Patents by Inventor Hiroshi Nishigaki

Hiroshi Nishigaki 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: 8243287
    Abstract: A projector includes a determination section, an amplification section, an identification section and a calculation section. The determination section specifies a reflection position of a reflected light received by a light receiving sensor based on a horizontal synchronizing signal and a pixel clock signal of an image signal, and determines an amplification quantity of the intensity of a reflected light reflected at the specified reflection position to be received by the light receiving sensor. The amplification section amplifies the intensity of the reflected light received by the light receiving sensor by the determined amplification quantity. The identification section identifies an external obstacle when the intensity of the amplified reflected light exceeds a predetermined threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Nishigaki, Atsuya Hirano, Atsuhiko Chikaoka, Ken Nishioka
  • Patent number: 8123361
    Abstract: A projector includes: a laser beam generator configured to emit a laser beam according to an image signal; a beam splitter configured to split the laser beam into a first laser beam toward the first projection plane and a second laser beam toward the second projection plane; a scanning unit, disposed between the laser beam generator and the beam splitter, configured to scan the laser beam from the laser beam generator toward the beam splitter; a light receiver configured to receive reflected light of the first laser beam; a computation portion configured to compute positional information indicating a position of an obstacle located in an optical path of the first laser beam based on a light receiving result by the light receiver; and a display control portion configured to change the image signal so that a pointer is displayed in the image based on the positional information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Nagashima, Atsuhiko Chikaoka, Seiji Takemoto, Hiroki Matsubara, Atsuya Hirano, Hiroshi Nishigaki
  • Patent number: 8057052
    Abstract: Disclosed in a laser projector to display an image by projecting a laser beam from a laser light source to a projection screen including an electromagnetic driven scan mirror to scan the laser beam from the laser light source, a detection unit to detect a back EMF which is generated by a drive of the electromagnetic driven scan mirror at a time of start-up of the laser projector, a first determination unit to determine whether a value of the back EMF which is detected by the detection unit exceeded a predetermined threshold or not and a light source control unit to start a lighting of the laser light source when the value of the back EMF is determined as exceeding the predetermined threshold by the determination unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Nishigaki, Atsuya Hirano, Ken Nishioka, Atsuhiko Chikaoka
  • Patent number: 7978387
    Abstract: A laser projector including a laser light source, a scan unit to scan the laser beam, a scan signal generation unit to generate a pulse signal, a drive unit to drive the scan unit and a pulse pattern adjustment unit to adjust a pulse pattern, wherein the pulse pattern adjustment unit adjusts the pulse pattern to a first pulse pattern for adjusting the swing amount from a first swing amount to a second swing amount in a projection interval, adjusts the pulse pattern to a second pulse pattern for adjusting the swing amount from the second swing amount back to the first swing amount in a first-stage interval in a non-projection interval, and adjusts the pulse pattern to a third pulse pattern for keeping the swing amount at the first swing amount in a second-stage interval in the non-projection interval until a scan position returns to the projection interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsuhiko Chikaoka, Atsuya Hirano, Ken Nishioka, Hiroshi Nishigaki
  • Patent number: 7959303
    Abstract: When a position detector detects that the position of a spot on a projection plane designates a non-projection region, the level of a driving signal of a laser is corrected. Specifically, the correlation between the quantity of laser light detected by a light-receiving portion and the level of the driving signal of the laser in accordance with prescribed data is detected. Then, the characteristic value of the laser indicated by the detected correlation is compared with the characteristic value at room temperature stored beforehand to indicate the correlation between the quantity of light emitted by the laser at room temperature and the level of the driving signal. Then, based on the comparison result, the level of the driving signal of the laser in accordance with image data is corrected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ken Nishioka, Atsuya Hirano, Atsuhiko Chikaoka, Hiroshi Nishigaki
  • Publication number: 20110102751
    Abstract: This projector includes a laser beam emitting portion emitting a laser beam and a projecting portion projecting an image on an arbitrary projection region by scanning the projection region with the laser beam. This projector further includes a control portion controlling the laser beam emitting portion not to emit the laser beam by stopping supplying current to the laser beam emitting portion in a previously set partial scanning section within a scanning section for the laser beam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Applicant: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Nishigaki, Atsuya Hirano, Atsuhiko Chikaoka, Ken Nishioka
  • Publication number: 20110091424
    Abstract: The present invention is an oral dosage composition for prevention and treatment of hepatic inflammation such as NASH. The present invention is an oral dosage composition for prevention or treatment of hepatic inflammation, contains the radical scavenging active spirulina powder effective in preventing, ameliorating, and curing NASH or the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2009
    Publication date: April 21, 2011
    Inventors: Yasumasa Kodo, Hiroshi Nishigaki
  • Publication number: 20110069363
