Patents by Inventor Yoshihiro Horikawa

Yoshihiro Horikawa 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: 20240109473
    Abstract: A left vehicle lamp (2L) includes a lamp housing (14), a lamp cover (12) that covers an opening of the lamp housing (14), an illumination unit (3, 4) that is disposed inside a lamp chamber (S) formed by the lamp housing (14) and the lamp power bar (12), a radar (5) configured to acquire a radar data indicating a surrounding environment of a vehicle by emitting radio waves toward the outside of the vehicle, and a light guide member (6) that is disposed in a manner of facing the radar (5) so as to hide at least a part of the radar (5) from the outside of the vehicle and is configured to transmit radio waves emitted from the radar (5). The radar (5) is disposed outside the housing (S). The light guide member (6) is configured to emit light toward the outside of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2023
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Katsurada, Yuta Maruyama, Osamu Kuboyama, Akihito Horikawa, Kosei Kikuchi, Yuichi Watano
  • Patent number: 9720301
    Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to make it possible to output stable light by optimizing the wavelength conversion efficiency in a wavelength conversion element without employing an optical detection device such as a photo diode in a laser light source device. A fundamental light wave emitted from a semiconductor laser (2) is wavelength converted by a wavelength conversion element (5) and is emitted therefrom. A lighting circuit (20) supplies electric power for the aforementioned semiconductor laser (2) to turn on the semiconductor laser (2). A control unit (21) controls the operation of the device while controlling the amount of power supplied to a heater means (7) such that the wavelength conversion element (5) reaches a temperature at which optimum wavelength conversion efficiency is acquired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: USHIO DENKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Nobuhiko Sugihara, Kentaro Fujita, Takanori Samejima, Yoshihiro Horikawa
  • Patent number: 9166360
    Abstract: The fundamental wave light emitted from a semiconductor laser is converted in wavelength by a wavelength conversion element and emitted therefrom. A lighting circuit lights the semiconductor laser, and a temperature control unit 21b controls the amount of electric power supply to a heater so that the temperature of the wavelength conversion element turns into temperature at which the wavelength conversion efficiency thereof becomes optimal. When a state where the amount of electric power supply of the heater is lower limit or below continues for a predetermined period or longer, the hang-up suppressing unit 21c, or when duration time in a state where the temperature of the wavelength conversion element is higher than the control target temperature becomes higher than a constant value, laser lighting current is decreased by a preset amount, thereby recovery from a high temperature hang-up state performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: USHIO DENKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Horikawa, Takayuki Kozakura, Tetsuya Ozawa, Toru Nishikubo, Takanori Samejima, Kazuhiro Yoshida
  • Patent number: 8882275
    Abstract: In a light source device, in each division of an image frame, two or more of the color lights X, Y and Z (e.g., red, green and blue) can be projected simultaneously. Each of the color lights X, Y and Z is divided into two in terms of time so that synthesized light of one group of division color lights enters a first spatial modulation element. Synthesized light of another group of division color lights enters a second spatial modulation element, whereby gradation of each color light in each of the first and second spatial modulation elements is controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Ushio Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akihiko Sugitani, Kiyoyuki Kabuki, Yoshihiro Horikawa, Yoshio Okazaki
  • Publication number: 20140285872
    Abstract: The fundamental wave light emitted from a semiconductor laser is converted in wavelength by a wavelength conversion element and emitted therefrom. A lightning circuit lights the semiconductor laser, and a temperature control unit 21b controls the amount of electric power supply to a heater so that the temperature of the wavelength conversion element turns into temperature at which the wavelength conversion efficiency thereof becomes optimal. When a state where the amount of electric power supply of the heater is lower limit or below continues for a predetermined period or longer, the hang-up suppressing unit 21c, or when duration time in a state where the temperature of the wavelength conversion element is higher than the control target temperature becomes higher than a constant value, laser lighting current is decreased by a preset amount, thereby recovery from a high temperature hang-up state performed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2014
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Applicant: USHIO DENKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshihiro HORIKAWA, Takayuki KOZAKURA, Tetsuya OZAWA, Toru NISHIKUBO, Takanori SAMEJIMA, Kazuhiro YOSHIDA
  • Publication number: 20140233090
    Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to make it possible to output stable light by optimizing the wavelength conversion efficiency in a wavelength conversion element without employing an optical detection device such as a photo diode in a laser light source device. A fundamental light wave emitted from a semiconductor laser (2) is wavelength converted by a wavelength conversion element (5) and is emitted therefrom. A lighting circuit (20) supplies electric power for the aforementioned semiconductor laser (2) to turn on the semiconductor laser (2). A control unit (21) controls the operation of the device while controlling the amount of power supplied to a heater means (7) such that the wavelength conversion element (5) reaches a temperature at which optimum wavelength conversion efficiency is acquired.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2012
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: USHIO DENKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Nobuhiko Sugihara, Kentaro Fujita, Takanori Samejima, Yoshihiro Horikawa
  • Patent number: 8668339
