Patents by Inventor Kazuhiro SAZAI

Kazuhiro SAZAI 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: 11917296
    Abstract: A circuit board is mounted on a camera module with a shake correction function. The circuit board includes a first reference portion extending from a first side in a first direction to a second side in the first direction, a first coupled portion extending from the second side in the first direction to the first side in the first direction, a first direction first bent portion connected to each of an end portion on the second side in the first direction of the first reference portion and an end portion on the second side in the first direction of the first coupled portion, and a second direction extending first portion extending in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction from the first coupled portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: NIDEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Sazai, Shinri Ono, Keisuke Oshima
  • Patent number: 11867926
    Abstract: An optical unit that corrects a shake of an optical module includes: a movable portion having a holder that holds the optical module; and a fixed portion that rotatably supports the movable portion. The movable portion is rotatable relative to the fixed portion in first-third rotation directions correspondingly centered on first-third axes which correspondingly extend in first-third directions. The first direction is parallel to an optical axis direction of the optical module in a state in which the movable portion is stationary. The first direction, the second direction, and the third direction are perpendicular to each other. The movable portion further includes a protrusion protruding toward the fixed portion from an end of the holder closer to the fixed portion in the optical axis direction. The fixed portion includes a support portion that rotatably supports the protrusion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: NIDEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Soichiro Kimura, Kazuhiro Sazai, Keishi Otsubo, Tomohiro Egawa, Genki Tanaka
  • Patent number: 11856296
    Abstract: In a shake correction unit, a first circuit board has a first portion extending from a first side to a second side in a direction, a second portion extending from the second side to the first side in the direction, and a bent portion in which an end portion on the second side of the second portion is bent with respect to an end portion on the second side of the first portion. A second circuit board has a first portion extending from the second side to the first side in the direction, a second portion extending from the first side to the second side in the direction, and a bent portion in which an end portion on the first side of the second portion is bent with respect to an end portion on the first side of the first portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: NIDEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naofumi Horio, Soichiro Kimura, Shinri Ono, Kazuhiro Sazai
  • Patent number: 11747642
    Abstract: In an optical unit, a first swing mechanism swings a holder with reference to the y-axis direction, and a second swing mechanism swings the holder with reference to the z-axis direction. A case has a first recess that accommodates at least a part of a first protrusion of the holder and a second recess that accommodates at least a part of a second protrusion of the holder. The first recess has a first side surface located on one side in the y-axis direction of the first protrusion, a second side surface located on the other side in the y-axis direction of the first protrusion, and a bottom surface. The second recess has a first side surface located on one side in the y-axis direction of the second protrusion, a second side surface located on the other side in the y-axis direction of the second protrusion, and a bottom surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: NIDEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomohiro Egawa, Keishi Otsubo, Kazuhiro Sazai, Genki Tanaka, Takayuki Iwase
  • Patent number: 11630320
    Abstract: An optical assembly includes a movable body that includes an optical module, a frame body radially outward of the movable body, and support portions that swingably support the movable body with respect to the frame body. Each of the support portions includes a guide portion between the movable body and the frame body to support the movable body, and a preload portion that pushes the guide portion toward the movable body. A radially inner end portion of the preload portion is connected to a radially outer end portion of the guide portion. A radially outer end portion of the preload portion is supported by the frame body. One of the movable body and the guide portion includes a first convex surface, and the other includes a first concave surface in contact with the first convex surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: NIDEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Sazai, Tomohiro Egawa, Takayuki Iwase, Genki Tanaka, Tsutomu Arai, Shinji Minamisawa, Takeshi Sue
  • Publication number: 20230102945
    Abstract: An optical assembly includes a movable body including an optical element, a fixed body that is located around the movable body and swingably supports the movable body, and a swing mechanism that causes the movable body to swing about a swing axis with respect to the fixed body. The swing mechanism is located in a first direction orthogonal to the swing axis, and the swing mechanism includes a magnet on the movable body and a coil on the fixed body. The fixed body includes a circuit board that is located on one side in the first direction of the fixed body and electrically connected to the coil, a reinforcing plate that is on the circuit board and includes a depression depressed toward another side in the first direction, and a magnetic body that is located in the depression and at least partially overlaps the magnet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2022
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Inventors: Kazuhiro SAZAI, Keishi OTSUBO
  • Patent number: 11550202
    Abstract: An optical unit includes a movable body, a fixed body, and a first swing mechanism. The fixed body supports the movable body so as to be swingable in a first swing direction about a first swing axis. One of the movable body and the fixed body has a first magnet. The other of the movable body and the fixed body has a first magnetic body. The first magnetic body has a first magnetic body portion, a second magnetic body portion, and a third magnetic body portion. The first magnetic body portion passes through an axis perpendicular to each of the first swing axis and the optical axis of an optical element. The second magnetic body portion is disposed on one side in the first swing direction of the first magnetic body portion. The third magnetic body portion is disposed on the other side in the first swing direction of the first magnetic body portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: NIDEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Sazai, Tomohiro Egawa, Keishi Otsubo, Genki Tanaka, Takayuki Iwase
