Patents by Inventor Kazuhiko Ooyama
Kazuhiko Ooyama 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: 9488899Abstract: A strobe device is provided with a light-emitting unit rotatably coupled to a strobe body unit detachable from a bracket together with an imaging apparatus, a variable mechanism configured to allow a change in an angle of orientation of the light-emitting unit with respect to the strobe body unit, a driving unit configured to drive the variable mechanism, and a control section configured to control the driving unit. The control section has a control mode to restrain the light-emitting unit from moving to a region in which the imaging apparatus is located when it is detected that the strobe body unit is attached to the bracket. As a result, the strobe device whose the light-emitting unit does not bump against the imaging apparatus can be realized.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 2013Date of Patent: November 8, 2016Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.Inventors: Kazuhiko Ooyama, Yutaro Matsui, Shinya Maeda, Takashi Umehara, Toshiaki Takenaka
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Patent number: 9383627Abstract: A flash device of the present invention includes a flash main body, a light emitting section rotatably coupled to the flash main body, and a variable mechanism that can vary the angle in the vertical direction of the light emitting section between a normal irradiation direction angle and a desired irradiation direction angle different from the normal irradiation direction angle. The flash device further includes a drive section for driving the variable mechanism, a vertical direction angle detecting section for detecting the angle in the vertical direction of the light emitting section, and a control device for changing, with the drive section, the angle in the vertical direction of the light emitting section to the desired irradiation direction angle based on a detection signal of the vertical direction angle detecting section.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2012Date of Patent: July 5, 2016Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.Inventors: Tomoaki Ueda, Takashi Umehara, Kazuhiko Ooyama, Katsunori Kawabata
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Publication number: 20150261068Abstract: A strobe device of the present invention has a strobe body unit, a light-emitting unit rotatably coupled to the strobe body unit, a variable mechanism configured to change an angle and an orientation of the light-emitting unit with respect to the strobe body unit, a driving unit configured to drive the variable mechanism, and a control section configured to control the driving unit. The control section includes modes for selecting a particular one from among a plurality of reflective objects, and an arithmetic operation unit configured to calculate a bounce angle of the light-emitting unit with respect to the reflective object selected by using the modes. The control section controls the driving unit to cause an angle of the light-emitting unit to be the bounce angle. As a result, the strobe device which is ready to perform bounce photography without missing a chance for a good shot can be realized.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 19, 2013Publication date: September 17, 2015Inventors: Kazuhiko Ooyama, Toshiaki Takenaka
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Publication number: 20150185588Abstract: The present invention provides a strobe device which includes: a light-emitting unit rotatably coupled to a strobe body unit which is detachably mounted on an imaging apparatus; a variable mechanism capable of varying an angle of orientation of the light-emitting unit with respect to the strobe body unit; a driving unit for driving the variable mechanism; a control section for controlling the driving unit; and a detection unit. The detection unit detects that the strobe body unit is detached from the imaging apparatus, and the control section has a mode of varying the angle of orientation of the light-emitting unit to a predetermined detached-state angle of orientation based on a detection result by the detection unit. With such a configuration, it is possible to realize the strobe device which can obviate an unnecessary operation by a user.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 19, 2013Publication date: July 2, 2015Applicant: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., LtInventors: Yusuke Saita, Kazuhiko Ooyama
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Publication number: 20150185589Abstract: A strobe device is provided with a light-emitting unit rotatably coupled to a strobe body unit detachable from a bracket together with an imaging apparatus, a variable mechanism configured to allow a change in an angle of orientation of the light-emitting unit with respect to the strobe body unit, a driving unit configured to drive the variable mechanism, and a control section configured to control the driving unit. The control section has a control mode to restrain the light-emitting unit from moving to a region in which the imaging apparatus is located when it is detected that the strobe body unit is attached to the bracket. As a result, the strobe device whose the light-emitting unit does not bump against the imaging apparatus can be realized.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 19, 2013Publication date: July 2, 2015Applicant: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., LtInventors: Kazuhiko Ooyama, Yutaro Matsui, Shinya Maeda, Takashi Umehara, Toshiaki Takenaka
