Patents by Inventor Isao Hirota

Isao Hirota 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: 11940015
    Abstract: A system for using a motor to control a power transmission device for driving a vehicle is provided with a clutch member movable bidirectionally in an axial direction; a base member prevented from rotating about an axis; a counter member axially away from and opposed to the base member, the counter member being restrained from moving in both a circumferential direction and the axial direction; an action member interposed between the base member and the counter member, movable in the axial direction, drivingly coupled with the clutch member, and coupled with the motor to create a rotational motion about the axis; and a cam slope tilting in the circumferential direction and ascending from the base member toward the counter member to convert the rotational motion into a motion of the action member in the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: GKN Automotive Limited
    Inventors: Isao Hirota, Masato Horiguchi, Manabu Endou
  • Publication number: 20240030244
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a solid-state imaging device and electronic equipment that enable improvement of image quality of a captured image. In the solid-state imaging device, two or more photoelectric conversion layers including a photoelectric converter and a charge detector are laminated. The solid-state imaging device is configured to include a state in which light having entered one pixel of a first photoelectric conversion layer closer to an optical lens is received by the photoelectric converter of a plurality of pixels of the second photoelectric conversion layer farther from the optical lens. The technology of the present disclosure can be applied to, for example, a solid-state imaging device that performs imaging.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2023
    Publication date: January 25, 2024
    Applicant: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Isao HIROTA
  • Patent number: 11879533
    Abstract: A differential device is provided with: a casing rotatable about an axis; a differential gear set including a pair of side gears housed in the casing and rotatable about the axis, a pinion shaft penetrating perpendicular to the axis and being secured to the casing; and pinion gears rotatably supported by the pinion shaft and so meshed with the side gears as to enable differential motion between the side gears; friction clutches interposed between the side gears and an inner periphery of the casing to limit the differential motion; a pair of repulsive bodies respectively applying force in directions along the axis to the friction clutches; and a block in contact with and supporting in the directions along the axis both the repulsive bodies, the block so fitting on the pinion shaft as to impose reaction forces from the friction clutches on the pinion shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: GKN Automotive Limited
    Inventors: Isao Hirota, Manabu Endou, Masato Horiguchi
  • Patent number: 11835122
    Abstract: A final drive differentially for distributing torque input into a shaft via a differential device to a pair of axles is provided with a ring gear coupled via gearing to the shaft to transmit the torque to the differential device. A housing unitarily includes a main portion supporting the shaft and enclosing the differential device, and a wall portion including a first opening through which one of the axles passes and supporting a first end of the differential device. A cover included a second opening through which the other of the axles passes, and is combined with the housing to support a second end of the differential device, wherein the wall portion, the ring gear, and the shaft are arranged, from the wall portion toward the cover, in an order of the wall portion, the ring gear, and the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: GKN Automotive Limited
    Inventors: Shungo Numabe, Hiromichi Fukuda, Isao Hirota
  • Publication number: 20230341007
    Abstract: A system for using a motor to control a power transmission device for driving a vehicle is provided with a clutch member movable bidirectionally in an axial direction; a base member prevented from rotating about an axis; a counter member axially away from and opposed to the base member, the counter member being restrained from moving in both a circumferential direction and the axial direction; an action member interposed between the base member and the counter member, movable in the axial direction, drivingly coupled with the clutch member, and coupled with the motor to create a rotational motion about the axis; and a cam slope tilting in the circumferential direction and ascending from the base member toward the counter member to convert the rotational motion into a motion of the action member in the axial direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2023
    Publication date: October 26, 2023
    Inventors: Isao Hirota, Masato Horiguchi, Manabu Endou
  • Patent number: 11796043
    Abstract: A differential device includes a differential case, a first output gear and a second output gear, and an interrupting mechanism. The differential case is rotatable. A drive force can be input to the differential case. The first output gear and the second output gear are accommodated in the differential case. The first output gear and a second output are rotatable with respect to the differential case and output the drive force received from the differential case. The interrupting mechanism is disposed on a side of the first output gear and connects and disconnects power transmission between the differential case and the first output gear. The first output gear is coupled to an output shaft through an intermediate member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: GKN Automotive Limited
    Inventors: Isao Hirota, Kazutaka Kawata
  • Patent number: 11796044
    Abstract: A gear device drivingly coupling a drive shaft with first and second axles is provided with a case coupled via gearing with the drive shaft, and rotatable about an axis; a hub that is couplable with the first axle; a clutch member retained by the case and disengageably engaged with the hub; a biasing element retaining the clutch member at a position where the clutch member engages with the hub; and a differential gear set coupling the case via gearing with the first and second axles and locked by the clutch member to prevent differential motion between the first axle and the second axle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: GKN Automotive Limited
