Patents by Inventor Hiroshi Kitano

Hiroshi Kitano 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).

  • Publication number: 20240036450
    Abstract: In a projection system, a light source unit emits a first visible light beam, a second visible light beam having a longer wavelength than the first visible light beam, and a near infrared light beam. A spatial light modulation unit subjects the first visible light beam, the second visible light beam, and the near infrared light beam, all emitted from the light source unit, to spatial light modulation to produce a first image light beam, a second image light beam, and a third image light beam, respectively. A controller makes a projection optical system not only selectively project any one of a plurality of image light beams, including the first image light beam, the second image light beam, and the third image light beam, but also selectively project any two or more of the plurality of image light beams, by controlling the spatial light modulation unit in two different manners.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2022
    Publication date: February 1, 2024
    Applicant: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi KITANO, Mitsuru NITTA, Takeshi ABE
  • Publication number: 20240011606
    Abstract: A lighting system includes a light source unit and a light-distributing member. The light source unit includes a laser light source. The light-distributing member has the function of reflecting incident light that has been emitted as a beam of light from the light source unit toward a target space. The light-distributing member transforms the incident light into lighting light having a different light distribution property from the incident light and distributes the lighting light over the target space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2021
    Publication date: January 11, 2024
    Inventors: Hiroshi KITANO, Takanori AKETA, Taisuke NISHIMORI, Kenichiro TANAKA
  • Patent number: 11852316
    Abstract: A construction component forms at least a part of a structure that faces a target space. The construction component has a first function, a second function, and a third function. The first function is a function of emitting illumination light toward the target space. The second function is a function of allowing incident light to enter the construction component. The incident light is emitted from a light source disposed out of a projection area, viewed from the target space, of the construction component and is incident on the construction component via a light transmission member. The third function is a function of converting the incident light into the illumination light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kitano, Kenichiro Tanaka, Takanori Aketa, Yoshiyuki Takegawa, Satoshi Hyodo
  • Publication number: 20230151936
    Abstract: A construction component forms at least a part of a structure that faces a target space. The construction component has a first function, a second function, and a third function. The first function is a function of emitting illumination light toward the target space. The second function is a function of allowing incident light to enter the construction component. The incident light is emitted from a light source disposed out of a projection area, viewed from the target space, of the construction component and is incident on the construction component via a light transmission member. The third function is a function of converting the incident light into the illumination light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2021
    Publication date: May 18, 2023
    Inventors: Hiroshi KITANO, Kenichiro TANAKA, Takanori AKETA, Yoshiyuki TAKEGAWA, Satoshi HYODO
  • Patent number: 11500141
    Abstract: An optical fiber module includes an optical fiber containing a glass component, and a ferrule which is tubular in shape and covers an outer circumferential surface in an end portion of the optical fiber. The outer circumferential surface of the optical fiber and an inner circumferential surface of the ferrule are bonded by a silicone resin containing siloxane bonds at cross-linking points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kitano, Yoshiyuki Takahira, Hideharu Kawachi, Shinichi Kitaoka
  • Publication number: 20220112039
    Abstract: A position correction system includes: one or more conveyer devices; an imaging device fixed to differential installation positions of the one or more conveyer devices and configured to image the robot to generate a plurality of captured images in a state in which the conveyer device has stopped at a predetermined stop position in a predetermined range from the robot; a position calculating device configured to calculate position coordinates of an actual reference point of the robot using the generated captured image; a correction value calculating device configured to calculate a correction value based on a difference between the calculated position coordinates of the actual reference point of the robot and position coordinates of a target reference point of the robot which is determined by simulation; and a position correcting device configured to correct the position of the actual reference point of the robot based on the calculated correction value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2021
    Publication date: April 14, 2022
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Issei MATSUMOTO, Hiroshi KITANO, Kenshi WATANABE
  • Patent number: 11177629
