Patents by Inventor Shogo KASAHARA

Shogo KASAHARA 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: 11640072
    Abstract: An optical unit with shake-correction function is provided and includes: a movable body, a rotational support structure, a gimbal mechanism, and a fixed body. The rotational support structure, which rotatably supports the movable body including a camera module around an optical axis, is rotatably supported by the gimbal mechanism around a first axis and a second axis. The rotational support structure includes a first annular groove provided on the movable body, a plate roller including a second annular groove facing the first annular groove in the direction of Z axis, and multiple spherical objects inserted into the first annular groove and the second annular groove. The gimbal mechanism rotatably supports the plate roller around a first axis. The movable body includes a first-side stopper part facing one of plate roller extension portions with a gap from one side in the circumferential direction around the Z axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: NIDEC SANKYO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shogo Kasahara, Shinji Hatano
  • Patent number: 11640041
    Abstract: An optical unit includes: a reflection portion that reflects an incident light flux incident from outside on a reflection surface in a reflection direction from an incident direction toward an imaging element; a movable body having the reflection portion and a holder supporting the reflection portion; a fixed body; a rotation support mechanism that causes the movable body to rotate with respect to the fixed body with an axial direction as a rotation axis; and a drive mechanism having a magnet and a coil and causing the movable body to rotate with respect to the fixed body. The magnet is provided at a position not contacting the reflection portion in the holder and on a back side of the reflection surface, and has a parallel surface parallel to the reflection surface. The coil is provided at a position opposing the magnet in the fixed body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: NIDEC SANKYO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tsutomu Arai, Shogo Kasahara, Takeshi Sue
  • Patent number: 11627663
    Abstract: An optical unit includes a movable body including an optical module, a fixed body, a support mechanism, a flexible printed circuit board, and a fixing part. The fixing part is superposed on a bent part formed by bending the flexible printed circuit board. At least a part of the fixing part is fixed to the bent part of the flexible printed circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: NIDEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Soichiro Kimura, Tomohiro Egawa, Genki Tanaka, Shinri Ono, Tsungting Hsieh, Kwun-Yao Ho, Tsutomu Arai, Shogo Kasahara, Shinji Hatano
  • Patent number: 11573430
    Abstract: An optical unit with a shake correction function includes a reflection member reflecting light entering from the outside, a movable body turnably holding the reflection member, a fixed body turnably holding the movable body, a drive mechanism structured to turn the reflection member with respect to the movable body and turn the movable body with respect to the fixed body, and a turning axis part structuring a turning center of the movable body with respect to the fixed body. The movable body is capable of turning with respect to the fixed body with a first direction as an axial direction of turning, and the turning axis part includes a first ball disposed on one side of the movable body, a second ball disposed on the other side of the movable body and contacted with the fixed body, and an urging member which urges the first ball toward the second ball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: NIDEC SANKYO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takeshi Sue, Shogo Kasahara
  • Patent number: 11536985
    Abstract: An optical unit with shake-correction function is provided. A rotational support structure for supporting a movable body including a camera module around an optical axis is rotatably supported around a first axis and a second axis by a gimbal mechanism. The rotational support structure includes: a first annular groove, provided in the movable body; a plate roller, having a second annular groove facing the first annular groove in a direction of a Z axis; and a plurality of spherical objects, configured to be inserted into the first annular groove and the second annular groove, and roll between the movable body and the plate roller. The gimbal mechanism is configured to rotatably support the plate roller around the first axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: NIDEC SANKYO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shogo Kasahara, Shinji Hatano
  • Patent number: 11536984
    Abstract: An optical unit with shake-correction function is provided and includes: a movable body, a rotational support structure, a gimbal mechanism, and a fixed body. The rotational support structure rotatably supports the movable body having a camera module around an optical axis. The rotational support structure is rotatably supported by the gimbal mechanism around a first axis and a second axis. The rotational support structure includes a first annular groove in the movable body, a plate roller having a second annular groove, multiple spherical objects to roll between the first annular groove and the second annular groove, and a pressurization structure configured to apply a force for bringing the first annular groove and the second annular groove close to each other in the direction of the optical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: NIDEC SANKYO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shinji Hatano, Shogo Kasahara
  • Patent number: 11513421
    Abstract: An optical unit includes a movable body with an optical module; a fixed body; a gimbal mechanism having a hole portion through which at least a part of the optical module passes, and serving as a support mechanism that swingably supports the movable body with respect to the fixed body in a direction intersecting an optical axis direction as a pivot axis; and a drive mechanism having a coil and a magnet, and configured to move the movable body with respect to the fixed body. One of the coil and the magnet, as a movable body drive mechanism, is provided on a lateral portion of the movable body in a direction intersecting the optical axis direction. The hole portion is provided with a size such that at least a part of the movable body drive mechanism is visible through the hole portion when viewed from the optical axis direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: NIDEC SANKYO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shinji Hatano, Takeshi Sue, Shogo Kasahara
  • Patent number: 11506910
