Patents by Inventor Joichi Kawanishi

Joichi Kawanishi 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: 11858421
    Abstract: A vehicle mirror device includes a housing; an imaging device including an image light acquisition unit disposed in a lower surface of the housing in a vehicle-mounted state; a light projection device including an infrared irradiation unit disposed in the lower surface of the housing and disposed side by side with the image light acquisition unit in the left-and-right direction; and a plate-like attachment member including a surface on which the imaging device and the light projection device are mounted, and attached to the housing to hold the imaging device and the light projection device between the attachment member and the housing, the imaging device and the light projection device being fastened to the attachment member with screw members in a first direction. The attachment member is configured such that the imaging device and the light projection device are mountable thereon in a second direction different from the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignees: Misato Industries Co., Ltd., TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Joichi Kawanishi, Yuto Watanabe, Takashi Nakatani, Takuro Yuyama, Ryosuke Iba, Tetsuya Nagasaki
  • Publication number: 20230331154
    Abstract: A base assembly, capable of restricting an edge part of a cover from moving, includes: a base, a gasket and a cover, in which the base includes a fixing part and an attaching part, the gasket is attached to the fixing part, the cover is attached at the fixing part and the attaching part, and a lower edge part of the cover facing lower edge parts of the fixing part and the gasket has a vertical edge part, the lower edge part of the gasket has a horizontal edge part, stopper parts to restrict the vertical edge part from moving with respect to the lower edge part of the base are provided at the base and the cover, respectively, and the stopper part on the base's side is provided vertically, and the stopper part on the cover's side is provided horizontally.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2020
    Publication date: October 19, 2023
    Applicant: Misato Industries Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Joichi KAWANISHI, Ryosuke IBA
  • Publication number: 20220234503
    Abstract: Fastening work takes reduced time and effort. A vehicular mirror apparatus includes a housing mounted on a lateral portion of a vehicle and holding a mirror, and an attachment member, on which an internal unit including one or more out of an image pickup device that acquires image light, a floodlight device that emits infrared light, and an illumination device that emits visible light is fitted, and which is attached to a lower portion of the housing so as to put the internal unit between the attachment member and the housing, fastened to a first portion of the internal unit with a unit fastening member, and fastened to the housing and a second portion of the internal unit with a housing fastening member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2020
    Publication date: July 28, 2022
    Applicant: Ichikoh Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Joichi KAWANISHI, Takashi NAKATANI, Takuro YUYAMA, Ryosuke IBA, Tomoya MATSUBARA, Yuto WATANABE
  • Patent number: 11173844
    Abstract: A vehicle mirror device includes a housing, an imaging device, a light projection device, and a light shield unit. The housing is attached to a side portion of a vehicle and holds a mirror. The imaging device is attached to the housing and includes an image light acquisition unit disposed in a lower surface of the housing in a vehicle-mounted state. The light projection device is attached to the housing and includes an infrared irradiation unit disposed in the lower surface of the housing and disposed side by side with the image light acquisition unit in a left-and-right direction in the vehicle-mounted state. The light shield unit is provided on the lower surface of the housing and blocks infrared light going from the infrared irradiation unit toward the image light acquisition unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignees: Ichikoh Industries, Ltd., TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Joichi Kawanishi, Takuro Yuyama, Ryosuke Iba, Tomoya Matsubara, Yuto Watanabe, Takashi Nakatani, Tetsuya Nagasaki, Miyuki Omori
  • Publication number: 20210031688
    Abstract: A vehicle mirror device includes a housing; an imaging device including an image light acquisition unit disposed in a lower surface of the housing in a vehicle-mounted state; a light projection device including an infrared irradiation unit disposed in the lower surface of the housing and disposed side by side with the image light acquisition unit in the left-and-right direction; and a plate-like attachment member including a surface on which the imaging device and the light projection device are mounted, and attached to the housing to hold the imaging device and the light projection device between the attachment member and the housing, the imaging device and the light projection device being fastened to the attachment member with screw members in a first direction. The attachment member is configured such that the imaging device and the light projection device are mountable thereon in a second direction different from the first direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2020
