Patents by Inventor Hirotaka Ueno

Hirotaka Ueno 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: 11933897
    Abstract: A distance measurement device includes: a mirror disposed so as to be tilted relative to a rotation center axis; a drive unit configured to rotate the mirror about the rotation center axis; a photodetector configured to detect reflected light, of laser light, reflected in a distance measurement region; and a condensing lens disposed on the rotation center axis and configured to condense the reflected light reflected by the mirror, on the photodetector. The mirror has a shape elongated in one direction and is disposed such that a short axis thereof is tilted relative to the rotation center axis in a direction parallel to a plane including the rotation center axis. A width in a short-axis direction of the mirror is smaller than a width of a lens portion of the condensing lens as viewed in a direction parallel to the rotation center axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuhisa Ide, Masaomi Inoue, Hirotaka Ueno, Kouichi Kumamaru, Masahiro Shiihara, Kouichi Bairin, Takashi Haruguchi, Kiyoshi Hibino
  • Publication number: 20230417909
    Abstract: A light emission device includes: a laser light source; an electric storage element for supplying a drive current to the laser light source; a switch element connected in series to the laser light source; and a monitoring circuit configured to monitor temporal change in a voltage of the electric storage element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2023
    Publication date: December 28, 2023
    Inventors: Kiyoshi MORIMOTO, Hirotaka UENO
  • Publication number: 20230408652
    Abstract: A light emission device includes: a laser light source; an electric storage element for supplying a drive current to the laser light source; a plurality of switch elements connected in series to the laser light source; and an electrical element placed at least between a ground and an input part, for a switch opening/closing signal, of the switch element to which another one of the switch elements is connected on a downstream side, and configured to guide noise having a high level exceeding a voltage level of the switch opening/closing signal, to the ground.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2023
    Publication date: December 21, 2023
    Inventors: Hirotaka Ueno, Kiyoshi Morimoto, Keisuke Kojima
  • Patent number: 11024777
    Abstract: A light source device includes a mounted substrate which is a multi-layered substrate, a semiconductor light-emitting device which emits a laser beam, a wavelength-converting member which radiates fluorescence by being irradiated with the laser beam emitted from the semiconductor light-emitting device as an excitation light, a state detection circuit, an electric field effect type transistor which adjusts an electric current amount applied to the semiconductor light-emitting device upon receipt of an output from the state detection circuit, and an external connecting member, and the semiconductor light-emitting device, the state detection circuit, the transistor, and the external connecting member are mounted on the single mounted substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: PANASONIC SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Yamanaka, Kenichi Matsumoto, Hideo Yamaguchi, Wakahiko Okazaki, Yasuhiko Enami, Taku Kobayashi, Kazuki Adachi, Hirotaka Ueno
  • Publication number: 20210141062
    Abstract: A distance measurement device for measuring a distance to an object that exists in a distance measurement region includes: a light source configured to emit laser light; a lens configured to converge the laser light emitted from the light source, into substantially parallel light; a tubular light blocking member disposed on an optical path of the laser light emitted from the light source and surrounding the optical path; a photodetector configured to detect reflected light, of the laser light, reflected at the distance measurement region; and a condensing lens configured to condense the reflected light passing through the outside of the light blocking member, onto the photodetector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2021
    Publication date: May 13, 2021
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Hibino, Takashi HARUGUCHI, Masaomi INOUE, Kazuhisa IDE, Masahiro SHIIHARA, Kouichi BAIRIN, Kouichi KUMAMARU, Hirotaka UENO, Hideo YAMAGUCHI
  • Publication number: 20210018625
    Abstract: A distance measurement device includes: a mirror disposed so as to be tilted relative to a rotation center axis; a drive unit configured to rotate the mirror about the rotation center axis; a photodetector configured to detect reflected light, of laser light, reflected in a distance measurement region; and a condensing lens disposed on the rotation center axis and configured to condense the reflected light reflected by the mirror, on the photodetector. The mirror has a shape elongated in one direction and is disposed such that a short axis thereof is tilted relative to the rotation center axis in a direction parallel to a plane including the rotation center axis. A width in a short-axis direction of the mirror is smaller than a width of a lens portion of the condensing lens as viewed in a direction parallel to the rotation center axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2020
    Publication date: January 21, 2021
    Inventors: Kazuhisa Ide, Masaomi Inoue, Hirotaka Ueno, Kouichi KUMAMARU, Masahiro SHIIHARA, Kouichi BAIRIN, Takashi HARUGUCHI, Kiyoshi HIBINO
  • Patent number: 10865955
    Abstract: A light emitting device includes a wavelength conversion element, and an excitation light source which radiates excitation light to the wavelength conversion element. The wavelength conversion element includes a support member having a supporting surface, and a wavelength conversion member disposed on the supporting surface so as to be contained within the support member when the support member is viewed from the supporting surface side. An outer peripheral region on the support member, which is an outer peripheral portion of an arrangement region including the wavelength conversion member and is exposed from the wavelength conversion member, includes a light absorbing portion which can absorb first light having same wavelength as the excitation light or a light scattering portion which can scatter the first light. The arrangement region includes a reflective member which is disposed between the wavelength conversion member and the support member, and is different from the support member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: PANASONIC SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Yamanaka, Hideki Kasugai, Hirotaka Ueno, Kimihiro Murakami
