Patents by Inventor Hiromu Yasuda

Hiromu Yasuda 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: 8659671
    Abstract: An optical apparatus having a recording mode that is switchable between motion picture recording and still picture recording includes an optical element, a motor that includes a rotor having a magnet, and a stator having a coil configured to provide a rotational force to the magnet, the motor being configured to drive the optical element, a position sensor configured to detect a position of the rotor of the motor, and a driving circuit configured to select, in accordance with the recording mode, first driving configured to switch an electrization to the coil in the motor in accordance with a determined time interval, or second driving configured to switch an electrization to the coil in the motor in accordance with an output of the position sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kousuke Kiyamura, Hiromu Yasuda, Chikara Aoshima
  • Patent number: 8508161
    Abstract: A drive apparatus includes a magnet rotor having a plurality of magnetic poles that are magnetized, a stator having a magnetic pole portion that opposes each pole of the magnet rotor, a coil configured to excite the magnetic pole portion, a position detector configured to detect a position of the magnet rotor, a first driver configured to switch an electrification state of the coil in accordance with a preset time interval, a second driver configured to switch an electrification state of the coil in accordance with an output of the position detector, and a controller configured to select the first driver when the output of the position detector is less than a first threshold, and to select the second driver when the output of the position detector is equal to or larger than the first threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kousuke Kiyamura, Hiromu Yasuda, Chikara Aoshima
  • Patent number: 8441725
    Abstract: The optical image stabilizer includes a shift member holding an image stabilizing element and being movable with respect to a center axis, a lock member disposed around the shift member and rotatable about the center axis between a lock position to limit movement of the shift member and an unlock position to release the limit of the movement of the shift member, and a base member including a supporting portion to rotatably support the lock member. The shift member includes protrusions at its plural circumferential places. The lock member includes, in its inner circumferential part, locking portions to receive contact of the protrusions at the lock position so as to limit the movement of the shift member. The supporting portion is formed so as to include plural openings allowing contact of the protrusions with the lock portions and so as to support the inner circumferential part of the lock member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiromu Yasuda
  • Publication number: 20120319633
    Abstract: A drive apparatus includes a magnet rotor having a plurality of magnetic poles that are magnetized, a stator having a magnetic pole portion that opposes each pole of the magnet rotor, a coil configured to excite the magnetic pole portion, a position detector configured to detect a position of the magnet rotor, a first driver configured to switch an electrification state of the coil in accordance with a preset time interval, a second driver configured to switch an electrification state of the coil in accordance with an output of the position detector, and a controller configured to select the first driver when the output of the position detector is less than a first threshold, and to select the second driver when the output of the position detector is equal to or larger than the first threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2012
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kousuke Kiyamura, Hiromu Yasuda, Chikara Aoshima
  • Patent number: 8287197
    Abstract: An interchangeable lens which is removably mounted on a camera body including an image sensor includes a tilt unit configured to move a lens unit in a tilt direction with respect to the image sensor, a shift unit configured to move the lens unit in a shift direction with respect to the image sensor, a changing unit configured to change a relative angle between the shift unit and the tilt unit by relatively rotating the shift unit and the tilt unit, a detection unit configured to detect the relative angle, and a control unit configured to transmit to the camera body a detection result of the relative angle detected by the detection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kunihiko Sasaki, Takeya Nakayama, Hiromu Yasuda, Yuki Nagao
  • Patent number: 8278851
    Abstract: A drive apparatus includes a magnet rotor having a plurality of magnetic poles that are magnetized, a stator having a magnetic pole portion that opposes each pole of the magnet rotor, a coil configured to excite the magnetic pole portion, a position detector configured to detect a position of the magnet rotor, a first driver configured to switch an electrification state of the coil in accordance with a preset time interval, a second driver configured to switch an electrification state of the coil in accordance with an output of the position detector, and a controller configured to select the first driver when the output of the position detector is less than a first threshold, and to select the second driver when the output of the position detector is equal to or larger than the first threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kousuke Kiyamura, Hiromu Yasuda, Chikara Aoshima
  • Publication number: 20120113283
