Patents by Inventor Shigeru Iwamoto

Shigeru Iwamoto 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: 6826364
    Abstract: A zoom flash includes a light emitter, a zoom driver which moves the light emitter along an axis to vary an illumination angle, a detecting device which detects a zoom position of the light emitter, a calculation device which calculates a pre-flash emission level according to the detected zoom position so that illuminance on an object at a predetermined distance is substantially constant regardless of a variation of the illumination angle, and a control device which activates the light emitter to emit a preliminary flash emission, before a main flash emission, by supplying a voltage corresponding to the pre-flash emission level for the light emitter. A flash photography system is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Assignee: PENTAX Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiro Kawasaki, Osamu Sato, Shigeru Iwamoto, Tadahisa Ohkura, Kazuhito Taneoka
  • Publication number: 20040218915
    Abstract: A flash case, in which a flash is provided, is automatically moved to an up position, when a user selects a flash mode in a state where the flash case is at a down position, when a user begins to forcibly raise the flash case by hand in a state where the flash case is at the down position, or when the flash case is at the down position in a state where a photometric operation starts in an auto-flash mode. The flash case is automatically moved to the down position, when an external force is added to the flash case at the up position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2004
    Publication date: November 4, 2004
    Applicant: PENTAX Corporation
    Inventors: Tadahisa Ohkura, Yutaka Ohsawa, Shigeru Iwamoto, Takuya Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 6718135
    Abstract: A flash photography system includes a camera body, a main flash device and at least one sub-flash device, wherein the main flash device emits at least one low flash emission serving as a main-flash emission command signal to transmit the main-flash emission command signal to the sub-flash device, the sub-flash device emitting a flash emission in accordance with the main-flash emission command signal. The flash photography system includes a designating device for designating a flash emission mode of a main-flash emission, and a command device which activates the main flash device to emit the low flash emission serving as the main-flash emission command signal to transmit the main-flash emission command signal to the sub-flash device in a manner corresponding to the designated flash emission mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: PENTAX Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiro Kawasaki, Osamu Sato, Shigeru Iwamoto, Tadahisa Ohkura, Kazuhito Taneoka
  • Publication number: 20030216266
    Abstract: A lubricating oil composition employable in combination with a low sulfur content fuel oil is preferably composed of a base oil having a sulfur content of at most 0.2 wt. %, an ashless dispersant comprising an alkenyl- or alkyl-succinimide or a derivative thereof, a metal-containing detergent containing an organic acid metal salt, a zinc dialkyldithiophosphate, a zinc dialkylaryldithiophosphate, and an oxidation inhibitor selected from the group consisting of a phenol compound, an amine compound, and a molybdenum-containing compound, wherein a ratio of the phosphorus content of the zinc dialkyldithiophosphate to the phosphorus content of the zinc dialkylaryldithiophosphate is in the range of 20:1 to 2:1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2003
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Inventors: Satoshi Hirano, Shigeru Iwamoto, Morikuni Nakazato
  • Publication number: 20030179001
    Abstract: Capacitance sensor electrodes are arranged in a form of matrix on a semiconductor substrate and coated with a cover film. These capacitance sensor electrodes are connected to a drive circuit. ESD electrodes are arranged in the vicinities of corner portions of the capacitance sensor electrodes. Each ESD electrode is composed of a film containing, for example, aluminum excellent in conductivity and a TiN film formed thereon. The ESD electrodes are grounded through the semiconductor substrate. On each ESD electrode, a plurality of fine ESD holes reaching the ESD electrode from a surface of the cover film are formed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2002
    Publication date: September 25, 2003
    Inventors: Masaki Ito, Hideo Onodera, Shigeru Iwamoto
  • Patent number: 6569818
    Abstract: A lubricating oil composition having a low P content of 0.01 to 0.1 wt. %, and a sulfated ash of 0.1 to 1 wt. %, which is composed of a) a major amount of mineral base oil having a low S content of at most 0.1 wt. %; b) an ashless alkenyl or alkyl-succinimide dispersant; c) a metal-containing detergent (non-sulfurized alkali metal or alkaline earth metal salt of an alkylsalicylic acid and/or non-sulfurized alkali metal or alkaline earth metal salt of an alkylphenol derivative having a Mannich base structure); d) Zn-DTP; e) an oxidation inhibitor (phenol compound and/or amine compound) and wherein the sulfur content is 0.01 to 0.3 wt %. The lubricating oil composition shows good high temperature detergency notwithstanding its low S, P, and sulfated ash content, and is favorably employable in diesel engines using fuel of an extremely low sulfur content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Assignee: Chevron Oronite Company, LLC
    Inventors: Morikuni Nakazato, Shigeru Iwamoto, Satoshi Hirano
  • Patent number: 6571061
    Abstract: A uniform flash-emission controller which controls an intensity of a light emission of a flashtube, the uniform flash-emission controller includes an IGBT which causes the flashtube to emit a rapid series of short flash pulses; an IGBT controller which switches the IGBT ON and OFF so as to maintain the intensity at a substantially constant level; and a latch for holding an ON state and an OFF state of the IGBT until a predetermined period of time elapses from a time the IGBT controller switches the IGBT ON and OFF, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Assignee: Pentax Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiro Kawasaki, Osamu Sato, Shigeru Iwamoto, Tadahisa Ohkura, Kazuhito Taneoka
