflector into a light illuminating direction of the optical unit to form a first light distribution pattern. The second light source is disposed such that second light emitted from the second light source enters the projection lens without being reflected by the rotary reflector. The projection lens is configured to project the second light into the light illuminating direction of the optical unit to form a second light distribution pattern such that the second light distribution pattern overlaps an end portion of the first light distribution pattern in a right-left direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2022
    Publication date: July 14, 2022
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazutoshi SAKURAI, Hidetada TANAKA
  • Patent number: 11346520
    Abstract: A rotating reflector is a resin rotating reflector including: a rotating part; and a blade provided around the rotating part and functioning as a reflecting surface, wherein the rotating part has a hole in which a rotary shaft is inserted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Nakanishi, Teppei Muramatsu, Hidetada Tanaka
  • Patent number: 11280466
    Abstract: An optical unit includes: a light source; a rotating reflector configured to be rotated in a single direction with the rotational axis as the center of rotation while reflecting light emitted from the light source; and a projector lens configured to project light reflected by the rotating reflector in the light irradiation direction. The projector lens has a first lens region LR1 that defines the first focal plane and a second lens region that defines the second focal plane that differs from the first focal plane. The light source is arranged such that, when the rotating reflector is set to the first rotational position, its virtual position is in the vicinity of the focal plane, and such that, when the rotating reflector is set to the second rotational position, its virtual position is in the vicinity of the focal plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hidetada Tanaka, Kazutoshi Sakurai
  • Publication number: 20210317968
    Abstract: An optical unit includes a first light source, a second light source, a rotary reflector that rotates about an axis of rotation while reflecting first light emitted from the first light source, and a projection lens that projects the first light reflected by the rotary reflector into a light illuminating direction of the optical unit to form a first light distribution pattern. The second light source is disposed such that second light emitted from the second light source enters the projection lens without being reflected by the rotary reflector. The projection lens is configured to project the second light into the light illuminating direction of the optical unit to form a second light distribution pattern such that the second light distribution pattern overlaps an end portion of the first light distribution pattern in a right-left direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2021
    Publication date: October 14, 2021
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazutoshi SAKURAI, Hidetada TANAKA
  • Publication number: 20210310630
    Abstract: An optical unit includes: a light source; a rotating reflector configured to be rotated in a single direction with the rotational axis as the center of rotation while reflecting light emitted from the light source; and a projector lens configured to project light reflected by the rotating reflector in the light irradiation direction. The projector lens has a first lens region LR1 that defines the first focal plane and a second lens region that defines the second focal plane that differs from the first focal plane. The light source is arranged such that, when the rotating reflector is set to the first rotational position, its virtual position is in the vicinity of the focal plane, and such that, when the rotating reflector is set to the second rotational position, its virtual position is in the vicinity of the focal plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2021
    Publication date: October 7, 2021
    Applicant: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidetada TANAKA, Kazutoshi SAKURAI
  • Publication number: 20210231286
    Abstract: A rotating reflector is a resin rotating reflector including: a rotating part; and a blade provided around the rotating part and functioning as a reflecting surface, wherein the rotating part has a hole in which a rotary shaft is inserted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2021
    Publication date: July 29, 2021
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki NAKANISHI, Teppei MURAMATSU, Hidetada TANAKA
  • Patent number: 10775011
    Abstract: A vehicle lamp includes a light source unit for road surface drawing capable of forming a light source image longer in an upper and lower direction than a left and right direction of the lamp and a projection lens through which light forming the light source image is transmitted and which projects a predetermined light distribution pattern on a road surface. A light emitting surface or a light transmitting surface of the light source unit is disposed in a vicinity of a rear focal point of the projection lens. The light emitting surface or the light transmitting surface is inclined with respect to an upper and lower direction orthogonal to an optical axis of the projection lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Misako Kamiya, Takeshi Masuda, Hidetada Tanaka, Yuichi Shibata
  • Patent number: 10741083
    Abstract: In this invention, letters that can be seen by a pedestrian (101) are drawn on an intersection (103). A mark (MM2) that can be seen by the driver of the host vehicle (C) is drawn on the road (104) between the intersection (103) and the host-vehicle (C). The shapes of the letters (MO4) are corrected in accordance with the positional relationship between the pedestrian (101) and the intersection (103). The shape of the mark (MM2) is corrected in accordance with the positional relationship between the driver of the host-vehicle (C) and the road (104).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takeshi Masuda, Michihiko Hayakawa, Yuichi Shibata, Takayuki Yagi, Misako Nakazawa, Toshiaki Tsuda, Hidetada Tanaka, Satoshi Yamamura
  • Patent number: 10670216
    Abstract: An optical unit includes a light source and a rotary reflector configured to reflect a light emitted from the light source and rotate around a rotation axis in one direction. The rotary reflector is provided with a reflective surface such that a desired light distribution pattern is formed by scanning a light of a light source reflected by the rotary reflector while the rotary reflector is rotated. The light source includes a first light-emitting portion configured to be turned on when forming a first light distribution pattern that mainly illuminates a range lower than a horizontal line, and a second light-emitting portion configured to be turned on when forming a second light distribution pattern that illuminates a range at least higher than the horizontal line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hidetada Tanaka, Kazutoshi Sakurai
