Patents by Inventor Yasushi Noyori
Yasushi Noyori 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).
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Patent number: 10899269Abstract: A common lamp driving circuit is configured to supply current. A switching circuit is configured to selectively supply the current to either a first lamp or a second lamp that are of different types. A processor is configured to control the switching circuit such that a state in which the current is supplied to the first lamp and a state in which the current is supplied to the second lamp are repeated.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 2019Date of Patent: January 26, 2021Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventors: Toshikazu Tomono, Yasushi Noyori
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Publication number: 20200148096Abstract: A common lamp driving circuit is configured to supply current. A switching circuit is configured to selectively supply the current to either a first lamp or a second lamp that are of different types. A processor is configured to control the switching circuit such that a state in which the current is supplied to the first lamp and a state in which the current is supplied to the second lamp are repeated.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 12, 2019Publication date: May 14, 2020Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventors: Toshikazu Tomono, Yasushi Noyori
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Patent number: 10470273Abstract: A light emission drive device includes a current supply unit, which supplies driving current to a light emitting element, which performs light emission of a first function and light emission of a second function, a controller, which controls the driving current so as to have a current value depending on a dimming voltage, and a dimming voltage generator, which generates the dimming voltage. The dimming voltage generator applies a voltage, obtained according to the resistance value of a connected external resistor, to a voltage buffer, and controls the output voltage of the voltage buffer according to whether to perform light emission of any one of the first function and the second function so as to generate the dimming voltage.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2018Date of Patent: November 5, 2019Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kotaro Matsui, Yasushi Noyori
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Patent number: 10375783Abstract: Provided is a lighting circuit that drives a first light source and a second light source connected in series with each other. A bypass switch is provided in parallel with the second light source. A constant current circuit is connected in parallel with one of the first light source and the second light source. A drive circuit supplies a drive current to a serially-connected circuit of the first light source and the second light source.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2017Date of Patent: August 6, 2019Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kotaro Matsui, Yasushi Noyori, Shinji Ohta
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Publication number: 20180343722Abstract: A light emission drive device includes a current supply unit, which supplies driving current to a light emitting element, which performs light emission of a first function and light emission of a second function, a controller, which controls the driving current so as to have a current value depending on a dimming voltage, and a dimming voltage generator, which generates the dimming voltage. The dimming voltage generator applies a voltage, obtained according to the resistance value of a connected external resistor, to a voltage buffer, and controls the output voltage of the voltage buffer according to whether to perform light emission of any one of the first function and the second function so as to generate the dimming voltage.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 17, 2018Publication date: November 29, 2018Inventors: Kotaro Matsui, Yasushi Noyori
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Publication number: 20180049286Abstract: Provided is a lighting circuit that drives a first light source and a second light source connected in series with each other. A bypass switch is provided in parallel with the second light source. A constant current circuit is connected in parallel with one of the first light source and the second light source. A drive circuit supplies a drive current to a serially-connected circuit of the first light source and the second light source.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 26, 2017Publication date: February 15, 2018Inventors: Kotaro Matsui, Yasushi Noyori, Shinji Ohta
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Patent number: 8482204Abstract: A vehicle lamp includes: an infrared light semiconductor light source which emits infrared light; a white light semiconductor light source which emits white light; and a control unit including: a current supply circuit which supplies a light source driving current to each of the infrared light semiconductor light source and the white light semiconductor light source; and a light source abnormality detecting unit which detects abnormality of the white light semiconductor light source and stops a driving operation of the infrared light semiconductor light source when the abnormality is detected.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2010Date of Patent: July 9, 2013Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yasushi Noyori, Takayoshi Kitagawa
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Patent number: 8188667Abstract: A lighting device and a lighting system for a vehicle are provided. The lighting device includes a signal detecting portion which receives a light control direction signal; a control portion which controls a light source according to the light control direction signal; and a lighting state signal generating portion which outputs a lighting state signal based on the light control direction signal received by the signal detecting portion. The lighting system includes the lighting device and a light source.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2009Date of Patent: May 29, 2012Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventor: Yasushi Noyori
