Patents by Inventor Seiji Sakai

Seiji Sakai 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: 7656398
    Abstract: A surface light source device includes light source driving means for driving light sources on a light emission block basis, a light exit area being sectioned into two or more light emission blocks, light quantity detecting means for detecting light quantities on the basis of output light beams that are led out from the two or more light emission blocks, and drive control means for adjusting emission light quantities of the light sources corresponding to the respective light emission blocks on the basis of light quantities that are detected during lighting periods when only one of the light emission blocks is lit up that are subjected to light quantity detection by the light quantity detecting means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Seiji Sakai, Takuya Sakamoto, Toshiyuki Yoneda
  • Patent number: 7641376
    Abstract: The present invention provides a surface light source device capable of reducing luminance non-uniformity near point light sources and near between the point light sources adjacent to each other, and a display device of high display quality. The surface light source device includes: a plurality of LEDs arranged at a predetermined spacing; a light guide plate that emits, as a surface light, light emitted from the point light sources and entered into at least one side surface, through a light emission surface perpendicular to a light incident surface; reflecting sheets disposed respectively on a light anti-emission surface and near the LEDs in the light guide plate; and a casing having an opening part at a location corresponding to the light emission surface of the light guide plate, and holding the LEDs and the light guide plate and the reflecting sheets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Seiji Sakai, Akihiro Mori
  • Publication number: 20090303619
    Abstract: An actuator apparatus of the present invention includes a movable body that is arranged so as to be movable forward or rearward, and a shape memory alloy wire that is provided directly or indirectly to the movable body so as to enter a non-tension state at an ordinary temperature. The shape memory alloy wire is subjected to expansion/contraction control in which an electric current is applied thereto from a power supply portion of an external control circuit portion to change a temperature thereof to a predetermined temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2009
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Applicant: OLYMPUS MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORP.
    Inventors: Seiji IWASAKI, Toru KUCHIMARU, Yuuya ISHIDA, Seiji SAKAI
  • Publication number: 20090292169
    Abstract: An electronic endoscope apparatus includes: an image pickup apparatus mounted at a distal end portion of an insertion portion; an operation portion provided consecutively at the insertion portion, with a frame member incorporated therein; and an electrical cable extended from the operation portion for connection with an external device. In the electronic endoscope apparatus, the frame member has a circuit board portion which establishes electrical connection between shields of the insertion portion and the electrical cable, and on which various electronic parts for exchanging signals with the image pickup apparatus are mounted. In spite of the arrangement of the image pickup apparatus that can acquire high-quality images at a distal end portion of the insertion portion, a size of the apparatus, in particular, a diameter of the insertion portion, can be prevented from being increased.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2009
    Publication date: November 26, 2009
    Applicant: OLYMPUS MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORP.
    Inventors: Takahiko MITANI, Akira MURAMATSU, Seiji SAKAI, Tomoaki YAMASHITA, Masahiro KAWAUCHI, Yuichi WATAYA
  • Patent number: 7604389
    Abstract: A surface light-source device includes: a plurality of point light sources; a light-guide plate arranged for emitting from its emitting surface the light incident on one lateral side thereof from the point light sources; a lower case having a lateral side formed approximately in parallel to the incident surface of the light-guide plate; and a light-source substrate on which the plurality of point light sources are arranged at predetermined intervals, disposed on the light-guide plate side. The surface light-source device is includes a substrate holder that clamps the light-source substrate and the lateral side of the lower case by projections arranged on the substrate holder between adjacent two of the light sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Seiji Sakai, Takuya Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 7578610
    Abstract: A light source unit includes: a light source board mounted with a light source; a case that houses the light source board; and a holding member that is disposed integrally with an inner wall of the case, and hold the light source board with the case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Takuya Sakamoto, Seiji Sakai
  • Publication number: 20090185032
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus of the present invention varies optical properties by moving a part of lenses of an objective lens, and includes a solid-state image pickup device unit that is disposed at a rear-end section and that subjects a subject image to photoelectric conversion, a fixed lens frame that retains the objective lens that is disposed in front of the solid-state image pickup device unit, a movable lens frame that retains the part of lenses that moves along a photographing optical axis O inside the lens frame, and an actuator having one end connected to the movable lens frame and that moves the movable lens frame forward and backward. The actuator includes a rigid member provided so as to extend to the vicinity of the rear end at which the solid-state image pickup device unit is disposed and a shape memory alloy that is coupled to the rigid member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2008
    Publication date: July 23, 2009
    Applicant: OLYMPUS MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORP.