  • Patent number: 11543674
    Abstract: An optical unit with an image stabilization function includes a movable body having an annular holder for holding a camera module, a swing support mechanism for swingably supporting the movable body, and a fixing body for supporting the movable body with the swing support mechanism interposed between them. The holder includes three or more of a plurality of protrusions that project radially. The fixing body includes a plurality of arc surfaces that come into contact with each of the plurality of protrusions from the outer peripheral side. The swing support mechanism includes the plurality of protrusions and the plurality of arc surfaces. The arc surface is a concave curved surface obtained by transferring part of a virtual spherical surface centered on a preset swing center point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: NIDEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Sazai, Tsutomu Arai, Tomohiro Egawa, Shinji Minamisawa, Takayuki Iwase, Takeshi Sue, Genki Tanaka
  • Patent number: 11523040
    Abstract: An optical assembly includes an optical element including a reflection surface to reflect light in a first axis direction, a holder to hold the optical element, a case to support the holder, a first swing mechanism to swing the holder around a first swing axis, and a second swing mechanism to swing the holder around a second swing axis perpendicular to the first swing axis. The holder includes first and second protrusions. The case includes first and second recesses. Each of the recesses includes a first side surface located on one side in the axial direction of the second swing axis and a second side surface located on the other side with respect to the corresponding protrusion. At least one of the first and second side surfaces includes an inclined surface inclined with respect to the second swing axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: NIDEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takayuki Iwase, Tomohiro Egawa, Keishi Otsubo, Kazuhiro Sazai, Genki Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20220385819
    Abstract: An optical assembly includes a fixed body, a movable body movably arranged with respect to the fixed body, a support mechanism that supports the movable body, and a swing mechanism that swings the movable body with respect to the fixed body. The movable body includes an optical element having an optical axis and a holder that holds the optical element, the holder includes a bottom portion and a side portion, the support mechanism supports the bottom portion of the holder, and a bottom surface of the optical element is spaced away from an upper surface of the bottom portion of the holder at a position overlapping the support mechanism in an optical axis direction extending along the optical axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2022
    Publication date: December 1, 2022
    Inventors: Kazuhiro SAZAI, Naofumi HORIO
  • Publication number: 20220385821
    Abstract: A circuit board is mounted on a camera module with a shake correction function. The circuit board includes a first reference portion extending from a first side in a first direction to a second side in the first direction, a first coupled portion extending from the second side in the first direction to the first side in the first direction, a first direction first bent portion connected to each of an end portion on the second side in the first direction of the first reference portion and an end portion on the second side in the first direction of the first coupled portion, and a second direction extending first portion extending in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction from the first coupled portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2022
    Publication date: December 1, 2022
    Inventors: Kazuhiro SAZAI, Shinri ONO, Keisuke OSHIMA
  • Publication number: 20220385820
    Abstract: A wiring assembly includes a circuit board including a flat portion, at least one connection portion connected to the flat portion, a first wiring portion extending from an end portion on a first side of the at least one connection portion, a second wiring portion extending from an end portion on a second side of the at least one connection portion, and an external terminal connector electrically connected to the flat portion. The external terminal connector is electrically connected to the first wiring portion and the second wiring portion, and the first wiring portion, the second wiring portion, the external terminal connector, the at least one connection portion, and a portion between an end portion on the first side of the at least one connection portion and an end portion on the second side of the at least one connection portion in the flat portion are annular.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2022
    Publication date: December 1, 2022
    Inventors: Kazuhiro SAZAI, Tomohiro EGAWA, Shinri ONO
  • Publication number: 20220385815
    Abstract: A wiring assembly includes a first circuit board, a second circuit board separate from the first circuit board, the second circuit board including a peripheral portion that annularly partially surrounds a periphery of the first circuit board, a first connection portion that connects the first circuit board and the peripheral portion, and a second connection portion that connects the first circuit board and the peripheral portion. The peripheral portion and a portion of the first circuit board between a portion connected to the first connection portion and a portion connected to the second connection portion are annular.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2022
    Publication date: December 1, 2022
    Inventors: Kazuhiro SAZAI, Tomohiro EGAWA, Shinri ONO
  • Patent number: 11493780
