Patents by Inventor Hirohiko NOJIRI

Hirohiko NOJIRI 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: 9756689
    Abstract: A light output control device includes a switching device, multiple signal input ports, a signal selection circuit, and a control circuit. The switching device is to be electrically connected between a direct-current power supply and a light source circuit. The light source circuit includes a semiconductor light emitting element. The multiple signal input ports respectively correspond to multiple kinds of light output control signals. The signal selection circuit selects, when receiving two or more light output control signals indicating different light output levels through the multiple signal input ports, a light output control signal indicating a lowest (or highest) light output level, from the two or more light output control signals. The control circuit performs switching control of the switching device with a duty cycle corresponding to the lowest (or highest) light output level indicated by the light output control signal selected by the signal selecting circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeru Ido, Katsuhiko Ishikawa, Hirohiko Nojiri
  • Patent number: 9681508
    Abstract: A light source circuit includes light-emitting diodes and a constant current circuit that controls current flowing through light-emitting diodes to a fixed level. A DC power supply circuit outputs a DC voltage having a voltage value capable of causing light-emitting diodes to emit light. A light modulation control unit includes: a MOSFET electrically connected between DC power supply circuit and light source circuit; and a control circuit configured to control MOSFET. Control circuit is configured to turn MOSFET on and off with a duty ratio corresponding to a light modulation level such that DC voltage that is outputted from DC power supply circuit is converted to a square wave voltage, and the square wave voltage is outputted to light source circuit. The square wave voltage has an amplitude equal to the voltage value of the DC voltage that is outputted from DC power supply circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akinori Hiramatu, Hirohiko Nojiri, Takeshi Kamoi, Hiroshi Kido
  • Publication number: 20170064783
    Abstract: A light output control device includes a switching device, multiple signal input ports, a signal selection circuit, and a control circuit. The switching device is to be electrically connected between a direct-current power supply and a light source circuit. The light source circuit includes a semiconductor light emitting element. The multiple signal input ports respectively correspond to multiple kinds of light output control signals. The signal selection circuit selects, when receiving two or more light output control signals indicating different light output levels through the multiple signal input ports, a light output control signal indicating a lowest (or highest) light output level, from the two or more light output control signals. The control circuit performs switching control of the switching device with a duty cycle corresponding to the lowest (or highest) light output level indicated by the light output control signal selected by the signal selecting circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: Shigeru IDO, Katsuhiko ISHIKAWA, Hirohiko NOJIRI
  • Publication number: 20160113079
    Abstract: A light source circuit includes light-emitting diodes and a constant current circuit that controls current flowing through light-emitting diodes to a fixed level. A DC power supply circuit outputs a DC voltage having a voltage value capable of causing light-emitting diodes to emit light. A light modulation control unit includes: a MOSFET electrically connected between DC power supply circuit and light source circuit; and a control circuit configured to control MOSFET. Control circuit is configured to turn MOSFET on and off with a duty ratio corresponding to a light modulation level such that DC voltage that is outputted from DC power supply circuit is converted to a square wave voltage, and the square wave voltage is outputted to light source circuit. The square wave voltage has an amplitude equal to the voltage value of the DC voltage that is outputted from DC power supply circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2015
    Publication date: April 21, 2016
    Inventors: Akinori HIRAMATU, Hirohiko NOJIRI, Takeshi KAMOI, Hiroshi KIDO