Patents by Inventor Koichi Sugiura

Koichi Sugiura 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).

  • Publication number: 20110273781
    Abstract: A lens barrel including a telescopic cylinder configured to be accommodated within a fixed frame; a plurality of lens groups configured to be retained in the telescopic cylinder; a lens driving device configured to drive the plurality of lens groups along a longitudinal axis of the telescopic cylinder between a collapsed position in which at least one portion of the plurality of lens groups is stored in the fixed frame and an extended position in which the at least one portion of the plurality of lens groups is extended out of the fixed frame; and a retractable lens group configured to be retracted into the fixed frame through an opening in a wall of the fixed frame when the telescopic cylinder is in the extended position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2011
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Inventors: Katsuhiko NUNO, Koichi Sugiura, Kazuyasu Ohashi
  • Publication number: 20110200316
    Abstract: A lens driver having a manually operated ring, rotation detection means for detecting rotation direction and rotating speed of the manually operated ring on the basis of rotation the manually operated ring, a switching means for switching a control mode, on the basis of detection result of the rotation detection means, between a normal control mode in which a lens is driven at normal driving speed depending on rotating speed of the manually operated ring and a high-speed control mode in which the lens is driven at high driving speed which is faster than the normal driving speed, and a driving control means for controlling a driving means so that the lens is driven at the normal driving speed when the normal control mode is set and controlling the driving means so that the lens is driven at the high driving speed when the high-speed control mode is set.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2011
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Inventor: Koichi SUGIURA
  • Patent number: 8000042
    Abstract: A lens barrel including a telescopic cylinder configured to be accommodated within a fixed frame; a plurality of lens groups configured to be retained in the telescopic cylinder; a lens driving device configured to drive the plurality of lens groups along a longitudinal axis of the telescopic cylinder between a collapsed position in which at least one portion of the plurality of lens groups is stored in the fixed frame and an extended position in which the at least one portion of the plurality of lens groups is extended out of the fixed frame; and a retractable lens group configured to be retracted into the fixed frame through an opening in a wall of the fixed frame when the telescopic cylinder is in the extended position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsuhiko Nuno, Koichi Sugiura, Kazuyasu Ohashi
  • Publication number: 20110075275
    Abstract: A lens drive control device for a lens barrel, which controls at least a part of a plurality of lens groups respectively including at least one lens, wherein a state of the lens barrel transits from a retracted state to a photographing extended state, the lens drive control device comprising: a detection device which detects that the at least one lens group reaches a reference position, and a determination device which determines an abnormal actuation based upon a detection by the detection device, upon actuation when the at least one lens group is moved from the retracted position to the position on the optical axis, wherein the determination device determines that the actuation is abnormal when the detection device detects that the at least one lens group reaches the reference position for a plurality of times.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2009
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Inventor: Koichi Sugiura
  • Publication number: 20100219794
    Abstract: A control device turns on a system relay and relays. A first boost converter rectifies an AC voltage supplied through a connector and a first power supply line. Further, the boost converter responds to a signal from the control device to boost the rectified voltage, and outputs the boosted voltage to a second power supply line. A second boost converter receives a voltage from the second power supply line to convert the voltage in accordance with a signal from the control device for output to a third power supply line. Since the system relay and one relay are both turned on, first and second batteries are connected in parallel to the third power supply line and a ground line. The first and second batteries are thereby charged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2008
    Publication date: September 2, 2010
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tetsuya Sugimoto, Yoshihito Kondo, Koichi Sugiura, Yasuhiko Ishimaru
  • Patent number: 7777968
    Abstract: A photographing lens driving control apparatus includes a plurality of lens groups constituting a zooming optical system including a lens group (1A) on an object side and a lens group (1B) on an imaging side, a plurality of tens driving device (4A, 4B, 4C) configured to drive the plurality of tens groups, respectively, and a control device (5B) configured to control the plurality of lens driving devices; the control device (5B) adjusts a driving speed of the lens group on the object side according to a position of the lens group on the imaging side relative to a position of the lens group on the object side, when driving the lens group on the object side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Koichi Sugiura
  • Patent number: 7645078
