Patents by Inventor Futoshi Hirai

Futoshi Hirai 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: 9599879
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus capable of reducing unnecessary reflected light without narrowing an exposure area. A holding member holds a semi-transparent mirror and is rotatably supported by a mirror box so as to move between a mirror-down position in a photographing light path and a mirror-up position out of the photographing light path. A shading member is supported on an object-side end of the holding member via a rotation shaft so as to rotate between a closed position close to the holding member and an opened position apart from the holding member. An urging member energizes the shading member toward the opened position when the holding member is in the mirror-down position. An engagement portion engages with the shading member when the holding member rotates toward the mirror-up position so as to rotate the shading member toward the closed position against the urging force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Futoshi Hirai, Hiroyasu Sugihara
  • Publication number: 20160327850
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus capable of reducing unnecessary reflected light without narrowing an exposure area. A holding member holds a semi-transparent mirror and is rotatably supported by a mirror box so as to move between a mirror-down position in a photographing light path and a mirror-up position out of the photographing light path. A shading member is supported on an object-side end of the holding member via a rotation shaft so as to rotate between a closed position close to the holding member and an opened position apart from the holding member. An urging member energizes the shading member toward the opened position when the holding member is in the mirror-down position. An engagement portion engages with the shading member when the holding member rotates toward the mirror-up position so as to rotate the shading member toward the closed position against the urging force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2016
    Publication date: November 10, 2016
    Inventors: Futoshi Hirai, Hiroyasu Sugihara
  • Patent number: 9253385
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a pentaprism that guides incident light to an eyepiece optical system and a plurality of outer covering members. Among the photographing light flux incident from a photographing optical system, light reflected by a rotary mirror 52m is further reflected by the reflection surface of the pentaprism to thereby reach an ocular lens. A wireless substrate on which an antenna section is mounted is arranged between the pentaprism and a front outer cover. The substrate fixing member is a member for fixing the wireless substrate and the ground section of the wireless substrate is connected to the substrate fixing member at a position facing the antenna section with the optical axis of the eyepiece optical system therebetween. The substrate fixing member is attached to a pentaprism fixing member so as to be electrically connected to the ground section of the imaging apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Futoshi Hirai, Toru Kawashima
  • Patent number: 9113062
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a pentaprism and outer covering members. Among the photographing light flux incident from a photographing optical system, light reflected by a rotary mirror is further reflected by the reflection surface of the pentaprism to thereby reach an ocular lens. A wireless substrate on which an antenna section is mounted is arranged between the pentaprism and a front outer cover. The substrate fixing member fixes the wireless substrate and is attached to a pentaprism fixing member so as to be electrically connected to the ground section of the imaging apparatus. The ground section of the wireless substrate is connected to the substrate fixing member at a position facing the antenna section with the optical axis of the eyepiece optical system therebetween. The electrical resistivity of a region facing the antenna section in the front outer cover is set relatively higher than the periphery of the region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Futoshi Hirai, Toru Kawashima
  • Publication number: 20150215508
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a pentaprism that guides incident light to an eyepiece optical system and a plurality of outer covering members. Among the photographing light flux incident from a photographing optical system, light reflected by a rotary mirror 52m is further reflected by the reflection surface of the pentaprism to thereby reach an ocular lens. A wireless substrate on which an antenna section is mounted is arranged between the pentaprism and a front outer cover. The substrate fixing member is a member for fixing the wireless substrate and the ground section of the wireless substrate is connected to the substrate fixing member at a position facing the antenna section with the optical axis of the eyepiece optical system therebetween. The substrate fixing member is attached to a pentaprism fixing member so as to be electrically connected to the ground section of the imaging apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2015
    Publication date: July 30, 2015
    Inventors: Futoshi Hirai, Toru Kawashima
  • Publication number: 20140063335
