Patents by Inventor Hiro AOKI

Hiro AOKI 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: 10179533
    Abstract: A lighting apparatus includes a low beam lens, a low beam light-emitting device disposed behind the low beam lens, a plurality of high beam lenses disposed along a periphery of the low beam lens, and a plurality of high beam light-emitting devices disposed behind the plurality of high beam lenses in one-to-one correspondence. At least one of the plurality of high beam lenses includes, on a circumferential edge, a textured surface having light diffusing characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshihiko Kanayama, Hiro Aoki, Tomoyuki Ogata
  • Patent number: 10052999
    Abstract: A lighting apparatus for vehicle use that projects light forward includes a base, a low beam lamp including a low beam light emitter disposed on the base, a first light emitter disposed on the base and a second light emitter. A lighting controller turns on the low beam light emitter, the first light emitter, and the second light emitter, and an optical system reflects light from the first and second light emitters at least above and below the first and second light emitters, to produce a light distribution pattern. Centers of areas illuminated by the light from the first and second light emitters are horizontally spaced from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshihiko Kanayama, Hiro Aoki, Makoto Kai, Tomoyuki Ogata
  • Patent number: 10041645
    Abstract: The light source unit includes: a semiconductor light emitting element; a lighting circuit configured to operate the semiconductor light emitting element; a first heat dissipation plate on which the semiconductor light emitting element is placed; a second heat dissipation plate on which the lighting circuit is placed; a wiring member electrically interconnecting the semiconductor light emitting element and the lighting circuit; and an interconnection member to which the first heat dissipation plate and the second heat dissipation plate are attached. The interconnection member is lower in thermal conductivity than the first heat dissipation plate and the second heat dissipation plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masatoshi Ueno, Masahiro Nishikawa, Hiro Aoki
  • Patent number: 10024514
    Abstract: A lighting apparatus to be installed on a mobile object includes: a heat dissipator having a first outer surface and a second outer surface different from the first outer surface; a first light-emitting device thermally coupled to the first outer surface of the heat dissipator; a second light-emitting device thermally coupled to the second outer surface of the heat dissipator; a reflector that reflects light emitted from the first light-emitting device; a first lens that is disposed in a path of light reflected by the reflector and that transmits the light from the reflector along a predetermined lighting direction; and a second lens disposed in a path of light from the second light-emitting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshihiko Kanayama, Hiro Aoki, Tomoyuki Ogata, Masashi Kichima, Makoto Kai
  • Patent number: 9909733
    Abstract: A lighting apparatus for vehicle use that projects light forward includes: a base; a first light emitting device disposed on the base; a second light emitting device disposed on the base; a first lens body disposed in front of the first light emitting device; a second lens body disposed in front of the second light emitting device; and a light restrictor adjacent to the first lens body, the light restrictor restricting light emitted by the second light emitting device from entering the first lens body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshihiko Kanayama, Hiro Aoki, Makoto Kai, Tomoyuki Ogata
  • Publication number: 20180038570
    Abstract: A lighting apparatus for vehicle use that projects light forward includes a base, a low beam lamp including a low beam light emitter disposed on the base, a first light emitter disposed on the base and a second light emitter. A lighting controller turns on the low beam light emitter, the first light emitter, and the second light emitter, and an optical system reflects light from the first and second light emitters at least above and below the first and second light emitters, to produce a light distribution pattern. Centers of areas illuminated by the light from the first and second light emitters are horizontally spaced from each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2017
    Publication date: February 8, 2018
    Applicant: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshihiko KANAYAMA, Hiro AOKI, Makoto KAI, Tomoyuki OGATA
  • Patent number: 9810396
    Abstract: A lighting apparatus for vehicle use that projects light forward includes: a base, a low beam lamp including a low beam light emitting device disposed on the base; a first high beam lamp including a first high beam light emitting device disposed on the base; a second high beam lamp including a second high beam light emitting device disposed on the base; and a lighting controller configured to turn on the low beam light emitting device, the first high beam light emitting device, and the second high beam light emitting device when high beams are turned on. A center of an area illuminated by the first high beam lamp and a center of an area illuminated by the second high beam lamp are horizontally spaced apart from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshihiko Kanayama, Hiro Aoki, Makoto Kai, Tomoyuki Ogata
  • Patent number: 9765940