    Abstract: In a light source device, that obtains high light usage efficiency by projecting simultaneously two or more of three primary color lights X, Y and Z. Moreover, each color light X, Y and Z is divided into two in terms of time so that p-wave and s-wave linear polarization lights are formed, such that the synthesized light of the p-wave linear polarization lights enters a first spatial modulation element and the synthesized light of the s-wave linear polarization lights enters a second spatial modulation element to permit gradation control of each color light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Ushio Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kiyoyuki Kabuki, Akihiko Sugitani, Yoshihiro Horikawa, Yoshio Okazaki
  • Publication number: 20130126930
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a light source device for converting excited light into long-wavelength light having a longer wavelength than the excited light. The light source includes: an excited light source emitting excited light; a wavelength conversion member including a light transmission plate and a wavelength conversion layer formed on the light transmission plate and receiving the excited light from the excited light source and emitting long-wavelength light having a longer wavelength than the excited light, the excited light emitted from the excited light source being incident upon one side of the wavelength conversion layer; a light reflection member provided at one side of the wavelength conversion member and including an excited light transmission window transmitting the excited light; and a filter member provided at the other side of the wavelength conversion member and reflecting the excited light and transmitting the long-wavelength light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2011
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Applicant: Ushio Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: kiyoyuki Kabuki, Yoshihiro Horikawa, Kazuhiro Yoshida
  • Publication number: 20120262676
    Abstract: In a light source device, in each division of an image frame, two or more of the color lights X, Y and Z (e.g., red, green and blue) can be projected simultaneously. Each of the color lights X, Y and Z is divided into two in terms of time so that synthesized light of one group of division color lights enters a first spatial modulation element. Synthesized light of another group of division color lights enters a second spatial modulation element, whereby gradation of each color light in each of the first and second spatial modulation elements is controlled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2012
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Applicant: Ushio Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akihiko Sugitani, Kiyoyuki Kabuki, Yoshihiro Horikawa, Yoshio Okazaki
  • Publication number: 20120262675
    Abstract: In a light source device, that obtains high light usage efficiency by projecting simultaneously two or more of three primary color lights X, Y and Z. Moreover, each color light X, Y and Z is divided into two in terms of time so that p-wave and s-wave linear polarization lights are formed, such that the synthesized light of the p-wave linear polarization lights enters a first spatial modulation element and the synthesized light of the s-wave linear polarization lights enters a second spatial modulation element to permit gradation control of each color light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2012
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Applicant: USHIO DENKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kiyoyuki Kabuki, Akihiko Sugitani, Yoshihiro Horikawa, Yoshio Okazaki
  • Patent number: 7845805
    Abstract: A discharge lamp lighting apparatus for lighting a discharge lamp, comprises an inverter which reverses a polarity of an output voltage and applies alternating voltage to the discharge lamp, and an inverter control circuit which generates an inverter control signal defining a polarity reversal operation of the inverter, based on a polarity reversal timing signal, wherein when the number of polarity reversals in one cycle of the polarity reversal timing signal is even, the inverter control circuit intermittently performs a first operation in which successive pulse-like part of the polarity reversal operation based on the polarity reversal timing signal is disregarded by odd number of times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Ushio Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masashi Okamoto, Takanori Samejima, Akihiko Sugitani, Yoshihiro Horikawa
  • Patent number: 7800307
    Abstract: An electrode for an extra-high pressure discharge lamp, comprises large diameter portion which is symmetrical with respect to an axis of the electrode, a small diameter portion connected to the large diameter portion, wherein the large diameter portion is connected to the small diameter portion through an outer surface portion of the electrode, wherein a stripe lines like pattern portion, extending along an electrode axis direction, is formed on a portion to be brought in contact with glass of a lamp, and wherein unevenness is formed over an entire circumference of the electrode in a cross sectional view of the electrode taken along a direction perpendicular to the electrode axis direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Ushio Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takuya Tsukamoto, Yoshihiro Horikawa
  • Patent number: 7588352
    Abstract: Optical apparatus with a discharge lamp and a concave reflecting mirror, the concave reflecting mirror has a front elliptical reflecting mirror portion, a middle spherical reflecting mirror portion, and a rear elliptical reflecting mirror portion; the relationship between an angle ? between a virtual tangential line VTL, which runs from the center position between the electrodes to the outer surface of the electrode positioned towards the neck of the concave reflecting mirror, and the beam axis Z and an angle ? between a virtual straight line VSL, which runs from the center position between the electrodes to the boundary position between the middle spherical reflecting mirror portion and the rear elliptical reflecting mirror portion, and the beam axis Z is ?>?; and the relationship between the volume V of the electrode E1 (mm3) and the wattage (P) meets the condition, 0.07×EXP(0.014×P)<V.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Assignee: Ushiodenki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takahiro Toma, Yoshihiro Horikawa, Toru Kontani
