Patents by Inventor Atsushi Ozawa
Atsushi Ozawa 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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Patent number: 12167518Abstract: A first light emitting unit includes M (M?2) first light emitting elements provided in series. A second light emitting unit including N (N<M) second light emitting elements and a switching transistor are provided on a path parallel to the first light emitting unit. A constant-current driver is connected in series to both the first light emitting unit and the second light emitting unit, and generates a drive current. A drive circuit includes a capacitor provided between a gate and a drain of the switching transistor, and causes the gate of the switching transistor to generate a drive signal according to a switching signal.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2022Date of Patent: December 10, 2024Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventors: Tomoyuki Ichikawa, Toru Ito, Atsushi Ozawa
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Patent number: 12058792Abstract: A semiconductor light source and a constant current circuit are arranged in series between an input terminal and a ground terminal. When an input voltage at the input terminal exceeds a predetermined threshold voltage, a load dump circuit cuts off or reduces a current that flows through the constant current circuit.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2021Date of Patent: August 6, 2024Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventors: Tomoyuki Ichikawa, Tetsuya Suzuki, Atsushi Ozawa, Toru Ito
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Patent number: 12048073Abstract: An automotive lamp includes a temperature-sensing element having an electrical state that changes according to the temperature T of a semiconductor light source, and a constant current driver that generates a driving current ILED that corresponds to the temperature T. The maximum value of the temperature differential of the driving current ILED in a first temperature range from a reference temperature T0 to a first temperature T1 (T1>T0) is smaller than the maximum value of the temperature differential of the driving current ILED in a second temperature range from the first temperature T1 to a second temperature T2 (T2>T1).Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2022Date of Patent: July 23, 2024Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventors: Tomoyuki Ichikawa, Toru Ito, Atsushi Ozawa
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Patent number: 11906123Abstract: A light source module is switchable between a high beam and a low beam, and is mounted on a vehicle. A first light source is arranged such that its output light is irradiated to a low-beam region by a first optical system. A second light source is arranged such that its output light is irradiated to a high-beam region by a second optical system. A lighting circuit supplies a driving current to the first light source in response to a turn-on instruction for either the high beam or the low beam. Furthermore, the lighting circuit supplies the output current to the second light source in response to a turn-on instruction for the high beam.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2022Date of Patent: February 20, 2024Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventors: Tomoyuki Ichikawa, Norikazu Saito, Atsushi Ozawa
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Patent number: 11910504Abstract: There is provided a rear sign lamp capable of enhancing safety. An LED string (502) includes four LEDs (504_1 to 504_4) connected in series. An LED driver circuit (610) receives a battery voltage (VIN) and supplies a drive current (ILED) stabilized at a target current (IREF) to the LED string (502). A bypass circuit (620) is provided in parallel with a bypassed portion (503) including two adjacent LEDs (504_3 and 504_4) of the LED string (502), and sinks a bypass current (IBYPASS) according to a battery voltage (VIN).Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2021Date of Patent: February 20, 2024Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventors: Tomoyuki Ichikawa, Atsushi Ozawa, Mariko Miwa, Yutaka Matsumoto
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Publication number: 20240019102Abstract: A socket housing having an engaging portion that is engaged with a predetermined member; a substrate having a base plate formed by a resin material and a wiring pattern formed in at least a surface on one side, in a thickness direction, of the base plate; a light-emitting element that is connected to the wiring pattern; an annular frame that is formed on the substrate and covers the light-emitting element; a sealing resin that is packed inside the frame and seals the light-emitting element; and an electronic component joined to a land that is formed on an outer circumferential side of the frame. The frame is formed as a resin material having fluidity applied to the substrate is hardened. A clearance between the frame and the land or a clearance between the frame and the electronic component, whichever is smaller, is set to be 0.1 mm or larger.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 26, 2021Publication date: January 18, 2024Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventors: Tomoyuki ICHIKAWA, Atsushi OZAWA, Tomoyuki NAKAGAWA, Toru ITO, Tetsuya SUZUKI
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Patent number: 11809124Abstract: A cleaning unit is attachable to and detachable from a main body of an image forming apparatus including a photosensitive drum and a belt configured to contact the photosensitive drum. The cleaning unit includes: a frame; and a handle. The frame is configured to accommodate therein developing agent collected from the image forming apparatus. The handle includes: a pair of first parts; and a second part. Each of the pair of first parts extends from the frame in an extending direction perpendicular to an axial direction of the photosensitive drum in a state where the cleaning unit is attached to the main body. The pair of first parts includes a lock mechanism for locking the cleaning unit to the main body. The second part extends in the axial direction and connects the pair of first parts to each other.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2022Date of Patent: November 7, 2023Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Atsushi Ozawa, Yohei Hashimoto, Hikaru Iino