    Abstract: An optical apparatus having a recording mode that is switchable between motion picture recording and still picture recording includes an optical element, a motor that includes a rotor having a magnet, and a stator having a coil configured to provide a rotational force to the magnet, the motor being configured to drive the optical element, a position sensor configured to detect a position of the rotor of the motor, and a driving circuit configured to select, in accordance with the recording mode, first driving configured to switch an electrization to the coil in the motor in accordance with a determined time interval, or second driving configured to switch an electrization to the coil in the motor in accordance with an output of the position sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2011
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kousuke Kiyamura, Hiromu Yasuda, Chikara Aoshima
  • Patent number: 8085311
    Abstract: An optical apparatus having a recording mode that is switchable between motion picture recording and still picture recording includes an optical element, a motor that includes a rotor having a magnet, and a stator having a coil configured to provide a rotational force to the magnet, the motor being configured to drive the optical element, a position sensor configured to detect a position of the rotor of the motor, and a driving circuit configured to select, in accordance with the recording mode, first driving configured to switch an electrization to the coil in the motor in accordance with a determined time interval, or second driving configured to switch an electrization to the coil in the motor in accordance with an output of the position senor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kousuke Kiyamura, Hiromu Yasuda, Chikara Aoshima
  • Patent number: 8084899
    Abstract: A driving apparatus includes a first magnet, second magnet, stator, first coil, second coil, first bearing, second bearing and rotor. The first and second magnets respectively have a magnetized portion in which S pole and N pole are alternately magnetized. The rotor has a magnetic pole portion opposite to each magnetized portion. The stator fixes the first magnet and second magnet to the same axis to rotatably support the rotor. The first coil magnetically excites a portion where the magnetic pole portion of the rotor faces the first magnet. The second coil magnetically excites a portion where the magnetic pole portion of the rotor faces the second magnet. Thereby, a driving apparatus is provided which stabilizes the quality by simplifying the configuration of a rotor and makes it possible to realize high speed of rotation and improvement of response speed by decreasing the moment of inertia of a rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiromu Yasuda
  • Publication number: 20110292509
    Abstract: An image stabilizing apparatus for correcting an image shake by moving an optical element arranged in a lens barrel in a plane orthogonal to an optical axis includes a first rolling holder configured to support a first rolling member so as to be capable of rolling in a first direction orthogonal to the optical axis, the first rolling member moving the optical element in the first direction, and a fixed member attached to a surface of the first rolling holder and providing support for the lens barrel, the first rolling member being provided on the surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2011
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiromu YASUDA
  • Patent number: 8030865
    Abstract: A brushless DC motor configured to drive a driven member includes a rotor having a magnet, a stator having a coil configured to provide a rotational force to the magnet, a position detector configured to output a first signal that is periodic, in accordance with a rotating position of the rotor, a signal generator configured to generate a second signal by adding a lead angle to a phase of the first signal output from the position detector, an excitation switch configured to select an excitation to the coil in accordance with the second signal, and a phase change part configured to change the lead angle in accordance with at least one of a position and a moving direction of the driven member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiromu Yasuda, Kousuke Kiyamura, Chikara Aoshima
  • Publication number: 20110216413
    Abstract: The optical image stabilizer includes a shift member holding an image stabilizing element and being movable with respect to a center axis, a lock member disposed around the shift member and rotatable about the center axis between a lock position to limit movement of the shift member and an unlock position to release the limit of the movement of the shift member, and a base member including a supporting portion to rotatably support the lock member. The shift member includes protrusions at its plural circumferential places. The lock member includes, in its inner circumferential part, locking portions to receive contact of the protrusions at the lock position so as to limit the movement of the shift member. The supporting portion is formed so as to include plural openings allowing contact of the protrusions with the lock portions and so as to support the inner circumferential part of the lock member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2011
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiromu YASUDA
  • Patent number: 7872439