  • Patent number: 6551965
    Abstract: A lubricating oil composition containing a base oil of lubricating viscosity, overbased sulfurized alkylphenate detergent or its calcium salt, an overbased alkylsulfonate detergent or its calcium salt, an ashless dispersant, and a zinc dialkyldithiophosphate and/or zinc diaryidithiophosphate is described. The lubricating oil composition provides improved heat stability and anti-wear performance in marine diesel engines operated under severe conditions where the cylinder liner temperature may reach 200 to 260° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Chevron Oronite Company LLC
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Nagamatsu, Shigeru Iwamoto, Hirokazu Fujita
  • Patent number: 6512890
    Abstract: A flash photography system having a camera body and external flash devices includes a designating device for designating a sync flash mode for a main flash emission; a first pre-flash emission mode in which the external flash devices are activated to emit a preliminary flash emission at the same time; a second pre-flash emission mode in which the plurality of external flash devices are activated to emit the preliminary flash emission in a predetermined order; a pre-flash emission mode selecting device which selects the first or second pre-flash emission mode in accordance with the designated sync flash mode; and a pre-flash emission command device which transmits a command signal to the external flash devices to emit the preliminary flash emission in the first or second pre-flash emission mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignee: Pentax Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiro Kawasaki, Osamu Sato, Shigeru Iwamoto, Tadahisa Ohkura, Kazuhito Taneoka
  • Patent number: 6498901
    Abstract: A flash photography system includes a first photometering device including a multi-segment photometering sensor having a plurality of zone sensors for measuring a pre-flash emission; a second photometering device including a single-segment direct photometering sensor for measuring a main flash emission; a weighting device which assigns a weighting factor to an output of each of the plurality of zone sensors; a calculation device which calculates a correction value based on each photometering value and the weighting factor of each zone sensor of the first photometering device, wherein an appropriate receiving light amount of the second photometering device is calculated in order to attain a compensation exposure for the main flash emission based on the correction value; and a controller which terminates the main flash emission after the light amount measured by the second photometering device reaches the appropriate receiving light amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2002
    Assignee: Pentax Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiro Kawasaki, Osamu Sato, Shigeru Iwamoto, Tadahisa Ohkura, Kazuhito Taneoka
  • Publication number: 20020123434
    Abstract: A lubricating oil composition containing a base oil of lubricating viscosity, overbased sulfurized alkylphenate detergent or its calcium salt, an overbased alkylsulfonate detergent or its calcium salt, an ashless dispersant, and a zinc dialkyldithiophosphate and/or zinc diaryidithiophosphate is described. The lubricating oil composition provides improved heat stability and anti-wear performance in marine diesel engines operated under severe conditions where the cylinder liner temperature may reach 200 to 260° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2001
    Publication date: September 5, 2002
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Nagamatsu, Shigeru Iwamoto, Hirokazu Fujita
  • Patent number: 6427051
    Abstract: A camera includes a built-in flash and a controller for controlling the camera. The controller includes different photographic modes; an auto-exposure-mode selecting mode in which an appropriate photographic mode is automatically selected from the different photographic modes based on photographic conditions, the controller allowing the built-in flash to discharge automatically in the selected appropriate photographic mode when the built-in flash discharges at a most appropriate time of exposure; and a flash-prohibiting/auto-exposure-mode selecting mode in which an appropriate photographic mode is automatically selected from the different photographic modes based on photographic conditions, the controller prohibiting the built-in flash from discharging automatically in the selected appropriate photographic mode at a time of exposure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tetsuo Hosokawa, Toshihiro Hamamura, Shigeru Iwamoto, Tadahisa Ohkura, Hidefumi Kaneko
  • Publication number: 20020064384
    Abstract: A flash photography system having a camera body and external flash devices includes a designating device for designating a sync flash mode for a main flash emission; a first pre-flash emission mode in which the external flash devices are activated to emit a preliminary flash emission at the same time; a second pre-flash emission mode in which the plurality of external flash devices are activated to emit the preliminary flash emission in a predetermined order; a pre-flash emission mode selecting device which selects the first or second pre-flash emission mode in accordance with the designated sync flash mode; and a pre-flash emission command device which transmits a command signal to the external flash devices to emit the preliminary flash emission in the first or second pre-flash emission mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2001
    Publication date: May 30, 2002
    Applicant: ASAHI KOGAKU KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masahiro Kawasaki, Osamu Sato, Shigeru Iwamoto, Tadahisa Ohkura, Kazuhito Taneoka
  • Publication number: 20020061190
