Patents by Inventor Atsuo Masui

Atsuo Masui 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).

  • Publication number: 20060098300
    Abstract: A variable magnification optical system for forming an optical image of an object on the light receiving surface of the image sensor so that the magnification is variable includes from the object side: a first lens unit GR1 having negative optical power; a second lens unit GR2 having positive optical power; a third lens unit GR3 having positive optical power; and a fourth lens unit GR4 having positive or negative optical power. In magnification variation from the wide-angle end (W) to the telephoto end (T), at least first lens unit GR1 and the second lens unit GR2 are movable, and the fourth lens unit GR4 is stationary. An optical member having a wavelength selecting property is included in the fourth lens unit GR4.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2005
    Publication date: May 11, 2006
    Inventors: Yasushi Yamamoto, Hiromichi Nose, Atsuo Masui
  • Patent number: 7042652
    Abstract: A zoom lens system for forming an optical image of a subject on the image-sensing surface of an image sensor has three lens units, namely, from the object side thereof, a first lens unit having a negative optical power, a second lens unit having a positive optical power, and a third lens unit having a positive optical power, and achieves zooming by varying the distances between the individual lens units in such a way that, during zooming from the wide-angle end to the telephoto end, the distance between the first and second lens units decreases. The first lens unit is composed of two or more lens elements, and the first lens element, i.e., the lens element disposed at the object-side end of the first lens unit, and the last lens element, i.e., the lens element disposed at the image-side end of the third lens unit, are plastic lens elements. Moreover, a prescribed conditional formula is fulfilled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Photo Imaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Hiromichi Nose, Mamoru Terada, Atsuo Masui
  • Publication number: 20060023319
    Abstract: An image forming device is provided with: a zoom lens system TL that performs magnification varying by changing the distance between the lens units; and an image sensor SR that converts an optical image formed by the zoom lens system TL into an electric signal. The zoom lens system TL includes at least a negative first lens unit GR1 and a positive second lens unit GR2, and at least the first lens unit GR1 and the second lens unit GR2 move in zooming from the wide angle end (W) to the telephoto end (T). The second lens unit GR2 includes three lens elements of, from the object side, a positive meniscus lens element L21 convex to the object side, a negative lens element L22 and a positive lens element L23, and the following condition is satisfied: ?1.0<(CR1?CR2)/(CR1+CR2)<0.0 (CR1 is the front radius of curvature of the most object side lens element L21 in the second lens unit GR2, and CR2 is the rear radius of curvature of the most object side lens element L21 in the second lens unit GR2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2005
    Publication date: February 2, 2006
    Inventors: Mamoru Terada, Hiromichi Nose, Atsuo Masui
  • Publication number: 20060018033
    Abstract: An image forming device is provided with: a zoom lens system TL that performs magnification varying by changing the distance between the lens units; and an image sensor SR that converts an optical image formed by the zoom lens system TL into an electric signal. The zoom lens system TL comprises three lens units of negative, positive, positive configuration. The second lens unit Gr2 comprises three single lens elements of, from the object side, a positive lens element L21, a negative meniscus lens element L22 convex to the object side and a positive lens element L23. A condition 1.0<|P22/P21|<2.0 (P21 is the optical power of the object side positive lens element L21 in the second lens unit GR2, and P22 is the optical power of the negative meniscus lens element L22 in the second lens unit GR2) is satisfied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2005
    Publication date: January 26, 2006
    Inventors: Atsuo Masui, Hiromichi Nose, Mamoru Terada
  • Patent number: 6977778
    Abstract: A zoom lens system for forming an optical image of a subject on the image-sensing surface of an image sensor has three lens units, namely, from the object side thereof, a first lens unit having a negative optical power, a second lens unit having a positive optical power, and a third lens unit having a positive optical power, and achieves zooming by varying the distances between the individual lens units in such a way that, during zooming from the wide-angle end to the telephoto end, the distance between the first and second lens units decreases. The first lens unit is composed of two or more lens elements, and the first lens element, i.e., the lens element disposed at the object-side end of the first lens unit, is a plastic lens element. Moreover, a prescribed conditional formula is fulfilled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Photo Imaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Hiromichi Nose, Mamoru Terada, Atsuo Masui
  • Publication number: 20050200970
    Abstract: A zoom lens system for forming an optical image of a subject on the image-sensing surface of an image sensor includes at least, from the object side thereof, a first lens unit having a negative optical power and a second lens unit having a positive optical power, and achieves zooming by varying the distances between the individual lens units in such a way that, during zooming from the wide-angle end to the telephoto end, the distance between the first and second lens units decreases. The first lens unit consists of two plastic lens elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2004
    Publication date: September 15, 2005
    Inventors: Hiromichi Nose, Mamoru Terada, Atsuo Masui
  • Publication number: 20050200972
    Abstract: A zoom lens system for forming an optical image of a subject on the image-sensing surface of an image sensor has three lens units, namely, from the object side thereof, a first lens unit having a negative optical power, a second lens unit having a positive optical power, and a third lens unit having a positive optical power, and achieves zooming by varying the distances between the individual lens units in such a way that, during zooming from the wide-angle end to the telephoto end, the distance between the first and second lens units decreases. The first lens unit is composed of two or more lens elements, and the first lens element, i.e., the lens element disposed at the object-side end of the first lens unit, and the last lens element, i.e., the lens element disposed at the image-side end of the third lens unit, are plastic lens elements. Moreover, a prescribed conditional formula is fulfilled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2004
    Publication date: September 15, 2005
    Inventors: Hiromichi Nose, Mamoru Terada, Atsuo Masui
  • Publication number: 20050200969
    Abstract: A zoom lens system for forming an optical image of a subject on the image-sensing surface of an image sensor has three lens units, namely, from the object side thereof, a first lens unit having a negative optical power, a second lens unit having a positive optical power, and a third lens unit having a positive optical power, and achieves zooming by varying the distances between the individual lens units in such a way that, during zooming from the wide-angle end to the telephoto end, the distance between the first and second lens units decreases. The first lens unit is composed of two or more lens elements, and the first lens element, i.e., the lens element disposed at the object-side end of the first lens unit, is a plastic lens element. Moreover, a prescribed conditional formula is fulfilled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2004
    Publication date: September 15, 2005
    Inventors: Hiromichi Nose, Mamoru Terada, Atsuo Masui
  • Publication number: 20050200968
    Abstract: A zoom lens system for forming an optical image of a subject on the image-sensing surface of an image sensor has three lens units, namely, from the object side thereof, a first lens unit having a negative optical power, a second lens unit having a positive optical power, and a third lens unit having a positive optical power. The lens units each include at least one plastic lens element. The zoom lens system as a whole includes at least one glass lens element that fulfills a prescribed conditional formula.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2004
    Publication date: September 15, 2005
    Inventors: Hiromichi Nose, Mamoru Terada, Atsuo Masui