Patents Assigned to Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
  • VEHICLE HEADLIGHT
    Publication number: 20230098917
    Abstract: A vehicle headlight (1) includes a first lamp unit (10) that includes a light distribution pattern forming unit (12) which forms a predetermined light distribution pattern (P1) according to the light amount of the light emitted from a plurality of light emitting elements (13), and a second lamp unit (20), in which a light distribution pattern (PL) of a low beam is formed by light emitted from the first lamp unit (10) and light emitted from the second lamp unit (20), and in the light distribution pattern (PL) of the low beam, the elbow point (EP) is included in a predetermined region (CA) formed by light including the light from the first lamp unit (10), and a first side region (SA1) and a second side region (SA2) sandwiching the predetermined region (CA) are formed by the light emitted from the second lamp unit (20).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2021
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuma MOCHIZUKI, Atsushi SUGIMOTO, Tomoyuki OHNO, Takashi TERAYAMA
  • Lighting circuit for automotive lamp
    Patent number: 11617247
    Abstract: Multiple current sources are coupled in series to corresponding light-emitting elements. Switching converter supplies driving voltage to the multiple light-emitting elements and current sources. Pulse modulator generates pulse signal that transits to on level when the smallest from among voltages across both ends of the multiple current sources falls to bottom limit voltage, and subsequently transits to off level. Frequency stabilization circuit controls pulse modulator such that the frequency of pulse signal approaches its target. Dummy load circuit is configured to lower driving voltage in the enable state, to be set to the enable state when switching transistor continues to be off for a predetermined time, and to be set to the disable state in response to the next turn-on of the switching transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Norito Takahashi, Satoshi Kikuchi
  • Vehicle illumination lamp
    Patent number: 11614212
    Abstract: A vehicle headlight (1), which is one aspect of a vehicle illumination lamp, includes: light sources (52R, 52G, 52B), and diffraction gratings (54R, 54G, 54B) for diffracting light incident from the light sources (52R, 52G, 52B). The light diffracted by the diffraction gratings (54R, 54G, 54B) is irradiated in a predetermined light distribution pattern. A projection area (AR) to which are projected components (LCR, LCG, LCB) advancing and passing through the diffraction gratings (54R, 54G, 54B) among the light incident on the diffraction gratings (54R, 54G, 54B) is positioned below the light distribution pattern and within a range (RNG) in which a field of view of a driver of a vehicle is obstructed by the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Naoki Uchida, Masanori Kito
  • AUTOMOTIVE LAMP SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20230093633
    Abstract: A variable light distribution light source includes an array-type light-emitting device. The array-type light-emitting device includes a power supply terminal and multiple pixel circuits electrically coupled and spatially arranged in a matrix. A power supply circuit includes a power supply unit that supplies electric power to the array-type light-emitting device. An output of a DC/DC converter is coupled to the power supply terminal VDD of the array-type light-emitting device via an output terminal. A voltage setting circuit generates a controllable correction voltage. A feedback circuit generates a feedback voltage based on the correction voltage and the control target voltage that corresponds to the output voltage of the DC/DC converter, and supplies the feedback voltage to a feedback pin of a converter controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2022
    Publication date: March 23, 2023
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yu OTA, Masashi Kato, Shohei Yanagizu, Satoshi Kikuchi
  • LIGHT DISTRIBUTION CONTROL DEVICE, VEHICULAR LAMP SYSTEM, AND LIGHT DISTRIBUTION CONTROL METHOD
    Publication number: 20230088603
    Abstract: A light distribution control device controls a variable light distribution lamp based on images repeatedly obtained from an imaging device. The light distribution control device controls the variable light distribution lamp to form a light distribution pattern determined by a plurality of items of first light distribution pattern information based on the respective images, the first light distribution pattern information including, when the image includes a predetermined light spot, a light shielding part determined based on the light spot and not including a light shielding part when the image does not include a light spot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2022
    Publication date: March 23, 2023
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Takuya KATAOKA
  • Automotive lamp
    Patent number: 11612034
    Abstract: A lighting circuit turns on multiple semiconductor light sources. Multiple current sources are each coupled in series with a corresponding one from among the semiconductor light sources. A switching converter supplies a driving voltage VOUT across each of multiple series connection circuits formed of the multiple semiconductor light sources and the multiple current sources. A converter controller controls a switching transistor of the switching converter based on a relation between a voltage across one from among the multiple current sources and a reference voltage having a positive correlation with the temperature Tj.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Ichikawa, Satoshi Kikuchi, Ryosuke Matsuhana
