Patents by Inventor Kazutoshi Shiratori

Kazutoshi Shiratori 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: 7567284
    Abstract: All members of a lens-implement are arranged in a rectangular space of a main lens frame. A lens prism is fixed, three movable lens frames for zoom and focusing inserted the two guide shafts are arranged, and a image capturing lens is fixed top-to-bottom seriatim occupying the horizontal ? portion of the rectangular space, and the image capturing device is arranged at foot portion. A zoom motor is arranged at the back of the lens prism, and a zoom shaft cam, a diaphragm/shutter, a focusing ultrasonic linear motor, and a magnetic sensor are arranged along the lens frames.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2009
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Masaru Ikemachi, Kazutoshi Shiratori, Tomoaki Sato
  • Patent number: 7449802
    Abstract: In a vibration wave linear motor, a coupled driving contacting parts are respectively provided on the top and the bottom of a vibrator unit, and 2 upper and lower guide shafts which contact concave parts of the coupled driving contacting parts are supported by erecting parts of a supporting part. The lower guide shaft is pressed upward by spiral springs, so that the two guide shafts press and sandwich the vibrator. Alternating current voltages having different phases are applied to the vibrator unit, whereby the vibrator unit generates a vibration wave to generate elliptical rotation vibrations in the driving contacting parts. As a result, the vibrator, and the two guide shafts and the supporting part make a relative move in the shaft direction. Either the guide shafts or the vibrator is fixed, and the other is linked to an object to be driven.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuo Sasaki, Toshihiro Nakao, Kazutoshi Shiratori
  • Publication number: 20080129126
    Abstract: In a vibration wave linear motor, a coupled driving contacting parts are respectively provided on the top and the bottom of a vibrator unit, and 2 upper and lower guide shafts which contact concave parts of the coupled driving contacting parts are supported by erecting parts of a supporting part. The lower guide shaft is pressed upward by spiral springs, so that the two guide shafts press and sandwich the vibrator. Alternating current voltages having different phases are applied to the vibrator unit, whereby the vibrator unit generates a vibration wave to generate elliptical rotation vibrations in the driving contacting parts. As a result, the vibrator, and the two guide shafts and the supporting part make a relative move in the shaft direction. Either the guide shafts or the vibrator is fixed, and the other is linked to an object to be driven.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2008
    Publication date: June 5, 2008
    Applicant: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasuo Sasaki, Toshihiro Nakao, Kazutoshi Shiratori
  • Patent number: 7348693
    Abstract: In a vibration wave linear motor, a coupled driving contacting parts are respectively provided on the top and the bottom of a vibrator unit, and 2 upper and lower guide shafts which contact concave parts of the coupled driving contacting parts are supported by erecting parts of a supporting part. The lower guide shaft is pressed upward by spiral springs, so that the two guide shafts press and sandwich the vibrator. Alternating current voltages having different phases are applied to the vibrator unit, whereby the vibrator unit generates a vibration wave to generate elliptical rotation vibrations in the driving contacting parts. As a result, the vibrator, and the two guide shafts and the supporting part make a relative move in the shaft direction. Either the guide shafts or the vibrator is fixed, and the other is linked to an object to be driven.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuo Sasaki, Toshihiro Nakao, Kazutoshi Shiratori
  • Publication number: 20070122133
    Abstract: In a camera system where a taking lens and a camera body respectively comprise a image shake correction unit for correcting a shake, which occurs on an image on an image capturing surface due to a jiggle of the camera system at the time of shooting, the taking lens and the camera body respectively comprise a communication unit for making a communication between the taking lens and the camera body, and a control is performed so that the communication unit of the camera body transmits a lens operation suspension instruction when the image shake correction unit of the camera body is operated, and the operation of the taking lens is suspended when the communication unit of the taking lens receives the lens operation suspension instruction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2006
    Publication date: May 31, 2007
    Applicant: OLYMPUS IMAGING CORP.