    Abstract: A photographic lens drive control apparatus according to the present invention includes a cap detection section which determines that a lens cap is attached to a lens barrel when a lens barrel movement detection section does not detect movement amount of the lens barrel while a lens barrel drive section allows the lens barrel to move from a contained position to a standby position; and a cap detection control section which performs a series of control over the lens barrel drive section to move the lens barrel from the contained position to the standby position and to stop the lens barrel from moving when the cap detection section determines that the lens cap is attached to the lens barrel, in which a cap detection area where the lens barrel moves from the contained position within a predetermined amount is set in a movement area of the lens barrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Koichi Sugiura
  • Publication number: 20090284845
    Abstract: A lens driving-control device including a plurality of lens groups having variable magnification function, a plurality of lens driving devices each of which being configured to adjustably drive a driving speed of each of the plurality of lens groups, a control device configured to control each of the plurality of lens driving devices to adjust the driving speed of each of the plurality of lens groups, and a plurality of lens position-detecting devices each of which being configured to detect a position of each of the plurality of lens groups, when the plurality of lens driving devices drive the plurality of lens groups simultaneously, the control device being configured to control the lens driving devices to switch driving speeds of the plurality of lens groups to a driving speed of a lens group to be adjusted depending on a positional relationship among the plurality of lens groups, the positional relationship being detected by the lens position-detecting devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2007
    Publication date: November 19, 2009
    Inventor: Koichi Sugiura
  • Publication number: 20090267281
    Abstract: Intended is to provide a method for positioning a work (15), which is adapted for a knock hole of a small diameter and which can absorb a pitch error between a main positioning hole (16) and an auxiliary positioning hole (17) of the work (15). An insert shaft (21) of main positioning means 820) is inserted into the main positioning hole (16). Auxiliary positioning means (30) includes a base lower block (36) having a parallel slide holding surface (36e), a sliding flange (34b) having a sliding surface (34c), and an insert shaft (31) disposed above the sliding flange (34b). The sliding flange (34b) of the auxiliary positioning means (30) is guided and moved by the slide holding surface (36e), and is inserted, while absorbing the pitch error, into the auxiliary positioning hole (17), thereby to position the work (15).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2008
    Publication date: October 29, 2009
    Applicants: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, PASCAL ENGINEERING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takahiro Kitamura, Koichi Sugiura, Takayuki Kawakami, Takayuki Kuroda
  • Patent number: 7609957
    Abstract: A photographing lens driving control device includes a plurality of lens groups (1A-1C) having a magnification function, a plurality of lens driving devices (4A-4C), which drives the plurality of lens groups, and a control device (5A, 5B), which controls the plurality of lens driving devices, and when driving a lens group (1A) positioned in an object side of the plurality of lens groups, the control device adjusts a driving speed of another lens group (1B) depending on a position of the another lens group with respect to a position of the lens group positioned in the object side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Koichi Sugiura
  • Patent number: 7580623
    Abstract: A lens barrel including a telescopic cylinder configured to be accommodated within a fixed cylinder; a plurality of lens groups configured to be retained in the telescopic cylinder; a lens driving device configured to drive the plurality of lens groups along a longitudinal axis of the telescopic cylinder between a collapsed position in which at least one portion of the plurality of lens groups is stored in the fixed cylinder and an extended position in which the at least one portion of the plurality of lens groups is extended out of the fixed cylinder; and a retractable lens group configured to be retracted into the fixed cylinder through an opening in a wall of the fixed cylinder when the telescopic cylinder is in the extended position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsuhiko Nuno, Koichi Sugiura, Kazuyasu Ohashi
  • Publication number: 20090034095
    Abstract: A photographing lens driving control apparatus includes a plurality of lens groups constituting a zooming optical system including a lens group (1A) on an object side and a lens group (1B) on an imaging side, a plurality of lens driving device (4A, 4B, 4C) configured to drive the plurality of lens groups, respectively, and a control device (5B) configured to control the plurality of lens driving devices; the control device (5B) adjusts a driving speed of the lens group on the object side according to a position of the lens group on the imaging side relative to a position of the lens group on the object side, when driving the lens group on the object side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2007
    Publication date: February 5, 2009
    Inventor: Koichi Sugiura
  • Publication number: 20080187306
    Abstract: A photographic lens drive control apparatus according to the present invention includes a cap detection section which determines that a lens cap is attached to a lens barrel when a lens barrel movement detection section does not detect movement amount of the lens barrel while a lens barrel drive section allows the lens barrel to move from a contained position to a standby position; and a cap detection control section which performs a series of control over the lens barrel drive section to move the lens barrel from the contained position to the standby position and to stop the lens barrel from moving when the cap detection section determines that the lens cap is attached to the lens barrel, in which a cap detection area where the lens barrel moves from the contained position within a predetermined amount is set in a movement area of the lens barrel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2008