    Abstract: An optical unit may include a movable body, a turning support mechanism turnably supporting the movable body around an optical axis, a gimbal mechanism turnably supporting the turning support mechanism, and a fixed body. The turning support mechanism includes a plate roll fixed to the movable body, a plate holder having a facing part facing the plate roll in the optical axis direction and is turnably supported by the gimbal mechanism, spherical bodies disposed between the plate roll and the facing part, and a magnetic attraction mechanism for generating an attraction force so that the plate roll and the facing part approach each other in the optical axis direction. The magnetic attraction mechanism includes an attraction part provided in one of the plate roll and the plate holder and an attracted part provided in the other, and the attraction part includes a magnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: NIDEC SANKYO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shogo Kasahara, Shinji Hatano, Tsutomu Arai
  • Patent number: 11442288
    Abstract: An optical unit with shake-correction function is provided. A movable body is supported by a fixed body via a gimbal mechanism. The fixed body includes a case surrounding the movable body. The gimbal mechanism includes a gimbal frame having a second axis-side extension part protruding in a direction of a second axis and a second connecting mechanism connecting the second axis-side extension part and the case. The second axis-side extension part includes a first portion extending in a direction of Z-axis, a bent portion bending from an end of the first portion, and a second portion extending from the bent portion in a ?Z direction. The second connecting mechanism connects the second portion and the case, and the fixed body includes an object-side end plate portion facing the bent portion from the direction of the Z axis on an outer side of the first portion in a radial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: NIDEC SANKYO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shogo Kasahara, Shinji Hatano
  • Publication number: 20220224213
    Abstract: In an actuator, damper members which connect a movable member and a fixed member are arranged at two places between the end portion of the shaft of the movable member on an L1 side and the opening portion of the first holder of the fixed member and between the end portion of the shaft of the movable member on an L2 side and the opening portion of a second holder. Each of the damper members includes a gel damper member serving as a connection member which is continuously arranged in a gap in a radial direction between the movable member and the fixed member over the entire circumference. In the gel damper member, an inner circumferential portion is fixed to the shaft through a cylindrical first member, and an outer circumferential portion is fixed to the fixed member through a cylindrical second member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2020
    Publication date: July 14, 2022
    Applicant: NIDEC SANKYO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shogo KASAHARA, Masaaki ANDO, Shinji HATANO, Masao TSUCHIHASHI
  • Patent number: 11372261
    Abstract: An optical unit with shake-correction function is provided and includes: a movable body, a rotational support structure, a gimbal mechanism, a fixed body, and a rolling corrective-magnet drive structure. The rotational support structure, which supports the movable body to be rotatable around an optical axis, is rotatably supported by the gimbal mechanism around two axes intersecting with the optical axis. The rotational support structure includes a first annular groove provided on the movable body, a plate roller including a second annular groove facing the first annular groove, and multiple spherical objects inserted in the first annular groove and the second annular groove. The gimbal mechanism supports the plate roller to be rotatable. The rolling corrective-magnet drive structure, which rotates the movable body around the optical axis, includes a rolling corrective magnet on the movable body side, and two rolling corrective coils on the fixed body side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: NIDEC SANKYO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shinji Hatano, Shogo Kasahara
  • Publication number: 20220197049
    Abstract: An optical unit with a shake correction function includes a reflection member reflecting light entering from the outside, a movable body turnably holding the reflection member, a fixed body turnably holding the movable body, a drive mechanism structured to turn the reflection member with respect to the movable body and turn the movable body with respect to the fixed body, and a turning axis part structuring a turning center of the movable body with respect to the fixed body. The movable body is capable of turning with respect to the fixed body with a first direction as an axial direction of turning, and the turning axis part includes a first ball disposed on one side of the movable body, a second ball disposed on the other side of the movable body and contacted with the fixed body, and an urging member which urges the first ball toward the second ball.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2021
    Publication date: June 23, 2022
    Applicant: NIDEC SANKYO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takeshi SUE, Shogo KASAHARA
  • Patent number: 11366334
    Abstract: An optical unit with a shake correction function rotates a movable body around X, Y, and Z axes to perform a shake correction. The optical unit with a shake correction function includes a flexible printed board pulled out from the movable body in a +X direction and a board support part to support the flexible printed board at a position away from the movable body in an X-axis direction. The flexible printed board includes a first extending part pulled out from the movable body in the +X direction along an XY plane, a meandering part extending in a Y-axis direction while meandering in the X-axis direction after being curved in a Z-axis direction from an end of the first extending part in the Y-axis direction, and a second extending part extending in the +X direction along the XY plane in the +X direction of the meandering part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: NIDEC SANKYO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shogo Kasahara, Shinji Hatano
  • Publication number: 20220107549
    Abstract: An optical unit includes a movable body with an optical module; a fixed body; a gimbal mechanism having a hole portion through which at least a part of the optical module passes, and serving as a support mechanism that swingably supports the movable body with respect to the fixed body in a direction intersecting an optical axis direction as a pivot axis; and a drive mechanism having a coil and a magnet, and configured to move the movable body with respect to the fixed body. One of the coil and the magnet, as a movable body drive mechanism, is provided on a lateral portion of the movable body in a direction intersecting the optical axis direction. The hole portion is provided with a size such that at least a part of the movable body drive mechanism is visible through the hole portion when viewed from the optical axis direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2021
