Patents by Inventor Akihiko Masuki

Akihiko Masuki 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: 11644638
    Abstract: A lens apparatus includes a first lens holder held by a first cam follower and movable in an optical axis direction, a second lens holder held by a second cam follower and movable in the optical axis direction, and a biasing member provided between the first lens holder and the second lens holder. The biasing member is disposed at the same phase as that of at least one of the first cam follower and the second cam follower and closer to an optical axis than the at least one when viewed from the optical axis direction, and overlaps the at least one in the optical axis direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Akihiko Masuki, Kenta Takai
  • Publication number: 20210033817
    Abstract: A lens apparatus includes a first lens holder held by a first cam follower and movable in an optical axis direction, a second lens holder held by a second cam follower and movable in the optical axis direction, and a biasing member provided between the first lens holder and the second lens holder. The biasing member is disposed at the same phase as that of at least one of the first cam follower and the second cam follower and closer to an optical axis than the at least one when viewed from the optical axis direction, and overlaps the at least one in the optical axis direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2020
    Publication date: February 4, 2021
    Inventors: Akihiko Masuki, Kenta Takai
  • Patent number: 10690881
    Abstract: The electronic apparatus includes a base member, a rotatable operation member, a clicking member rotatable together with the rotatable operation member, an exterior member disposed between the base and rotatable operation members, a switching operation member provided with an operation knob and movable between first and second positions, a pressing member and a contact, member both held by the base member, the pressing member being biased toward the clicking member, the contact member being biased toward the switching operation member to contact the switching operation member, and a stopper member movable together with the switching operation member. When the switching operation member is located at the first position, the pressing member contacts the concave and convex portions. When the switching operation member is located at the second position, the pressing member contacts the stopper member and held away from the concave and convex portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Akihiko Masuki
  • Patent number: 10652460
    Abstract: The image-capturing apparatus includes an image-capturing device configured to perform image capturing through multiple magnification-variable optical systems, which face in mutually different directions, to acquire multiple images to be continuously joined together, a controller configured to control magnification-varying operations of the respective magnification-variable optical systems to set field angles thereof, a main body holding the multiple magnification-variable optical systems, and a protrusion detector configured to detect a protruding member. The controller is configured to perform, depending on a detection result of the protrusion detector, a field angle setting process for setting the field angles of the respective magnification-variable optical systems such that the detected protruding member is not included in all the field angles of the magnification-variable optical systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Akihiko Masuki
  • Publication number: 20180288322
    Abstract: The image-capturing apparatus includes an image-capturing device configured to perform image capturing through multiple magnification-variable optical systems to acquire multiple images to be continuously joined together, and a controller configured to control magnification-varying operations of the respective magnification-variable optical systems. The controller is configured to, when a first magnification-variable optical system of the multiple magnification-variable optical systems performs the magnification-varying operation to a telephoto side, cause a second magnification-variable optical system thereof to perform the magnification-varying operation to a wide-angle side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2018
    Publication date: October 4, 2018
    Inventor: Akihiko Masuki
  • Publication number: 20180288323
    Abstract: The image-capturing apparatus includes an image-capturing device configured to perform image capturing through multiple magnification-variable optical systems, which face in mutually different directions, to acquire multiple images to be continuously joined together, a controller configured to control magnification-varying operations of the respective magnification-variable optical systems to set field angles thereof, a main body holding the multiple magnification-variable optical systems, and a protrusion detector configured to detect a protruding member. The controller is configured to perform, depending on a detection result of the protrusion detector, a field angle setting process for setting the field angles of the respective magnification-variable optical systems such that the detected protruding member is not included in all the field angles of the magnification-variable optical systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2018
    Publication date: October 4, 2018
    Inventor: Akihiko Masuki
  • Publication number: 20180217354
    Abstract: The electronic apparatus includes a base member, a rotatable operation member, a clicking member rotatable together with the rotatable operation member, an exterior member disposed between the base and rotatable operation members, a switching operation member provided with an operation knob and movable between first and second positions, a pressing member and a contact, member both held by the base member, the pressing member being biased toward the clicking member, the contact member being biased toward the switching operation member to contact the switching operation member, and a stopper member movable together with the switching operation member. When the switching operation member is located at the first position, the pressing member contacts the concave and convex portions. When the switching operation member is located at the second position, the pressing member contacts the stopper member and held away from the concave and convex portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2018
