Patents by Inventor Akira Egawa

Akira Egawa 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: 8736742
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus that can efficiently obtain an offset between focal positions detected in phase difference-based focus detection and contrast-based focus detection by using results of phase difference-based focus detection at multiple points. Focal positions in a plurality of regions based on a pair of image signals obtained from different pupils are obtained. A focal position for a focus lens at which a contrast of image signals for image pickup is at a peak is detected. A target focal position is determined from the plurality of focal positions. When another focal position is present between a present focal position and the target focal position, an offset between a focal position of the focus lens at which the contrast detected at the other focal position while the focus lens is moving is at a peak and the other focal position is calculated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Akira Egawa
  • Patent number: 8730373
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image sensor comprising a plurality of pixels at least part of which form a plurality of focus detection pixel pairs, each receiving light rays passing through different pupil areas of an image forming optical system; a detection unit configured to detect a defocus amount, based on a phase difference between signals output from the focus detection pixel pairs in a focusing area; a judging unit configured to determine if a subject corresponds to a predetermined pattern, based on the signals output from the pixels other than the focus detection pixel pairs around the focus detection pixel pairs in the focusing area; and a focus control unit configured to drive the image forming optical system to be in an in-focus state based on the detected defocus amount. The judging unit changes focus control, performed by the focus control unit, based on the determination result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Akira Egawa
  • Patent number: 8540374
    Abstract: A projector includes: an optical modulation device configured to modulate an incident luminous flux; a projection optical device configured to project the luminous flux modulated by the optical modulation device; and a cooling device configured to cool the optical modulation device, wherein the cooling device includes a cooling fan, and a duct having a discharge portion that causes the air discharged from the cooling fan to circulate in a direction approximately parallel to the optical axis, and discharges it to a lateral side of the optical modulation device, and the duct is disposed in a state that, when the projection optical device and discharge portion are cut by a plane perpendicular to the optical axis, the height position of a first center between the upper end and lower end of the cross-section of the discharge portion and that of the optical axis differ from one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Egawa, Yasushi Tateno, Fumihide Sasaki
  • Patent number: 8395306
    Abstract: A light source unit includes: an arc tube having a light-emitting portion; a secondary reflector covering part of the periphery of the light-emitting portion and being provided with a secondary reflecting surface for reflecting light emitted from the light-emitting portion; a primary reflector having a primary reflecting surface for reflecting the light emitted from the light-emitting portion and the light reflected from the secondary reflector; a first electrode; and a second electrode; wherein the second electrode is arranged at a position which causes an ionic wind to be induced by applying a voltage between the second electrode and the first electrode and causes air between the secondary reflecting surface and the light-emitting portion to flow, and either one of the first electrode or the second electrode is arranged between the arc tube and the secondary reflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Kaname Nagatani, Kunihiko Takagi, Tetsuo Shimizu, Yuji Takado, Akira Egawa, Satoshi Kinoshita
  • Patent number: 8360584
    Abstract: A projector includes: an optical system includes a light source, a light modulation element for modulating light emitted from the light source to form an optical image, and a projection lens for projecting the optical image, the optical system is structured such that an illumination optical axis of the light source and a projection optical axis of the projection lens cross each other substantially at right angles in the plan view; and a cooling fan configured to the light modulation element, and has a rotation axis crossing each other substantially at right angles with a discharge direction where a cooling air is discharged, the cooling fan is disposed in the vicinity of the projection lens and on the side where the light source is provided such that the rotation axis extends in the thickness direction of the projector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Egawa, Kaname Nagatani, Kunihiko Takagi
  • Patent number: 8339476
    Abstract: An image sensing apparatus includes an image sensor including a plurality of pixels, a control unit that, during an exposure operation that generates an image in the image sensor, reads out signals of a first portion of pixels among an entire frame of pixels from the image sensor, outputs an image based on the signals of the first portion of pixels to a display unit, and, when the exposure operation is completed, reads out signals of the entire frame of pixels from the image sensor, and an image processing unit that generates an image by adding the signals of the first portion of pixels to signals of the entire frame of pixels for corresponding pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Akira Egawa
  • Patent number: 8308303