  • VEHICLE HEADLAMP
    Publication number: 20230084809
    Abstract: A vehicle headlamp (1) includes a lamp fitting (10), and a control unit (CO) configured to, when a signal indicating detection of a preceding vehicle (80) is input, control the lamp fitting (10) such that a total luminous flux amount of light emitted to a first region (211) and a second region (212), and widths (W211 and W212) in the first region (211) and the second region (212) change according to a position of the preceding vehicle (80) with respect to a vehicle (100), in which the first region (211) overlaps a whole of a visual recognition unit of the preceding vehicle (80), and edges (212R and 212L) of the second region (212) on both sides in the left-right direction are located on a preceding vehicle (80) side with respect to edges (211R and 211L) of the first region (211) on both sides in the left-right direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2021
    Publication date: March 16, 2023
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yuta MARUYAMA
  • VEHICLE LAMP
    Publication number: 20230081252
    Abstract: The vehicle lamp includes a first lamp unit and a second lamp unit each including a first light source configured to emit an emission beam (visible light), a second light source configured to emit infrared light for sensing having a peak wavelength different from that of the first light source, and a light receiving unit configured to detect an intensity of reflected light of the infrared light emitted from the second light source. The light distribution control is performed on the light emitted from the first light source in accordance with the intensity of the reflected light detected by the light receiving unit, and the peak wavelength of the light emitted from the second light source of the first lamp unit and the peak wavelength of the light emitted from the second light source of the second lamp unit are different from each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2021
    Publication date: March 16, 2023
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Mitsuyuki Mochizuki
  • Vehicle display system and vehicle
    Patent number: 11597316
    Abstract: A display system provided in a vehicle includes: a road surface drawing device configured to emit a light pattern toward a road surface outside the vehicle; and a display control unit configured to control the road surface drawing device. The display control unit stops emission of the light pattern in response to detection of a light pattern emitted from a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toshihiko Kurebayashi, Masaaki Nakabayashi
  • Automotive lamp
    Patent number: 11602029
    Abstract: A lighting circuit turns on multiple semiconductor light sources. Multiple current sources are each coupled in series with a corresponding one from among the semiconductor light sources. A switching converter supplies a driving voltage VOUT across each of multiple series connection circuits formed of the multiple semiconductor light sources and the multiple current sources. A converter controller controls a switching transistor of the switching converter based on a relation between a voltage across one from among the multiple current sources and a reference voltage having a positive correlation with the temperature Tj.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Ichikawa, Satoshi Kikuchi, Ryosuke Matsuhana
  • VEHICLE LIGHT FITTING, RADAR MODULE, RADAR, AND VEHICLE
    Publication number: 20230062751
    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: September 9, 2020
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Katsurada, Yuichi Watano, Yuta Maruyama, Osamu Kuboyama, Akihito Horikawa, Kosei Kikuchi
  • IMAGE DISPLAY DEVICE
    Publication number: 20230069453
    Abstract: An image display device has a first image projection unit configured to emit light for forming a first image [RAU], an image forming optical unit configured to form the first image at a first distance and cause the first image to be incident on a viewpoint of a user, and a rotation support unit configured to rotatably hold the image forming optical unit with a fulcrum point as a rotation center.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2021
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yoichi Ogata
  • Vehicle communication system, vehicle module, front composite module, and vehicle lamp
    Patent number: 11584293
    Abstract: A vehicle communication system installed in a vehicle includes: a lamp for illumination, a display or signal; a display that is configured by a planar light emitter and has an information display function; and a control unit that is capable of controlling turning-on of the lamp and of the display. The control unit is configured to control the lamp and the display in a linked manner, and present vehicle information indicating a condition of the vehicle by combining light emission of the lamp with information display of the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kenji Nobuhara, Yosuke Sakauchi, Hiroya Koizumi
  • Vehicle display system and vehicle
    Patent number: 11584298