    Inventors: Isao Hirota, Noboru Higano, Manabu Endou, Kazuhiro Ohashi, Shungo Numabe
  • Publication number: 20230308781
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a solid-state image pickup device and an electronic apparatus by which a phase-difference detection pixel that avoids defects such as lowering of sensitivity to incident light and lowering of phase-difference detection accuracy can be realized. A solid-state image pickup device as a first aspect of the present disclosure is a solid-state image pickup device in which a normal pixel that generates a pixel signal of an image and a phase-difference detection pixel that generates a pixel signal used in calculation of a phase-difference signal for controlling an image-surface phase difference AF function are arranged in a mixed manner, in which, in the phase-difference detection pixel, a shared on-chip lens for condensing incident light to a photoelectric converter that generates a pixel signal used in calculation of the phase-difference signal is formed for every plurality of adjacent phase-difference detection pixels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2023
    Publication date: September 28, 2023
    Applicant: Sony Group Corporation
    Inventors: Sozo Yokogawa, Isao Hirota
  • Patent number: 11731506
    Abstract: A driving system includes an electric motor, a transmission apparatus, a differential apparatus and a brake. The differential apparatus includes an input portion coupled to an output portion of the transmission apparatus, a pair of output portions, and a differential device that allows differential rotation of the pair of output portions. A brake is provided in a drive path from an output portion of the electric motor to the input portion of the differential apparatus. The differential apparatus includes a clutch member movable between a first position in which a differential rotation of the differential device is allowed and a second position in which the differential rotation of the differential device is stopped, a clutch actuator that moves the clutch member to the first position, and a holding portion that holds the clutch member to the second position when the clutch actuator is in a non-operating state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: GKN Automotive Limited
    Inventors: Isao Hirota, Kazutaka Kawata
  • Patent number: 11728357
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a solid-state imaging device and electronic equipment that enable improvement of image quality of a captured image. In the solid-state imaging device, two or more photoelectric conversion layers including a photoelectric converter and a charge detector are laminated. The solid-state imaging device is configured to include a state in which light having entered one pixel of a first photoelectric conversion layer closer to an optical lens is received by the photoelectric converter of a plurality of pixels of the second photoelectric conversion layer farther from the optical lens. The technology of the present disclosure can be applied to, for example, a solid-state imaging device that performs imaging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Isao Hirota
  • Patent number: 11711629
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a solid-state image pickup device and an electronic apparatus by which a phase-difference detection pixel that avoids defects such as lowering of sensitivity to incident light and lowering of phase-difference detection accuracy can be realized. A solid-state image pickup device as a first aspect of the present disclosure is a solid-state image pickup device in which a normal pixel that generates a pixel signal of an image and a phase-difference detection pixel that generates a pixel signal used in calculation of a phase-difference signal for controlling an image-surface phase difference AF function are arranged in a mixed manner, in which, in the phase-difference detection pixel, a shared on-chip lens for condensing incident light to a photoelectric converter that generates a pixel signal used in calculation of the phase-difference signal is formed for every plurality of adjacent phase-difference detection pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: Sony Group Corporation
    Inventors: Sozo Yokogawa, Isao Hirota
  • Patent number: 11649885
    Abstract: A differential apparatus includes a differential unit and a multi-plate clutch. The differential unit includes a differential case, a differential gear and a pair of output gears. The differential case includes a case main body and a cover body to close an opening of the case main body. The opening of the case main body is formed on a side of one of the pair of output gears. The multi-plate clutch is provided only on a side of the opening of the case main body. Outer clutch plates of the multi-plate clutch are engaged with the differential case. Inner clutch plates of the multi-plate clutch are engaged with the one of the pair of the output gears.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: GKN Automotive Limited
    Inventors: Isao Hirota, Noboru Higano, Yousuke Kawai
  • Publication number: 20230104316
    Abstract: A safe parking system is provided with: a torque-generating motor; a final drive including side gears drivingly coupled with the motor, a differential gear with a lock to prevent a differential motion between the side gears and an actuator for releasing the lock; an ignition key having an ON position and an OFF position; a differential-lock switch having an open position and a closed position; a switching unit for selecting whether the actuator is turned on or off; and a controller configured to, when the ignition key is detected to be in the OFF position, turn off the actuator if the differential-lock switch is in the open position, and execute no operation about the actuator if the differential-lock switch is in the closed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2022
    Publication date: April 6, 2023
    Inventors: Isao Hirota, Takahiro Nagaoka
  • Publication number: 20230052929
    Abstract: A differential device is provided with: a casing rotatable about an axis; a differential gear set including a pair of side gears housed in the casing and rotatable about the axis, a pinion shaft penetrating perpendicular to the axis and being secured to the casing; and pinion gears rotatably supported by the pinion shaft and so meshed with the side gears as to enable differential motion between the side gears; friction clutches interposed between the side gears and an inner periphery of the casing to limit the differential motion; a pair of repulsive bodies respectively applying force in directions along the axis to the friction clutches; and a block in contact with and supporting in the directions along the axis both the repulsive bodies, the block so fitting on the pinion shaft as to impose reaction forces from the friction clutches on the pinion shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2022