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Publication number: 20230213885Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a main body casing, a cover, a drum cartridge, a developing cartridge, an intermediate transfer belt and a movable cam. The movable cam is movable among a first position when the cover is in the open position, a second positon and a third position when the cover is in the closed position. In a case where the movable cam is in the first position, the photosensitive drum is in a first drum position spaced from the intermediate transfer belt, and the developing roller is in a first developing position spaced from the photosensitive drum. In a case where the movable cam is in the second position, the photosensitive drum is positioned toward the the intermediate transfer belt from the first drum position. In a case where the cam is in the third position, the developing roller is positioned toward the photosensitive drum from the first developing position.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 10, 2023Publication date: July 6, 2023Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Daisuke Ishizuka, Atsushi Ozawa, Hideshi Nishiyama
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Patent number: 11635726Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a main body casing, a cover, a drum cartridge, a developing cartridge, an intermediate transfer belt and a movable cam. The movable cam is movable among a first position when the cover is in the open position, a second position and a third position when the cover is in the closed position. In a case where the movable cam is in the first position, the photosensitive drum is in a first drum position spaced from the intermediate transfer belt, and the developing roller is in a first developing position spaced from the photosensitive drum. In a case where the movable cam is in the second position, the photosensitive drum is positioned toward the intermediate transfer belt from the first drum position. In a case where the cam is in the third position, the developing roller is positioned toward the photosensitive drum from the first developing position.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2021Date of Patent: April 25, 2023Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Daisuke Ishizuka, Atsushi Ozawa, Hideshi Nishiyama
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Publication number: 20230112753Abstract: There is provided a rear sign lamp capable of enhancing safety. An LED string (502) includes four LEDs (504_1 to 504_4) connected in series. An LED driver circuit (610) receives a battery voltage (VIN) and supplies a drive current (ILED) stabilized at a target current (IREF) to the LED string (502). A bypass circuit (620) is provided in parallel with a bypassed portion (503) including two adjacent LEDs (504_3 and 504_4) of the LED string (502), and sinks a bypass current (IBYPASS) according to a battery voltage (VIN).Type: ApplicationFiled: March 10, 2021Publication date: April 13, 2023Inventors: Tomoyuki ICHIKAWA, Atsushi OZAWA, Mariko MIWA, Yutaka MATSUMOTO
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Publication number: 20230104439Abstract: An LED string includes a plurality of LEDs connected in series, and is divided into a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion. An LED driver circuit receives a power supply voltage according to a battery voltage, and supplies a drive current stabilized at a target current to the LED string. A first bypass circuit is provided in parallel to the first portion and generates a bypass current having a current amount according to the power supply voltage. A second bypass circuit includes a bypass switch provided in parallel to the first portion and the second portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 9, 2022Publication date: April 6, 2023Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventors: Tomoyuki ICHIKAWA, Ryota FUWA, Atsushi OZAWA
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Publication number: 20230104593Abstract: A first light emitting unit includes M (M?2) first light emitting elements provided in series. A second light emitting unit including N (N<M) second light emitting elements and a switching transistor are provided on a path parallel to the first light emitting unit. A constant-current driver is connected in series to both the first light emitting unit and the second light emitting unit, and generates a drive current. A drive circuit includes a capacitor provided between a gate and a drain of the switching transistor, and causes the gate of the switching transistor to generate a drive signal according to a switching signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 9, 2022Publication date: April 6, 2023Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventors: Tomoyuki ICHIKAWA, Toru ITO, Atsushi OZAWA
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Publication number: 20230019114Abstract: Provided is an electric storage device including: an electric storage unit; a temperature measurement unit that detects the temperature of the electric storage unit; a current measurement unit that measures the charge/discharge current of the electric storage unit; and a safety evaluation unit that calculates the safety evaluation value of the electric storage unit, where the safety evaluation unit determines a temperature range to which the temperature detected by the temperature measurement unit belongs among multiple temperature ranges, and calculates a safety evaluation value, based on the temperature range as a result of the determination and an accumulated value of a value related to the charge/discharge time of the electric storage unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 23, 2022Publication date: January 19, 2023Inventors: Fumihito KOMAKINE, Yosuke YAMADA, Shinichi UESAKA, Atsushi OZAWA
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Publication number: 20220413428Abstract: A cleaning unit is attachable to and detachable from a main body of an image forming apparatus including a photosensitive drum and a belt configured to contact the photosensitive drum. The cleaning unit includes: a frame; and a handle. The frame is configured to accommodate therein developing agent collected from the image forming apparatus. The handle includes: a pair of first parts; and a second part. Each of the pair of first parts extends from the frame in an extending direction perpendicular to an axial direction of the photosensitive drum in a state where the cleaning unit is attached to the main body. The pair of first parts includes a lock mechanism for locking the cleaning unit to the main body. The second part extends in the axial direction and connects the pair of first parts to each other.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 14, 2022Publication date: December 29, 2022Applicant: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Atsushi OZAWA, Yohei HASHIMOTO, Hikaru IINO
