Patents by Inventor Akira Kurozuka
Akira Kurozuka 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: 20150270477Abstract: An actuator includes a fixed frame, a pair of first vibrating portions, a movable frame, a pair of second vibrating portions, a movable portion, and a first monitor signal detector. Each of the first vibrating portions faces the inside of the fixed frame; and has a first end connected to the inside of the fixed frame, and a second end connected to the outside of the movable frame. Each of the second vibrating portions faces the inside of the movable frame; and has a first end connected to the inside of the movable frame, and a second end connected to the movable portion. The second vibrating portions extend in a direction orthogonal to a direction in which the first vibrating portions extend. The first monitor signal detector capable of detecting displacement of the movable frame is provided on a connection portion between the movable frame and the first vibrating portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 1, 2013Publication date: September 24, 2015Inventors: Toshiaki Horie, Shinsuke Nakazono, Soichiro Hiraoka, Kazuki Komaki, Akira Kurozuka, Yuta Yamamoto, Takehiro Kobayashi
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Patent number: 9091856Abstract: An optical reflecting device includes a mirror, a frame connected to the mirror, and a driver beam configured to vibrate to rotate the mirror about a rotation axis. Rigidity of the frame is higher than rigidity of the mirror. The rotation axis is perpendicular to a line that connects a first connecting part to a second connecting part. This optical reflecting device can suppress a dynamic warp of the mirror.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2012Date of Patent: July 28, 2015Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLCTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.Inventors: Kensuke Mihara, Akira Kurozuka, Shinsuke Nakazono, Soichiro Hiraoka, Yuta Yamamoto, Toshiaki Horie, Kazuki Komaki
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Publication number: 20140375898Abstract: A scanning mirror includes a mirror unit configured to reflect a laser beam, a supporter configured to cause the mirror unit to rotate and oscillate, and an oscillation sensor configured to output a monitor signal indicating oscillation of the mirror unit. A photodetector detects an intensity of the laser beam. When a value of the monitor signal falls out of a predetermined range of a normal operation and a value of the intensity detected by the photodetector fails to decrease, a breaking signal for causing the supporter to oscillate more than a breaking limit angle of the supporter is input. This scanning mirror and an image projection device using this scanning mirror can display an image at sufficient brightness safely.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2013Publication date: December 25, 2014Inventors: Akira Kurozuka, Yuta Yamamoto, Shinsuke Nakazono, Kazuki Komaki
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Publication number: 20140368896Abstract: An optical reflecting device includes a movable plate having a reflecting surface, a first support portion, a first drive part, a first frame, and a monitor part for detecting the rotation of the movable plate. The first support portion is connected to the movable plate. The first drive part is formed in the first support portion and rotates the movable plate about a first axis. The first frame contains the movable plate and the first support portion, and is connected to the first support portion. The monitor part extends from that portion of the outer periphery of the movable plate which is most distant from the first axis.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 11, 2013Publication date: December 18, 2014Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATIONInventors: Shinsuke Nakazono, Akira Kurozuka, Yuta Yamamoto, Kazuki Komaki
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Publication number: 20140368087Abstract: A piezoelectric actuator device includes a vibrator and a driver to vibrate the vibrator. The vibrator includes a lower vibration layer configured to vibrate and an upper vibration layer coupled to an upper surface of the lower vibration layer and configured to vibrate together with the lower vibration layer. The driver includes an upper electrode layer on a lower surface of the lower vibration layer, a piezoelectric layer on a lower surface of the upper electrode layer, and a lower electrode layer on a lower surface of the piezoelectric layer. The lower vibration layer of the vibrator is made of organic material. The upper vibration layer is mainly made of inorganic material. The lower vibration layer has a smaller longitudinal elastic modulus than the upper vibration layer. The piezoelectric actuator device has a large resistance to disturbance vibrations and a large warping amount of the vibrator without increasing power consumption.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 29, 2013Publication date: December 18, 2014Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATIONInventors: Soichiro Hiraoka, Kazuki Komaki, Shinsuke Nakazono, Akira Kurozuka, Toshiaki Horie
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Publication number: 20140226194Abstract: An optical reflecting device includes a mirror, a frame connected to the mirror, and a driver beam configured to vibrate to rotate the mirror about a rotation axis. Rigidity of the frame is higher than rigidity of the mirror. The rotation axis is perpendicular to a line that connects a first connecting part to a second connecting part.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 21, 2012Publication date: August 14, 2014Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATIONInventors: Kensuke Mihara, Akira Kurozuka, Shinsuke Nakazono, Soichiro Hiraoka, Yuta Yamamoto, Toshiaki Horie, Kazuki Komaki
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Patent number: 8804247Abstract: A transmissive display device includes: a light source which outputs light; a display part which receives the light from the light source and generates display light representing an image; a deflecting element which changes a direction of the display light emitted from the display part; and a transmissive reflector which reflects, towards a user, light of a wavelength included in the display light emitted from the display part, and transmits light of other wavelengths. An angle formed by a straight line, which extends between an upper edge of an incident area of the display light on the transmissive reflector and a lower portion of an eyebox which is defined as a visible range of the reflected light from the transmissive reflector, with respect to a horizontal line is smaller than a difference between an emission angle and an incident angle of the display light at the transmissive reflector.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2010Date of Patent: August 12, 2014Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Keiji Sugiyama, Kenichi Kasazumi, Kakuya Yamamoto, Akira Kurozuka, Tatsuo Itoh, Shinichi Shikii