    Inventors: Seiji SAKAI, Tomoaki YAMASHITA, Masahiro KAWAUCHI, Takahiko MITANI, Yuuya ISHIDA, Seiji IWASAKI
  • Publication number: 20090160155
    Abstract: A stabilizer configured to connect suspension devices situated right and left of an automobile, the stabilizer is characterized in that the stabilizer extends below a suspension member where a steering device of the automobile is fixed; at a side of the suspension member, the stabilizer extends above a lower arm and toward a front of the automobile; and the stabilizer is connected to the suspension devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 4, 2006
    Publication date: June 25, 2009
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Shimatami, Satoshi Murata, Seiji Sakai, Masao Tajima, Makoto Kobayashi, Keiichi Kondo, Shinji Iwasa, Kimihiro Kuji
  • Publication number: 20080291694
    Abstract: The present invention is aimed to obtain a highly reliable planar light source device even when an ambient temperature is high, without lowering brightness of the planar light source device. A planar light source device of the present invention includes a light source (point light source), a first light guide plate having an incident surface and an emitting surface for emitting planar light, and a second light guide plate having an incident surface opposing to the light source (point light source) and an emitting surface opposing to the incident surface of the first light guide plate, wherein a distance from the incident surface to the emitting surface opposite to each other of the second light guide plate (light guide distance) is not less than 1.5 mm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2008
    Publication date: November 27, 2008
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Seiji SAKAI, Akihiro Mori
  • Patent number: 7441938
    Abstract: A planar light source device includes: a plurality of point light sources, each of which emits a light; a light guide plate that includes a first surface, and a second surface perpendicular to the first surface, and that is configured to guide the emitted lights incident from the first surface to be emitted from the second surface; a bottom case including a side portion substantially parallel to the first surface; a light source substrate that includes the plurality of point light sources arranged thereon at a predetermined interval, and that is arranged at a side of the first surface; a frame that sandwiches the light source substrate and the side portion of the bottom case and holds the second surface and that includes a plurality of gaps at positions facing the point light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Seiji Sakai, Takuya Sakamoto
  • Publication number: 20080211990
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display apparatus is provided which has two or more options in selection of the range of viewing angles. A surface light source device according to the invention has a main surface from which light is emitted, and includes a plurality of light guide plates corresponding to a plurality of regions obtained by dividing the main surface in parallel; an optical film provided on the exit surface side of the light guide plates; and a light driver that controls the turning on and off of the plurality of light guide plates. The optical film includes a light-guide slit film which transmits light that is emitted from the light guide plates and that is within a certain range of angles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2007
    Publication date: September 4, 2008
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Seiji SAKAI
  • Patent number: 7393128
    Abstract: A planar light source device includes a light source section having a plurality of light emitting diodes as a light source, and a light guiding plate guiding light from the light source section to emit planar light. The light emitting diodes being turned off detect the quantities of light from the other light emitting diodes, and adjust the quantities of light emission of the other light emitting diodes based on the detected quantities of light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Seiji Sakai, Toshiyuki Yoneda
  • Patent number: 7384179
    Abstract: A planar light source unit includes: a light source; an upper case having an opening through which the light is emitted from the light source; a lower case fitted with the upper case and including a hole; a light guide plate disposed inside the upper case and the lower case; a resin frame including a first surface that holds the light guide plate, a second surface opposed to the first surface, a first restriction member penetrated through the hole of the lower case, the first restriction member including a first portion extending from and substantially perpendicular to the second surface, and a second portion contacted with a portion of the first portion and having a third surface substantially parallel to the second surface; and a first member, a part of which is inserted into a clearance defined by the second surface, the first portion and the third surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Seiji Sakai
  • Patent number: 7364336