    Abstract: A vehicle display system is provided in a vehicle. The vehicle display system includes a first display device and a second display device. The first display device is configured to emit a light pattern toward a road surface outside the vehicle. The second display device is located inside the vehicle and is configured to display an image indicating the light pattern as viewed from above.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Naoki Takii, Misako Kamiya
  • LIGHTING CIRCUIT AND VEHICULAR DIRECTION INDICATOR LAMP
    Publication number: 20230045032
    Abstract: A linear regulator (40) supplies a first drive current (I1) to a first light source (24) in a first period in which the first light source (24) is turned on and a second light source (25) is not turned on, and in a second period in which the first light source (24) and the second light source (25) are turned on, and stops the supply of the first drive current (I1) in a third period in which the first light source (24) and the second light source (25) are turned off. A switching regulator (41) supplies a second drive current (I2) to the second light source (25) in the second period, and stops the supply of the second drive current (I2) in the third period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2021
    Publication date: February 9, 2023
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinji OHTA, Susumu OGO
  • Optical unit
    Patent number: 11573000
    Abstract: An optical unit includes a first light source, a second light source, a rotary reflector that rotates about an axis of rotation while reflecting first light emitted from the first light source, and a projection lens that projects the first light reflected by the rotary reflector into a light illuminating direction of the optical unit to form a first light distribution pattern. The second light source is disposed such that second light emitted from the second light source enters the projection lens without being reflected by the rotary reflector. The projection lens is configured to project the second light into the light illuminating direction of the optical unit to form a second light distribution pattern such that the second light distribution pattern overlaps an end portion of the first light distribution pattern in a right-left direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazutoshi Sakurai, Hidetada Tanaka
  • Resin molded product and vehicle part
    Patent number: 11572999
    Abstract: A resin molded product includes: a laminated body including a transparent resin layer that constitutes a transparent resin substrate molded in a predetermined shape, and a metal evaporation film formed on a surface of the transparent resin layer; and a colored layer formed on one surface of the laminated body and configured to transmit infrared rays. The laminated body includes a region where the metal evaporation film is removed by an irradiation with an infrared laser beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Susumu Serizawa, Yasuhiro Kameoka
  • Vehicle lamp
    Patent number: 11572998
    Abstract: A vehicle lamp includes a lamp unit which in turn includes a first lamp unit and a second lamp unit each provided with a light transmitting member and is configured to irradiate light emitted from a light emitting element toward a front of the vehicle lamp through the light transmitting member. In each of the first and second lamp units, the light transmitting member includes a direct light controller that directly emits light incident from the light emitting element onto the light transmitting member, toward the front of the vehicle lamp, and a total reflection controller that totally reflects the light and then emits the light toward the front of the vehicle lamp. A total reflection surface of the total reflection controller is divided into a plurality of reflection regions in a circumferential direction around the direct light controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Akinori Matsumoto
  • SENSOR UNIT
    Publication number: 20230031726
    Abstract: A sensor unit to be mounted on a vehicle, the sensor unit includes: a LiDAR; a housing configured to accommodate the LiDAR; and a cleaner attached to the housing and including a first nozzle configured to jet air at a first surface to be cleaned corresponding to the LiDAR and a second nozzle configured to jet a cleaning liquid at the first surface to be cleaned. The first nozzle is disposed above the second nozzle, a jetting direction of the air from the first nozzle is a direction that is parallel to a horizontal direction or a direction that is more downward-trending than the horizontal direction, and a jetting direction of the cleaning liquid from the second nozzle is a direction that is more upward-trending than the horizontal direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2020
    Publication date: February 2, 2023
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Akinobu KUBOTA, Taishi HACHIYA
  • Wall lamp
    Patent number: 11566761
    Abstract: A wall lamp (1) is fixed to both an airframe (2) of an aircraft and a wall surface sheet (3) covering the airframe (2). The wall lamp (1) includes a light source (30), a light source holder (50) that is attached to the wall surface sheet (3) and holds the light source (30), and an attachment portion (60) that is attached to the light source holder (50) and the airframe (2). The attachment portion (60) is formed of a material having a melting point lower than that of a material forming the light source holder (50).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tadayuki Yasukura, Tomoyuki Mukai