Patents by Inventor Kenji Kawazoe

Kenji Kawazoe 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: 9739973
    Abstract: A focusing system includes a first drive unit for driving a first focus lens along the optical axis, a second drive unit for driving a second focus lens along the optical axis, a determining unit for periodically detecting a focus state of a subject image formed via the optical system and determining a focus position of the optical system based on the detected result, and a control unit for controlling the first and second drive units according to a result of determining the focus position of the optical system by the determining unit. The control unit controls the second drive unit to drive the second focus lens independently of the first focus lens, in the focus operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Managemnet Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Naotaka Kishida, Kenji Kawazoe
  • Patent number: 9645352
    Abstract: The image pickup apparatus has a focus lens that adjusts focus on a subject, an operating section (an MF operation ring) that accepts user's operation, and a focus-lens driver that drives the focus lens in response to the user's operation. The focus-lens driver drives the focus lens so that a rotation amount at the operating section, which is required for moving a focus position by unit distance, is maintained at a constant level with no regard to a subject distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Naotaka Kishida, Kenji Kawazoe
  • Publication number: 20160291287
    Abstract: The image pickup apparatus has a focus lens that adjusts focus on a subject, an operating section (an MF operation ring) that accepts user's operation, and a focus-lens driver that drives the focus lens in response to the user's operation. The focus-lens driver drives the focus lens so that a rotation amount at the operating section, which is required for moving a focus position by unit distance, is maintained at a constant level with no regard to a subject distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2016
    Publication date: October 6, 2016
    Inventors: Naotaka KISHIDA, Kenji KAWAZOE
  • Publication number: 20150247988
    Abstract: A focusing system includes a first drive unit for driving a first focus lens along the optical axis, a second drive unit for driving a second focus lens along the optical axis, a determining unit for periodically detecting a focus state of a subject image formed via the optical system and determining a focus position of the optical system based on the detected result, and a control unit for controlling the first and second drive units according to a result of determining the focus position of the optical system by the determining unit. The control unit controls the second drive unit to drive the second focus lens independently of the first focus lens, in the focus operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2015
    Publication date: September 3, 2015
    Inventors: NAOTAKA KISHIDA, KENJI KAWAZOE
  • Patent number: 9097961
    Abstract: A focusing system includes a first drive unit for driving a first focus lens along the optical axis, a second drive unit for driving a second focus lens along the optical axis, a determining unit for periodically detecting a focus state of a subject image formed via the optical system and determining a focus position of the optical system based on the detected result, and a control unit for controlling the first and second drive units according to a result of determining the focus position of the optical system by the determining unit. The control unit controls the second drive unit to drive the second focus lens independently of the first focus lens, in the focus operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Naotaka Kishida, Kenji Kawazoe
  • Patent number: 8794180
    Abstract: An ejection device in which a multi-nozzle mechanism including failure nozzles ejects droplets such that variation in amounts of droplets (spacers) is prevented and droplets are disposed on spacer regions of a substrate. An ejection device includes a multi-nozzle mechanism including a pair of nozzle row units prepared by equally dividing a nozzle row including a plurality of nozzles ejecting a spacer dispersion liquid, a moving mechanism relatively moving the multi-nozzle mechanism and a substrate in the longitudinal direction and the align direction of spacer regions, and a control mechanism controlling the nozzles and the moving mechanism. When one nozzle row unit includes a failure nozzle, the control mechanism gives a command to the failure nozzle not to eject the liquid and a command to a corresponding nozzle of the other unit to halve cycles of forward and backward paths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kenji Kawazoe
  • Patent number: 8717451
    Abstract: The camera body includes a synchronizing signal generator that generates a synchronizing signal, a body controller that controls the camera body and generates a command to control the interchangeable lens. The body controller performs control to send the interchangeable lens a command to set the interchangeable lens to a synchronous mode in which operation of the interchangeable lens is controlled in synchronization with the synchronizing signal and a command to set the interchangeable lens to an asynchronous mode which is a mode other than the synchronous mode. The interchangeable lens includes a lens controller that controls the operation of the interchangeable lens. The lens controller controls the operation of the interchangeable lens in the synchronous mode or the asynchronous mode according to the command received from the camera body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Mitsuyoshi Okamoto, Kenji Kawazoe, Naotake Kitahira, Koji Shibuno
  • Patent number: 8708334