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Publication number: 20150109754Abstract: The present invention relates to a strobe device including: a strobe main body; a light emitter rotatably coupled to the strobe main body; a variable mechanism capable of changing an illumination direction angle of the light emitter; and a driver-that drives the variable mechanism. The driver includes: a detector that detects that abnormal force is applied to the variable mechanism and a detection responsive controller that controls the driver based on the abnormal force detected by the detector. This can achieve the strobe device that can prevent the light emitter from colliding with an obstacle and prevent the driver from being damaged.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 18, 2013Publication date: April 23, 2015Applicant: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.Inventors: Toshiaki Takenaka, Kazuhiko Ooyama, Yoshimi Fukuda
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Publication number: 20150077965Abstract: A strobe device according to the present invention includes: a strobe main body; a light-emitting unit rotatably connected to the strobe main body; a variable mechanism capable of changing an angle of the light-emitting unit; a drive unit for driving the variable mechanism; and a control unit for controlling the drive unit, wherein the control unit has a mode of changing an illumination direction angle of the light-emitting unit regularly or irregularly before shooting. This makes it possible, when a subject to be photographed is a human or an animal, to draw the subject's attention, and photograph the subject in a proper state.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 18, 2013Publication date: March 19, 2015Inventor: Kazuhiko Ooyama
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Publication number: 20150036042Abstract: A method for adjusting the illumination direction angle of a strobe device includes the steps of: transmitting to a specific strobe device, a first signal related to the present illumination direction angle of the strobe device being adjusted; based on the first signal, causing the illumination direction angle of the specific strobe device to correspond to the illumination direction angle of the strobe device being adjusted; changing the illumination direction angle of the specific strobe device to a state desirable for the strobe device being adjusted; transmitting, to the strobe device being adjusted, the amount of further change in the illumination direction angle of the specific strobe device, as a second signal; and changing the illumination direction angle of the strobe device being adjusted, based on the second signal. With this method, the illumination direction angle of the strobe device can be remotely adjusted.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 10, 2013Publication date: February 5, 2015Inventors: Takashi Umehara, Kazuhiko Ooyama, Katsunori Kawabata
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Publication number: 20140240950Abstract: A flash device of the present invention includes a flash main body, a light emitting section rotatably coupled to the flash main body, and a variable mechanism that can vary the angle in the vertical direction of the light emitting section between a normal irradiation direction angle and a desired irradiation direction angle different from the normal irradiation direction angle. The flash device further includes a drive section for driving the variable mechanism, a vertical direction angle detecting section for detecting the angle in the vertical direction of the light emitting section, and a control device for changing, with the drive section, the angle in the vertical direction of the light emitting section to the desired irradiation direction angle based on a detection signal of the vertical direction angle detecting section.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 26, 2012Publication date: August 28, 2014Applicant: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Tomoaki Ueda, Takashi Umehara, Kazuhiko Ooyama, Katsunori Kawabata
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Patent number: 8334064Abstract: In a battery receiving mechanism in which one end of a casing for receiving a battery has an opening section for exposing an electrode of a battery and this opening section is opened and closed by a cover, the cover is divided to an outer section and an inner section sliding to each other and the outer section is connected to a casing by a hinge having a long hole. The inner section has a part engaged with the casing. When the cover is opened, the cover can be opened with a short stroke without rubbing the battery.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 2008Date of Patent: December 18, 2012Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventor: Kazuhiko Ooyama
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Publication number: 20100062324Abstract: In a battery receiving mechanism in which one end of a casing for receiving a battery has an opening section for exposing an electrode of a battery and this opening section is opened and closed by a cover, the cover is divided to an outer section and an inner section sliding to each other and the outer section is connected to a casing by a hinge having a long hole. The inner section has a part engaged with the casing. When the cover is opened, the cover can be opened with a short stroke without rubbing the battery.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 21, 2008Publication date: March 11, 2010Inventor: Kazuhiko Ooyama