Patents by Inventor Akira Nemura

Akira Nemura 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: 11537032
    Abstract: An optical path shifting device includes: a holding frame holding a rectangular glass plate; a support part supporting the holding frame in a swingable state; an actuator causing the holding frame to swing; a magnetic sensor detecting a position of the holding frame; and a thermistor detecting a temperature of the magnetic sensor. A drive signal processing circuit includes: an amplifier amplifying a reference signal to generate a drive signal and supplying the drive signal to the actuator; and a signal processing unit inputting the reference signal and an amplifier gain to the amplifier. The signal processing unit performs gain adjustment processing to correct an amplitude value found from an output from the magnetic sensor, based on an output from the thermistor, and to adjust the amplifier gain, based on a corrected value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Shinichi Wakabayashi, Akira Nemura, Takao Hirakura, Daisuke Yanagihara, Nozomi Fujishige, Kazunori Maeta
  • Patent number: 11131428
    Abstract: An adjusting mechanism includes a movable plate having a substantially rectangular shape and including a long side and a short side, a position adjusting actuator configured to come into contact with and press the movable plate, a reference plate on which the movable plate is placed, and an elastic member coupling the movable plate and the reference plate, the elastic member being elastically deformable in a direction along an X axis. The position adjusting actuator adjusts a position of the movable plate with respect to the reference plate when the position adjusting actuator presses the movable plate in the direction along the X axis and moves the movable plate in the direction along the X axis and a ?z direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akira Nemura, Tomohisa Iwazaki, Yutaka Arakawa
  • Patent number: 10989992
    Abstract: An adjusting mechanism for adjusting a position of a display panel includes a first plate including a placing portion on which the display panel is placed, a second plate on which the first plate is placed, the second plate disposed on the opposite side of a display panel side with respect to the first plate, a third plate on which the second plate is placed, the third plate disposed on an opposite side of a first plate side with respect to the second plate, a first position adjusting actuator configured to move the first plate in a direction along a Z axis, a ?x direction, and a ?y direction, a second position adjusting actuator configured to move the second plate in a direction along an X axis and a ?z direction, and a third position adjusting actuator configured to move the third plate in a direction along the Y axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akira Nemura, Yutaka Arakawa, Tomohisa Iwazaki
  • Publication number: 20200271271
    Abstract: An adjusting mechanism includes a movable plate having a substantially rectangular shape and including a long side and a short side, a position adjusting actuator configured to come into contact with and press the movable plate, a reference plate on which the movable plate is placed, and an elastic member coupling the movable plate and the reference plate, the elastic member being elastically deformable in a direction along an X axis. The position adjusting actuator adjusts a position of the movable plate with respect to the reference plate when the position adjusting actuator presses the movable plate in the direction along the X axis and moves the movable plate in the direction along the X axis and a ?z direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2020
    Publication date: August 27, 2020
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akira NEMURA, Tomohisa IWAZAKI, Yutaka ARAKAWA
  • Publication number: 20200272035
    Abstract: An adjusting mechanism for adjusting a position of a display panel includes a first plate including a placing portion on which the display panel is placed, a second plate on which the first plate is placed, the second plate disposed on the opposite side of a display panel side with respect to the first plate, a third plate on which the second plate is placed, the third plate disposed on an opposite side of a first plate side with respect to the second plate, a first position adjusting actuator configured to move the first plate in a direction along a Z axis, a ?x direction, and a ?y direction, a second position adjusting actuator configured to move the second plate in a direction along an X axis and a ?z direction, and a third position adjusting actuator configured to move the third plate in a direction along the Y axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2020
    Publication date: August 27, 2020
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akira NEMURA, Yutaka ARAKAWA, Tomohisa IWAZAKI
  • Publication number: 20200159093
    Abstract: An optical path shifting device includes: a holding frame holding a rectangular glass plate; a support part supporting the holding frame in a swingable state; an actuator causing the holding frame to swing; a magnetic sensor detecting a position of the holding frame; and a thermistor detecting a temperature of the magnetic sensor. A drive signal processing circuit includes: an amplifier amplifying a reference signal to generate a drive signal and supplying the drive signal to the actuator; and a signal processing unit inputting the reference signal and an amplifier gain to the amplifier. The signal processing unit performs gain adjustment processing to correct an amplitude value found from an output from the magnetic sensor, based on an output from the thermistor, and to adjust the amplifier gain, based on a corrected value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2019
    Publication date: May 21, 2020
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shinichi WAKABAYASHI, Akira NEMURA, Takao HIRAKURA, Daisuke YANAGIHARA, Nozomi FUJISHIGE, Kazunori MAETA
  • Patent number: 10571785