    Publication date: February 16, 2023
    Inventors: Isao Hirota, Manabu Endou, Masato Horiguchi
  • Publication number: 20220356938
    Abstract: A final drive differentially for distributing torque input into a shaft via a differential device to a pair of axles is provided with a ring gear coupled via gearing to the shaft to transmit the torque to the differential device. A housing unitarily includes a main portion supporting the shaft and enclosing the differential device, and a wall portion including a first opening through which one of the axles passes and supporting a first end of the differential device. A cover included a second opening through which the other of the axles passes, and is combined with the housing to support a second end of the differential device, wherein the wall portion, the ring gear, and the shaft are arranged, from the wall portion toward the cover, in an order of the wall portion, the ring gear, and the shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2022
    Publication date: November 10, 2022
    Inventors: Shungo Numabe, Hiromichi Fukuda, Isao Hirota
  • Patent number: 11402006
    Abstract: A differential device is provided with a casing rotatable about an axis, a differential gear set coupled therewith including a pinion gear with a pressure angle (a4) and side gears in mesh therewith, output members respectively mediating torque transmission from the side gears to axles, each of which includes a friction face as a friction clutch for limiting the differential motion, dog teeth, and an oblique face forming an angle (a1) and constituting a cam for operating the friction clutch, a clutch member axially movable for functioning as a clutch to lock the differential motion and including a leg having a side face forming an angle (a2) to function as a cam and movable dog teeth each forming an angle (a3) satisfying an inequality a2?a3; and an actuator capable of driving the clutch member toward a position where the movable dog teeth mesh with the dog teeth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: GKN Automotive Limited
    Inventors: Isao Hirota, Manabu Endou, Masato Horiguchi
  • Publication number: 20220213952
    Abstract: A differential apparatus includes a differential unit and a multi-plate clutch. The differential unit includes a differential case, a differential gear and a pair of output gears. The differential case includes a case main body and a cover body to close an opening of the case main body. The opening of the case main body is formed on a side of one of the pair of output gears. The multi-plate clutch is provided only on a side of the opening of the case main body. Outer clutch plates of the multi-plate clutch are engaged with the differential case. Inner clutch plates of the multi-plate clutch are engaged with the one of the pair of the output gears.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2022
    Publication date: July 7, 2022
    Inventors: Isao Hirota, Noboru Higano, Yousuke Kawai
  • Publication number: 20220141408
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a solid-state image pickup device and an electronic apparatus by which a phase-difference detection pixel that avoids defects such as lowering of sensitivity to incident light and lowering of phase-difference detection accuracy can be realized. A solid-state image pickup device as a first aspect of the present disclosure is a solid-state image pickup device in which a normal pixel that generates a pixel signal of an image and a phase-difference detection pixel that generates a pixel signal used in calculation of a phase-difference signal for controlling an image-surface phase difference AF function are arranged in a mixed manner, in which, in the phase-difference detection pixel, a shared on-chip lens for condensing incident light to a photoelectric converter that generates a pixel signal used in calculation of the phase-difference signal is formed for every plurality of adjacent phase-difference detection pixels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2022
    Publication date: May 5, 2022
    Applicant: Sony Group Corporation
    Inventors: Sozo Yokogawa, Isao Hirota
  • Patent number: 11309284
    Abstract: The present technology relates to a solid-state image capturing apparatus and an electronic device that can acquire a normal image and a narrow band image at the same time. The solid-state image capturing apparatus includes a plurality of substrates laminated in two or more layers, and two or more substrates of the plurality of substrates have pixels that perform photoelectric conversion. At least one substrate of the substrates having the pixels is a visible light sensor that receives visible light, and at least another substrate of the substrates having the pixels is a narrow band light sensor that includes narrow band filters being optical filters permeating light in a narrow wavelength band, and receives narrow band light in the narrow band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Taro Sugizaki, Isao Hirota
  • Publication number: 20220105801
    Abstract: A driving system includes an electric motor, a transmission apparatus, a differential apparatus and a brake. The differential apparatus includes an input portion coupled to an output portion of the transmission apparatus, a pair of output portions, and a differential device that allows differential rotation of the pair of output portions. A brake is provided in a drive path from an output portion of the electric motor to the input portion of the differential apparatus. The differential apparatus includes a clutch member movable between a first position in which a differential rotation of the differential device is allowed and a second position in which the differential rotation of the differential device is stopped, a clutch actuator that moves the clutch member to the first position, and a holding portion that holds the clutch member to the second position when the clutch actuator is in a non-operating state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2021
    Publication date: April 7, 2022
    Inventors: Isao Hirota, Kazutaka Kawata