    Abstract: A projector includes: spatial light modulation devices; and a cooling duct configured to flow a cooling air for sequentially cooling the spatial light modulation devices, the cooling duct has a first flow path formed by portions including the light entrance surface of at least one of the spatial light modulation devices for the respective color lights, a second flow path formed by portions including the light exit surface of the corresponding spatial light modulation device, and a junction area where the cooling air flowing through the first flow path and the cooling air flowing through the second flow path join each other, and the junction area is disposed at a downstream position of the cooling air with respect to the spatial light modulation device provided for a predetermined color light whose light amount is the maximum in the respective color lights that enter the light entrance surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Kunihiko Takagi, Kaname Nagatani, Akira Egawa, Tetsuo Shimizu, Joji Karasawa, Fumihide Sasaki
  • Patent number: 8282215
    Abstract: A spatial light modulation device includes: a light modulation unit which modulates light according to an image signal; and a first electrode and a second electrode provided on a surface of one of an optical element disposed either on the entrance side of the light modulation unit or the exit side of the light modulation unit and the light modulation unit. Voltage is applied to the first electrodes and the second electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Akira Egawa
  • Publication number: 20120113313
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus that can efficiently obtain an offset between focal positions detected in phase difference-based focus detection and contrast-based focus detection by using results of phase difference-based focus detection at multiple points. Focal positions in a plurality of regions based on a pair of image signals obtained from different pupils are obtained. A focal position for a focus lens at which a contrast of image signals for image pickup is at a peak is detected. A target focal position is determined from the plurality of focal positions. When another focal position is present between a present focal position and the target focal position, an offset between a focal position of the focus lens at which the contrast detected at the other focal position while the focus lens is moving is at a peak and the other focal position is calculated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2010
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Akira Egawa
  • Patent number: 8128239
    Abstract: A light source device includes a light emitting tube having a light emitting section that emits light, a first sealing section on one side of the light emitting section formed integrally with the light emitting section, and a second sealing section on the other side of the light emitting section formed integrally with the light emitting section. A secondary reflecting mirror having a secondary reflecting surface covers part of a periphery of the light emitting section and reflects light emitted from the light emitting section. A primary reflecting mirror having a primary reflecting surface reflects the light emitted from the light emitting section and the light reflected by the secondary reflecting mirror. The secondary reflecting mirror has a first reference plane defined by a first boundary line as a boundary between the light emitting section and the first sealing section, which does not intersect with the secondary reflecting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsuo Shimizu, Kaname Nagatani, Kunihiko Takagi, Akira Egawa, Yuji Takado, Satoshi Kinoshita
  • Patent number: 8096348
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a heat exchanger having a plurality of fine flow channels includes forming a plurality of thin plate members into a predetermined shape, and laminating the plurality of thin plate members and bonding by diffusion bonding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Kunihiko Takagi, Akira Egawa
  • Patent number: 8085823
    Abstract: A laser source device includes: a light emission unit which emits laser beam having first wavelength; a first mirror which selectively reflects S-polarized light contained in the first wavelength laser beam emitted from the light emission unit in a direction different from the direction toward the light emission unit and transmits second wavelength laser beam; a second mirror which receives laser beam reflected by the first mirror and reflects laser beam having first wavelength and contained in the received laser beam toward the first mirror; and a wavelength conversion element disposed between the first mirror and the second mirror and converts at least a part of S-polarized light contained in the received first wavelength laser beam into laser beam having second wavelength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Akira Egawa
  • Patent number: 8070299
    Abstract: A light source apparatus includes a light source unit that supplies light having a first wavelength, a wavelength conversion element that converts the light having the first wavelength into the light having a second wavelength different from the first wavelength, and a wavelength separator that separates the first-wavelength light from the second-wavelength light. The wavelength separator directs the second-wavelength light from the wavelength conversion element in the exit direction and the first-wavelength light from the wavelength conversion element in a direction other than the exit direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Akira Egawa
  • Patent number: 8050300