  • Publication number: 20080315771
    Abstract: An electrode for an extra-high pressure discharge lamp, comprises large diameter portion which is symmetrical with respect to an axis of the electrode, a small diameter portion connected to the large diameter portion, wherein the large diameter portion is connected to the small diameter portion through an outer surface portion of the electrode, wherein a stripe lines like pattern portion, extending along an electrode axis direction, is formed on a portion to be brought in contact with glass of a lamp, and wherein unevenness is formed over an entire circumference of the electrode in a cross sectional view of the electrode taken along a direction perpendicular to the electrode axis direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2008
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Applicant: USHIO DENKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takuya Tsukamoto, Yoshihiro Horikawa
  • Patent number: 7468584
    Abstract: Process for producing a discharge lamp having a silica discharge vessel with an emission space in which there is a pair of electrodes at least 0.15 mg/mm3 of mercury, argon (Ar), and halogen by measuring the relation b/a1 between the emission intensity a1 of argon (Ar) at a wavelength of 668 nm and the emission intensity b of OH radicals at a wavelength of 309 nm in a state of glow discharge of the discharge lamp; supplying hydrogen into the discharge vessel of the discharge lamp; measuring the relation c/a2 between the emission intensity a2 of argon (Ar) at a wavelength of 668 nm and the emission intensity c of OH radicals at a wavelength of 309 nm in the state of glow discharge of the discharge lamp; and fixing the difference c/a2?b/a1 at a value in the range of 0.001 to 15.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2008
    Assignee: Ushiodenki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takuya Tsukamoto, Noriko Nishiaki, Yoshihiro Horikawa, Senga Takehito
  • Publication number: 20080205063
    Abstract: To provide an optical apparatus that can use a lamp's radiant energy efficiently and that is suited to demands for smaller size.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2008
    Publication date: August 28, 2008
    Applicant: USHIODENKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takahiro TOMA, Yoshihiro HORIKAWA, Toru KONTANI
  • Publication number: 20080137041
    Abstract: A discharge lamp lighting apparatus for lighting a discharge lamp, comprises an inverter which reverses a polarity of an output voltage and applies alternating voltage to the discharge lamp, and an inverter control circuit which generates an inverter control signal defining a polarity reversal operation of the inverter, based on a polarity reversal timing signal, wherein when the number of polarity reversals in one cycle of the polarity reversal timing signal is even, the inverter control circuit intermittently performs a first operation in which successive pulse-like part of the polarity reversal operation based on the polarity reversal timing signal is disregarded by odd number of times.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2007
    Publication date: June 12, 2008
    Applicant: USHIO DENKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masashi Okamoto, Takanori Samejima, Akihiko Sugitani, Yoshihiro Horikawa
  • Patent number: 7211956
    Abstract: A short-arc ultra-high pressure mercury lamp in which the change in the shape of the electrodes can be suppressed and a stable arc discharge can always be produced is achieved in an arrangement in which, in the silica glass arc tube, there is a pair of opposed electrodes with a distance between them of at most 2 mm and the tube is filled with at least 0.15 mg/mm3 of mercury, a rare gas, and a halogen in the range from 1×10?6 ?mole/mm3 to 1×10?2 ?mole/mm3, by at least one of the electrodes having a melt part formed toward the electrode tip by winding the electrode rod with a coil and by melting the part of the coil oriented towards the electrode tip at least in the area of its surface. A part of the coil located away from the electrode tip is unmelted and the base point side area of the coil facing away from the electrode tip is rounded and does not have sharp edges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: Ushiodenki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takuya Tukamoto, Yoshihiro Horikawa, Yoshikazu Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20060220562
    Abstract: Process for producing a discharge lamp having a silica discharge vessel with an emission space in which there is a pair of electrodes at least 0.15 mg/mm3 of mercury, argon (Ar), and halogen by measuring the relation b/a1 between the emission intensity a1 of argon (Ar) at a wavelength of 668 nm and the emission intensity b of OH radicals at a wavelength of 309 nm in a state of glow discharge of the discharge lamp; supplying hydrogen into the discharge vessel of the discharge lamp; measuring the relation c/a2 between the emission intensity a2 of argon (Ar) at a wavelength of 668 nm and the emission intensity c of OH radicals at a wavelength of 309 nm in the state of glow discharge of the discharge lamp; and fixing the difference c/a2?b/a1 at a value in the range of 0.001 to 15.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2006
    Publication date: October 5, 2006
    Applicant: Ushiodenki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takuya Tsukamoto, Noriko Nishiaki, Yoshihiro Horikawa, Senga Takehito
  • Patent number: 7057346
    Abstract: An ultra-high pressure mercury lamp is provided in which the disadvantage caused by projections formed on the electrode tips during operation can be eliminated. This is achieved by an arrangement in which a silica glass arc tube, filled with at least 0.15 mg/mm3 of mercury, rare gas and halogen in the range from 10?6 ?mole/mm3 to 10?2 ?mole/mm3, includes a pair of opposed electrodes spaced a distance of at most 2 mm. Additionally, at least one of the electrodes includes a part with a greater diameter which is formed on the electrode shaft using a melting process, a projection which is formed by the tip of the electrode shaft, and a part with a decreasing diameter which extends from the part with the greater diameter in the direction toward the projection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: Ushiodenki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takuya Tukamoto, Yoshihiro Horikawa