    Abstract: A light source device according to an embodiment is used with a light guide member and a wavelength converting member, and includes a light-emitting element, a light sensor, and a driving unit. The light-emitting element radiates a light beam to be incident on a first end of the light guide member by being supplied with a drive current. The light sensor detects signal light, which has been incident on a second end of the light guide member and transmitted to the first end. The driving unit supplies the drive current to the light-emitting element and controls the drive current based on a result of detection of the signal light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hirofumi Konishi, Shigeaki Yamasaki, Erika Kawabata, Yoshiharu Nagatani, Hiroshi Kitano
  • Publication number: 20210063626
    Abstract: An optical fiber module includes an optical fiber containing a glass component, and a ferrule which is tubular in shape and covers an outer circumferential surface in an end portion of the optical fiber. The outer circumferential surface of the optical fiber and an inner circumferential surface of the ferrule are bonded by a silicone resin containing siloxane bonds at cross-linking points.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2020
    Publication date: March 4, 2021
    Applicant: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi KITANO, Yoshiyuki TAKAHIRA, Hideharu KAWACHI, Shinichi KITAOKA
  • Patent number: 10882094
    Abstract: In a spinning forming method, a plate including a peripheral portion at which a ring-shaped projection is provided is used, the projection projecting in a thickness direction of the plate. Further, while rotating the plate, a transform target portion of the plate is locally heated, and a processing tool is pressed against the transform target portion to transform the plate. According to this configuration, a heat capacity of the peripheral portion of the plate can be increased. With this, when heating the vicinity of the peripheral portion of the plate, the peripheral portion can be prevented from becoming high in temperature. As a result, deformation of the peripheral portion of the plate can be suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshiro Kabe, Yoshihide Imamura, Yuto Sakane, Kohei Mikami, Hayato Iwasaki, Hiroshi Kitano
  • Publication number: 20200381886
    Abstract: A light source device according to an embodiment is used with a light guide member and a wavelength converting member, and includes a light-emitting element, a light sensor, and a driving unit. The light-emitting element radiates a light beam to be incident on a first end of the light guide member by being supplied with a drive current. The light sensor detects signal light, which has been incident on a second end of the light guide member and transmitted to the first end. The driving unit supplies the drive current to the light-emitting element and controls the drive current based on a result of detection of the signal light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2020
    Publication date: December 3, 2020
    Applicant: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hirofumi KONISHI, Shigeaki YAMASAKI, Erika KAWABATA, Yoshiharu NAGATANI, Hiroshi KITANO
  • Patent number: 10632522
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a preliminary formed body includes an ironing step and a thickening step. In the ironing step, a predetermined range of a plate is formed into a tapered shape in such a manner that while rotating the plate, a transform target portion of the plate is locally heated by induction heating, and a processing tool is pressed against the transform target portion. In the thickening step, a peripheral portion that is a distal end of the tapered shape of the plate is expanded inward in such a manner that while rotating the plate, the peripheral portion is locally heated, and a forming roller is pressed against the peripheral portion to push the peripheral portion in a direction orthogonal to a thickness direction of the peripheral portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshihide Imamura, Yuto Sakane, Kohei Mikami, Yoshiro Kabe, Hayato Iwasaki, Hiroshi Kitano
  • Patent number: 10557997
    Abstract: A light source device and a method of manufacturing a light source device are provided. The light source device includes a base. A light-emitter is above the base. A cap is joined to the base to cover the light-emitter. The cap includes an opening in a position corresponding to the light-emitter. A first light guide is in communication with the opening for guiding, to outside of the cap, light emitted by the light-emitter. A first ferrule is provided around the first light guide. The first ferrule is joined to an edge of the opening in a state in which the first ferrule is in the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kitano, Shintaro Hayashi, Yoshiyuki Nakano, Hideharu Kawachi
  • Publication number: 20200041077
    Abstract: A lighting apparatus includes a laser that emits laser light. A transmission component transmits the laser light. The laser light transmitted by the transmission component enters and is emitted by an optical connector. A wavelength converter emits wavelength-converted light according to the laser light emitted from the optical connector. A lens causes the laser light emitted from the optical connector to enter the wavelength converter. A luminaire emits the wavelength-converted light. The luminaire includes a holder that removably holds the optical connector. The optical connector includes: an optical component that is light-transmissive, mixes the laser light that enters, and emits the mixed laser light; and a case that has a light-blocking property and houses the optical component and part of the transmission component. The lens is in an optical path from the optical connector to the wavelength converter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2019
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Applicant: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuyuki YAMAE, Hiroshi KITANO