    Inventor: Kazutoshi Shiratori
  • Publication number: 20070065129
    Abstract: In order to provide a camera system enabling a user to make a desired camera shake correction function operated for the camera system having a camera shake correction function at least in either of a photo lens and a camera body, the camera system comprises a lens stabilization switch for a camera shake correction unit of the photo lens; a body stabilization switch for a camera shake correction unit of the camera body; a mode setup switch for setting a lens priority mode prioritizing the camera shake correction unit of the photo lens regardless of the body stabilization switch being set to an enablement or a disablement if the lens stabilization switch is set to the enablement; and a stabilization selection process unit for prioritizing a selection of the camera shake correction unit of the photo lens if the lens priority mode is set up.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2006
    Publication date: March 22, 2007
    Inventor: Kazutoshi Shiratori
  • Publication number: 20070003262
    Abstract: A camera system according to the present invention comprises: a transmission circuit comprised by the camera body and which is a circuit for transmitting control information used for controlling the photography lens; a reception circuit comprised by the camera body and which is a circuit for receiving the control information; a camera shake correction unit comprised by the camera body and which is the unit for compensating a shake generated in a image on a photographed surface; and a camera shake correction control unit for changing an operation condition of the camera shake correction unit when the reception circuit receives prescribed control information for issuing a setup instruction for a photographing preparation in order to provide the camera system enabling a control of a stabilization function comprised by a photography lens without complicating a communication between the photography lens and a camera body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2006
    Publication date: January 4, 2007
    Inventor: Kazutoshi Shiratori
  • Patent number: 7084550
    Abstract: A vibrator of a vibration wave linear motor comprises two and one driving contacting parts respectively on top and bottom surfaces. A first guide member contacts the two driving contacting parts on the top surface, and both ends of a second guide member are pressed upward by spiral springs, and pressing forces are applied respectively between the driving contacting parts and the first and the second guide members. The three driving contacting parts convert elliptical vibrations, which are generated by applying a voltage to a vibrator unit, into driving force, whereby the vibrator self-runs in a direction indicated by a bidirectional arrow d with reference to the first and the second guide members. The self-running of the vibrator is conveyed, via a pin member and an engaging protruding part, to the lens frame, which then slides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuo Sasaki, Kiyoshi Tosaka, Toshihiro Nakao, Kazutoshi Shiratori, Tomoki Funakubo
  • Publication number: 20050067922
    Abstract: A vibrator of a vibration wave linear motor comprises two and one driving contacting parts respectively on top and bottom surfaces. A first guide member contacts the two driving contacting parts on the top surface, and both ends of a second guide member are pressed upward by spiral springs, and pressing forces are applied respectively between the driving contacting parts and the first and the second guide members. The three driving contacting parts convert elliptical vibrations, which are generated by applying a voltage to a vibrator unit, into driving force, whereby the vibrator self-runs in a direction indicated by a bidirectional arrow d with reference to the first and the second guide members. the self-running of the vibrator is conveyed, via a pin member and an engaging protruding part, to the lens frame, which then slides.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2004
    Publication date: March 31, 2005
    Applicant: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasuo Sasaki, Kiyoshi Tosaka, Toshihiro Nakao, Kazutoshi Shiratori, Tomoki Funakubo
  • Publication number: 20050036056
    Abstract: All members of a lens-implement are arranged in a rectangular space of a main lens frame. A lens prism is fixed, three movable lens frames for zoom and focusing inserted the two guide shafts are arranged, and a image capturing lens is fixed top-to-bottom seriatim occupying the horizontal ? portion of the rectangular space, and the image capturing device is arranged at foot portion. A zoom motor is arranged at the back of the lens prism, and a zoom shaft cam, a diaphragm/shutter, a focusing ultrasonic linear motor, and a magnetic sensor are arranged along the lens frames.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2004
    Publication date: February 17, 2005
    Inventors: Masaru Ikemachi, Kazutoshi Shiratori, Tomoaki Sato
  • Publication number: 20050029875
    Abstract: In a vibration wave linear motor, a coupled driving contacting parts are respectively provided on the top and the bottom of a vibrator unit, and 2 upper and lower guide shafts which contact concave parts of the coupled driving contacting parts are supported by erecting parts of a supporting part. The lower guide shaft is pressed upward by spiral springs, so that the two guide shafts press and sandwich the vibrator. Alternating current voltages having different phases are applied to the vibrator unit, whereby the vibrator unit generates a vibration wave to generate elliptical rotation vibrations in the driving contacting parts. As a result, the vibrator, and the two guide shafts and the supporting part make a relative move in the shaft direction. Either the guide shafts or the vibrator is fixed, and the other is linked to an object to be driven.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2004
    Publication date: February 10, 2005
    Applicant: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasuo Sasaki, Toshihiro Nakao, Kazutoshi Shiratori
  • Publication number: 20040258405
    Abstract: A shutter/filter unit as an optical apparatus includes a shutter actuator, a filter actuator, a shutter drive ring, two shutter blades, and one ND filter, which are connected to a driving source body in series. The shutter blades are rotationally driven via the shutter drive ring so as to open and shut by the shutter actuator, and the ND filter is rotationally driven back and forth by the filter actuator directly. The shutter blades and the ND filter are coaxially supported upon a blade-support pin, and are independently rotationally driven. Employing this apparatus, a conventional optical apparatus having a light-exclusion member and a light-attenuating member housed therein is further miniaturized so as to contribute miniaturization to an image-pickup apparatus, such as a camera, having the optical apparatus mounted thereon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2003