    Publication date: August 7, 2008
    Inventor: Koichi Sugiura
  • Publication number: 20080117527
    Abstract: A lens barrel including a telescopic cylinder configured to be accommodated within a fixed frame; a plurality of lens groups configured to be retained in the telescopic cylinder; a lens driving device configured to drive the plurality of lens groups along a longitudinal axis of the telescopic cylinder between a collapsed position in which at least one portion of the plurality of lens groups is stored in the fixed frame and an extended position in which the at least one portion of the plurality of lens groups is extended out of the fixed frame; and a retractable lens group configured to be retracted into the fixed frame through an opening in a wall of the fixed frame when the telescopic cylinder is in the extended position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2005
    Publication date: May 22, 2008
    Inventors: Katsuhiko Nuno, Koichi Sugiura, Kazuyasu Ohashi
  • Patent number: 7283736
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus including a ranging device for measuring a distance to a subject, a device for radiating fill-light to the subject, and a re-ranging determining device for determining as to whether re-measurement is executed based on a measured result of the ranging device, when the re-ranging determining device determines that the re-measurement by the ranging device is required, the fill-light radiating device radiating the fill light to the subject based on the determination of the re-ranging determining device, the ranging device having a ranging element mechanism for allowing a light flux from the subject to image thereon to measure the distance to the subject, a ranging arithmetical mechanism for achieving an arithmetic of the ranging based on outputting data of the ranging element mechanism, and an area selecting mechanism for selecting an area based on an arithmetical result of the ranging arithmetical mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Koichi Sugiura, Kei Itoh
  • Patent number: 7116362
    Abstract: In a voice mode, when a shutter button of a camera is fully depressed, first and second switches are turned ON, recording of voice starts. The shutter button is released. When the shutter button is half depressed after the shutter button is released the recording of the voice is stopped. Since the recording of voice is performed between when the shutter button is released and when it is depressed half, no mechanical sound is recorded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsutoshi Kitajima, Koichi Sugiura
  • Publication number: 20060188242
    Abstract: A photographing lens driving control device includes a plurality of lens groups (1A-1C) having a magnification function, a plurality of lens driving devices (4A-4C), which drives the plurality of lens groups, and a control device (5A, 5B), which controls the plurality of lens driving devices, and when driving a lens group (1A) positioned in an object side of the plurality of lens groups, the control device adjusts a driving speed of another lens group (1B) depending on a position of the another lens group with respect to a position of the lens group positioned in the object side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2006
    Publication date: August 24, 2006
    Inventor: Koichi Sugiura
  • Publication number: 20060017836
    Abstract: A lens barrel including a telescopic cylinder configured to be accommodated within a fixed cylinder; a plurality of lens groups configured to be retained in the telescopic cylinder; a lens driving device configured to drive the plurality of lens groups along a longitudinal axis of the telescopic cylinder between a collapsed position in which at least one portion of the plurality of lens groups is stored in the fixed cylinder and an extended position in which the at least one portion of the plurality of lens groups is extended out of the fixed cylinder; and a retractable lens group configured to be retracted into the fixed cylinder through an opening in a wall of the fixed cylinder when the telescopic cylinder is in the extended position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2005
    Publication date: January 26, 2006
    Inventors: Katsuhiko Nuno, Koichi Sugiura, Kazuyasu Ohashi
  • Publication number: 20050185946
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus including a ranging device for measuring a distance to a subject, a device for radiating fill-light to the subject, and a re-ranging determining device for determining as to whether re-measurement is executed based on a measured result of the ranging device, when the re-ranging determining device determines that the re-measurement by the ranging device is required, the fill-light radiating device radiating the fill light to the subject based on the determination of the re-ranging determining device, the ranging device having a ranging element mechanism for allowing a light flux from the subject to image thereon to measure the distance to the subject, a ranging arithmetical mechanism for achieving an arithmetic of the ranging based on outputting data of the ranging element mechanism, and an area selecting mechanism for selecting an area based on an arithmetical result of the ranging arithmetical mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2005
    Publication date: August 25, 2005
    Inventors: Koichi Sugiura, Kei Itoh
  • Publication number: 20030043284
    Abstract: In a voice mode, when a shutter button of a camera is fully depressed, first and second switches are turned ON, recording of voice starts. The shutter button is released. When the shutter button is half depressed after the shutter button is released the recording of the voice is stopped. Since the recording of voice is performed between when the shutter button is released and when it is depressed half, no mechanical sound is recorded.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2002
    Publication date: March 6, 2003
    Inventors: Tatsutoshi Kitajima, Koichi Sugiura