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Patent number: 8780096Abstract: A scanning image display apparatus includes a light source unit (1) that emits a laser beam, a scanning mirror (3) that two-dimensionally scans the laser beam in a first direction and in a second direction that crosses the first direction at predetermined scanning frequencies, respectively, a frame buffer (5) that temporarily stores image data corresponding to images to be displayed on a display screen frame by frame, and a display controller (4) that generates display data used to modulate an intensity of the laser beam at a predetermined frame frequency using the read image data and causes the light source unit to emit the laser beam intensity-modulated based on the display data. The frame buffer is so configured that the respective image data of a plurality of different frames can be temporarily stored therein and read therefrom.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 2010Date of Patent: July 15, 2014Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventor: Akira Kurozuka
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Publication number: 20140159620Abstract: An actuator drive device is configured to drive an actuator. The actuator drive device includes a storage section for storing a drive condition of the actuator, a processor for calculating and outputting drive signal D(t) based on a drive base signal V(t) calculated based on the drive condition with respect to time t, and a generator for outputting, based on the drive signal D(t) calculated, a driving signal for driving the actuator. The drive base signal V(t) is a sum of a fundamental wave and at least one harmonic wave of the fundamental wave. The processor is operable to determine the coefficient ak such that the drive base signal V(t) changes linearly from a minimum value to a maximum value with respect to a time. This actuator drive device improves the linearity of the driving of the actuator.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 23, 2012Publication date: June 12, 2014Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATIONInventors: Yuta Yamamoto, Shinsuke Nakazono, Akira Kurozuka
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Patent number: 8698858Abstract: A transmissive display apparatus includes a transparent display panel, a display unit which projects a display light toward a display area of the transparent display panel, a ratio change unit which is provided to the display area, is configured to be capable of changing a light transmittance, and is configured to be capable of changing a ratio of a light quantity of a rear face reflected light reaching a viewpoint relative to a light quantity of a front face reflected light reaching the viewpoint, and a control unit which alternately switches the ratio change unit between a first state and a second state. The ratio change unit lowers, in the first state, the ratio by reducing the light quantity of the rear face reflected light that reaches the viewpoint in comparison to the second state. The light transmittance increases in the second state in comparison to the first state.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 2012Date of Patent: April 15, 2014Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Akira Kurozuka, Shinichi Kadowaki, Kakuya Yamamoto, Kenichi Kasazumi, Keiji Sugiyama
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Patent number: 8681143Abstract: A display apparatus, includes: a display light emission unit which includes a light source, forms an image, and emits display light corresponding to formed image; a deflection unit which deflects the display light; a narrow band reflection unit which has characteristics of reflecting only light in a reflected wavelength range and transmitting light of wavelengths other than the reflected wavelength range, and reflects the display light incident from the deflection unit towards a viewpoint; and a control unit which changes an incidence angle at which the display light is incident on the narrow band reflection unit, in accordance with change in a wavelength of the light, wherein the narrow band reflection unit is configured such that the reflected wavelength range changes when an incidence angle of light changes, and the control unit changes the incidence angle such that a wavelength of the light is included within the reflected wavelength range.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2012Date of Patent: March 25, 2014Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Keiji Sugiyama, Kenichi Kasazumi, Kakuya Yamamoto, Akira Kurozuka, Shinichi Shikii
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Patent number: 8547618Abstract: A scanning type image display apparatus includes a light source unit for emitting a laser beam, a scanning mirror for scanning the laser beam two-dimensionally in a first direction and a second direction that intersects the first direction, and a control unit for controlling driving of the scanning mirror. The control unit drives the scanning mirror such that a scanning frequency in the first direction is higher than a scanning frequency in the second direction, and varies a scanning amplitude in the first direction by varying the scanning frequency in the first direction in synchronization with a period of the scanning frequency in the second direction.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 2010Date of Patent: October 1, 2013Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Keiji Sugiyama, Kakuya Yamamoto, Tatsuo Itoh, Kenichi Kasazumi, Akira Kurozuka
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Publication number: 20130182302Abstract: The present application discloses a see-through display device a light source configured to emit light, a projection optical system configured to project image light generated from the light; a transmissive hologram including a first surface which the image light enters from the projection optical system; and an interface configured to cause Fresnel reflection of the image light deflected by the hologram. The hologram includes a first interference fringe recorded by object light and reference light which are incident on the first surface by means of two-light flux interference. The image light incident on the first surface is deflected by the first interference fringe toward the interface. The interface reflects the image light toward the first surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 21, 2011Publication date: July 18, 2013Inventors: Shinichi Shikii, Kenichi Kasazumi, Keiji Sugiyama, Kakuya Yamamoto, Akira Kurozuka