    Publication date: December 23, 2004
    Applicant: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Kazutoshi Shiratori, Tomoaki Sato, Tatsuo Takanashi
  • Patent number: 6679429
    Abstract: The present invention provides a bar code scanning device that is compatible, in terms of communication and data, with information equipment conforming to PCMCIA standards, that is mounted in a card housing of a compact flash card size, and that has a laser beam scanning section integrated thereinto and which applies a scanning beam to an interior of the card housing through a window to obtain bar code information from light obtained when the scanning beam from the window is reflected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Aoki, Takeshi Yamazaki, Akifumi Kabeya, Kazutoshi Shiratori, Masayuki Fujii, Kazunari Tokuda, Hiroshi Miyajima
  • Publication number: 20010015379
    Abstract: The present invention provides a bar code scanning device that is compatible, in terms of communication and data, with information equipment conforming to PCMCIA standards, that is mounted in a card housing of a compact flash card size, and that has a laser beam scanning section integrated thereinto and which applies a scanning beam to an interior of the card housing through a window to obtain bar code information from light obtained when the scanning beam from the window is reflected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2001
    Publication date: August 23, 2001
    Inventors: Hiroshi Aoki, Takeshi Yamazaki, Akifumi Kabeya, Kazutoshi Shiratori, Masayuki Fujii, Kazunari Tokuda, Hiroshi Miyajima
  • Patent number: 5581318
    Abstract: A viewfinder unit in a camera has a viewfinder objective optical system that contributes to formation of an object image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 3, 1996
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazutoshi Shiratori
  • Patent number: 5565952
    Abstract: A patrone loading mechanism of a camera for loading a patrone into a patrone chamber of a camera body by sliding the patrone in the direction at a right angle to the axis thereof is disclosed. The mechanism includes a patrone cover, an urging device comprising a patrone ejecting spring which urges the loaded patrone toward the direction for ejecting out of the camera and a patrone ejecting plate, a pawl which is locked with the patrone ejecting plate at a predetermined position when the patrone is loaded, a cam lever for undoing locking of the pawl by driving a hook plate regardless of the position of the patrone cover, and a take-up fork supported in such a manner that it moves in and out of a fork gear by a sliding of a fork plate which moves with the patrone cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1996
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tokuo Shimizu, Kazutoshi Shiratori
  • Patent number: 5497208
    Abstract: A camera having a lens shutter mechanism in accordance with the present invention comprises sectors lying in a lens frame and forming a predetermined exposure aperture, a drive ring for opening and closing the sectors, a high-speed sector opening lever and a low-speed sector opening lever which drive the drive ring through an interlock lever, a plurality of springs having different strengths and constraining the high-speed sector opening lever and low-speed sector opening lever, a sector closing lever for driving the high-speed sector opening lever and low-speed sector opening lever in a direction causing the sectors to close, a mode changing member for changing shutter speeds by selecting whether both or either of the high-speed sector opening lever and low-speed sector opening lever should be driven, a charge cam gear for resetting the shutter mechanism to an initial position after exposure is completed, and a groove bored along the optical axis in a camera body and designed to guide the drive ring along th
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 5, 1996
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yu Sato, Kazutoshi Shiratori, Hiroyoshi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 5369457
    Abstract: A Patrone according to the present invention comprises a spool that winds film in the form of a roll between two flanges thereof, and a Patrone body for storing said spool so that the spool can rotate freely. The spool is made of a shading material. The distal part of the film is provided with a leader whose width is equal to or smaller than the dimension between the two flanges and which winds round the outer circumference of film wound about the spool by at least one turn. The leader may also be formed of or include a shading material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 29, 1994
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tamotsu Koiwai, Kazutoshi Shiratori
  • Patent number: 4993815
    Abstract: A zoom lens-barrel assembly includes a differential cam frame which is moved in an axial direction together with a movable barrel and is rotated around an optical axis. Lens holding frames are cam-linked with the differential cam frame. The positions of the lens holding frames relative to the cam frame are changed by the rotation of the cam frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 19, 1991
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuo Yamazaki, Kazutoshi Shiratori
  • Patent number: 4621906
    Abstract: A zoom lens assembly with an auto-focus function includes first and second lens groups, and a control device for causing a drive mechanism to rotate a distance-presetting ring which moves one of the lens groups, to adjust a focus in accordance with a signal sent from a light-receiving element for indicating the focused state of a foreground object. A line pattern substrate is arranged to move with the distance-presetting ring. A change in the focal length caused by the rotation of a zoom ring is sensed by a substrate detecting element which informs the control device of that extent to which the distance-presetting ring is to be rotated in order to assure a proper focus notwithstanding the changed focal length. The corrective rotation of the distance-presetting ring is detected by movement of the line pattern substrate relative to the detecting element. The light-receiving element is supplied with a beam of light reflected from the foreground object through the first and second groups of lenses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1985
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1986
    Assignee: Olympus Optical
    Inventors: Akihiko Hashimoto, Hitoshi Shirai, Kazutoshi Shiratori