    Abstract: A zoom flash includes a light emitter, a zoom driver which moves the light emitter along an axis to vary an illumination angle, a detecting device which detects a zoom position of the light emitter, a calculation device which calculates a pre-flash emission level according to the detected zoom position so that illuminance on an object at a predetermined distance is substantially constant regardless of a variation of the illumination angle, and a control device which activates the light emitter to emit a preliminary flash emission, before a main flash emission, by supplying a voltage corresponding to the pre-flash emission level for the light emitter. A flash photography system is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2001
    Publication date: May 23, 2002
    Applicant: ASAHI KOGAKU KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masahiro Kawasaki, Osamu Sato, Shigeru Iwamoto, Tadahisa Ohkura, Kazuhito Taneoka
  • Publication number: 20020044774
    Abstract: A uniform flash-emission controller which controls an intensity of a light emission of a flashtube, the uniform flash-emission controller includes an IGBT which causes the flashtube to emit a rapid series of short flash pulses; an IGBT controller which switches the IGBT ON and OFF so as to maintain the intensity at a substantially constant level; and a latch for holding an ON state and an OFF state of the IGBT until a predetermined period of time elapses from a time the IGBT controller switches the IGBT ON and OFF, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2001
    Publication date: April 18, 2002
    Applicant: ASAHI KOGAKU KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masahiro Kawasaki, Osamu Sato, Shigeru Iwamoto, Tadahisa Ohkura, Kazuhito Taneoka
  • Publication number: 20020019320
    Abstract: A lubricating oil composition having a low P content of 0.01 to 0.1 wt. %, and a sulfated ash of 0.1 to 1 wt. %, which is composed of a) a major amount of mineral base oil having a low S content of at most 0.1 wt. %; b) an ashless alkenyl or alkyl-succinimide dispersant; c) a metal-containing detergent (non-sulfurized alkali metal or alkaline earth metal salt of an alkylsalicylic acid and/or non-sulfurized alkali metal or alkaline earth metal salt of an alkylphenol derivative having a Mannich base structure); d) Zn-DTP; e) an oxidation inhibitor (phenol compound and/or amine compound) and wherein the sulfur content is 0.01 to 0.3 wt %. The lubricating oil composition shows good high temperature detergency notwithstanding its low S, P, and sulfated ash content, and is favorably employable in diesel engines using fuel of an extremely low sulfur content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2001
    Publication date: February 14, 2002
    Inventors: Morikuni Nakazato, Shigeru Iwamoto, Satoshi Hirano
  • Patent number: 6347189
    Abstract: A flash controller of a camera system includes a camera body and an interchangeable lens which is detachably attached to the camera body, the camera body including a built-in flash, the interchangeable lens being of a type which can have data communication with the camera body to output lens data on the interchangeable lens to the camera body. The flash controller includes a memory which is provided in the camera body in which data on the built-in flash are pre-stored; and a calculating device, provided in the camera body, for judging whether flashlight emitted from the built-in flash will be interrupted by a periphery of the interchangeable lens in accordance with the lens data input from the interchangeable lens and flash data input from the built-in flash.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2002
    Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tetsuo Hosokawa, Toshihiro Hamamura, Shigeru Iwamoto
  • Patent number: 6341202
    Abstract: An operation device of a camera includes an indication member comprising a plurality of characters, an operation member which is movable relative to the indication member and includes an index mark for pointing at one of the plurality of characters when the operation member stops at a corresponding stop position thereof; and an illuminating device which illuminates at least one of the plurality of characters at which the index mark points. Also disclosed is a control device for controlling the illuminating device to be turned ON and OFF in a predetermined particular pattern immediately after the power of the camera is turned ON, wherein the control device does not turn the illuminating device ON and OFF in the predetermined particular pattern thereafter, in a power-ON state of the camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2002
    Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tetsuo Hosokawa, Toshihiro Hamamura, Hiroyuki Takahashi, Shigeru Iwamoto, Tadahisa Ohkura, Hidefumi Kaneko
  • Patent number: 6321042
    Abstract: A camera having a manual film winding apparatus in which a film is wound in association with the rotation of a wind lever from a start position to an end position includes a double wind prevention device which prevents the wind lever from rotating from the start position toward the end position when the wind lever is returned to a predetermined position beyond the start position after the wind lever has been rotated to the end position from the start position, and a double wind prevention releasing device for electrically releasing the double wind prevention of the double wind prevention device, in accordance with the operation state of the camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shigeru Iwamoto
  • Publication number: 20010019999
    Abstract: A lubricating oil composition containing a base oil of lubricating viscosity, overbased sulfurized alkylphenate detergent or its calcium salt, an overbased alkylsulfonate detergent or its calcium salt, an ashless dispersant, and a zinc dialkyldithiophosphate and/or zinc diaryldithiophosphate is described. The lubricating oil composition provides improved heat stability and anti-wear performance in marine diesel engines operated under severe conditions where the cylinder liner temperature reach 200 to 260° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2001
    Publication date: September 6, 2001
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Nagamatsu, Shigeru Iwamoto, Hirokazu Fujita