    Abstract: The present invention aims to provide a plane light source device having enhanced efficiency of use of light and high brightness uniformity. A plane light source device of the present invention is provided with a housing having an opening section, a scattering plate arranged at the opening section for scattering incoming light and a light source arranged at one side face in the housing, wherein a regular reflection section for regularly reflecting light incoming from the light source is provided in the vicinity of the light source at the bottom surface of the housing that is opposite to the scattering plate and a scatter reflection section for irregularly reflecting light incoming from the light source is provided so as to be adjacent to the regular reflection section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akihiro Mori, Seiji Sakai, Toshiyuki Yoneda
  • Patent number: 7350951
    Abstract: To obtain a planar light source which is free from brightness variations or chromaticity variations by using a point light source having a high directivity for emitted light, and to provide a liquid crystal display device capable of obtaining superior display characteristics by using this planar light source device. A planar light source device having an opening in the upper surface comprises a hollow box, a diffusion plate disposed in the opening, a reflecting plate disposed on the bottom of the hollow region of the box, and a plurality of point light sources disposed in a row along at least one side surface of the box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Seiji Sakai, Akihiro Mori, Takashi Yamaguchi, Toshiyuki Yoneda
  • Patent number: 7300184
    Abstract: In a planar light guiding device and a display device, plural light guiding rods are arranged in parallel to one another in a housing having an opening portion serving as a light emission face at the upper surface thereof, and a point light source (LED) 2 is disposed so as to oppose to at least one of both the end faces 1a of each light guiding rod through a space, thereby constituting a light source unit. These light source units are arranged in the metal housing to thereby form the planar light guiding device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koji Ichikawa, Seiji Sakai, Toshiyuki Yoneda
  • Publication number: 20070247870
    Abstract: A surface light-source device (50) includes: a plurality of point light sources (2); a light-guide plate (4) arranged for emitting from its emitting surface the light incident on one lateral side thereof from the point light sources (2); a lower case (10) having a lateral side formed approximately in parallel to the incident surface of the light-guide plate (4); and a light-source substrate (3) on which the plurality of point light sources (2) are arranged at predetermined intervals, disposed on the light-guide plate (4) side; wherein the surface light-source device (50) is provided with a substrate holder (8) that clamps the light-source substrate (3) and the lateral side of the lower case (10) by projections arranged on the substrate holder (8) between adjacent two of the light sources (2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2007
    Publication date: October 25, 2007
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Seiji SAKAI, Takuya Sakamoto
  • Publication number: 20070165425
    Abstract: A light source unit includes: a light source board mounted with a light source; a case that houses the light source board; and a holding member that is disposed integrally with an inner wall of the case, and hold the light source board with the case.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2007
    Publication date: July 19, 2007
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takuya SAKAMOTO, Seiji Sakai
  • Publication number: 20070165424
    Abstract: A planar light source unit includes: a light source; an upper case having an opening through which the light is emitted from the light source; a lower case fitted with the upper case and including a hole; a light guide plate disposed inside the upper case and the lower case; a resin frame including a first surface that holds the light guide plate, a second surface opposed to the first surface, a first restriction member penetrated through the hole of the lower case, the first restriction member including a first portion extending from and substantially perpendicular to the second surface, and a second portion contacted with a portion of the first portion and having a third surface substantially parallel to the second surface; and a first member, a part of which is inserted into a clearance defined by the second surface, the first portion and the third surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2007
    Publication date: July 19, 2007
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Seiji SAKAI
  • Publication number: 20070165421
    Abstract: A planar light source device includes: a plurality of point light sources, each of which emits a light; a light guide plate that includes a first surface, and a second surface perpendicular to the first surface, and that is configured to guide the emitted lights incident from the first surface to be emitted from the second surface; a bottom case including a side portion substantially parallel to the first surface; a light source substrate that includes the plurality of point light sources arranged thereon at a predetermined interval, and that is arranged at a side of the first surface; a frame that sandwiches the light source substrate and the side portion of the bottom case and holds the second surface and that includes a plurality of gaps at positions facing the point light source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2007
    Publication date: July 19, 2007
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Seiji Sakai, Takuya Sakamoto