Patents by Inventor Kentarou Murakami
Kentarou Murakami 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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Publication number: 20170282786Abstract: A blade receives light emitted from a light source and repeats a predetermined periodic motion to scan the front of a vehicle with reflected light of the emitted light. A position detector generates a position detection signal S4 indicating a timing at which a predetermined reference point of the blade passes a predetermined position. Based on the position detection signal S4, a period calculator calculates a period Tp of the periodic motion of the blade. A light intensity calculator receives light-distribution-pattern information S3 to be formed in front of the vehicle and calculates light intensity to be generated by the light source at each time based on the position detection signal S4 and the period Tp. A driver turns on a semiconductor light source so as to obtain the light intensity calculated by the light intensity calculator at each time.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 22, 2017Publication date: October 5, 2017Applicant: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventors: Takeshi TODA, Kentarou MURAKAMI, Masayasu ITO, Takao MURAMATSU, Hidetada TANAKA, Satoshi YAMAMURA
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Patent number: 9648679Abstract: A lighting circuit, which is mounted in a vehicle lamp, can change the luminance at high speeds. The lighting circuit is used together with a semiconductor light source and makes up a vehicle lamp. A switching converter supplies power to the semiconductor light source. A converter controller controls the switching converter. A current detection circuit detects a current IDRV which is supplied from the switching converter to the semiconductor light source. A hysteresis comparator compares the detected current value with an upper threshold voltage and a lower threshold voltage and generates a control pulse according to the results of the comparison. A threshold voltage generating circuit receives a variable control voltage which indicates a target amount of a current and generates the upper threshold voltage and the lower threshold voltage according to the control voltage.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2015Date of Patent: May 9, 2017Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventors: Kentarou Murakami, Takao Muramatsu
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Publication number: 20160096467Abstract: A lighting circuit, which is mounted in a vehicle lamp, can change the luminance at high speeds. The lighting circuit is used together with a semiconductor light source and makes up a vehicle lamp. A switching converter supplies power to the semiconductor light source. A converter controller controls the switching converter. A current detection circuit detects a current IDRV which is supplied from the switching converter to the semiconductor light source. A hysteresis comparator compares the detected current value with an upper threshold voltage and a lower threshold voltage and generates a control pulse according to the results of the comparison. A threshold voltage generating circuit receives a variable control voltage which indicates a target amount of a current and generates the upper threshold voltage and the lower threshold voltage according to the control voltage.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 2, 2015Publication date: April 7, 2016Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventors: Kentarou Murakami, Takao Muramatsu
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Patent number: 8222839Abstract: A dimming control system 1 includes: light source units each having a respective LED; and a control unit connected to the light source units via power supply lines. The control unit is connected to each of the light source units in series. The control unit includes: switch portions that control dimming of the LEDs by repeating an ON/OFF operation in a predetermined cycle; current detection circuits and voltage detection circuits that detect a current or a voltage supplied via the power supply lines; and a CPU that determines there is an abnormality in the power supply lines or the light source units when a value of the detected current or voltage exceeds a predetermined range while the switch portions are ON.Type: GrantFiled: August 6, 2009Date of Patent: July 17, 2012Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kentarou Murakami, Masayasu Ito
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Patent number: 7741788Abstract: In conduction of light emitting diodes LEDs 1 to 4, a switching signal 101 is converted into a voltage V2 or 0V through a signal converter 26 in accordance with a logic level thereof. The voltage obtained by the conversion is compared with a voltage V1 on both ends of a resistor R1 through an operational amplifier 20 to open/close an output loop by an NMOS transistor 22, a current If of the light emitting diodes LEDs 1 to 4 is limited to a current If1 so as not to exceed a maximum current, and a current defined with an ON duty of the switching signal 101 is caused to flow as a mean current to the light emitting diodes LEDs 1 to 4 to inhibit an overshoot current from flowing to the light emitting diodes LEDs 1 to 4 while the output loop is closed.Type: GrantFiled: February 15, 2008Date of Patent: June 22, 2010Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventors: Masayasu Ito, Takayoshi Kitagawa, Kentarou Murakami
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Publication number: 20100052537Abstract: A dimming control system 1 includes: light source units each having a respective LED; and a control unit connected to the light source units via power supply lines. The control unit is connected to each of the light source units in series. The control unit includes: switch portions that control dimming of the LEDs by repeating an ON/OFF operation in a predetermined cycle; current detection circuits and voltage detection circuits that detect a current or a voltage supplied via the power supply lines; and a CPU that determines there is an abnormality in the power supply lines or the light source units when a value of the detected current or voltage exceeds a predetermined range while the switch portions are ON.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 6, 2009Publication date: March 4, 2010Applicant: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kentarou Murakami, Masayasu Ito
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Publication number: 20080203946Abstract: In conduction of light emitting diodes LEDs 1 to 4, a switching signal 101 is converted into a voltage V2 or 0V through a signal converter 26 in accordance with a logic level thereof The voltage obtained by the conversion is compared with a voltage V1 on both ends of a resistor R1 through an operational amplifier 20 to open/close an output loop by an NMOS transistor 22, a current If of the light emitting diodes LEDs 1 to 4 is limited to a current If1 so as not to exceed a maximum current, and a current defined with an ON duty of the switching signal 101 is caused to flow as a mean current to the light emitting diodes LEDs 1 to 4 to inhibit an overshoot current from flowing to the light emitting diodes LEDs 1 to 4 while the output loop is closed.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 15, 2008Publication date: August 28, 2008Applicant: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventors: Masayasu Ito, Takayoshi Kitagawa, Kentarou Murakami