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Patent number: 8097976Abstract: A lighting controller has current driving means which include a shunt resistor connected in series to each of multiple LEDs to detect an LED driving current, a PMOS transistor connected to the positive electrode side of each of the LEDs, and an amplifier for sending an output according to the result of comparison between the respectively detected driving current values and a reference value, and which subject each of the PMOS transistors to ON/OFF operation. Control means includes a Zener diode ZD1 and a Zener diode ZD2 for detecting an abnormality occurring in the current driving means and for sending the abnormality detection result. The control means controls the PMOS transistor to be turned OFF after elapse of a predetermined time upon receipt of the abnormality detection result.Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 2009Date of Patent: January 17, 2012Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventors: Takayoshi Kitagawa, Yasushi Noyori, Masayasu Ito
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Patent number: 7999478Abstract: A vehicle headlight device includes a lower beam unit for illuminating a lower beam, an upper beam/infrared ray switching unit for switching between illuminating an upper beam and an infrared ray, a low-beam abnormality detecting circuit for detecting an abnormality of the lower beam unit, a power-supply abnormality detecting circuit for detecting an abnormality of a power supply of the vehicle headlight, and a control circuit that inhibits the upper beam/infrared ray switching unit from illuminating the infrared ray when an abnormality is detected by either the low-beam abnormality detecting circuit or the power-supply abnormality detecting circuit.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 2008Date of Patent: August 16, 2011Assignee: Koita Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yasushi Noyori, Takayoshi Kitagawa
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Patent number: 7964988Abstract: A lighting controller of a lighting device for a vehicle includes a switching regulator for supplying a driving current to first to Nth (N is an integer of one or more) semiconductor light sources; first to Nth current driving portions; and a control portion. The first to Nth current driving portions include first to Nth current detecting portions connected in series to the semiconductor light sources and serving to detect the driving current respectively, first to Nth switching portions connected to positive electrode sides of the semiconductor light sources respectively, and first to Nth comparing portions for transmitting a comparing output corresponding to a result of a comparison, which is obtained by comparing values of the driving currents detected by the current detecting portions with a predetermined threshold respectively. The first to Nth current driving portions serve to carry out operations of the switching portions corresponding to the comparing output respectively.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2008Date of Patent: June 21, 2011Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventors: Takayoshi Kitagawa, Masayasu Ito, Yasushi Noyori
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Patent number: 7964987Abstract: A light emitting apparatus includes a light source block with semiconductor light sources connected in series to each other. A resistor is connected in parallel with one or more of the semiconductor light sources and is connected to two detecting target portions in portions linked to respective electrodes of the semiconductor light sources. A ground fault detecting circuit is connected to one of the two detecting target portions disposed on a ground potential side. The light source block has one of its terminals connected to a power supply and its other terminal grounded. By detecting a change in the voltage through the ground fault detecting circuit, a ground fault can be detected.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2008Date of Patent: June 21, 2011Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kouichi Isobe, Yasushi Noyori, Fuminori Shiotsu
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Patent number: 7888876Abstract: A lighting control device for a vehicle lighting device is arranged so that loads applied to switching regulators are about equal when driving multiple semiconductor light sources (e.g., LEDs) as multifunctional lamps through the switching regulators. The LEDs are divided into two groups. The LEDs belonging to the first group are driven to be turned ON through a first switching regulator and the LEDs belonging to the second group are driven to be turned ON through a second switching regulator. Maximum values of power to be supplied to the LEDs are set to be about equal to each other, and loads to be applied to the switching regulators are about equal to each other.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 2008Date of Patent: February 15, 2011Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventors: Takayoshi Kitagawa, Toru Nakayama, Yasushi Noyori
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Publication number: 20100270927Abstract: A vehicle lamp includes: an infrared light semiconductor light source which emits infrared light; a white light semiconductor light source which emits white light; and a control unit including: a current supply circuit which supplies a light source driving current to each of the infrared light semiconductor light source and the white light semiconductor light source; and a light source abnormality detecting unit which detects abnormality of the white light semiconductor light source and stops a driving operation of the infrared light semiconductor light source when the abnormality is detected.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 14, 2010Publication date: October 28, 2010Applicant: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yasushi Noyori, Takayoshi Kitagawa