    Abstract: A controller for a motor driving apparatus switches a direction of electricity flowing through a first coil according to a first lead angle signal obtained based on a first magnetic pole detecting signal and a second magnetic pole detecting signal. The controller switches a direction of electricity flowing through a second coil according to a second lead angle signal obtained based on the first magnetic pole detecting signal and the second magnetic pole detecting signal. Thus, a motor driving apparatus can be configured such that the angle of the rotation center of the rotor with respect to two magnetically sensitive poles can freely be selected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiromu Yasuda
  • Publication number: 20100253253
    Abstract: A controller for a motor driving apparatus switches a direction of electricity flowing through a first coil according to a first lead angle signal obtained based on a first magnetic pole detecting signal and a second magnetic pole detecting signal. The controller switches a direction of electricity flowing through a second coil according to a second lead angle signal obtained based on the first magnetic pole detecting signal and the second magnetic pole detecting signal. Thus, a motor driving apparatus can be configured such that the angle of the rotation center of the rotor with respect to two magnetically sensitive poles can freely be selected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2010
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiromu Yasuda
  • Patent number: 7801434
    Abstract: A focus controller configured to control focus of an optical element includes a focus state detector configured to detect a focus state based on a contrast value of an image formed by the optical element, and a driving mechanism that moves the optical element including a motor, a position sensor configured to detect a position of a rotor in the motor, and a driving controller configured to select, in accordance with the contrast value, first driving configured to switch an electrization to a coil in accordance with an output of the position senor, or second driving configured to switch the electrization to the coil in the motor in accordance with a determined time interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiromu Yasuda, Kousuke Kiyamura, Chikara Aoshima
  • Publication number: 20100209097
    Abstract: An interchangeable lens which is removably mounted on a camera body including an image sensor includes a tilt unit configured to move a lens unit in a tilt direction with respect to the image sensor, a shift unit configured to move the lens unit in a shift direction with respect to the image sensor, a changing unit configured to change a relative angle between the shift unit and the tilt unit by relatively rotating the shift unit and the tilt unit, a detection unit configured to detect the relative angle, and a control unit configured to transmit to the camera body a detection result of the relative angle detected by the detection unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2010
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kunihiko Sasaki, Takeya Nakayama, Hiromu Yasuda, Yuki Nagao
  • Patent number: 7764033
    Abstract: A controller for a motor driving apparatus switches a direction of electricity flowing through a first coil according to a first lead angle signal obtained based on a first magnetic pole detecting signal and a second magnetic pole detecting signal. The controller switches a direction of electricity flowing through a second coil according to a second lead angle signal obtained based on the first magnetic pole detecting signal and the second magnetic pole detecting signal. Thus, a motor driving apparatus can be configured such that the angle of the rotation center of the rotor with respect to two magnetically sensitive poles can freely be selected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiromu Yasuda
  • Patent number: 7751132
    Abstract: A lens barrel drive apparatus which can be reduced in outside diameter to realize reduced diameter. A guide bar guides a lens along an optical axis. Hollow magnets are disposed on an outer peripheral side of the lens and have magnetized portions alternately magnetized to different poles in the circumferential direction. A cylindrical rotor is disposed rotatably with respect to the magnets, made of a soft magnetic material, and is comprised of magnetic pole portions opposed to the magnetized portions of the magnets. A coil energizes the magnetic pole portions of the rotor. A stator fixes the magnets and the coil. A conversion unit adapted to convert rotating movements of the rotor into forward and backward movements of the lens along the optical axis. The magnets have breaks formed along the optical axis, and the guide bar is disposed in the break of the magnets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiromu Yasuda
  • Patent number: 7734167
    Abstract: A focus controller configured to control focus of an optical system that has a focus lens includes a switching circuit configured to select a first driver for the electrization to a coil of a motor in performing focus control using a first focus detector, and to select a second driver in an electrization to the coil of the motor in performing focus control using a second focus detector. The first driver is configured to switch an electrization to the coil in the motor according to an output of the position sensor. The second driver is configured to switch an electrization to the coil of the motor according to a determined time interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kousuke Kiyamura, Hiromu Yasuda, Chikara Aoshima
  • Patent number: 7728469
    Abstract: In a motor driving apparatus, an incline of boundary lines of magnetic poles with respect to a rotating shaft of a rotor and an incline in a movable direction of a magnetic detection unit with respect to the rotating shaft of the rotor are different.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiromu Yasuda