    Abstract: A laser beam source device includes: a light source which emits light having fundamental wavelength; a wavelength conversion element which converts the light having fundamental wavelength into light having conversion wavelength; a resonance element which transmits first light converted into the conversion wavelength light and reflects light not converted; an optical path conversion element which releases second light contained in the light reflected by the resonance element and converted into the conversion wavelength light in the same direction as the direction of the first light, and releases the light not converted toward the light source; and a supporting member. The resonance element is disposed in such a position that one end surface of the resonance element on the second light side is shifted to the supporting member from one end surface of the wavelength conversion element on the second light side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Akira Egawa
  • Patent number: 8038305
    Abstract: A light source unit includes: a light source part that supplies light; an optical element that changes an optical path of the light from the light source part; and a wavelength conversion element that converts a wavelength of the light from the optical element. The optical element is movable, and the optical path of the light entering the wavelength conversion element from the light source part is shifted by moving the optical element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Akira Egawa
  • Publication number: 20110234992
    Abstract: A projector includes: an optical modulation device configured to modulate an incident luminous flux; a projection optical device configured to project the luminous flux modulated by the optical modulation device; and a cooling device configured to cool the optical modulation device, wherein the cooling device includes a cooling fan, and a duct having a discharge portion that causes the air discharged from the cooling fan to circulate in a direction approximately parallel to the optical axis, and discharges it to a lateral side of the optical modulation device, and the duct is disposed in a state that, when the projection optical device and discharge portion are cut by a plane perpendicular to the optical axis, the height position of a first center between the upper end and lower end of the cross-section of the discharge portion and that of the optical axis differ from one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2011
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akira Egawa, Yasushi Tateno, Fumihide Sasaki
  • Publication number: 20110234984
    Abstract: A projector includes a plurality of light modulation devices and a cooling device. The cooling device includes a cooling fan configured to introduce and discharge air, and a duct configured to guide air received from the cooling fan toward the plural light modulation devices. The duct includes a first duct portion configured to allow the air to flow through the light modulation devices from sides of the light modulation devices, and a second duct portion which communicates with the first duct portion and guides a part of the air flowing through the first duct portion toward devices other than the light modulation devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2011
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akira EGAWA, Yasushi TATENO, Fumihide SASAKI
  • Patent number: 8018128
    Abstract: A microchannel structure with a fine flow path through which a fluid flows, includes: a wavy plate member fabricated into a wavy form; an external peripheral wall member that surrounds the wavy plate member; and a spacer that ensures a spacing between opposed portions of the wavy plate member, wherein the fine flow path is defined by the wavy plate member and the external peripheral wall member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Egawa, Satoshi Kinoshita, Kunihiko Takagi
  • Patent number: 7886597
    Abstract: A dynamic amount sensor has a detecting circuit that detects a change in an electrostatic capacitance of each of electrostatic capacitance elements comprised of a movable electrode and a fixed electrode. A switching circuit switches the detecting circuit to first and second connecting states that detect changes in the electrostatic capacitance of the electrostatic capacitance elements in accordance with a change in an attitude of the movable electrode in corresponding first and second detecting axes directions. In the first and second connecting states, the detecting circuit includes circuits formed by connecting the electrostatic capacitance elements in series which change electrostatic capacitances symmetrically along with inclination of the movable electrode in the corresponding first and second detecting axes directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Takeshi Uchiyama, Mitsuo Yarita, Akira Egawa
  • Publication number: 20110032486
    Abstract: A projector includes: a spatial light modulator provided for each color light flux and configured to modulate the light flux in accordance with an image signal; a light combining system configured to combine the color light flux outputted from the spatial light modulator; a projection system configured to project the light combined by the light combining system; a fixing member configured to integrally fix the spatial light modulator, the light combining system, and the projection system; a base on which the spatial light modulators and the light combining system fixed to the fixing member are mounted; and a cover member configured to cover the spatial light modulator and the light combining system mounted on the base, wherein the base and the cover member form a cooling duct through which cooling air for sequentially cooling the spatial light modulator for the respective color light flux flows.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2010
    Publication date: February 10, 2011
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Egawa, Kuname Nagatani, Kunihiko Takagi, Tatsuo Shimizu