Patents by Inventor Katsu Yamada

Katsu Yamada 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: 8885265
    Abstract: A zoom lens system comprising: a negative first lens unit; a positive second lens unit; and a positive third lens unit, wherein the first to third lens units are individually moved along an optical axis to vary magnification in zooming, the first lens unit is composed of two lens elements and includes a positive lens element having at least one aspheric surface, the third lens unit is composed of one lens element, and the condition: 1.74<Ir/?{square root over ((|DL1×fG1|))} (DL1: an optical axial thickness of an object side first lens element in the first lens unit, fG1: a focal length of the first lens unit, Ir=fT×tan(?T), fT and ?T: a focal length of the entire system and a half value of maximum view angle at a telephoto limit) is satisfied; an imaging device; and a camera are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Kuzuhara, Katsu Yamada, Shinji Yamaguchi, Tsutomu Iwashita
  • Publication number: 20130300916
    Abstract: A zoom lens system, in order from an object side to an image side, comprising: a first lens unit having positive optical power; and at least one subsequent lens unit, wherein in zooming from a wide-angle limit to a telephoto limit at the time of image taking, an interval between the first lens unit and a lens unit which is one of the at least one subsequent lens unit varies, the condition: fT/fW>10.5 (fW: a focal length of the entire system at a wide-angle limit, fT: a focal length of the entire system at a telephoto limit) is satisfied, and at least one lens element among all the lens elements constituting the lens system satisfies the condition: ((?1Gg??1GF)+0.0018×?1Gd)/(?1GF??1GC)>0.8978 (?1Gn: a refractive power to the n-line of the first lens unit).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2013
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Inventors: Yoshio MATSUMURA, Katsu YAMADA
  • Patent number: 8472123
    Abstract: A zoom lens system is provided that includes a compactly constructed focusing lens unit and that has a suppressed change in the image magnification at the time of movement of a focusing lens unit. The zoom lens system according to the present invention comprises a plurality of lens units and an aperture diaphragm arranged in the lens unit. The plurality of lens units include a focusing lens unit that is arranged on an object side relative to the aperture diaphragm and that moves in a direction along the optical axis at the time of focusing. Further, the zoom lens system satisfies at least one of the following conditions: (1) 1.2<|fF/fW|<6.0; and (2) 0.10<|fF/fT|<1.8 (here, fT/fW>3.0, fF: a focal length of the focusing lens unit, fT: a focal length of the entire system at a telephoto limit, fW: focal length of the entire system at a wide-angle limit).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Kyoichi Miyazaki, Katsu Yamada, Takuya Imaoka, Masaki Sampei
  • Patent number: 8432618
    Abstract: A zoom lens system according to the present invention, from an object side, comprises a first lens unit having positive optical power, a second lens unit having negative optical power, a third lens unit having positive optical power, and a fourth lens unit having positive optical power. In zooming, the first to the fourth units all move along the optical axis. The third lens unit is composed of three or more lens elements. The condition (6): nd8?1.5 and vd8?75 and the condition (7): (nd9?1)+(nd10?1)?1.55 are satisfied (where, 16<fT/fW, ?>35, and in the third lens unit: nd8, nd9, nd10 are refractive indices to the d-line of the lens elements located on the most object side and at the second and the third positions from the object side; vd8 is an Abbe number to the d-line of the lens element on the most object side; ? is a half view angle at a wide-angle limit; fT is a focal length of the entire system at a telephoto limit; and fW is a focal length of the entire system at a wide-angle limit).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Keiki Yoshitsugu, Katsu Yamada, Shunichiro Yoshinaga
  • Patent number: 8279529
    Abstract: A zoom lens system is provided that includes a compactly constructed focusing lens unit and that has a suppressed change in the image magnification at the time of movement of a focusing lens unit and further that can compensate an image blur caused by vibration applied to the entire system. The zoom lens system according to the present invention comprises a plurality of lens units and an aperture diaphragm arranged in the lens unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Kyoichi Miyazaki, Katsu Yamada, Takuya Imaoka, Masaki Sampei
  • Patent number: 8243170