    Publication date: August 2, 2018
    Inventor: Akihiko Masuki
  • Patent number: 9958637
    Abstract: An optical device whose impact resistance against an impact improved without increasing the size thereof. A first-group lens barrel holds has radially protruding follower pins formed thereon. A cam ring is disposed outside the first-group lens barrel, and has cam grooves formed therein for engagement with the follower pins. A diaphragm unit disposed rearward of the first-group lens barrel and a second-group lens barrel disposed rearward of the diaphragm unit move in the optical axis direction. When the diaphragm unit and the second-group lens barrel move in the optical axis direction, the optical device is switched between a wide angle position in which first protrusions formed on the diaphragm unit are positioned inside the follower pins and a telephoto position in which third protrusions formed on the second-group lens barrel are positioned inside the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Akihiko Masuki
  • Patent number: 9958636
    Abstract: The electronic apparatus includes a base member, a rotatable operation member, a clicking member rotatable together with the rotatable operation member, an exterior member disposed between the base and rotatable operation members, a switching operation member provided with an operation knob and movable between first and second positions, a pressing member and a contact member both held by the base member, the pressing member being biased toward the clicking member, the contact member being biased toward the switching operation member to contact the switching operation member, and a stopper member movable together with the switching operation member. When the switching operation member is located at the first position, the pressing member contacts the concave and convex portions. When the switching operation member is located at the second position, the pressing member contacts the stopper member and held away from the concave and convex portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Akihiko Masuki
  • Publication number: 20170176713
    Abstract: The electronic apparatus includes a base member, a rotatable operation member, a clicking member rotatable together with the rotatable operation member, an exterior member disposed between the base and rotatable operation members, a switching operation member provided with an operation knob and movable between first and second positions, a pressing member and a contact member both held by the base member, the pressing member being biased toward the clicking member, the contact member being biased toward the switching operation member to contact the switching operation member, and a stopper member movable together with the switching operation member. When the switching operation member is located at the first position, the pressing member contacts the concave and convex portions. When the switching operation member is located at the second position, the pressing member contacts the stopper member and held away from the concave and convex portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2016
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Inventor: Akihiko Masuki
  • Patent number: 9261668
    Abstract: An optical device, such as a lens or a light quantity adjusting member, can avoid an increase in its size and also reduce the start-up time without damaging its components. An extracting section, a convex section, and a concave section are formed in a fixing member side by side in an optical axis direction. A flexible board is extracted from the extracting section. The convex section located on the extracting section projects to an inner diameter side from the extracting section. The concave section located on the convex section is recessed to an outer diameter side of the extracting section. While the optical device shifts into an accommodated state, the flexible board contacts a part of the convex section, a first bending portion of the flexible board projects to an inner diameter side thereof, and a second bending portion of the flexible board is accommodated in the concave section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Akihiko Masuki
  • Patent number: 9091799
    Abstract: A lens barrel includes a lead screw that is rotatably driven by a focus motor, a pulse plate that is provided at a root section of the lead screw on the focus motor side and rotates integrally with the lead screw, a photo interrupter holder that holds a photo interrupter configured to detect a signal of the pulse plate, a rack that is screwed to the lead screw and advances or retracts in the direction of the optical axis of an imaging optical system in accordance with the rotation drive of the lead screw, and a fourth group holder that holds a fourth group lens and advances or retracts in the direction of the optical axis by engaging with the rack. When the fourth group holder is retracted toward the focus motor side, the pulse plate and the fourth group holder or the fourth group lens are overlapped with each other as viewed from the direction orthogonal to the optical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Akihiko Masuki
  • Publication number: 20150043090
    Abstract: An optical device, such as a lens or a light quantity adjusting member, which, even in a specification with a long extension stroke thereof, can avoid an increase in the size of the optical device and can also reduce the start-up time without damaging components in the optical device. An extracting section, a convex section, and a concave section are formed in a fixing member side by side in an optical axis direction. A flexible board is extracted from the extracting section. The convex section is located on an image surface side of the extracting section and formed to project to an inner diameter side from the extracting section. The concave section is located on an image surface side of the convex section and formed to be recessed to an outer diameter side of the extracting section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2014