  • Patent number: 10549468
    Abstract: A spinning forming method includes a first forming step and a second forming step, in each of which a plate fixed to a main shaft is formed while being rotated. In the first forming step, a processing tool is brought into contact with a first main surface of the plate to form a first level-changing portion extending from the first main surface toward a second main surface. In the second forming step, the processing tool is brought into contact with the second main surface at an outer peripheral side of the first level-changing portion to form a second level-changing portion extending in an opposite direction to the first level-changing portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hideyuki Ogishi, Hayato Iwasaki, Yoshihide Imamura, Yuto Sakane, Toshiro Tsuji, Hiroshi Kitano
  • Publication number: 20190368712
    Abstract: A light source device is provided with: a first laser device that emits a first laser light; a second laser device that emits a second laser light, with the second laser light having an optical axis extending substantially parallel to an optical axis of the first laser light; a first optical axis translator that translates the optical axis of the first laser light; and a second optical axis translator that translates the optical axis of the second laser light A distance between the optical axis of the first laser light before translation and the optical axis of the second laser light before translation is greater than a distance between the optical axis of the first laser light after translation and the optical axis of the second laser light after translation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2019
    Publication date: December 5, 2019
    Inventor: Hiroshi KITANO
  • Patent number: 10413999
    Abstract: First, an annular first layer including a plurality of beads and having a width that is not less than twice a width of the bead is formed by laser metal deposition on a peripheral surface of a base metal, the peripheral surface facing outward or inward in a radial direction. Next, a plurality of annular height raising layers each including a plurality of beads are stacked on the first layer by the laser metal deposition. According to this configuration, an axisymmetric body including a flange portion having a relatively wide width can be manufactured while making a heat affected zone in the base metal extremely small.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshiro Tsuji, Yoshiro Kabe, Yoshihide Imamura, Hayato Iwasaki, Hiroshi Kitano
  • Patent number: 10393936
    Abstract: A light source device is provided. The light source device includes: a ferrule which holds an optical fiber; a light-emitting element which emits laser light; and a casing which houses the ferrule and the light-emitting element such that the laser light enters the optical fiber. The casing includes a through hole from a first end face to a second end face. The through hole includes a diameter which decreases in a stepwise manner from the first end face toward the second end face. The ferrule is fitted to a small bore portion of the through hole, which is smallest in diameter. The light-emitting element is fitted to a large bore portion of the through hole, which is larger in diameter than the small bore portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinichi Kitaoka, Hiroshi Kitano, Sachiko Azuma
  • Patent number: 10384253
    Abstract: A spinning forming device includes: a rotating shaft that rotates a plate to be formed; a processing tool that presses a transform target portion of the plate to transform the plate; and a heater that locally heats the transform target portion by induction heating. The heater includes an electric conducting pipe, and the electric conducting pipe includes a coil portion extending in a circumferential direction of the rotating shaft and having a doubled circular-arc shape facing the plate. A cooling liquid circulates through the electric conducting pipe by a circulating device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuto Sakane, Yoshihide Imamura, Kohei Mikami, Hayato Iwasaki, Hiroshi Kitano
  • Patent number: 10274138
    Abstract: A lighting device is provided which includes: a wavelength converter that emits, from laser light, light having a wavelength different from a wavelength of the laser light; and a reflector surrounding the wavelength converter and including a surface of revolution that reflects the light emitted from the wavelength converter. The reflector includes, in the surface of revolution, a through-hole through which the laser light passes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tetsuya Nishi, Hiroshi Kitano
  • Patent number: 10259029
    Abstract: According to a spinning forming device, while a plate is rotated by a rotating shaft, a transform target portion of the plate is pressed by a processing tool and locally heated by a heater that performs induction heating. The heater includes a coil portion having a doubled circular-arc shape and is inclined by an inclining device relative to a direction from the rotating shaft toward the processing tool. A measuring unit measures distances each from the coil portion to an outer peripheral original portion of the plate at a plurality of measurement points distributed in a circumferential direction of the rotating shaft. A controller controls the inclining device based on a measurement result of the measuring unit such that an angle difference between the coil portion and the outer peripheral original portion becomes not more than a predetermined angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuto Sakane, Yoshihide Imamura, Kohei Mikami, Yoshiro Kabe, Hayato Iwasaki, Hiroshi Kitano