  • Patent number: 10661701
    Abstract: A blade receives light emitted from a light source and repeats a predetermined periodic motion to scan the front of a vehicle with reflected light of the emitted light. A position detector generates a position detection signal S4 indicating a timing at which a predetermined reference point of the blade passes a predetermined position. Based on the position detection signal S4, a period calculator calculates a period Tp of the periodic motion of the blade. A light intensity calculator receives light-distribution-pattern information S3 to be formed in front of the vehicle and calculates light intensity to be generated by the light source at each time based on the position detection signal S4 and the period Tp. A driver turns on a semiconductor light source so as to obtain the light intensity calculated by the light intensity calculator at each time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takeshi Toda, Kentarou Murakami, Masayasu Ito, Takao Muramatsu, Hidetada Tanaka, Satoshi Yamamura
  • Patent number: 10634303
    Abstract: The control part controls a timing of changing the light emission intensity of the first light source and a timing of changing the light emission intensity of the second light source such that a first light-shielding portion is formed in a part of the first irradiation pattern, a second light-shielding portion is formed in a part of the second irradiation pattern so as to overlap with the first light-shielding portion, and a range of the first light-shielding portion and a range of the second light-shielding portion are deviated from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hidetada Tanaka, Kentarou Murakami
  • Publication number: 20200080701
    Abstract: An optical unit includes a first light source having a plurality of light-emitting elements disposed in an array, a rotary reflector that rotates while reflecting light emitted from the first light source, and a controller that controls an on state of the plurality of light-emitting elements. The rotary reflector includes a reflective surface provided to form a light-distribution pattern by scanning light reflected by the rotating rotary reflector as a light source image, and the plurality of light-emitting elements include a first light-emitting element and a second light-emitting element. The controller controls the on state of the first light-emitting element and the second light-emitting element such that an on duration T1 of the first light-emitting element becomes longer than an on duration T2 (T2>0) of the second light-emitting element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2019
    Publication date: March 12, 2020
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hidetada TANAKA, Kazutoshi SAKURAI, Yoshiaki AISO
  • Patent number: 10479264
    Abstract: When forming a first light distribution pattern, the controller is configured to control the magnitudes of the drive currents of first light emitting element and the second light emitting element. When forming a second light distribution pattern, the controller is configured to control so that the magnitude of the drive current of the second light emitting element is smaller than when forming the first light distribution pattern and/or so that a time period in which the drive current is to be supplied to the second light emitting element is shorter than when forming the first light distribution pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hidetada Tanaka, Kazutoshi Sakurai
  • Patent number: 10359169
    Abstract: A lamp unit includes a light-emitting element array composed by a plurality of light-emitting elements, having respective individual irradiation regions constituting a high-beam light-distribution pattern and configured to be capable of being turned on individually, mounted in array on a substrate, a projection lens disposed in front of the light-emitting element array, and a reflector disposed below the light-emitting element array. Inter-light-emitting-element spacing within the light-emitting element array widens the more separated the elements are from the projection lens' optical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroki Kawai, Kenta Oishi, Naoki Uchida, Hiroyuki Ishida, Hidetada Tanaka, Noriko Sato, Ryuho Sato, Takatomo Fujiyoshi
  • Publication number: 20190113197
    Abstract: A vehicle lamp includes a light source unit for road surface drawing capable of forming a light source image longer in an upper and lower direction than a left and right direction of the lamp and a projection lens through which light forming the light source image is transmitted and which projects a predetermined light distribution pattern on a road surface. A light emitting surface or a light transmitting surface of the light source unit is disposed in a vicinity of a rear focal point of the projection lens. The light emitting surface or the light transmitting surface is inclined with respect to an upper and lower direction orthogonal to an optical axis of the projection lens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2017
    Publication date: April 18, 2019
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Misako KAMIYA, Takeshi MASUDA, Hidetada TANAKA, Yuichi SHIBATA
  • Patent number: 10208911
    Abstract: An optical unit includes a light source, a rotary reflector that rotates about an axis of rotation and includes a reflective surface that reflects light emitted by the light source, and a projection lens including an incident surface on which reflected light from the rotary reflector is incident. A shade is provided between the projection lens and the rotary reflector. The shade blocks at least a portion of light that has been incident on an emission surface of the projection lens at an angle within a predetermined range, that has been condensed by the projection lens, and that travels toward the reflective surface of the rotary reflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hidetada Tanaka, Misako Nakazawa, Satoshi Yamamura
  • Publication number: 20190051185
    Abstract: In this invention, letters that can be seen by a pedestrian (101) are drawn on an intersection (103). A mark (MM2) that can be seen by the driver of the host vehicle (C) is drawn on the road (104) between the intersection (103) and the host-vehicle (C). The shapes of the letters (MO4) are corrected in accordance with the positional relationship between the pedestrian (101) and the intersection (103). The shape of the mark (MM2) is corrected in accordance with the positional relationship between the driver of the host-vehicle (C) and the road (104).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2018
    Publication date: February 14, 2019
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takeshi MASUDA, Michihiko HAYAKAWA, Yuichi SHIBATA, Takayuki YAGI, Misako NAKAZAWA, Toshiaki TSUDA, Hidetada TANAKA, Satoshi YAMAMURA