    Publication date: April 7, 2022
    Applicant: NIDEC SANKYO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shinji HATANO, Takeshi SUE, Shogo KASAHARA
  • Publication number: 20220099921
    Abstract: An optical unit includes: a reflection portion that reflects an incident light flux incident from outside on a reflection surface in a reflection direction from an incident direction toward an imaging element; a movable body having the reflection portion and a holder supporting the reflection portion; a fixed body; a rotation support mechanism that causes the movable body to rotate with respect to the fixed body with an axial direction as a rotation axis; and a drive mechanism having a magnet and a coil and causing the movable body to rotate with respect to the fixed body. The magnet is provided at a position not contacting the reflection portion in the holder and on a back side of the reflection surface, and has a parallel surface parallel to the reflection surface. The coil is provided at a position opposing the magnet in the fixed body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2021
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Applicant: NIDEC SANKYO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tsutomu ARAI, Shogo KASAHARA, Takeshi SUE
  • Publication number: 20210278688
    Abstract: An optical unit with shake-correction function is provided and includes: a movable body, a rotational support structure, a gimbal mechanism, a fixed body, and a rolling corrective-magnet drive structure. The rotational support structure, which supports the movable body to be rotatable around an optical axis, is rotatably supported by the gimbal mechanism around two axes intersecting with the optical axis. The rotational support structure includes a first annular groove provided on the movable body, a plate roller including a second annular groove facing the first annular groove, and multiple spherical objects inserted in the first annular groove and the second annular groove. The gimbal mechanism supports the plate roller to be rotatable. The rolling corrective-magnet drive structure, which rotates the movable body around the optical axis, includes a rolling corrective magnet on the movable body side, and two rolling corrective coils on the fixed body side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2021
    Publication date: September 9, 2021
    Applicant: NIDEC SANKYO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shinji HATANO, Shogo KASAHARA
  • Publication number: 20210278692
    Abstract: An optical unit with shake-correction function is provided and includes: a movable body, a rotational support structure, a gimbal mechanism, and a fixed body. The rotational support structure, which rotatably supports the movable body including a camera module around an optical axis, is rotatably supported by the gimbal mechanism around a first axis and a second axis. The rotational support structure includes a first annular groove provided on the movable body, a plate roller including a second annular groove facing the first annular groove in the direction of Z axis, and multiple spherical objects inserted into the first annular groove and the second annular groove. The gimbal mechanism rotatably supports the plate roller around a first axis. The movable body includes a first-side stopper part facing one of plate roller extension portions with a gap from one side in the circumferential direction around the Z axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2021
    Publication date: September 9, 2021
    Applicant: NIDEC SANKYO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shogo Kasahara, Shinji Hatano
  • Publication number: 20210278693
    Abstract: An optical unit with shake-correction function is provided. A rotational support structure for supporting a movable body including a camera module around an optical axis is rotatably supported around a first axis and a second axis by a gimbal mechanism. The rotational support structure includes: a first annular groove, provided in the movable body; a plate roller, having a second annular groove facing the first annular groove in a direction of a Z axis; and a plurality of spherical objects, configured to be inserted into the first annular groove and the second annular groove, and roll between the movable body and the plate roller. The gimbal mechanism is configured to rotatably support the plate roller around the first axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2021
    Publication date: September 9, 2021
    Applicant: NIDEC SANKYO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shogo KASAHARA, Shinji HATANO
  • Publication number: 20210278691
    Abstract: An optical unit with shake-correction function is provided and includes: a movable body, a rotational support structure, a gimbal mechanism, and a fixed body. The rotational support structure rotatably supports the movable body having a camera module around an optical axis. The rotational support structure is rotatably supported by the gimbal mechanism around a first axis and a second axis. The rotational support structure includes a first annular groove in the movable body, a plate roller having a second annular groove, multiple spherical objects to roll between the first annular groove and the second annular groove, and a pressurization structure configured to apply a force for bringing the first annular groove and the second annular groove close to each other in the direction of the optical axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2021
    Publication date: September 9, 2021
    Applicant: NIDEC SANKYO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shinji HATANO, Shogo KASAHARA
  • Publication number: 20210278689
    Abstract: An optical unit with a shake correction function rotates a movable body around X, Y, and Z axes to perform a shake correction. The optical unit with a shake correction function includes a flexible printed board pulled out from the movable body in a +X direction and a board support part to support the flexible printed board at a position away from the movable body in an X-axis direction. The flexible printed board includes a first extending part pulled out from the movable body in the +X direction along an XY plane, a meandering part extending in a Y-axis direction while meandering in the X-axis direction after being curved in a Z-axis direction from an end of the first extending part in the Y-axis direction, and a second extending part extending in the +X direction along the XY plane in the +X direction of the meandering part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2021
    Publication date: September 9, 2021
    Applicant: NIDEC SANKYO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shogo KASAHARA, Shinji HATANO