Patents by Inventor Shinichi Kitaoka

Shinichi Kitaoka 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: 20240085773
    Abstract: A fluorescence emitting module includes: a fluorescent substrate consisting essentially of a sintered fluorescent substance that includes a fluorescent material; and a rotator that rotates the fluorescent substrate about an axis extending in a thickness direction of the fluorescent substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2021
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Applicant: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yosuke HONDA, Shinichi KITAOKA, Noriyasu NAKASHIMA, Yoshiyuki TAKAHIRA
  • Publication number: 20240085772
    Abstract: A fluorescence emitting element includes: a wavelength conversion member that is plate-shaped and includes a fluorescent material, the wavelength conversion member including a first principal surface and a second principal surface that is on an opposite side from the first principal surface; and a metal film bonded to at least one surface out of the first principal surface and the second principal surface. In a plan view of the wavelength conversion member, the wavelength conversion member includes a region that does not overlap the metal film, and the metal film includes a bonding surface that is bonded to the at least one surface, and an exposed surface on an opposite side from the bonding surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2021
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Applicant: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Noriyasu NAKASHIMA, Yosuke HONDA, Shinichi KITAOKA, Yoshiyuki TAKAHIRA
  • Publication number: 20240006555
    Abstract: A transmissive fluorescence emitting module includes: a fluorescent substrate that consists essentially of a fluorescent material; a metal member bonded to a principal surface that the fluorescent substrate includes; and a rotator that rotates the fluorescent substrate and the metal member about an axis extending in a thickness direction of the fluorescent substrate. In a plan view of the fluorescent substrate, the fluorescent substrate includes a region that does not overlap the metal member, the region being annular ring-shaped.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2021
    Publication date: January 4, 2024
    Applicant: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yosuke HONDA, Shinichi KITAOKA, Noriyasu NAKASHIMA, Yoshiyuki TAKAHIRA
  • Patent number: 11500141
    Abstract: An optical fiber module includes an optical fiber containing a glass component, and a ferrule which is tubular in shape and covers an outer circumferential surface in an end portion of the optical fiber. The outer circumferential surface of the optical fiber and an inner circumferential surface of the ferrule are bonded by a silicone resin containing siloxane bonds at cross-linking points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kitano, Yoshiyuki Takahira, Hideharu Kawachi, Shinichi Kitaoka
  • Publication number: 20210063626
    Abstract: An optical fiber module includes an optical fiber containing a glass component, and a ferrule which is tubular in shape and covers an outer circumferential surface in an end portion of the optical fiber. The outer circumferential surface of the optical fiber and an inner circumferential surface of the ferrule are bonded by a silicone resin containing siloxane bonds at cross-linking points.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2020
    Publication date: March 4, 2021
    Applicant: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi KITANO, Yoshiyuki TAKAHIRA, Hideharu KAWACHI, Shinichi KITAOKA
  • Patent number: 10459139
    Abstract: A lighting apparatus that wavelength-converts laser light guided by an optical fiber to output light having a different wavelength as the laser light, includes: a holder that holds the optical fiber; a wavelength converter that wavelength-converts the laser light emitted from the optical fiber; and a case that holds the wavelength converter and houses the holder. The holder includes a straight groove into which one end of the optical fiber is fitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinichi Kitaoka, Hideharu Kawachi, Sachiko Azuma
  • Patent number: 10429562
    Abstract: An illumination apparatus, which is to be connected to a light source apparatus that generates laser light and which is to be attached to an optical cable that guides the laser light, is provided. The illumination apparatus includes a light-emitting module which is to be attached to a tip portion of the optical cable. The light-emitting module receives the laser light emitted from the optical cable, converts the laser light into light having a different wavelength of a predetermined color, and emits the light. A heat dissipating lens case includes a lens and dissipates heat generated by the light-emitting module. The lens controls distribution of the light emitted by the light-emitting module. The heat dissipating lens case includes an attachment structure which allows the heat dissipating lens case to be removably attached to the light-emitting module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinichi Kitaoka, Hideharu Kawachi
  • Patent number: 10393936
