Patents by Inventor AKIRA HASHIYA
AKIRA HASHIYA 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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Publication number: 20250044427Abstract: A distance measuring apparatus includes a light source that emits a light beam, a scanning device that performs beam scanning where an emission direction of the light beam is changed, a photodetector that receives light reflected from measurement points on a target irradiated with the light beam and that outputs detection signals, a processing circuit that calculates distances to the measurement points on a basis of the detection signals, and a control circuit that controls the scanning device. The control circuit determines a step angle of the beam scanning in such a way as to reduce differences in density of the measurement points between areas of the target.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 18, 2024Publication date: February 6, 2025Inventors: YASUHISA INADA, AKIRA HASHIYA, YUMIKO KATO
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Publication number: 20250035434Abstract: A measurement system includes a light source, an optical detector, and a processing circuit. The light source emits irradiation light to be applied to multiple measurement points included in at least one evaluation region of a surface of an object. The optical detector receives reflected light returned from the multiple measurement points and outputs a detection signal. The processing circuit calculates and outputs a roughness parameter regarding an uneven shape of the at least one evaluation region, based on the detection signal. The processing circuit corrects the roughness parameter in accordance with an angle of incidence of the irradiation light incident on the at least one evaluation region, a measurement distance in the at least one evaluation region, or intensity of received light obtained as a result of the at least one evaluation region being irradiated with the irradiation light.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 16, 2024Publication date: January 30, 2025Inventors: AKIRA HASHIYA, YASUHISA INADA
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Publication number: 20250020916Abstract: An optical system includes a first expansion region that expands a luminous flux traveling in a first direction by splitting and duplicating it into luminous fluxes traveling in a second direction intersecting the first direction to increase the number of luminous fluxes, and a second expansion region that expands the luminous fluxes traveling in the second direction by splitting and duplicating them to increase the number of luminous fluxes. The first expansion region has a central region that contains a center of the first expansion region, and an end region that lies on at least one end side of the first expansion region. The end region has a diffracted light quantity less than half the diffracted light quantity in the central region.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 27, 2024Publication date: January 16, 2025Inventors: Akira HASHIYA, Satoshi Kuzuhara
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Publication number: 20250020917Abstract: An optical system includes an incidence part changing a traveling direction of the incident image light from a display part and an expansion part that divides and duplicates the image light traveling from the incidence part. The expansion part includes a first and a second expansion part. The first expansion part includes a first and a second diffraction structure part each having a diffraction structure that divides and duplicates the image light along a first direction, and a non-diffraction structure part disposed between the first and the second diffraction structure part. The second expansion part includes a third diffraction structure part that divides and duplicates image light along the first direction. The third diffraction structure part is disposed to overlap with the non-diffraction structure part of the first expansion part in a vertical direction with respect to the pupil expansion part.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 27, 2024Publication date: January 16, 2025Inventors: Hiroyuki SHOBAYASHI, Satoshi Kuzuhara, Kazuhiro Minami, Hiroaki Okayama, Akira Hashiya
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Publication number: 20250020933Abstract: The optical system includes a light guide including a reproduction region including a dividing diffraction structure dividing an image light ray propagating in a first propagation direction intersecting a thickness direction of a body, into image light rays propagating in a second propagation direction intersecting the first propagation direction, in the first propagation direction and including first and second diffraction structure regions formed respectively at first and second surfaces in the thickness direction to face each other, and an exit diffraction structure allowing the image light rays propagating in the second propagation direction to travel toward a field of view region. When first and second field of view angles in first and second directions of the virtual image are denoted by FOV1 and FOV2, a relation of FOV2/FOV1<0.5 is satisfied. The first propagation direction in the reproduction region corresponds to the first direction in a virtual image.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 23, 2024Publication date: January 16, 2025Inventors: Satoshi KUZUHARA, Akira HASHIYA, Kazuhiro MINAMI