    Abstract: A recording medium supply device includes a cassette attachable to and detachable from a main body and capable of stacking recording medium thereon, a feeding roller which feeds the uppermost recording medium to the main body from a leading end of the recording medium, a regulating member which is arranged forward in the direction in which the cassette is removed from the main body as seen from the feeding roller, and a projection preventing member attached adjacent to the tip portion of the cassette facing the leading end of the recording medium. The position of the lower end of the regulating member is higher than the cassette attached to the main body, and lower than the lower end of the feeding roller, and the position of the upper end of the projection preventing member is higher than the position of the lower end of the regulating member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshiaki Tokisawa, Tetsu Hamano, Kenji Kawazoe, Kazuyuki Morinaga, Masaya Shimmachi
  • Patent number: 8570428
    Abstract: A camera system includes a camera body (100) and an interchangeable lens (200). The camera body includes an imaging unit that captures a subject image formed by the interchangeable lens in a predetermined capturing cycle to generate image data, a body controller that generates a synchronizing signal having a first cycle correlated with the capturing cycle, and a sending unit that sends the generated synchronizing signal to the interchangeable lens. The body controller further sends information indicating a second cycle different from the first cycle to the interchangeable lens. The interchangeable lens includes a focus lens (230), a drive unit (233) that drives the focus lens along an optical axis, a receiving unit (250) that receives the synchronizing signal and the information indicating the second cycle sent from the camera body, and a lens controller (240) that controls an operation of the interchangeable lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Naotake Kitahira, Mitsuyoshi Okamoto, Kenji Kawazoe, Koji Shibuno
  • Patent number: 8500118
    Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus including sheet feeding unit; a pressure plate on which sheets are stacked and which is biased so that an uppermost sheet of the stacked sheets comes in pressure contact with the sheet feeding unit; a first pressing-down mechanism which presses down the pressure plate to separate the uppermost sheet and the sheet feeding unit by a constant distance when the sheet feeding unit is not operated; a second pressing-down mechanism which is adopted to press down the pressure plate when an amount of the sheets stacked on the pressure plate is smaller than a predetermined amount, and is given a load from the pressure plate depending on a position of the pressure plate; and sheet stacking amount detecting unit which measures the load and detects a stacking amount of the sheets stacked on the pressure plate on the basis of the measured load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masaya Shimmachi, Kenji Kawazoe, Kazuyuki Morinaga, Tetsu Hamano, Toshiaki Tokisawa
  • Patent number: 8493498
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus system includes an interchangeable lens 100 and a camera body 200. The interchangeable lens 100 includes an optical system configured to generate an optical image of a subject, a first communication unit 106, and a lens controller 105 configured to control driving of the optical system in synchronization with a reference signal received through the first communication unit. The camera body 200 includes a second communication unit 201 that can communicate with the first communication unit 106, and a body controller 203 configured to send the reference signal to the lens controller 105 through the second communication unit 201. The body controller 203 sends announcement information preliminarily announcing switching of the cycle of the reference signal, to the lens controller 105. The lens controller 105, when receiving the announcement information from the camera body, performs a preparation operation for switching the cycle of the reference signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Kawazoe, Mitsuyoshi Okamoto, Koji Shibuno
  • Patent number: 8463118
    Abstract: An imaging system includes an interchangeable lens and a camera body. The camera body includes a main body controller operable to transmit a reference signal for providing a reference of a driving start timing of the focus lens and delay time information indicating delay time with respect to the reference signal, to the interchangeable lens. The interchangeable lens includes a lens controller operable to control the focus lens to be driven at a timing obtained by delaying the timing provided by the reference signal by the delay time based on the reference signal and the delay time information received from the main body controller. The delay time is set so that, for example, an exposure timing of a predetermined area in the imaging element is substantially coincident with a stop period of the wobbling operation of the focus lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Kawazoe, Mitsuyoshi Okamoto, Naotake Kitahira, Koji Shibuno
  • Patent number: 8444139
    Abstract: A recording medium supply device includes a cassette attachable to and detachable from a main body and capable of stacking recording medium thereon, a feeding roller which feeds the uppermost recording medium to the main body from a leading end of the recording medium, a regulating member which is arranged forward in the direction in which the cassette is removed from the main body as seen from the feeding roller, and a projection preventing member attached adjacent to the tip portion of the cassette facing the leading end of the recording medium. The position of the lower end of the regulating member is higher than the cassette attached to the main body, and lower than the lower end of the feeding roller, and the position of the upper end of the projection preventing member is higher than the position of the lower end of the regulating member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshiaki Tokisawa, Tetsu Hamano, Kenji Kawazoe, Kazuyuki Morinaga, Masaya Shimmachi
  • Patent number: 8422876