  • Publication number: 20200370724
    Abstract: A light emitting device includes a wavelength conversion element, and an excitation light source which radiates excitation light to the wavelength conversion element. The wavelength conversion element includes a support member having a supporting surface, and a wavelength conversion member disposed on the supporting surface so as to be contained within the support member when the support member is viewed from the supporting surface side. An outer peripheral region on the support member, which is an outer peripheral portion of an arrangement region including the wavelength conversion member and is exposed from the wavelength conversion member, includes a light absorbing portion which can absorb first light having same wavelength as the excitation light or a light scattering portion which can scatter the first light. The arrangement region includes a reflective member which is disposed between the wavelength conversion member and the support member, and is different from the support member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2020
    Publication date: November 26, 2020
    Inventors: Kazuhiko YAMANAKA, Hideki KASUGAI, Hirotaka UENO, Kimihiro MURAKAMI
  • Patent number: 10777711
    Abstract: A light emitting device includes a wavelength conversion element, and an excitation light source which radiates excitation light to the wavelength conversion element. The wavelength conversion element includes a support member having a supporting surface, and a wavelength conversion member disposed on the supporting surface so as to be contained within the support member when the support member is viewed from the supporting surface side. An outer peripheral region on the support member, which is an outer peripheral portion of an arrangement region including the wavelength conversion member and is exposed from the wavelength conversion member, includes a light absorbing portion which can absorb first light having same wavelength as the excitation light or a light scattering portion which can scatter the first light. The arrangement region includes a reflective member which is disposed between the wavelength conversion member and the support member, and is different from the support member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: PANASONIC SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Yamanaka, Hideki Kasugai, Hirotaka Ueno, Kimihiro Murakami
  • Patent number: 10514158
    Abstract: A light source device includes: a holder that has a first surface and a second surface located higher than the first surface, and is an integral structure; a semiconductor light-emitting device on the first surface; an optical element unit that is disposed above the semiconductor light-emitting device, and has a reflective surface that inclines with respect to the first surface and reflects emitted light from the semiconductor light-emitting device; and a phosphor optical element that is disposed on the second surface and irradiated with reflected light from the optical element unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masaharu Fukakusa, Hideo Yamaguchi, Hirotaka Ueno, Kazuhiko Yamanaka
  • Patent number: 10419694
    Abstract: An apparatus for imaging an object has a metering image sensor that comprises a plurality of pixels. The plurality of pixels is matrix-arrayed along vertical and horizontal directions. The apparatus also has an image sensor driver that drives the metering image sensor, which reads image-pixel signals of neighboring pixels among the plurality of pixels while mixing the image-pixel signals. The apparatus also has a pixel addition setting processor that sets a number of pixel addition of the metering image sensor with respect to at least one of at least one row and at least one column. The pixel addition setting processor sets different numbers of pixel addition to different pixel areas. The apparatus also has an exposure controller that controls an exposure of the metering image sensor and the photography image sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: RICOH IMAGING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Masakazu Terauchi, Yasuhiro Kazama, Hirotaka Ueno
  • Publication number: 20190259917
    Abstract: A light source device includes a mounted substrate which is a multi-layered substrate, a semiconductor light-emitting device which emits a laser beam, a wavelength-converting member which radiates fluorescence by being irradiated with the laser beam emitted from the semiconductor light-emitting device as an excitation light, a state detection circuit, an electric field effect type transistor which adjusts an electric current amount applied to the semiconductor light-emitting device upon receipt of an output from the state detection circuit, and an external connecting member, and the semiconductor light-emitting device, the state detection circuit, the transistor, and the external connecting member are mounted on the single mounted substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2019
    Publication date: August 22, 2019
    Inventors: Kazuhiko YAMANAKA, Kenichi MATSUMOTO, Hideo YAMAGUCHI, Wakahiko OKAZAKI, Yasuhiko ENAMI, Taku KOBAYASHI, Kazuki ADACHI, Hirotaka UENO
  • Publication number: 20190045146
    Abstract: An apparatus for imaging an object has a metering image sensor that comprises a plurality of pixels. The plurality of pixels is matrix-arrayed along vertical and horizontal directions. The apparatus also has an image sensor driver that drives the metering image sensor, which reads image-pixel signals of neighboring pixels among the plurality of pixels while mixing the image-pixel signals. The apparatus also has a pixel addition setting processor that sets a number of pixel addition of the metering image sensor with respect to at least one of at least one row and at least one column. The pixel addition setting processor sets different numbers of pixel addition to different pixel areas. The apparatus also has an exposure controller that controls an exposure of the metering image sensor and the photography image sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2018