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Publication number: 20250013052Abstract: The optical system includes: a light guide for guiding an image light ray to a field of view region of a user as a virtual image. The light guide includes a diffraction structure region constituting a surface-relief diffraction grating dividing the image light ray propagating in a first propagation direction intersecting a thickness direction of a body into a plurality of image light rays propagating in a second propagation direction intersecting the first propagation direction, in the first propagation direction. The diffraction structure region includes a first diffraction structure, and a second diffraction structure on an opposite side of the first diffraction structure from an in-coupling region in the first propagation direction. A grating height of the first diffraction structure is greater than a grating height of the second diffraction structure. A grating width of the first diffraction structure is greater than a grating width of the second diffraction structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 17, 2024Publication date: January 9, 2025Inventors: Satoshi KUZUHARA, Akira HASHIYA, Kazuhiro MINAMI
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Patent number: 12147094Abstract: An optical device includes a plurality of optical waveguides, and a planar optical waveguide. The plurality of optical waveguides each extend in a first direction, and are arranged in a second direction intersecting the first direction. The planar optical waveguide is connected directly or indirectly with the plurality of optical waveguides. The plurality of optical waveguides each allow light to propagate in the first direction. The planar optical waveguide includes a first mirror and a second mirror, and an optical waveguide layer. The first mirror and the second mirror face each other, and extend in the first direction and the second direction. The optical waveguide layer is located between the first mirror and the second mirror.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2022Date of Patent: November 19, 2024Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.Inventors: Akira Hashiya, Yasuhisa Inada, Kazuki Nakamura
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Patent number: 12038606Abstract: An optical device includes a first mirror having a first reflecting surface and extending along a first direction, a second mirror having a second reflecting surface that faces the first reflecting surface and extending along the first direction, and an optical waveguide layer, located between the first mirror and the second mirror, that causes light to propagate along the first direction. A transmittance of the first mirror is higher than a transmittance of the second mirror. A reflection spectrum of at least either the first mirror or the second mirror with respect to light arriving from a direction normal to the reflecting surface includes, in a wavelength region in which a reflectance is higher than or equal to 90%, a local maximum point and first and second points of inflection located closer to a long-wavelength side than the local maximum point.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2021Date of Patent: July 16, 2024Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.Inventors: Akira Hashiya, Yasuhisa Inada, Masanori Era
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Publication number: 20240061117Abstract: A measurement device includes: a light source which emits laser light to irradiate a moving body and which can vary the frequency of the laser light; an interference optical system that separates the laser light into reference light and output light, and generates interference light by interfering the reference light with at least one reflected light beam generated when at least one light beam obtained from the output light is reflected by the moving body; a light detector that detects the interference light; and a processing circuit that processes a signal outputted from the light detector. The processing circuit generates and outputs a plurality of attribute data pertaining to the moving body on the basis of measurement data on the moving body obtained by processing the signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 1, 2023Publication date: February 22, 2024Inventors: YASUHISA INADA, KAZUYA HISADA, KAZUKI NAKAMURA, YUMIKO KATO, AKIRA HASHIYA
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Publication number: 20240004044Abstract: A measurement apparatus includes a light source, a calibrating optical system, an interference optical system, a photosensitive device, a storage device, and a processing circuit. The interference optical system separates the light into reference light and output light and generates first interfering light and second interfering light. The photosensitive device outputs a first detection signal corresponding to an intensity of the first interfering light and a second detection signal corresponding to an intensity of the second interfering light. The processing circuit sends out, to the light source, a control signal that sweeps a frequency of the light that is emitted from the light source, updates, on the basis of the second detection signal, the correcting data stored in the storage device, and generates measurement data on the basis of the correcting data thus updated and the first detection signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 17, 2023Publication date: January 4, 2024Inventors: AKIRA HASHIYA, YUMIKO KATO, KAZUYA HISADA, YASUHISA INADA