    Abstract: A zoom lens system is provided that includes a compactly constructed focusing lens unit and that has a suppressed change in the image magnification at the time of movement of a focusing lens unit. The zoom lens system according to the present invention, in order from an object side to an image side, comprises: a first lens unit having positive optical power; a second lens unit having negative optical power; a third lens unit having positive optical power; and an aperture diaphragm. At the time of zooming, the zoom lens system moves the first to third lens units so that intervals between these lens units vary. At the time of focusing from an infinity in-focus condition to a close-point object in-focus condition, the zoom lens system moves the third lens unit to the object side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Kyoichi Miyazaki, Katsu Yamada, Takuya Imaoka, Masaki Sampei
  • Patent number: 8212913
    Abstract: A zoom lens system according to the present invention, from an object side to an image side, comprises a first lens unit having positive optical power, a second lens unit having negative optical power, a third lens unit having positive optical power, and a fourth lens unit having positive optical power. In zooming, the first to the fourth lens units all move along the optical axis. The conditions (1): 0<?(f4·fW·tan ?)/LW<0.13 and (2): 0.05?f3/f4?0.97 are satisfied (where, 16<fT/fW, ?>35; ? is a half view angle at a wide-angle limit; LW is an overall optical axial length of the entire system at a wide-angle limit; f3 is a focal length of the third lens unit; f4 is a focal length of the fourth lens unit; fT is a focal length of the entire system at a telephoto limit; and fW is a focal length of the entire system at a wide-angle limit).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Keiki Yoshitsugu, Katsu Yamada, Shunichiro Yoshinaga
  • Publication number: 20120162497
    Abstract: A zoom lens system comprising: a negative first lens unit; a positive second lens unit; and a positive third lens unit, wherein the first to third lens units are individually moved along an optical axis to vary magnification in zooming, the first lens unit is composed of two lens elements and includes a positive lens element having at least one aspheric surface, the third lens unit is composed of one lens element, and the condition: 1.74<Ir/?(|DL1×fG1|) (DL1: an optical axial thickness of an object side first lens element in the first lens unit, fG1: a focal length of the first lens unit, Ir=fT×tan(?T), fT and ?T: a focal length of the entire system and a half value of maximum view angle at a telephoto limit) is satisfied; an imaging device; and a camera are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2011
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Satoshi Kuzuhara, Katsu Yamada, Shinji Yamaguchi, Tsutomu Iwashita
  • Publication number: 20120162768
    Abstract: A zoom lens system comprising: a first lens unit having negative optical power; a second lens unit having positive optical power; and a third lens unit having positive optical power, wherein the first to third lens units are individually moved along an optical axis to vary magnification in zooming, each lens unit includes at least one lens element that satisfies the conditions: nd?1.67, vd<59 and 0.000<PgF+0.002×vd?0.664 (nd, vd and PgF: a refractive index to the d-line, an Abbe number to the d-line and a partial dispersion ratio, of the lens element), and the condition: 0.31<Ir/?(|fG1×fG2|) (Ir=fT×tan (?T), fT and ?T: a focal length of the entire system and a half value of maximum view angle, at a telephoto limit, fG1 and fG2: a focal length of each of the first lens unit and the second lens unit) is satisfied; an imaging device; and a camera are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2011
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Satoshi Kuzuhara, Katsu Yamada, Shinji Yamaguchi, Tsutomu Iwashita
  • Patent number: 8189074
    Abstract: A zoom lens system is provided that includes a compactly constructed focusing lens unit and that has a suppressed change in the image magnification at the time of movement of a focusing lens unit. The zoom lens system according to the present invention comprises a plurality of lens units and an aperture diaphragm arranged in the lens unit. The plurality of lens units include: a negative lens unit that is arranged on an object side relative to the aperture diaphragm and provided with negative optical power having an absolute value greatest in the entire system and that moves in a direction along an optical axis at the time of zooming; and a focusing lens unit that is arranged in an optical path between the negative lens unit and the aperture diaphragm and that moves in a direction along the optical axis at the time of focusing such that an interval relative to the negative lens unit should vary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Kyoichi Miyazaki, Katsu Yamada, Takuya Imaoka, Masaki Sampei, Yoshio Matsumura
  • Patent number: 8098983