    Publication date: February 7, 2019
    Applicant: RICOH IMAGING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Masakazu TERAUCHI, Yasuhiro KAZAMA, Hirotaka UENO
  • Publication number: 20180375001
    Abstract: A light source device includes: a semiconductor light emitting device which emits laser light; a wavelength conversion component which emits fluorescence by being irradiated with the laser light emitted from the semiconductor light emitting device as excitation light; and a photodetector on which a portion of light emitted from the wavelength conversion component is incident. The photodetector is disposed at a location off a light path of usable radiation light which is emitted from the wavelength conversion component to a space and used as illumination light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2018
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Inventors: Hirotaka UENO, Hideo YAMAGUCHI, Masaharu FUKAKUSA, Kazuhiko YAMANAKA
  • Publication number: 20180342629
    Abstract: A wavelength conversion element includes a substrate, a wavelength converting member disposed on at least part of a surface of substrate and having a shape of a plate or film, and a light receiver integrated in the substrate and including a p-n junction composed of a p-type semiconductor and an n-type semiconductor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2018
    Publication date: November 29, 2018
    Inventors: Kazuhiko YAMANAKA, Hirotaka UENO, Masaharu FUKAKUSA, Toshihiro KOGA
  • Patent number: 10136079
    Abstract: An apparatus for imaging an object has an image sensor that comprises a plurality of pixels. The plurality of pixels is matrix-arrayed along vertical and horizontal directions. The apparatus also has an image sensor driver that drives the image sensor, and the image sensor driver is capable of reading image-pixel signals of neighboring pixels among the plurality of pixels while mixing the image-pixel signals. The apparatus also has a pixel addition setting processor that sets the number of pixel addition with respect to at least one of at least one row and at least one column. The pixel addition setting processor sets different numbers of pixel addition to different pixel areas. The image sensor driver reads the image-pixel signals in response to the set number of pixel addition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: RICOH IMAGING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Masakazu Terauchi, Yasuhiro Kazama, Hirotaka Ueno
  • Publication number: 20180233633
    Abstract: A light emitting device includes a wavelength conversion element, and an excitation light source which radiates excitation light to the wavelength conversion element. The wavelength conversion element includes a support member having a supporting surface, and a wavelength conversion member disposed on the supporting surface so as to be contained within the support member when the support member is viewed from the supporting surface side. An outer peripheral region on the support member, which is an outer peripheral portion of an arrangement region including the wavelength conversion member and is exposed from the wavelength conversion member, includes a light absorbing portion which can absorb first light having same wavelength as the excitation light or a light scattering portion which can scatter the first light. The arrangement region includes a reflective member which is disposed between the wavelength conversion member and the support member, and is different from the support member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2018
    Publication date: August 16, 2018
    Inventors: Kazuhiko YAMANAKA, Hideki KASUGAI, Hirotaka UENO, Kimihiro MURAKAMI
  • Publication number: 20180216811
    Abstract: A light source device includes: a holder that has a first surface and a second surface located higher than the first surface, and is an integral structure; a semiconductor light-emitting device on the first surface; an optical element unit that is disposed above the semiconductor light-emitting device, and has a reflective surface that inclines with respect to the first surface and reflects emitted light from the semiconductor light-emitting device; and a phosphor optical element that is disposed on the second surface and irradiated with reflected light from the optical element unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2018
    Publication date: August 2, 2018
    Inventors: Masaharu FUKAKUSA, Hideo YAMAGUCHI, Hirotaka UENO, Kazuhiko YAMANAKA
  • Patent number: 9456145
    Abstract: An apparatus for photographing by using an electronic flash has a photography controller that carries out a pre-flash photography by emitting strobe light in a pre-flash exposure period and subsequently carries out a main flash photography by emitting strobe light; and an exposure adjuster that sets at least one exposure value associated with the pre-flash photography and/or the main flash photography. The exposure adjuster sets an aperture value of a diaphragm that suppresses an occurrence of saturation in image-pixel signals that are generated in an image sensor in the pre-flash exposure period. The photography controller drives the diaphragm in accordance to the set aperture value for the pre-flash photography.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: RICOH IMAGING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Hirotaka Ueno
  • Publication number: 20150116538
    Abstract: An apparatus for imaging an object has an image sensor that comprises a plurality of pixels. The plurality of pixels is matrix-arrayed along vertical and horizontal directions. The apparatus also has an image sensor driver that drives the image sensor, and the image sensor driver is capable of reading image-pixel signals of neighboring pixels among the plurality of pixels while mixing the image-pixel signals. The apparatus also has a pixel addition setting processor that sets the number of pixel addition with respect to at least one of at least one row and at least one column. The pixel addition setting processor sets different numbers of pixel addition to different pixel areas. The image sensor driver reads the image-pixel signals in response to the set number of pixel addition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2014
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Applicant: RICOH IMAGING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Masakazu TERAUCHI, Yasuhiro KAZAMA, Hirotaka UENO