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Patent number: 8446288Abstract: A light projection device, includes a movable projector section which illuminates or display information by projecting light while moving a projection position; a position detecting section which detects a position of a lost article instructed by a user; a view field detecting section which detects a view field of the user, and a controller section which controls said movable projection section based on the lost article detected by the position detecting section and the view field of the user detected by the view field detecting section, and either directly illuminates the lost article or projects guide information for guiding the user to the lost article within a view field of the user.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2009Date of Patent: May 21, 2013Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Tetsuro Mizushima, Kazuhisa Yamamoto, Akira Kurozuka, Kakuya Yamamoto, Keiji Sugiyama, Kenji Nakayama
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Patent number: 8416363Abstract: It is aimed to provide an LCD backlight device and liquid crystal display that can suppress light quantity loss and ensure uniform brightness. An LCD backlight device 101 has a laser light source 1 that emits laser light, and a light guiding plate 3 that transforms the laser light from the laser light source 1 into linear laser light, and transforms the linear laser light into a planar laser light, and emits the planar laser light, and the light guiding plate 3 has a third side face 6 that transforms the linear laser light into the planar laser light by reflecting the linear laser light by a plurality of reflection surfaces that are formed along the entrance direction of the linear laser light.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 2008Date of Patent: April 9, 2013Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Shinichi Shikii, Tetsuro Mizushima, Tatsuo Itoh, Akira Kurozuka, Takayuki Nagata, Kazuhisa Yamamoto
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Patent number: 8403490Abstract: A beam scanning-type display device used as a head-mounted display (HMD) or a head-up display (HUD) includes a light source which emits a beam, a scanning unit which performs scanning using the beam emitted from the light source, a deflecting unit which deflects the beam used for the scanning by the scanning unit in the direction toward an eye of a user, and a wavefront shape changing unit which changes the wavefront shape of the beam from the light source so that the beam spot size falls within the predetermined allowable range, and emits the beam to the wavefront shape changing unit.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2008Date of Patent: March 26, 2013Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Keiji Sugiyama, Kakuya Yamamoto, Kenichi Kasazumi, Tatsuo Itoh, Akira Kurozuka
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Patent number: 8398242Abstract: A display apparatus that displays an image on a retina of a user, the display apparatus comprising: an image output unit (100) which includes a light source (101, 110), a wavefront shape change unit (102, 109), and a scan unit (103, 108) and is configured to output display light for displaying the image; and a deflection unit (104, 107) configured to deflect, toward an eye of the user, the display light outputted by the image output unit (100). The deflection unit (104, 107) has a deflection characteristic of suppressing image distortion caused by a change in relative position of the deflection unit (104, 107) with respect to a pupil of the user.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2012Date of Patent: March 19, 2013Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Kakuya Yamamoto, Kenichi Kasazumi, Tatsuo Itoh, Akira Kurozuka, Keiji Sugiyama
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Patent number: 8395633Abstract: A scanning type image display apparatus including a light source, a frame buffer, a scanning mirror, a drive controller which outputs a drive signal to the scanning mirror, and a display controller which reads out pixel data from the frame buffer, generates display data for modulating an intensity of a laser beam using the readout pixel data, and causes the light source to emit an intensity-modulated laser beam based on the display data. The display controller calculates a scanning position of the laser beam on the display screen by the scanning mirror based on information relating to the drive signal inputted from the drive controller, reads out pixel data corresponding to the calculated scanning position on the display screen by executing a burst access to the frame buffer, and implements interpolation to generate the display data corresponding to the scanning position of the laser beam on the display screen.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2011Date of Patent: March 12, 2013Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventor: Akira Kurozuka
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Patent number: 8373690Abstract: A scanning image display apparatus includes a light source section that emits a laser beam, a scan mirror that scans the laser beam two-dimensionally in a first direction and a second direction which intersects the first direction, and a control section that drives the scan mirror. Herein, the control section drives the scan mirror such that a scan frequency in the first direction becomes higher than a scan frequency in the second direction, and changes the scan frequency in the first direction in synchronization with a period of the scan frequency in the second direction to change a scan amplitude in the first direction.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2009Date of Patent: February 12, 2013Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventor: Akira Kurozuka
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Patent number: 8350789Abstract: A 2D image display apparatus using a laser light source. By controlling the timing of a scan by a beam scan portion in response to the characteristic of a laser light source and by setting a light emitting time of the laser light source to an integral multiple of a scan cycle of the beam scan portion, it is possible to illuminate a spatial light modulator homogeneously with a laser beam. It is thus possible to display an image at high accuracy without causing a bright line, irregularities in brightness, and contrast deterioration.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2007Date of Patent: January 8, 2013Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Hiroyuki Furuya, Kiminori Mizuuchi, Toshifumi Yokoyama, Tatsuo Itoh, Akira Kurozuka, Kazuhisa Yamamoto