    Abstract: An interchangeable lens includes a focus lens for changing a focus state of an object image, a driving unit for driving the focus lens, a lens controller for controlling the driving unit so as to move the focus lens forward and backward along the optical axis at a predetermined drive frequency, and a storage unit for storing therein drive frequency information representing a drive frequency at which the driving unit can control. A camera body obtains the drive frequency information from the interchangeable lens and performs control while referring to the drive frequency information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Haruo Isaka, Mitsuyoshi Okamoto, Kenji Kawazoe, Naotake Kitahira, Koji Shibuno
  • Patent number: 8422877
    Abstract: An imaging system includes an interchangeable lens and a camera body. The camera body includes a main body controller operable to transmit a reference signal for providing a reference of a driving start timing of the focus lens and delay time information indicating delay time with respect to the reference signal, to the interchangeable lens. The interchangeable lens includes a lens controller operable to control the focus lens to be driven at a timing obtained by delaying the timing provided by the reference signal by the delay time based on the reference signal and the delay time information received from the main body controller. The delay time is set so that, for example, an exposure timing of a predetermined area in the imaging element is substantially coincident with a stop period of the wobbling operation of the focus lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Kawazoe, Mitsuyoshi Okamoto, Naotake Kitahira, Koji Shibuno
  • Patent number: 8408829
    Abstract: A recording apparatus includes a platen that guides a sheet, restraining members disposed on the platen at respective side edges of the sheet to restrain the side edges of the sheet from being raised, a sheet width detector that detects the width of the sheet, and a restraining member detector that detects the positions of the restraining members. At least one of the restraining members is moved in accordance with the information obtained by the sheet width detector regarding the positions of the side edges of the sheet and the information obtained by the restraining position detector regarding the positions of the restraining members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koichiro Kawaguchi, Kenji Kawazoe, Haruo Uchida, Nozomu Nishiberi, Yoshiaki Watanabe, Yasuyuki Asai, Mitsuru Kondo
  • Publication number: 20120307131
    Abstract: An interchangeable lens includes a focus lens for changing a focus state of an object image, a driving unit for driving the focus lens, a lens controller for controlling the driving unit so as to move the focus lens forward and backward along the optical axis at a predetermined drive frequency, and a storage unit for storing therein drive frequency information representing a drive frequency at which the driving unit can control. A camera body obtains the drive frequency information from the interchangeable lens and performs control while referring to the drive frequency information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2012
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: HARUO ISAKA, MITSUYOSHI OKAMOTO, KENJI KAWAZOE, NAOTAKE KITAHIRA, KOJI SHIBUNO
  • Publication number: 20120262595
    Abstract: A focusing system includes an optical system including first and second focus lenses for regulating a focus state of a subject image and is capable of performing a focus operation for automatically controlling the first and second focus lenses on a focus position. The focusing system includes a first drive unit for driving the first focus lens along the optical axis, a second drive unit for driving the second focus lens along the optical axis, a determining unit for periodically detecting a focus state of the subject image formed via the optical system and determining a focus position of the optical system based on the detected result, and a control unit for controlling the first and second drive units according to a result of determining the focus position of the optical system by the determining unit. The control unit controls the second drive unit to drive (such as drive at a constant speed, or stop) the second focus lens independently of the first focus lens, in the focus operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2010
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naotaka Kishida, Kenji Kawazoe
  • Patent number: 8275251
    Abstract: An interchangeable lens includes a focus lens for changing a focus state of an object image, a driving unit for driving the focus lens, a lens controller for controlling the driving unit so as to move the focus lens forward and backward along the optical axis at a predetermined drive frequency, and a storage unit for storing therein drive frequency information representing a drive frequency at which the driving unit can control. A camera body obtains the drive frequency information from the interchangeable lens and performs control while referring to the drive frequency information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Haruo Isaka, Mitsuyoshi Okamoto, Kenji Kawazoe, Naotake Kitahira, Koji Shibuno
  • Publication number: 20120237194
    Abstract: An imaging system includes an interchangeable lens and a camera body. The camera body includes a main body controller operable to transmit a reference signal for providing a reference of a driving start timing of the focus lens and delay time information indicating delay time with respect to the reference signal, to the interchangeable lens. The interchangeable lens includes a lens controller operable to control the focus lens to be driven at a timing obtained by delaying the timing provided by the reference signal by the delay time based on the reference signal and the delay time information received from the main body controller. The delay time is set so that, for example, an exposure timing of a predetermined area in the imaging element is substantially coincident with a stop period of the wobbling operation of the focus lens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2012
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: KENJI KAWAZOE, MITSUYOSHI OKAMOTO, NAOTAKE KITAHIRA, KOJI SHIBUNO