    Abstract: Provided is a lens alignment adjustment device capable of suitably correcting an angle accuracy of an optical axis of a lens unit with respect to a projector main body. A lens alignment adjustment device is provided to a projector to retain a projection lens, and is capable of adjusting inclination of an optical axis of the projection lens with respect to the projector. The lens alignment adjustment device includes: a base plate which is retained in a predetermined posture with respect to the projector; and a lens fixing plate to which the projection lens is fixed. The lens fixing plate is rockably coupled to the base plate through intermediation of a first center pin orthogonal to an optical axis of the projection lens. First adjusting means for setting an inclination angle of the lens fixing plate with respect to the base plate about the first center pin is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignees: THK CO., LTD., SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Noriaki Chikamoto, Hiroyuki Furui, Akira Nemura
  • Patent number: 10460424
    Abstract: A projector includes a light source, a light modulator that has an image drawing region where an image is drawable and modulates light emitted from the light source by using an image drawn in the image drawing region, and a projection system that includes a projection lens and projects image light modulated by the light modulator. The projector further includes a lens shift mechanism that moves the projection lens and a control section that controls the image drawing performed by the light modulator, and the control section provides, based on the position of the projection lens, the image drawing region of the light modulator with a suppression region where the amount of the image light is suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shuji Narimatsu, Takateru Mori, Akira Nemura, Hiroyuki Furui
  • Publication number: 20190033696
    Abstract: Provided is a lens alignment adjustment device capable of suitably correcting an angle accuracy of an optical axis of a lens unit with respect to a projector main body. A lens alignment adjustment device is provided to a projector to retain a projection lens, and is capable of adjusting inclination of an optical axis of the projection lens with respect to the projector. The lens alignment adjustment device includes: a base plate which is retained in a predetermined posture with respect to the projector; and a lens fixing plate to which the projection lens is fixed. The lens fixing plate is rockably coupled to the base plate through intermediation of a first center pin orthogonal to an optical axis of the projection lens. First adjusting means for setting an inclination angle of the lens fixing plate with respect to the base plate about the first center pin is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2017
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Applicants: THK CO., LTD., SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Noriaki Chikamoto, Hiroyuki Furui, Akira Nemura
  • Patent number: 10146111
    Abstract: A light adjuster includes: a first light shield and a second light shield disposed across a central axis of an emitted light beam; a drive section; a movement mechanism configured to move the first light shield and the second light shield using a driving force; a board; and a cover member combined with the board, in which the movement mechanism includes: a pinion gear; and a first gear and a second gear configured to be rotated in conjunction with a rotation of the pinion gear, the first light shield is attached to the first gear, the second light shield is attached to the second gear, and the cover member supports the first gear and the second gear so that the first gear and the second gear are rotatable, and is combined with the board to cover the pinion gear, the first gear and the second gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akira Nemura, Shinichi Wakabayashi, Keita Tsukioka, Satoshi Chikuni
  • Patent number: 9933695
    Abstract: A position detection device includes: a sensor that includes a light emission unit and a light reception unit receiving light emitted from the light emission unit; a driving unit; a gear (transmission gear) that is disposed at a position facing the sensor and is rotated by power from the driving unit; and a control unit that drives the driving unit based on an amount of light received by the light reception unit and detected by the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hirofumi Okubo, Kazunori Maeta, Akira Nemura
  • Publication number: 20180031956
    Abstract: A light adjuster includes: a first light shield and a second light shield disposed across a central axis of an emitted light beam; a drive section; a movement mechanism configured to move the first light shield and the second light shield using a driving force; a board; and a cover member combined with the board, in which the movement mechanism includes: a pinion gear; and a first gear and a second gear configured to be rotated in conjunction with a rotation of the pinion gear, the first light shield is attached to the first gear, the second light shield is attached to the second gear, and the cover member supports the first gear and the second gear so that the first gear and the second gear are rotatable, and is combined with the board to cover the pinion gear, the first gear and the second gear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2017
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akira NEMURA, Shinichi WAKABAYASHI, Keita TSUKIOKA, Satoshi CHIKUNI
  • Publication number: 20180033123
    Abstract: A projector includes a light source, a light modulator that has an image drawing region where an image is drawable and modulates light emitted from the light source by using an image drawn in the image drawing region, and a projection system that includes a projection lens and projects image light modulated by the light modulator. The projector further includes a lens shift mechanism that moves the projection lens and a control section that controls the image drawing performed by the light modulator, and the control section provides, based on the position of the projection lens, the image drawing region of the light modulator with a suppression region where the amount of the image light is suppressed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2017
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shuji NARIMATSU, Takateru MORI, Akira NEMURA, Hiroyuki FURUI
  • Publication number: 20170205699