    Abstract: A zoom lens system is provided that includes a compactly constructed focusing lens unit and that has a suppressed change in the image magnification at the time of movement of a focusing lens unit. The zoom lens system, in order from an object side to an image side, comprises at least: a first lens unit having positive optical power; a second lens unit having negative optical power; a third lens unit having negative optical power; and an aperture diaphragm. At the time of zooming, the zoom lens system moves the first to third lens units so that intervals between these lens units vary. At the time of focusing from an infinity in-focus condition to a close-point object in-focus condition, the zoom lens system moves the third lens unit to the object side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Kyoichi Miyazaki, Katsu Yamada, Takuya Imaoka, Masaki Sampei
  • Patent number: 8064144
    Abstract: A zoom lens system according to the present invention, from an object side to an image side, comprises a first lens unit having positive optical power, a second lens unit having negative optical power, a third lens unit having positive optical power, and a fourth lens unit having positive optical power. In zooming, the first to the fourth lens units all move along the optical axis. The condition (8): 0.15<dG3/dG<0.27 is satisfied (where, 16<fT/fW, ?>35; dG3 is an optical axial center thickness of the third lens unit; dG is a sum of the optical axial thicknesses of the first to the fourth lens units; ? is a half view angle at a wide-angle limit; fT is a focal length of the entire system at a telephoto limit; and fW is a focal length of the entire system at a wide-angle limit). As a result, the zoom lens system has a reduced size and still realizes a wide view angle at a wide-angle limit, as well as a remarkably high zooming ratio and high performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Katsu Yamada, Keiki Yoshitsugu, Shunichiro Yoshinaga
  • Patent number: 8004585
    Abstract: A zoom lens system is provided that includes a compactly constructed focusing lens unit and that has a suppressed change in the image magnification at the time of movement of a focusing lens unit. The zoom lens system according to the present invention comprises: a positive lens unit that is arranged on an object side relative to the aperture diaphragm; a negative lens unit that is arranged on an image side relative to the positive lens unit and on an object side relative to the aperture diaphragm; and a focusing lens unit that is arranged in an optical path between the negative lens unit and the aperture diaphragm. The zoom lens system satisfies the condition (4): 1.20<?NT/?NW<4.50 (here, fT/fW>3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Kyoichi Miyazaki, Katsu Yamada, Takuya Imaoka, Masaki Sampei
  • Patent number: 7948685
    Abstract: A zoom lens system comprising a first lens unit having negative power, a second lens unit having positive power and a third lens unit having positive power, wherein: the first lens unit comprises a first lens element having a concave surface at least on the image side and negative power and a second lens element having a convex surface at least on the object side and positive power; the second lens unit comprises a cemented lens element fabricated by two lens elements having optical power of mutually different signs and one single lens element; in zooming, all of the lens units move along an optical axis; and conditions (1): 5.0<?iW<20.0 and (I-2): n11?1.9 (where, 3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Keiki Yoshitsugu, Katsu Yamada, Yoshito Miyatake, Kazuhiko Ishimaru
  • Patent number: 7948684
    Abstract: A zoom lens system comprising a first lens unit having negative power, a second lens unit having positive power and a third lens unit having positive power, wherein: the first lens unit comprises a first lens element having a concave surface at least on the image side and negative power and a second lens element having a convex surface at least on the object side and positive power; the second lens unit comprises a first cemented lens element of two lens elements having power of mutually different signs and a second cemented lens element of two lens elements having power of mutually different signs; in zooming, all of the lens units move along an optical axis; and conditions (1): 5.0<?iW<20.0 and (I-2): n11?1.9 (where, 3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Keiki Yoshitsugu, Katsu Yamada, Yoshito Miyatake, Kazuhiko Ishimaru
  • Patent number: 7800831