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a pentaprism and outer covering members. Among the photographing light flux incident from a photographing optical system, light reflected by a rotary mirror is further reflected by the reflection surface of the pentaprism to thereby reach an ocular lens. A wireless substrate on which an antenna section is mounted is arranged between the pentaprism and a front outer cover. The substrate fixing member fixes the wireless substrate and is attached to a pentaprism fixing member so as to be electrically connected to the ground section of the imaging apparatus. The ground section of the wireless substrate is connected to the substrate fixing member at a position facing the antenna section with the optical axis of the eyepiece optical system therebetween. The electrical resistivity of a region facing the antenna section in the front outer cover is set relatively higher than the periphery of the region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Futoshi Hirai, Toru Kawashima
  • Patent number: 8654276
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus includes: a display panel, a retention member retaining the display panel, and an external case covering the retention member. The retention member has a retention main body portion retaining the display panel and a plurality of fastening portions for fixing to the external case. At least one of the plurality of fastening portions has a displacement absorbing portion absorbing displacement of the retention member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Matsumoto, Futoshi Hirai
  • Patent number: 8016498
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus which is capable of effectively removing dust attached to an optical member due to mounting/removing of a photographic lens in a power-off state, to thereby prevent degradation of image quality. In the image pickup apparatus, when position information of a contact brush that moves in a manner interlocked with mounting/removing of the photographic lens differs immediately after execution of power-on operation from position information obtained immediately after execution of power-off operation, it is determined that photographic lens mounting/removing operation was carried out during power-off, and a camera microcomputer outputs a warning advising cleaning of the optical member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Futoshi Hirai
  • Publication number: 20110187959
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus includes: a display panel, a retention member retaining the display panel, and an external case covering the retention member. The retention member has a retention main body portion retaining the display panel and a plurality of fastening portions for fixing to the external case. At least one of the plurality of fastening portions has a displacement absorbing portion absorbing displacement of the retention member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2011
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Matsumoto, Futoshi Hirai
  • Publication number: 20110043912
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus which is capable of effectively removing dust attached to an optical member due to mounting/removing of a photographic lens in a power-off state, to thereby prevent degradation of image quality. In the image pickup apparatus, when position information of a contact brush that moves in a manner interlocked with mounting/removing of the photographic lens differs immediately after execution of power-on operation from position information obtained immediately after execution of power-off operation, it is determined that photographic lens mounting/removing operation was carried out during power-off, and a camera microcomputer outputs a warning advising cleaning of the optical member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2010
    Publication date: February 24, 2011
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Futoshi HIRAI
  • Patent number: 7850376
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus which is capable of effectively removing dust attached to an optical member due to mounting/removing of a photographic lens in a power-off state, to thereby prevent degradation of image quality. In the image pickup apparatus, when position information of a contact brush that moves in a manner interlocked with mounting/removing of the photographic lens differs immediately after execution of power-on operation from position information obtained immediately after execution of power-off operation, it is determined that photographic lens mounting/removing operation was carried out during power-off, and a camera microcomputer outputs a warning advising cleaning of the optical member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Futoshi Hirai
  • Patent number: 7719612
    Abstract: At least one exemplary embodiment is directed to an image pickup apparatus which includes an optical member that is vibrated in a direction substantially perpendicular to an optical axis to facilitate removal of particles (e.g., dust), where the vibration of the optical member is substantially isolated from an image pickup element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shoji Kaihara, Hiroshi Yoshii, Eiri Tsukatani, Hirokazu Ichiki, Futoshi Hirai, Toshifumi Urakami, Hideaki Yamamoto, Yuuki Niwamae
  • Patent number: 7639301