    Abstract: A laser projector can generate a pulse signal capable of being generated according to the resolution of the clock signal, the pulse signal having a basic period and a basic pulse width each infinitely approximated to the characteristics of the resonance frequency. Moreover, because the laser projector can generate a pulse signal capable of correcting the errors led to be included in the approximated pulse signal, the laser projector can drive the scanning section with a horizontal vibration width corresponding to the resonance frequency, and can suitably display a projected image on a projection plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2010
    Publication date: March 24, 2011
    Applicant: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsuhiko Chikaoka, Atsuya Hirano, Ken Nishioka, Hiroshi Nishigaki
  • Publication number: 20110058109
    Abstract: A projector is provided which divides and projects a single image onto two different projection surfaces and appropriately performs virtual user interface through one projection surface. The projector projects a VUI screen image on a desk and projects a main projected screen image on a wall. The projector includes a light-receiving element. The light-receiving element is installed at a position that receives light emitted to the desk (the projection surface of the VUI screen image) and reflected (or scattered) by an object in the vicinity of the desk. The projector calculates a position of the object based on a light detection timing of the light-receiving element and a scanning position of light at each time. The projector changes a projected image based on the calculated position. The projector displays a designated region of the VUI screen image (for example, a region including the position of the object or an icon display region or a region surrounding an icon) to be brightened.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2010
    Publication date: March 10, 2011
    Applicant: FUNAI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Nishigaki, Atsuya Hirano, Atsuhiko Chikaoka, Ken Nishioka
  • Publication number: 20110051210
    Abstract: A laser projector including a laser light source, a scan unit to scan the laser beam, a scan signal generation unit to generate a pulse signal, a drive unit to drive the scan unit and a pulse pattern adjustment unit to adjust a pulse pattern, wherein the pulse pattern adjustment unit adjusts the pulse pattern to a first pulse pattern for adjusting the swing amount from a first swing amount to a second swing amount in a projection interval, adjusts the pulse pattern to a second pulse pattern for adjusting the swing amount from the second swing amount back to the first swing amount in a first-stage interval in a non-projection interval, and adjusts the pulse pattern to a third pulse pattern for keeping the swing amount at the first swing amount in a second-stage interval in the non-projection interval until a scan position returns to the projection interval.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2010
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Applicant: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsuhiko Chikaoka, Atsuya Hirano, Ken Nishioka, Hiroshi Nishigaki
  • Patent number: 7835053
    Abstract: Disclosed is a projection image display apparatus to display an image by projecting a light from a light source to a screen including a scan mirror to scan the light from the light source by vibrating in a sine vibration manner at least in an one-dimensional direction and a correction lens which is disposed between the scan mirror and the screen and which corrects a deflection angle of the light scanned by the scan mirror at least in the one-dimensional direction, and the correction lens carries out a correction so that the larger a scan angle of the scan mirror is, the larger the deflection angle is to be by the correction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seiji Takemoto, Yutaka Takahashi, Hiroshi Nishigaki, Kenji Nagashima
  • Publication number: 20100253860
    Abstract: A projector includes: a determination section to specify a reflection position of a reflected light received by a light receiving sensor based on a horizontal synchronizing signal and a pixel clock signal of an image signal, and to determine an amplification quantity of the intensity of a reflected light reflected at the specified reflection position to be received by the light receiving sensor; an amplification section to amplify the intensity of the reflected light received by the light receiving sensor by the determined amplification quantity; an identification section to identify an external obstacle when the intensity of the amplified reflected light exceeds a predetermined threshold value; and a calculation section to calculate the position information of the external obstacle based on the timing of identifying the external obstacle, the horizontal synchronizing signal, and the pixel clock signal of the image signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2010
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Applicant: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi NISHIGAKI, Atsuya Hirano, Atsuhiko Chikaoka, Ken Nishioka
  • Publication number: 20100253618
    Abstract: A projector producing an imaginary input plane with high operability is provided. A projector according to an embodiment projects a VUI screen picture onto a desk, and projects a main projection screen picture to a wall. The projector includes a light receiving element. The light receiving element is arranged in a position where light emitted toward the desk (VUI screen picture) and reflected (or scattered) by an object near the desk enters. The projector calculates a position of the object based on light sensing timing by the light receiving element and light scan positions at various points in time. The projector changes a projected screen picture when it determines that object is simultaneously in contact with a plurality of portions of the VUI screen picture and at least one of contact positions moves.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Inventors: Hiroshi NISHIGAKI, Atsuya HIRANO, Atsuhiko CHIKAOKA, Ken NISHIOKA
  • Publication number: 20100231870
    Abstract: A laser projector is provided. A laser light source is configured to emit laser light. A scanning section is configured to scan a projection surface in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction with the laser light emitted from the laser light source, thereby forming an image on the projection surface. A generating section is configured to generate a pulse signal. A driving section is configured to reciprocate the scanning section in the horizontal direction in accordance with the pulse signal generated by the generating section. An adjusting section is configured to adjust a pulse pattern of the pulse signal generated by the generating section so as to change a scanning angle range of the scanning section in the horizontal direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2010