    Abstract: A zoom lens system comprising a first lens unit having negative power, a second lens unit having positive power and a third lens unit having positive power, wherein: the first lens unit comprises a first lens element having a concave surface at least on the image side and negative power and a second lens element having a convex surface at least on the object side and positive power; the second lens unit comprises a first cemented lens element of two lens elements having power of mutually different signs and a second cemented lens element of two lens elements having power of mutually different signs; in zooming, all of the lens units move along an optical axis; and conditions (1): 5.0<?iW<20.0 and (I-2): n11?1.9 (where, 3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Keiki Yoshitsugu, Katsu Yamada, Yoshito Miyatake, Kazuhiko Ishimaru
  • Publication number: 20100226019
    Abstract: A zoom lens system comprising a first lens unit having negative power, a second lens unit having positive power and a third lens unit having positive power, wherein: the first lens unit comprises a first lens element having a concave surface at least on the image side and negative power and a second lens element having a convex surface at least on the object side and positive power; the second lens unit comprises a cemented lens element fabricated by two lens elements having optical power of mutually different signs and one single lens element; in zooming, all of the lens units move along an optical axis; and conditions (1): 5.0<?iW<20.0 and (I-2): n11?1.9 (where, 3.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2010
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keiki Yoshitsugu, Katsu Yamada, Yoshito Miyatake, Kazuhiko Ishimaru
  • Publication number: 20100194929
    Abstract: A zoom lens system according to the present invention, from an object side to an image side, comprises a first lens unit having positive optical power, a second lens unit having negative optical power, a third lens unit having positive optical power, and a fourth lens unit having positive optical power. In zooming, the first to the fourth lens units all move along the optical axis. The conditions (1): 0<?(f4·fW·tan ?)/LW<0.13 and (2): 0.05?f3/f4?0.97 are satisfied (where, 16<fT/fW, ?>35; ? is a half view angle at a wide-angle limit; LW is an overall optical axial length of the entire system at a wide-angle limit; f3 is a focal length of the third lens unit; f4 is a focal length of the fourth lens unit; fT T is a focal length of the entire system at a telephoto limit; and fW is a focal length of the entire system at a wide-angle limit).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2008
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keiki Yoshitsugu, Katsu Yamada, Shunichiro Yoshinaga
  • Publication number: 20100182491
    Abstract: A zoom lens system according to the present invention, from an object side, comprises a first lens unit having positive optical power, a second lens unit having negative optical power, a third lens unit having positive optical power, and a fourth lens unit having positive optical power. In zooming, the first to the fourth units all move along the optical axis. The third lens unit is composed of three or more lens elements. The condition (6): nd8?1.5 and vd8?75 and the condition (7): (nd9?1)+(nd10?1)?1.55 are satisfied (where, 16<fT/fW, ?>35, and in the third lens unit: nd8, nd9, nd10 are refractive indices to the d-line of the lens elements located on the most object side and at the second and the third positions from the object side; vd8 is an Abbe number to the d-line of the lens element on the most object side; ? is a half view angle at a wide-angle limit; fT is a focal length of the entire system at a telephoto limit; and fW is a focal length of the entire system at a wide-angle limit).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2008
    Publication date: July 22, 2010
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keiki Yoshitsugu, Katsu Yamada, Shunichiro Yoshinaga
  • Publication number: 20100177217
    Abstract: A zoom lens system according to the present invention, from an object side to an image side, comprises a first lens unit having positive optical power, a second lens unit having negative optical power, a third lens unit having positive optical power, and a fourth lens unit having positive optical power. In zooming, the first to the fourth lens units all move along the optical axis. The condition (8): 0.15<dG3/dG<0.27 is satisfied (where, 16<fT/fW, ?>35; dG3 is an optical axial center thickness of the third lens unit; dG is a sum of the optical axial thicknesses of the first to the fourth lens units; ? is a half view angle at a wide-angle limit; fT is a focal length of the entire system at a telephoto limit; and fW is a focal length of the entire system at a wide-angle limit). As a result, the zoom lens system has a reduced size and still realizes a wide view angle at a wide-angle limit, as well as a remarkably high zooming ratio and high performance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2008
    Publication date: July 15, 2010
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Katsu Yamada, Keiki Yoshitsugu, Shunichiro Yoshinaga