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Publication number: 20220353966Abstract: An automotive lamp includes a temperature-sensing element having an electrical state that changes according to the temperature T of a semiconductor light source, and a constant current driver that generates a driving current ILED that corresponds to the temperature T. The maximum value of the temperature differential of the driving current ILED in a first temperature range from a reference temperature T0 to a first temperature T1 (T1>T0) is smaller than the maximum value of the temperature differential of the driving current ILED in a second temperature range from the first temperature T1 to a second temperature T2 (T2>T1).Type: ApplicationFiled: July 19, 2022Publication date: November 3, 2022Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventors: Tomoyuki ICHIKAWA, Toru ITO, Atsushi OZAWA
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Publication number: 20220154905Abstract: A light source module is switchable between a high beam and a low beam, and is mounted on a vehicle. A first light source is arranged such that its output light is irradiated to a low-beam region by a first optical system. A second light source is arranged such that its output light is irradiated to a high-beam region by a second optical system. A lighting circuit supplies a driving current to the first light source in response to a turn-on instruction for either the high beam or the low beam. Furthermore, the lighting circuit supplies the output current to the second light source in response to a turn-on instruction for the high beam.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 31, 2022Publication date: May 19, 2022Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventors: Tomoyuki ICHIKAWA, Norikazu SAITO, Atsushi OZAWA
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Publication number: 20210410248Abstract: A semiconductor light source and a constant current circuit are arranged in series between an input terminal and a ground terminal. When an input voltage at the input terminal exceeds a predetermined threshold voltage, a load dump circuit cuts off or reduces a current that flows through the constant current circuit.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 10, 2021Publication date: December 30, 2021Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventors: Tomoyuki ICHIKAWA, Tetsuya SUZUKI, Atsushi OZAWA, Toru ITO
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Publication number: 20210240129Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a main body casing, a cover, a drum cartridge, a developing cartridge, an intermediate transfer belt and a movable cam. The movable cam is movable among a first position when the cover is in the open position, a second positon and a third position when the cover is in the closed position. In a case where the movable cam is in the first position, the photosensitive drum is in a first drum position spaced from the intermediate transfer belt, and the developing roller is in a first developing position spaced from the photosensitive drum. In a case where the movable cam is in the second position, the photosensitive drum is positioned toward the the intermediate transfer belt from the first drum position. In a case where the cam is in the third position, the developing roller is positioned toward the photosensitive drum from the first developing position.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 23, 2021Publication date: August 5, 2021Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Daisuke ISHIZUKA, Atsushi OZAWA, Hideshi NISHIYAMA
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Patent number: 11003128Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a main body casing, a cover, a drum cartridge, a developing cartridge, an intermediate transfer belt and a movable cam. The movable cam is movable among a first position when the cover is in the open position, a second position and a third position when the cover is in the closed position. In a case where the movable cam is in the first position, the photosensitive drum is in a first drum position spaced from the intermediate transfer belt, and the developing roller is in a first developing position spaced from the photosensitive drum. In a case where the movable cam is in the second position, the photosensitive drum is positioned toward the intermediate transfer belt from the first drum position. In a case where the cam is in the third position, the developing roller is positioned toward the photosensitive drum from the first developing position.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2020Date of Patent: May 11, 2021Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Daisuke Ishizuka, Atsushi Ozawa, Hideshi Nishiyama
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Publication number: 20200285190Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a main body casing, a cover, a drum cartridge, a developing cartridge, an intermediate transfer belt and a movable cam. The movable cam is movable among a first position when the cover is in the open position, a second position and a third position when the cover is in the closed position. In a case where the movable cam is in the first position, the photosensitive drum is in a first drum position spaced from the intermediate transfer belt, and the developing roller is in a first developing position spaced from the photosensitive drum. In a case where the movable cam is in the second position, the photosensitive drum is positioned toward the intermediate transfer belt from the first drum position. In a case where the cam is in the third position, the developing roller is positioned toward the photosensitive drum from the first developing position.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 5, 2020Publication date: September 10, 2020Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Daisuke ISHIZUKA, Atsushi OZAWA, Hideshi NISHIYAMA