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus capable of easily removing a foreign matter adhering on an optical filter surface is disclosed. A rubber member holding an optical low pass filter seals an imaging sensor and the optical low pass filter, and a piezoelectric element vibrates an edge portion of the optical low pass filter in the direction of an optical axis, and gives the optical low pass filter a rotational force around an axis orthogonal to an imaging optical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuuki Niwamae, Shoji Kaihara, Hiroshi Yoshii, Eiri Tsukatani, Hirokazu Ichiki, Futoshi Hirai, Toshifumi Urakami, Hideaki Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20080049325
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus which is capable of effectively removing dust attached to an optical member due to mounting/removing of a photographic lens in a power-off state, to thereby prevent degradation of image quality. In the image pickup apparatus, when position information of a contact brush that moves in a manner interlocked with mounting/removing of the photographic lens differs immediately after execution of power-on operation from position information obtained immediately after execution of power-off operation, it is determined that photographic lens mounting/removing operation was carried out during power-off, and a camera microcomputer outputs a warning advising cleaning of the optical member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2007
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Futoshi Hirai
  • Publication number: 20070103554
    Abstract: At least one exemplary embodiment is directed to an image pickup apparatus which includes an optical member that is vibrated in a direction substantially perpendicular to an optical axis to facilitate removal of particles (e.g., dust), where the vibration of the optical member is substantially isolated from an image pickup element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2006
    Publication date: May 10, 2007
    Applicant: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shoji Kaihara, Hiroshi Yoshii, Eiri Tsukatani, Hirokazu Ichiki, Futoshi Hirai, Toshifumi Urakami, Hideaki Yamamoto, Yuuki Niwamae
  • Publication number: 20070103579
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus capable of easily removing a foreign matter adhering on an optical filter surface is disclosed. A rubber member holding an optical low pass filter seals an imaging sensor and the optical low pass filter, and a piezoelectric element vibrates an edge portion of the optical low pass filter in the direction of an optical axis, and gives the optical low pass filter a rotational force around an axis orthogonal to an imaging optical axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2006
    Publication date: May 10, 2007
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuuki Niwamae, Shoji Kaihara, Hiroshi Yoshii, Eiri Tsukatani, Hirokazu Ichiki, Futoshi Hirai, Toshifumi Urakami, Hideaki Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 6424469
    Abstract: A lens barrel has a cam tube having a cam groove formed on an inner circumferential side thereof. The cam groove has a first cam groove area over which a lens unit slides when the lens barrel is used for photo-taking and a second cam groove area over which the lens unit slides when the lens barrel is not used for photo-taking. A taper angle of a side wall surface of the first cam groove area differs from a taper angle of a side wall surface of the second cam groove area. The large taper angle facilitates removal of a mold from the cam tube at the time of manufacture. The arrangement also permits the first cam groove area which is for photo-taking to have a small taper angle, so that the lens unit can be accurately moved in the first cam groove area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Futoshi Hirai
  • Publication number: 20020039141
    Abstract: A camera with a printer for printing an image sensed by an image sensing optical element stores the sensed image data and its printing log in relation with the image data. In managing each image data, whether or not image data is printed image data is identified on the basis of the stored printing log. Management is performed in accordance with this identification result.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2001
    Publication date: April 4, 2002
    Inventors: Koichi Washisu, Futoshi Hirai
  • Publication number: 20020031351
    Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a loading part for receiving a printing medium loaded thereto, the loading part being capable of receiving a function-extension unit when the printing medium is unloaded, and a connection member for forming an electrical connection to the function-extension unit loaded to the loading part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2001
    Publication date: March 14, 2002
    Inventor: Futoshi Hirai
  • Publication number: 20010015858
    Abstract: A lens barrel has a cam tube having a cam groove formed on an inner circumferential side thereof. The cam groove has a first cam groove area over which a lens unit slides when the lens barrel is used for photo-taking and a second cam groove area over which the lens unit slides when the lens barrel is not used for photo-taking. A taper angle of a side wall surface of the first cam groove area differs from a taper angle of a side wall surface of the second cam groove area. The large taper angle facilitates removal of a mold from the cam tube at the time of manufacture. The arrangement also permits the first cam groove area which is for photo-taking to have a small taper angle, so that the lens unit can be accurately moved in the first cam groove area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2001
    Publication date: August 23, 2001
    Inventor: Futoshi Hirai