    Publication date: February 4, 2021
    Applicants: Ichikoh Industries, Ltd., TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Joichi KAWANISHI, Yuto WATANABE, Takashi NAKATANI, Takuro YUYAMA, Ryosuke IBA, Tetsuya NAGASAKI
  • Publication number: 20200406822
    Abstract: A vehicle mirror device includes a housing, an imaging device, a light projection device, and a light shield unit. The housing is attached to a side portion of a vehicle and holds a mirror. The imaging device is attached to the housing and includes an image light acquisition unit disposed in a lower surface of the housing in a vehicle-mounted state. The light projection device is attached to the housing and includes an infrared irradiation unit disposed in the lower surface of the housing and disposed side by side with the image light acquisition unit in a left-and-right direction in the vehicle-mounted state. The light shield unit is provided on the lower surface of the housing and blocks infrared light going from the infrared irradiation unit toward the image light acquisition unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2020
    Publication date: December 31, 2020
    Applicants: Ichikoh Industries, Ltd., TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Joichi KAWANISHI, Takuro YUYAMA, Ryosuke IBA, Tomoya MATSUBARA, Yuto WATANABE, Takashi NAKATANI, Tetsuya NAGASAKI, Miyuki OMORI
  • Patent number: 7387396
    Abstract: A mirror housing includes a temporary fixing member that is formed of a plate having a groove. An additional part includes a temporary fixing member that includes an insertion portion engaged with the groove to position and guide the additional part in a setting direction and a first direction, and a contacting portion that contacts the plate to position and guide the additional part in a second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Assignee: Ichikoh Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Joichi Kawanishi, Keisuke Honda
  • Publication number: 20070103921
    Abstract: A mirror housing includes a temporary fixing member that is formed of a plate having a groove. An additional part includes a temporary fixing member that includes an insertion portion engaged with the groove to position and guide the additional part in a setting direction and a first direction, and a contacting portion that contacts the plate to position and guide the additional part in a second direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2006
    Publication date: May 10, 2007
    Inventors: Joichi Kawanishi, Keisuke Honda
  • Patent number: 7104662
    Abstract: An outside mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a mirror housing; an accessory part; a temporary fixing unit that temporarily fixes the accessory part to the mirror housing; and a permanent fixing unit that permanently fixes the accessory part to the mirror housing. The temporary fixing unit includes a first guide positioning part provided in the mirror housing and a second guide positioning part provided in the accessory part. The first and the second guide positioning parts perform a positioning of the accessory part with a first guide in a first direction and a second guide in a second direction. The first direction and the second direction are substantially perpendicular to a direction of setting the accessory part to the mirror housing, respectively, and substantially perpendicular to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: Ichikoh Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Joichi Kawanishi
  • Publication number: 20050254153
    Abstract: An outside mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a mirror housing; an accessory part; a temporary fixing unit that temporarily fixes the accessory part to the mirror housing; and a permanent fixing unit that permanently fixes the accessory part to the mirror housing. The temporary fixing unit includes a first guide positioning part provided in the mirror housing and a second guide positioning part provided in the accessory part. The first and the second guide positioning parts perform a positioning of the accessory part with a first guide in a first direction and a second guide in a second direction. The first direction and the second direction are substantially perpendicular to a direction of setting the accessory part to the mirror housing, respectively, and substantially perpendicular to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2005
    Publication date: November 17, 2005
    Inventor: Joichi Kawanishi
  • Publication number: 20050248863
    Abstract: An outside mirror apparatus for a vehicle includes a mirror base; a mirror housing that is fixed to the mirror base to cover the stay portion; an electric part that is fixed to at least one of the mirror housing and the stay portion; a harness including a bundle of wires that connects the electric part and a power source; and a hook portion that is arranged at an edge of the base portion, at which the harness is hooked so that the harness is guided to the surface of the base portion. The mirror base includes a base portion of which a surface is fixed to a vehicle body, and a stay portion that is provided integrally with the base portion on a side opposite to the surface of the base portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2005
    Publication date: November 10, 2005
    Inventor: Joichi Kawanishi