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Patent number: 7385831Abstract: A power supply device includes: a regulator transformer; a primary switch for selectively supplying a current to the regulator transformer; a control circuit for reducing to 0, following each election made at the primary switch, the minimum value of a current output by the secondary side of the regulator transformer; and a coupling transformer for magnetically coupling routes along which a plurality of loads are connected in parallel to the secondary side of the regulator translator in a direction in which magnetic flux along each of the routes is offset by a current change. In this case, the control circuit increases the maximum value of the output current on the secondary side larger than twice of the target value of the current supplied to the loads.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2005Date of Patent: June 10, 2008Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventors: Masayasu Ito, Kentarou Murakami, Hitoshi Takeda
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Patent number: 7327586Abstract: A power supply unit comprises: a voltage output section for supplying a voltage to a plurality of loads connected in parallel with each other; and a plurality of output side coils provided respectively corresponding to the plurality of loads, the plurality of output side coils being trans-connected with each other, the plurality of output side coils being connected with the corresponding loads in series. An electric current to be supplied from the voltage output section to the corresponding load flow in each output side coil.Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 2005Date of Patent: February 5, 2008Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kentarou Murakami, Masayasu Ito
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Patent number: 7301784Abstract: In a process where the energy accumulated in the transformer while a transistor is turned ON is emitted to an output circuit and an LED is illuminated with the emitted energy, a voltage generated across a resistor is monitored by a control circuit. When the current flowing through the transistor has reached a limit current value, the ON operation of the transistor is limited. When the output voltage of the output circuit has exceeded a first set voltage, the limit current value is lowered and the ON operation of the transistor is further limited. When the output voltage of the output circuit has exceeded a second set voltage, the ON operation of the transistor is forcibly stopped.Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 2006Date of Patent: November 27, 2007Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kentarou Murakami, Masayasu Ito
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Publication number: 20060175901Abstract: In a process where the energy accumulated in the transformer while a transistor is turned ON is emitted to an output circuit and an LED is illuminated with the emitted energy, a voltage generated across a resistor is monitored by a control circuit. When the current flowing through the transistor has reached a limit current value, the ON operation of the transistor is limited. When the output voltage of the output circuit has exceeded a first set voltage, the limit current value is lowered and the ON operation of the transistor is further limited. When the output voltage of the output circuit has exceeded a second set voltage, the ON operation of the transistor is forcibly stopped.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 3, 2006Publication date: August 10, 2006Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventors: Kentarou Murakami, Masayasu Ito
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Patent number: 7084571Abstract: There is provided a vehicular lamp that can flow an electric current having a predetermined variation ratio into each of a plurality of semiconductor light-emitting element units and can individually illuminate each of the plurality of semiconductor light-emitting element units.Type: GrantFiled: April 19, 2005Date of Patent: August 1, 2006Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventors: Masayasu Ito, Kentarou Murakami
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Publication number: 20050269968Abstract: A power supply device includes: a regulator transformer; a primary switch for selectively supplying a current to the regulator transformer; a control circuit for reducing to 0, following each election made at the primary switch, the minimum value of a current output by the secondary side of the regulator transformer; and a coupling transformer for magnetically coupling routes along which a plurality of loads are connected in parallel to the secondary side of the regulator translator in a direction in which magnetic flux along each of the routes is offset by a current change. In this case, the control circuit increases the maximum value of the output current on the secondary side larger than twice of the target value of the current supplied to the loads.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 3, 2005Publication date: December 8, 2005Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventors: Masayasu Ito, Kentarou Murakami, Hitoshi Takeda
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Publication number: 20050236999Abstract: There is provided a vehicular lamp that can flow an electric current having a predetermined variation ratio into each of a plurality of semiconductor light-emitting element units and can individually illuminate each of the plurality of semiconductor light-emitting element units.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 19, 2005Publication date: October 27, 2005Inventors: Masayasu Ito, Kentarou Murakami
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Publication number: 20050184588Abstract: A power supply unit comprises: a voltage output section for supplying a voltage to a plurality of loads connected in parallel with each other; and a plurality of output side coils provided respectively corresponding to the plurality of loads, the plurality of output side coils being trans-connected with each other, the plurality of output side coils being connected with the corresponding loads in series. An electric current to be supplied from the voltage output section to the corresponding load flow in each output side coil.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 21, 2005Publication date: August 25, 2005Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventors: Kentarou Murakami, Masayasu Ito