    Abstract: A light source device is provided. The light source device includes: a ferrule which holds an optical fiber; a light-emitting element which emits laser light; and a casing which houses the ferrule and the light-emitting element such that the laser light enters the optical fiber. The casing includes a through hole from a first end face to a second end face. The through hole includes a diameter which decreases in a stepwise manner from the first end face toward the second end face. The ferrule is fitted to a small bore portion of the through hole, which is smallest in diameter. The light-emitting element is fitted to a large bore portion of the through hole, which is larger in diameter than the small bore portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinichi Kitaoka, Hiroshi Kitano, Sachiko Azuma
  • Patent number: 10234122
    Abstract: A lighting apparatus including a base is provided. The base includes a through-hole. The through-hole is aligned with an optical path of laser light for receiving and transmitting the laser light. A light emitter which, when irradiated with the laser light transmitted through the through-hole, radiates light by converting a wavelength of the laser light. An attachment component is provided on the base for attachment of the light emitter to the base. The light emitter is removable from the base. A light blocker opens the optical path of the laser light by being contacted by the light emitter when the light emitter is attached to the base, and blocks the optical path of the laser light when the light emitter is removed from the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hideharu Kawachi, Yoshiyuki Nakano, Shinichi Kitaoka
  • Patent number: 10119908
    Abstract: A particle sensor is provided. The particle sensor includes a light projector that projects light to a detection area. A light receiver receives scattered light. The scattered light is light from the light projector that has been scattered by particles in the detection area. A first reflector reflects the scattered light to the light receiver. A light attenuator attenuates stray light that exits the first reflector. The first reflector includes a first aperture that introduces the light from the light projector into an interior of the first reflector and a second aperture that exits the stray light from the first reflector. The light attenuator includes a third aperture through which the stray light that exits the first reflector passes. An aperture area of the third aperture is smaller than an aperture area of the second aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shintaro Hayashi, Shinichi Kitaoka, Hirotaka Matsunami
  • Patent number: 10012781
    Abstract: A lighting device configured to accommodate an optical fiber is provided. The lighting device includes a breaking structure which accommodates a portion of the optical fiber in a state in which the portion includes two or more bends. The breaking structure is configured to break and sever the portion of the optical fiber when the optical fiber is subjected to a load of a predetermined magnitude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Shinichi Kitaoka
  • Patent number: 9958139
    Abstract: An illumination apparatus which uses laser light emitted by a light source is provided. The illumination apparatus includes a housing which is tubular, internally includes an optical path for the laser light, and includes a first end surface having an opening through which the laser light passing through the optical path is released. A light emitter is opposed to the opening, receives the laser light released through the opening, converts the laser light into light having a different wavelength of a predetermined color, and emits the light. A cap is removably attached to a first end portion of the housing and through which the light emitted by the light emitter is released. A shutter opens the optical path when the cap is attached to the housing and closes the optical path when the cap is detached from the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hideharu Kawachi, Yoshiyuki Nakano, Shinichi Kitaoka
  • Publication number: 20180106944
    Abstract: A lighting apparatus that wavelength-converts laser light guided by an optical fiber to output light having a different wavelength as the laser light, includes: a holder that holds the optical fiber; a wavelength converter that wavelength-converts the laser light emitted from the optical fiber; and a case that holds the wavelength converter and houses the holder. The holder includes a straight groove into which one end of the optical fiber is fitted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2017
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Applicant: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinichi KITAOKA, Hideharu KAWACHI, Sachiko AZUMA
  • Publication number: 20180106449
    Abstract: A lighting apparatus includes a holder that holds an optical fiber, a wavelength converter that wavelength-converts laser light emitted from the optical fiber, and a case that is made of metal, holds the wavelength converter, and houses the holder. The holder includes a main body having a lead end face from which the laser light is emitted, and a flange projecting from an outer circumferential face of a base end of the main body. The case has a through hole penetrating from one end face to another end face, and the wavelength converter is attached to the case to be coaxial with the through hole. The through hole houses the main body, and has an abutting face which the lead end face of the main body abuts. The flange is secured to the case in a state where the lead end face of the main body abuts the abutting face.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2017
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Applicant: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinichi KITAOKA, Hideharu KAWACHI, Sachiko AZUMA
  • Publication number: 20180081107