    Abstract: An optical unit with a shake correction function has a shake correction function for correcting a shake of an optical module. The optical unit with a shake correction function includes: a movable body including the optical module; a fixed body disposed outward of the movable body in a radial direction with respect to an optical axis of the optical module; and a support part disposed between the movable body and the fixed body in the radial direction and structured to support the movable body such that the movable body is swingable relative to the fixed body. The movable body and the support part or the support part and the fixed body have, in a pair, a swing mechanism structured to allow the movable body to swing relative to the fixed body. The swing mechanism includes a protruded spherical portion and a recessed spherical portion that is larger in radius of curvature than the protruded spherical portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: NIDEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Genki Tanaka, Tomohiro Egawa, Takayuki Iwase, Kazuhiro Sazai, Tsutomu Arai, Shinji Minamisawa, Takeshi Sue
  • Publication number: 20220272264
    Abstract: In a shake correction unit, a first circuit board has a first portion extending from a first side to a second side in a direction, a second portion extending from the second side to the first side in the direction, and a bent portion in which an end portion on the second side of the second portion is bent with respect to an end portion on the second side of the first portion. A second circuit board has a first portion extending from the second side to the first side in the direction, a second portion extending from the first side to the second side in the direction, and a bent Portion in which an end portion on the first side of the second portion is bent with respect to an end portion on the first side of the first portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2022
    Publication date: August 25, 2022
    Inventors: Naofumi HORIO, Soichiro KIMURA, Shinri ONO, Kazuhiro SAZAI
  • Publication number: 20220269102
    Abstract: An optical unit includes a fixed body, a movable body having an optical module having an optical axis, a support portion arranged on the fixed body and supporting the movable body, and a swing mechanism that swings the movable body with respect to the fixed body. The support portion is located radially inside about the optical axis with respect to the swing mechanism. The optical unit further includes a protruding portion that is arranged on a first one of the movable body and the fixed body, and protrudes from the first one of the movable body and the fixed body toward a second one to interpose a gap between the movable body and the fixed body. A shortest distance between the protruding portion and the second one of the movable body and the fixed body is shorter than a shortest distance between the movable body and the fixed body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2022
    Publication date: August 25, 2022
    Inventors: Kazuhiro SAZAI, Keishi OTSUBO
  • Publication number: 20220269148
    Abstract: An optical unit includes a movable body having an optical module having an optical axis and having a protruding portion protruding in an optical axis direction in which the optical axis extends, a fixed body facing the protruding portion of the movable body and having a recess recessed in the optical axis direction, a plurality of support mechanisms each of which is located between the recess of the fixed body and the protruding portion of the movable body and supports the movable body with respect to the fixed body, and a swing mechanism that swings the movable body with respect to the fixed body. A plurality of the support mechanisms are arranged on the same circumference around the optical axis, and the swing mechanism is located radially outward with respect to the protruding portion of the movable body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2022
    Publication date: August 25, 2022
    Inventors: Keishi OTSUBO, Kazuhiro SAZAI, Shinji MINAMISAWA
  • Publication number: 20220099993
    Abstract: An optical unit that corrects a shake of an optical module includes a movable portion, a fixed portion, and a separation suppressing portion. The movable portion includes a holder and a protrusion. The holder holds the optical module. The protrusion protrudes toward the fixed portion from an end of the holder closer to the fixed portion in an optical axis direction in which an optical axis of the optical module extends. The fixed portion includes a support portion. The support portion rotatably supports the protrusion. The separation suppressing portion suppresses separation of the protrusion from the support portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2021
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Inventors: Kazuhiro SAZAI, Keishi OTSUBO, Genki TANAKA
  • Publication number: 20220100053
    Abstract: An optical unit includes a movable body, a fixed body, and a first swing mechanism. The fixed body supports the movable body so as to be swingable in a first swing direction about a first swing axis. One of the movable body and the fixed body has a first magnet. The other of the movable body and the fixed body has a first magnetic body. The first magnetic body has a first magnetic body portion, a second magnetic body portion, and a third magnetic body portion. The first magnetic body portion passes through an axis perpendicular to each of the first swing axis and the optical axis of an optical element. The second magnetic body portion is disposed on one side in the first swing direction of the first magnetic body portion. The third magnetic body portion is disposed on the other side in the first swing direction of the first magnetic body portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2021
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Inventors: Kazuhiro SAZAI, Tomohiro EGAWA, Keishi OTSUBO, Genki TANAKA, Takayuki IWASE
  • Publication number: 20220099994
    Abstract: An optical unit that corrects a shake of an optical module includes: a movable portion having a holder that holds the optical module; and a fixed portion that rotatably supports the movable portion. The movable portion is rotatable relative to the fixed portion in first-third rotation directions correspondingly centered on first-third axes which correspondingly extend in first-third directions. The first direction is parallel to an optical axis direction of the optical module in a state in which the movable portion is stationary. The first direction, the second direction, and the third direction are perpendicular to each other. The movable portion further includes a protrusion protruding toward the fixed portion from an end of the holder closer to the fixed portion in the optical axis direction. The fixed portion includes a support portion that rotatably supports the protrusion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2021
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Inventors: Soichiro KIMURA, Kazuhiro SAZAI, Keishi OTSUBO, Tomohiro EGAWA, Genki TANAKA