    Abstract: A position detection device includes: a sensor that includes a light emission unit and a light reception unit receiving light emitted from the light emission unit; a driving unit; a gear (transmission gear) that is disposed at a position facing the sensor and is rotated by power from the driving unit; and a control unit that drives the driving unit based on an amount of light received by the light reception unit and detected by the sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2017
    Publication date: July 20, 2017
    Inventors: Hirofumi Okubo, Kazunori Maeta, Akira Nemura
  • Patent number: 9535312
    Abstract: A lens shift mechanism includes a movable portion configured to support a projection lens and movable in two directions orthogonal to each other in a plane orthogonal to an optical axis; first and second operating units configured to generate drive forces for moving the movable portion in the two directions, respectively, first and second rotating portions to which the drive forces generated by the first and second operating units are transmitted, and a lock mechanism configured to be capable of switching between a locked state in which the two operating units are locked and an unlocked state in which the two rotating portions are rotatable, and the lock mechanism includes first and second locking members configured to lock the first and second rotating portions respectively and a lever mechanism configured to move the two locking members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Akira Nemura
  • Patent number: 9482934
    Abstract: A projector includes: an optical unit body having a light modulating apparatus configured to modulate an optical flux emitted from a light source according to image information; a projection lens configured to project the optical flux modulated by the light modulating apparatus; and an adjusting mechanism configured to adjust an inclination of the projection lens with respect to the optical unit body. The adjusting mechanism includes; a supporting portion configured to support the projection lens; a base portion configured to constitute part of the optical unit body; a clamping portion configured to clamp the base portion in cooperation with the supporting portion; a fixing member configured to fix the supporting portion to the clamping portion; and adjusting members configured to be capable of adjusting a distance between the base portion and the supporting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Nemura, Masayuki Okoshi
  • Publication number: 20150370152
    Abstract: A lens shift mechanism includes a movable portion configured to support a projection lens and movable in two directions orthogonal to each other in a plane orthogonal to an optical axis; first and second operating units configured to generate drive forces for moving the movable portion in the two directions, respectively, first and second rotating portions to which the drive forces generated by the first and second operating units are transmitted, and a lock mechanism configured to be capable of switching between a locked state in which the two operating units are locked and an unlocked state in which the two rotating portions are rotatable, and the lock mechanism includes first and second locking members configured to lock the first and second rotating portions respectively and a lever mechanism configured to move the two locking members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2015
    Publication date: December 24, 2015
    Inventor: Akira Nemura
  • Patent number: 9154755
    Abstract: A lens shift mechanism includes a movable portion configured to support a projection lens and movable in two directions orthogonal to each other in a plane orthogonal to an optical axis; first and second operating units configured to generate drive forces for moving the movable portion in the two directions, respectively, first and second rotating portions to which the drive forces generated by the first and second operating units are transmitted, and a lock mechanism configured to be capable of switching between a locked state in which the two operating units are locked and an unlocked state in which the two rotating portions are rotatable, and the lock mechanism includes first and second locking members configured to lock the first and second rotating portions respectively and a lever mechanism configured to move the two locking members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Akira Nemura
  • Publication number: 20140092371
    Abstract: A projector includes: an optical unit body having a light modulating apparatus configured to modulate an optical flux emitted from a light source according to image information; a projection lens configured to project the optical flux modulated by the light modulating apparatus; and an adjusting mechanism configured to adjust an inclination of the projection lens with respect to the optical unit body. The adjusting mechanism includes; a supporting portion configured to support the projection lens; a base portion configured to constitute part of the optical unit body; a clamping portion configured to clamp the base portion in cooperation with the supporting portion; a fixing member configured to fix the supporting portion to the clamping portion; and adjusting members configured to be capable of adjusting a distance between the base portion and the supporting portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Nemura, Masayuki Okoshi
  • Publication number: 20140092370
    Abstract: A lens shift mechanism includes a movable portion configured to support a projection lens and movable in two directions orthogonal to each other in a plane orthogonal to an optical axis; first and second operating units configured to generate drive forces for moving the movable portion in the two directions, respectively, first and second rotating portions to which the drive forces generated by the first and second operating units are transmitted, and a lock mechanism configured to be capable of switching between a locked state in which the two operating units are locked and an unlocked state in which the two rotating portions are rotatable, and the lock mechanism includes first and second locking members configured to lock the first and second rotating portions respectively and a lever mechanism configured to move the two locking members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Akira Nemura