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Patent number: 11835840Abstract: An optical scanning device includes: a first waveguide that propagates light by total reflection; and a second waveguide. The second waveguide includes: a first multilayer reflective film; a second multilayer reflective film that faces the first multilayer reflective film; and a first optical waveguide layer directly connected to the first waveguide and located between the first and second multilayer reflective films. The first optical waveguide layer has a variable thickness and/or a variable refractive index and propagates the light transmitted through the first waveguide. The first multilayer reflective film has a higher light transmittance than the second multilayer reflective film and allows part of the light propagating through the first optical waveguide layer to be emitted to the outside. By changing the thickness of the first optical waveguide layer and/or its refractive index, the direction of the part of the light emitted from the second waveguide is changed.Type: GrantFiled: January 12, 2022Date of Patent: December 5, 2023Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.Inventors: Akira Hashiya, Yasuhisa Inada, Taku Hirasawa, Yoshikazu Yamaoka, Nobuaki Nagao
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Publication number: 20230273501Abstract: An optical device includes a plurality of optical waveguide units arranged in a first direction. Each of the optical waveguide units includes a first mirror having a first reflecting surface, a second mirror having a second reflecting surface facing the first reflecting surface, and at least one optical waveguide region located between the first mirror and the second mirror. The distance between the first reflecting surface and the second reflecting surface is different for each of the optical waveguide units.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 8, 2023Publication date: August 31, 2023Inventors: MASAHIKO TSUKUDA, AKIRA HASHIYA, KAZUKI NAKAMURA, YASUHISA INADA
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Patent number: 11644540Abstract: An optical scanning device includes: first and second mirrors; an optical waveguide layer disposed between the first and second mirrors; a pair of electrodes sandwiching the optical waveguide layer; and a driving circuit that applies a voltage to the pair of electrodes. The first mirror emits part of light propagating through the optical waveguide layer to the outside. The optical waveguide layer contains a liquid crystal material or an electrooptical material. The alignment direction of the liquid crystal material or the direction of a polarization axis of the electrooptical material is parallel or perpendicular to the direction in which the optical waveguide layer extends. The driving circuit applies the voltage to the pair of electrodes to change the refractive index of the liquid crystal material or the electrooptical material to thereby change the light emission direction.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2019Date of Patent: May 9, 2023Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.Inventors: Nobuaki Nagao, Yoshikazu Yamaoka, Yasuhisa Inada, Akira Hashiya, Taku Hirasawa
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Publication number: 20220365403Abstract: An optical device includes a first substrate with a first surface spreading in a first direction and a second direction intersecting the first direction, a second substrate with a second surface facing the first surface, a film bonded to the first surface and/or the second surface through a siloxane bond, and at least one optical guide layer positioned between the first substrate and the second substrate, the optical guide layer including a dielectric member in contact with the film and guiding light in the first direction and/or the second direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 6, 2022Publication date: November 17, 2022Inventors: TAKAIKI NOMURA, KAZUKI NAKAMURA, AKIRA HASHIYA, YASUHISA INADA
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Publication number: 20220317481Abstract: An optical device includes a plurality of optical waveguides, and a planar optical waveguide. The plurality of optical waveguides each extend in a first direction, and are arranged in a second direction intersecting the first direction. The planar optical waveguide is connected directly or indirectly with the plurality of optical waveguides. The plurality of optical waveguides each allow light to propagate in the first direction. The planar optical waveguide includes a first mirror and a second mirror, and an optical waveguide layer. The first mirror and the second mirror face each other, and extend in the first direction and the second direction. The optical waveguide layer is located between the first mirror and the second mirror.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 20, 2022Publication date: October 6, 2022Inventors: AKIRA HASHIYA, YASUHISA INADA, KAZUKI NAKAMURA