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Publication number: 20090212706Abstract: A lighting device and a lighting system for a vehicle are provided. The lighting device includes a signal detecting portion which receives a light control direction signal; a control portion which controls a light source according to the light control direction signal; and a lighting state signal generating portion which outputs a lighting state signal based on the light control direction signal received by the signal detecting portion. The lighting system includes the lighting device and a light source.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 26, 2009Publication date: August 27, 2009Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventor: Yasushi Noyori
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Publication number: 20090200963Abstract: A lighting controller has current driving means which include a shunt resistor connected in series to each of multiple LEDs to detect an LED driving current, a PMOS transistor connected to the positive electrode side of each of the LEDs, and an amplifier for sending an output according to the result of comparison between the respectively detected driving current values and a reference value, and which subject each of the PMOS transistors to ON/OFF operation. Control means includes a Zener diode ZD1 and a Zener diode ZD2 for detecting an abnormality occurring in the current driving means and for sending the abnormality detection result. The control means controls the PMOS transistor to be turned OFF after elapse of a predetermined time upon receipt of the abnormality detection result.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 3, 2009Publication date: August 13, 2009Applicant: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventors: Takayoshi Kitagawa, Yasushi Noyori, Masayasu Ito
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Publication number: 20090153059Abstract: A lighting controller of a lighting device for a vehicle includes a switching regulator for supplying a driving current to first to Nth (N is an integer of one or more) semiconductor light sources; first to Nth current driving portions; and a control portion. The first to Nth current driving portions include first to Nth current detecting portions connected in series to the semiconductor light sources and serving to detect the driving current respectively, first to Nth switching portions connected to positive electrode sides of the semiconductor light sources respectively, and first to Nth comparing portions for transmitting a comparing output corresponding to a result of a comparison, which is obtained by comparing values of the driving currents detected by the current detecting portions with a predetermined threshold respectively. The first to Nth current driving portions serve to carry out operations of the switching portions corresponding to the comparing output respectively.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 15, 2008Publication date: June 18, 2009Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventors: Takayoshi Kitagawa, Masayasu Ito, Yasushi Noyori
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Publication number: 20090026958Abstract: A lighting control device for a vehicle lighting device is arranged so that loads applied to switching regulators are about equal when driving multiple semiconductor light sources (e.g., LEDs) as multifunctional lamps through the switching regulators. The LEDs are divided into two groups. The LEDs belonging to the first group are driven to be turned ON through a first switching regulator and the LEDs belonging to the second group are driven to be turned ON through a second switching regulator. Maximum values of power to be supplied to the LEDs are set to be about equal to each other, and loads to be applied to the switching regulators are about equal to each other.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 21, 2008Publication date: January 29, 2009Applicant: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventors: Takayoshi Kitagawa, Toru Nakayama, Yasushi Noyori
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Publication number: 20080259625Abstract: A vehicle headlight device includes a lower beam unit for illuminating a lower beam, an upper beam/infrared ray switching unit for switching between illuminating an upper beam and an infrared ray, a low-beam abnormality detecting circuit for detecting an abnormality of the lower beam unit, a power-supply abnormality detecting circuit for detecting an abnormality of a power supply of the vehicle headlight, and a control circuit that inhibits the upper beam/infrared ray switching unit from illuminating the infrared ray when an abnormality is detected by either the low-beam abnormality detecting circuit or the power-supply abnormality detecting circuit.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 17, 2008Publication date: October 23, 2008Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventors: Yasushi Noyori, Takayoshi Kitagawa
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Publication number: 20080238344Abstract: A light emitting apparatus includes a light source block with semiconductor light sources connected in series to each other. A resistor is connected in parallel with one or more of the semiconductor light sources and is connected to two detecting target portions in portions linked to respective electrodes of the semiconductor light sources. A ground fault detecting circuit is connected to one of the two detecting target portions disposed on a ground potential side. The light source block has one of its terminals connected to a power supply and its other terminal grounded. By detecting a change in the voltage through the ground fault detecting circuit, a ground fault can be detected.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 28, 2008Publication date: October 2, 2008Applicant: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kouichi Isobe, Yasushi Noyori, Fuminori Shiotsu