    Abstract: A light source device is provided. The light source device includes: a ferrule which holds an optical fiber; a light-emitting element which emits laser light; and a casing which houses the ferrule and the light-emitting element such that the laser light enters the optical fiber. The casing includes a through hole from a first end face to a second end face. The through hole includes a diameter which decreases in a stepwise manner from the first end face toward the second end face. The ferrule is fitted to a small bore portion of the through hole, which is smallest in diameter. The light-emitting element is fitted to a large bore portion of the through hole, which is larger in diameter than the small bore portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2017
    Publication date: March 22, 2018
    Applicant: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinichi KITAOKA, Hiroshi KITANO, Sachiko AZUMA
  • Patent number: 9885602
    Abstract: A particle sensor is provided. The particle sensor includes a light projector that projects light to a detection area. A light receiver receives scattered light. The scattered light is light from the light projector that has been scattered by particles in the detection area. A first support supports the light receiver. A second support supports the light projector and has a linear expansion coefficient different from a linear expansion coefficient of the first support. The first support includes a first placement region in which the light receiver is disposed and a second placement region in which the second support is disposed. The first placement region and the second placement region are located at different distances from at least one of an optical axis of the light projector and an optical axis of the light receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hirotaka Matsunami, Shintaro Hayashi, Shinichi Kitaoka
  • Publication number: 20170293062
    Abstract: An illumination apparatus, which is to be connected to a light source apparatus that generates laser light and which is to be attached to an optical cable that guides the laser light, is provided. The illumination apparatus includes a light-emitting module which is to be attached to a tip portion of the optical cable. The light-emitting module receives the laser light emitted from the optical cable, converts the laser light into light having a different wavelength of a predetermined color, and emits the light. A heat dissipating lens case includes a lens and dissipates heat generated by the light-emitting module. The lens controls distribution of the light emitted by the light-emitting module. The heat dissipating lens case includes an attachment structure which allows the heat dissipating lens case to be removably attached to the light-emitting module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2017
    Publication date: October 12, 2017
    Applicant: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinichi KITAOKA, Hideharu KAWACHI
  • Publication number: 20170261192
    Abstract: A lighting device configured to accommodate an optical fiber is provided. The lighting device includes a breaking structure which accommodates a portion of the optical fiber in a state in which the portion includes two or more bends. The breaking structure is configured to break and sever the portion of the optical fiber when the optical fiber is subjected to a load of a predetermined magnitude.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2017
    Publication date: September 14, 2017
    Applicant: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LT D.
    Inventor: Shinichi KITAOKA
  • Publication number: 20170261191
    Abstract: A lighting apparatus including a base is provided. The base includes a through-hole. The through-hole is aligned with an optical path of laser light for receiving and transmitting the laser light. A light emitter which, when irradiated with the laser light transmitted through the through-hole, radiates light by converting a wavelength of the laser light. An attachment component is provided on the base for attachment of the light emitter to the base. The light emitter is removable from the base. A light blocker opens the optical path of the laser light by being contacted by the light emitter when the light emitter is attached to the base, and blocks the optical path of the laser light when the light emitter is removed from the base.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2017
    Publication date: September 14, 2017
    Applicant: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hideharu KAWACHI, Yoshiyuki NAKANO, Shinichi KITAOKA
  • Publication number: 20170254508
    Abstract: An illumination apparatus which uses laser light emitted by a light source is provided. The illumination apparatus includes a housing which is tubular, internally includes an optical path for the laser light, and includes a first end surface having an opening through which the laser light passing through the optical path is released. A light emitter is opposed to the opening, receives the laser light released through the opening, converts the laser light into light having a different wavelength of a predetermined color, and emits the light. A cap is removably attached to a first end portion of the housing and through which the light emitted by the light emitter is released. A shutter opens the optical path when the cap is attached to the housing and closes the optical path when the cap is detached from the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2017
    Publication date: September 7, 2017
    Applicant: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hideharu KAWACHI, Yoshiyuki NAKANO, Shinichi KITAOKA