    Abstract: A lighting apparatus for vehicle use that projects light forward includes: a base; a low beam light emitting device disposed on the base; a high beam light emitting device disposed on the base; a lens body disposed in front of the low beam light emitting device and the high beam light emitting device; and a first light restrictor disposed in front of the high beam light emitting device, the first light restrictor restricting light emitted by the high beam light emitting device from traveling downward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshihiko Kanayama, Hiro Aoki, Makoto Kai, Tomoyuki Ogata
  • Patent number: 9725030
    Abstract: A vehicle light installed in a vehicle includes: a main case having a front opening; a first light guide disposed in the main case; a first light source that emits light into the first light guide; and a headlamp disposed in the main case. The first light guide (i) is rod-shaped, (ii) includes a first extended section extending from the inboard side of the first light guide relative to the vehicle widthwise direction toward the outboard side and a second extended section that continues from the first extended section, curves back inwardly, and extends to the inboard side, and (iii) opens toward a longitudinal center line of the vehicle. The headlamp is disposed between the first extended section and the second extended section. The first extended section and the second extended section extend toward the longitudinal center line of the vehicle to a point beyond the headlamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Ogata, Tomoyuki Nakano, Yasufumi Shirakawa, Hiro Aoki, Toshifumi Tanaka, Yuki Nishida, Kazuki Masuda
  • Patent number: 9657912
    Abstract: A lighting apparatus includes: a base that is open toward a front and includes a low beam light-distribution pattern forming component; a lens body disposed forward of the base; a first light-emitting device; and a second light-emitting device. Incident light is refracted in a lower portion of the lens body, and the incident light and exiting light travel in substantially same direction in an upper portion of the lens body. The first light-emitting device is disposed behind the lower portion of the lens body, the second light-emitting device is disposed further forward than the first light-emitting device and behind the upper portion of the lens body, and the low beam light-distribution pattern forming component is disposed in front of the first light-emitting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshihiko Kanayama, Makoto Kai, Hiro Aoki, Tomoyuki Ogata
  • Patent number: 9632240
    Abstract: A lighting apparatus includes a ring-shaped light guide including ring-shaped light entry and light exit faces; and light-emitting devices arranged in a ring at predetermined intervals, at positions opposite the light entry face. The light guide includes collimating portions that collimate light emitted from the light-emitting devices. Each of the collimating portions includes light-reflecting faces for collimating, in the direction of the optical axis of the collimating portion, light emitted from the corresponding light-emitting device. The light-reflecting faces include: an outer reflecting face; an inner reflecting face; a lateral reflecting face; and a large radius reflecting face. A distance from the optical axis to an optical axis-side end portion of at least one of the outer reflecting face, the inner reflecting face, and the lateral reflecting face is less than a distance from the optical axis to an optical axis-side end portion of the large radius reflecting face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Makoto Kai, Tomoyuki Ogata, Yoshihiko Kanayama, Hiro Aoki
  • Patent number: 9557027
    Abstract: A lighting apparatus includes: a light guide which is tubular and includes a light entry portion in one end in a tube axis direction; and a light source arranged corresponding to the light entry portion. The light entry portion includes a light redirecting portion which changes a traveling direction of light entering from the first light source to a direction that is substantially parallel to the tube axis direction of the light guide. The light guide includes: plural light-emitting faces which are ring-shaped and formed concentrically in the other end in the tube axis direction of the light guide; and a non light-emitting face which is wall-like and formed along the tube axis direction of the light guide, at a border of adjacent ones of the light-emitting faces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Kai, Yoshihiko Kanayama, Hiro Aoki, Tomoyuki Ogata
  • Publication number: 20170009954
    Abstract: The light source unit includes: a semiconductor light emitting element; a lighting circuit configured to operate the semiconductor light emitting element; a first heat dissipation plate on which the semiconductor light emitting element is placed; a second heat dissipation plate on which the lighting circuit is placed; a wiring member electrically interconnecting the semiconductor light emitting element and the lighting circuit; and an interconnection member to which the first heat dissipation plate and the second heat dissipation plate are attached. The interconnection member is lower in thermal conductivity than the first heat dissipation plate and the second heat dissipation plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2016
    Publication date: January 12, 2017
    Inventors: Masatoshi UENO, Masahiro NISHIKAWA, Hiro AOKI
  • Publication number: 20160377249