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Inventors: Atsuhiko Chikaoka, Atsuya Hirano, Ken Nishioka, Hiroshi Nishigaki
  • Publication number: 20100006740
    Abstract: An image display device is provided, by which variations in drive sensitivity of a scan mirror is corrected. Processing executed by a CPU in a laser projector includes the steps of: driving a scanner mirror in a vertical direction; allowing at least one of a green laser and red/blue lasers to emit light; calculating stay time in a light-receiving region in a photoreceptor; comparing the calculated stay time with ideal stay time Tideal; decreasing a tilt of a drive signal for driving the scanner mirror in the vertical direction if the calculated stay time is shorter than the stay time Tideal; and increasing the tilt of the drive signal if the calculated stay time is longer than the stay time Tideal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2009
    Publication date: January 14, 2010
    Applicant: FUNAI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ken Nishioka, Atsuya Hirano, Hiroki Matsubara, Hiroshi Nishigaki
  • Publication number: 20090262314
    Abstract: Disclosed in a laser projector to display an image by projecting a laser beam from a laser light source to a projection screen including an electromagnetic driven scan mirror to scan the laser beam from the laser light source, a detection unit to detect a back EMF which is generated by a drive of the electromagnetic driven scan mirror at a time of start-up of the laser projector, a first determination unit to determine whether a value of the back EMF which is detected by the detection unit exceeded a predetermined threshold or not and a light source control unit to start a lighting of the laser light source when the value of the back EMF is determined as exceeding the predetermined threshold by the determination unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2009
    Publication date: October 22, 2009
    Applicant: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Nishigaki, Atsuya Hirano, Ken Nishioka, Atsuhiko Chikaoka
  • Publication number: 20090244673
    Abstract: Disclosed is a projection image display apparatus to display an image by projecting a light from a light source to a screen including a scan mirror to scan the light from the light source by vibrating in a sine vibration manner at least in an one-dimensional direction and a correction lens which is disposed between the scan mirror and the screen and which corrects a deflection angle of the light scanned by the scan mirror at least in the one-dimensional direction, and the correction lens carries out a correction so that the larger a scan angle of the scan mirror is, the larger the deflection angle is to be by the correction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2009
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Applicant: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seiji TAKEMOTO, Yutaka TAKAHASHI, Hiroshi NISHIGAKI, Kenji NAGASHIMA
  • Publication number: 20090237622
    Abstract: When a position detector detects that the position of a spot on a projection plane designates a non-projection region, the level of a driving signal of a laser is corrected. Specifically, the correlation between the quantity of laser light detected by a light-receiving portion and the level of the driving signal of the laser in accordance with prescribed data is detected. Then, the characteristic value of the laser indicated by the detected correlation is compared with the characteristic value at room temperature stored beforehand to indicate the correlation between the quantity of light emitted by the laser at room temperature and the level of the driving signal. Then, based on the comparison result, the level of the driving signal of the laser in accordance with image data is corrected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2009
    Publication date: September 24, 2009
    Applicant: FUNAI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ken Nishioka, Atsuya Hirano, Atsuhiko Chikaoka, Hiroshi Nishigaki
  • Publication number: 20090190099
    Abstract: A first light output unit integrally has a first light source and a first prism, a second light output unit integrally has a second light source and a second prism, and a third light output unit integrally has a third light source and a third prism. A first surface of the first prism and a second surface of the second prism are adhered together by an adhesive with a first film located therebetween, and first film passes green laser light and reflects blue laser light. A third surface of the second prism and a fourth surface of the third prism are adhered together by an adhesive with a second film located therebetween, and second film passes the green laser light and the blue laser light, and reflects red laser light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2009
    Publication date: July 30, 2009
    Applicant: FUNAI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yutaka Takahashi, Hiroki Matsubara, Hiroshi Nishigaki, Manabu Murayama
  • Publication number: 20090128716
    Abstract: A projector includes: a laser beam generator configured to emit a laser beam according to an image signal; a beam splitter configured to split the laser beam into a first laser beam toward the first projection plane and a second laser beam toward the second projection plane; a scanning unit, disposed between the laser beam generator and the beam splitter, configured to scan the laser beam from the laser beam generator toward the beam splitter; a light receiver configured to receive reflected light of the first laser beam; a computation portion configured to compute positional information indicating a position of an obstacle located in an optical path of the first laser beam based on a light receiving result by the light receiver; and a display control portion configured to change the image signal so that a pointer is displayed in the image based on the positional information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2008
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Applicant: FUNAI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kenji Nagashima, Atsuhiko Chikaoka, Seiji Takemoto, Hiroki Matsubara, Atsuya Hirano, Hiroshi Nishigaki