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Inventor: Akihiko MASUKI
  • Publication number: 20150036227
    Abstract: An optical device whose impact resistance against an impact improved without increasing the size thereof. A first-group lens barrel holds has radially protruding follower pins formed thereon. A cam ring is disposed outside the first-group lens barrel, and has cam grooves formed therein for engagement with the follower pins. A diaphragm unit disposed rearward of the first-group lens barrel and a second-group lens barrel disposed rearward of the diaphragm unit move in the optical axis direction. When the diaphragm unit and the second-group lens barrel move in the optical axis direction, the optical device is switched between a wide angle position in which first protrusions formed on the diaphragm unit are positioned inside the follower pins and a telephoto position in which third protrusions formed on the second-group lens barrel are positioned inside the same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2014
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Inventor: Akihiko Masuki
  • Publication number: 20140002914
    Abstract: A lens barrel includes a lead screw that is rotatably driven by a focus motor, a pulse plate that is provided at a root section of the lead screw on the focus motor side and rotates integrally with the lead screw, a photo interrupter holder that holds a photo interrupter configured to detect a signal of the pulse plate, a rack that is screwed to the lead screw and advances or retracts in the direction of the optical axis of an imaging optical system in accordance with the rotation drive of the lead screw, and a fourth group holder that holds a fourth group lens and advances or retracts in the direction of the optical axis by engaging with the rack. When the fourth group holder is retracted toward the focus motor side, the pulse plate and the fourth group holder or the fourth group lens are overlapped with each other as viewed from the direction orthogonal to the optical axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2013
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Inventor: Akihiko Masuki
  • Patent number: 8265472
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus is provided with a lens barrel that includes a flexible substrate that is electrically connected to a magnetically driven apparatus and drive ring that drives the lens barrel by rotating. The drive rings include through grooves that pass through the drive ring and a flexible substrate passes therethrough from the inside to the outside of the lens barrel and a strobe cam that is provided on the outer circumferential side of the drive ring. In addition, the through groove and the strobe cam are disposed so as to coincide in the rotation direction of the drive ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Akihiko Masuki
  • Patent number: 8134785
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus has in a first cam groove a first cam surface whose lead is lying with respect to the rotating direction of a drive ring, and a second cam surface whose lead is steep with respect to the rotating direction of the drive ring, and when transition is effected from an accommodated state to a use state, a follower member passes the first cam surface, and when transition is effected from the state where the follower member is engaged with a second cam groove to the accommodated state, the follower member passes the second cam surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Akihiko Masuki
  • Patent number: 8077410
    Abstract: Provided is an optical apparatus including: two magnets which are constituent components of drive member for moving a lens holder (21); three balls (25); and two bias members (23) for applying biases such that hook portions disposed in one and the other ends of each of the two bias members are engaged with a base member (28) and the lens holder, respectively, and the three balls are held between the base member and the lens holder. Two magnets (22A and 22B), the three balls, and the two bias members are arranged so that a center of gravity within a plane of the base member, a lens, and the two magnets is positioned in a triangle formed by the three balls, and a line segment within a plane formed by the two bias members steps over two sides of the triangle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Akihiko Masuki
  • Publication number: 20110194193
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus has in a first cam groove a first cam surface whose lead is lying with respect to the rotating direction of a drive ring, and a second cam surface whose lead is steep with respect to the rotating direction of the drive ring, and when transition is effected from an accommodated state to a use state, a follower member passes the first cam surface, and when transition is effected from the state where the follower member is engaged with a second cam groove to the accommodated state, the follower member passes the second cam surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Publication date: August 11, 2011
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Akihiko Masuki
  • Publication number: 20110188842
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus is provided with a lens barrel that includes a flexible substrate that is electrically connected to a magnetically driven apparatus and drive ring that drives the lens barrel by rotating. The drive rings include through grooves that pass through the drive ring and a flexible substrate passes therethrough from the inside to the outside of the lens barrel and a strobe cam that is provided on the outer circumferential side of the drive ring. In addition, the through groove and the strobe cam are disposed so as to coincide in the rotation direction of the drive ring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2011
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Akihiko Masuki