    Abstract: A lighting apparatus includes: a base that is open toward a front and includes a low beam light-distribution pattern forming component; a lens body disposed forward of the base; a first light-emitting device; and a second light-emitting device. Incident light is refracted in a lower portion of the lens body, and the incident light and exiting light travel in substantially same direction in an upper portion of the lens body. The first light-emitting device is disposed behind the lower portion of the lens body, the second light-emitting device is disposed further forward than the first light-emitting device and behind the upper portion of the lens body, and the low beam light-distribution pattern forming component is disposed in front of the first light-emitting device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2016
    Publication date: December 29, 2016
    Inventors: Yoshihiko KANAYAMA, Makoto KAI, Hiro AOKI, Tomoyuki OGATA
  • Publication number: 20160341385
    Abstract: A lighting apparatus includes a low beam lens, a low beam light-emitting device disposed behind the low beam lens, a plurality of high beam lenses disposed along a periphery of the low beam lens, and a plurality of high beam light-emitting devices disposed behind the plurality of high beam lenses in one-to-one correspondence. At least one of the plurality of high beam lenses includes, on a circumferential edge, a textured surface having light diffusing characteristics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2016
    Publication date: November 24, 2016
    Inventors: Yoshihiko KANAYAMA, Hiro AOKI, Tomoyuki OGATA
  • Patent number: 9464775
    Abstract: A lighting apparatus includes: a base that is open toward a front and includes a low beam light-distribution pattern forming component; a lens body disposed forward of the base; a first light-emitting device; and a second light-emitting device. A refractive portion is provided in a lower portion of the lens body, and a non-refractive portion is provided in an upper portion of the lens body. The first light-emitting device is disposed behind the refractive portion of the lens body, the second light-emitting device is disposed further forward than the first light-emitting device and behind the non-refractive portion of the lens body, and the low beam light-distribution pattern forming component is disposed in front of the first light-emitting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshihiko Kanayama, Makoto Kai, Hiro Aoki, Tomoyuki Ogata
  • Publication number: 20160265734
    Abstract: A lighting apparatus to be installed on a mobile object includes: a heat dissipator having a first outer surface and a second outer surface different from the first outer surface; a first light-emitting device thermally coupled to the first outer surface of the heat dissipator; a second light-emitting device thermally coupled to the second outer surface of the heat dissipator; a reflector that reflects light emitted from the first light-emitting device; a first lens that is disposed in a path of light reflected by the reflector and that transmits the light from the reflector along a predetermined lighting direction; and a second lens disposed in a path of light from the second light-emitting device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2016
    Publication date: September 15, 2016
    Inventors: Yoshihiko KANAYAMA, Hiro AOKI, Tomoyuki OGATA, Masashi KICHIMA, Makoto KAI
  • Publication number: 20160193955
    Abstract: A vehicle light installed in a vehicle includes: a main case having a front opening; a first light guide disposed in the main case; a first light source that emits light into the first light guide; and a headlamp disposed in the main case. The first light guide (i) is rod-shaped, (ii) includes a first extended section extending from the inboard side of the first light guide relative to the vehicle widthwise direction toward the outboard side and a second extended section that continues from the first extended section, curves back inwardly, and extends to the inboard side, and (iii) opens toward a longitudinal center line of the vehicle. The headlamp is disposed between the first extended section and the second extended section. The first extended section and the second extended section extend toward the longitudinal center line of the vehicle to a point beyond the headlamp.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2016
    Publication date: July 7, 2016
    Inventors: Tomoyuki OGATA, Tomoyuki NAKANO, Yasufumi SHIRAKAWA, Hiro AOKI, Toshifumi TANAKA, Yuki NISHIDA, Kazuki MASUDA
  • Patent number: 9303838
    Abstract: A vehicle light installed in a vehicle includes: a main case having a front opening; first and second light guides that are disposed in the main case; light sources that emit light into the first and second light guides; and a translucent cover fitted to cover the opening of the main case. The first light guide is rod-shaped and includes a first extended section extending from the inboard side of the first light guide relative to the vehicle width direction toward the outboard side of the first light guide relative to the same and a second extended section that continues from the first extended section, curves back inwardly, and extends to the inboard side, and the second light guide is plate-shaped and disposed so as to pass in front of or behind the portion of the first light guide that curves back.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Ogata, Tomoyuki Nakano, Yasufumi Shirakawa, Hiro Aoki, Toshifumi Tanaka, Yuki Nishida, Kazuki Masuda
  • Patent number: D773700
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiro Aoki, Makoto Kai, Yoshihiko Kanayama, Masaaki Itoh