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Publication number: 20220317259Abstract: A light projection apparatus includes a first mirror and a second mirror facing each other and extending in a first direction and an optical waveguide layer being located between the first mirror and the second mirror, having a structure in which a refractive index and/or a thickness can be changed, and guiding light in the first direction. The first mirror has light transmissivity higher than that of the second mirror, at least part of the light propagating in the optical waveguide layer is emitted outside therefrom, and an emission angle of light to be emitted from the first mirror can be changed in a range from an angle ?1 to an angle ?2 (>?1) by the refractive index and/or the thickness of the optical waveguide layer being changed. First light emitted at the angle ?1 is projected vertically downward relative to second light emitted at the angle ?2.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 13, 2022Publication date: October 6, 2022Inventors: Kenji Narumi, Akira Hashiya, Tokuzou Kiyohara
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Patent number: 11435571Abstract: An optical scanning device includes: a first mirror; a second mirror opposed to the first mirror; two non-waveguide regions sandwiched between the first mirror and the second mirror; an optical waveguide region disposed between the two non-waveguide regions; and two intermediate regions. The average refractive index of the optical waveguide region is higher than the average refractive index of each intermediate region. The average refractive index of each intermediate region is higher than the average refractive index of each non-waveguide region. The first mirror allows part of light propagating through the optical waveguide region to be emitted as emission light in a third direction. By changing the refractive index and/or thickness of the optical waveguide region, the third direction, which is the emission direction of the emission light, is changed.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2020Date of Patent: September 6, 2022Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.Inventors: Yasuhisa Inada, Akira Hashiya, Taku Hirasawa
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Publication number: 20220137480Abstract: An optical scanning device includes: a first waveguide that propagates light by total reflection; and a second waveguide. The second waveguide includes: a first multilayer reflective film; a second multilayer reflective film that faces the first multilayer reflective film; and a first optical waveguide layer directly connected to the first waveguide and located between the first and second multilayer reflective films. The first optical waveguide layer has a variable thickness and/or a variable refractive index and propagates the light transmitted through the first waveguide. The first multilayer reflective film has a higher light transmittance than the second multilayer reflective film and allows part of the light propagating through the first optical waveguide layer to be emitted to the outside. By changing the thickness of the first optical waveguide layer and/or its refractive index, the direction of the part of the light emitted from the second waveguide is changed.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 12, 2022Publication date: May 5, 2022Inventors: Akira Hashiya, Yasuhisa Inada, Taku Hirasawa, Yoshikazu Yamaoka, Nobuaki Nagao
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Patent number: RE49093Abstract: A light-emitting apparatus includes; a light-emitting device including a photoluminescent layer that receives excitation light and emits light including first light having a wavelength ?a in air, and a light-transmissive layer located on or near the photoluminescent layer; and an optical fiber that receives the light from the photoluminescent layer at one end of the optical fiber and emits the received light from the other end thereof. A surface structure is defined on at least one of the photoluminescent layer and the light-transmissive layer, and the surface structure has projections or recesses or both and limits a directional angle of the first light having the wavelength ?a in air.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 2021Date of Patent: June 7, 2022Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.Inventors: Nobuaki Nagao, Taku Hirasawa, Yasuhisa Inada, Mitsuru Nitta, Akira Hashiya, Yasuhiko Adachi
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Patent number: RE50041Abstract: A light-emitting apparatus includes an excitation light source that emits first light; a light-emitting device on an optical path of the first light, the light-emitting device emitting second light having a wavelength in air; and a first converging lens on an optical path of the second light. The light-emitting device comprises: a photoluminescent layer that emits the second light by being excited by the first light; and a light-transmissive layer on the photoluminescent layer. At least one of the photoluminescent layer and the light-transmissive layer has a surface structure comprising projections or recesses arranged perpendicular to a thickness direction of the photoluminescent layer. At least one of the photoluminescent layer and the light-transmissive layer has a light emitting surface perpendicular to the thickness direction, the second light emitted from the light emitting surface. The surface structure limits the directional angle of the second light emittied from the light emitting surface.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2021Date of Patent: July 16, 2024Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.Inventors: Taku Hirasawa, Yasuhisa Inada, Akira Hashiya, Nobuaki Nagao, Akira Tsujimoto