Patents by Inventor Kazutoshi Sakurai

Kazutoshi Sakurai 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: 11774643
    Abstract: An optical unit includes a cylindrical rotatable lens and a light source provided in the rotatable lens. The rotatable lens is configured such that a light output from the light source is incident via an inner circumferential surface and is output via an outer circumferential surface as an irradiating beam, and a predetermined irradiated area is formed by scanning a space in front with the irradiating beam according to a periodical movement of the rotatable lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kazutoshi Sakurai
  • Patent number: 11573000
    Abstract: An optical unit includes a first light source, a second light source, a rotary reflector that rotates about an axis of rotation while reflecting first light emitted from the first light source, and a projection lens that projects the first light reflected by the rotary reflector into a light illuminating direction of the optical unit to form a first light distribution pattern. The second light source is disposed such that second light emitted from the second light source enters the projection lens without being reflected by the rotary reflector. The projection lens is configured to project the second light into the light illuminating direction of the optical unit to form a second light distribution pattern such that the second light distribution pattern overlaps an end portion of the first light distribution pattern in a right-left direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazutoshi Sakurai, Hidetada Tanaka
  • Patent number: 11441753
    Abstract: An optical unit includes a first light source, a second light source, a rotary reflector that rotates about an axis of rotation while reflecting first light emitted from the first light source, and a projection lens that projects the first light reflected by the rotary reflector into a light illuminating direction of the optical unit to form a first light distribution pattern. The second light source is disposed such that second light emitted from the second light source enters the projection lens without being reflected by the rotary reflector. The projection lens is configured to project the second light into the light illuminating direction of the optical unit to form a second light distribution pattern such that the second light distribution pattern overlaps an end portion of the first light distribution pattern in a right-left direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazutoshi Sakurai, Hidetada Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20220236458
    Abstract: An optical unit includes a cylindrical rotatable lens and a light source provided in the rotatable lens. The rotatable lens is configured such that a light output from the light source is incident via an inner circumferential surface and is output via an outer circumferential surface as an irradiating beam, and a predetermined irradiated area is formed by scanning a space in front with the irradiating beam according to a periodical movement of the rotatable lens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2022
    Publication date: July 28, 2022
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kazutoshi SAKURAI
  • Publication number: 20220221124
    Abstract: An optical unit includes a first light source, a second light source, a rotary reflector that rotates about an axis of rotation while reflecting first light emitted from the first light source, and a projection lens that projects the first light reflected by the rotary reflector into a light illuminating direction of the optical unit to form a first light distribution pattern. The second light source is disposed such that second light emitted from the second light source enters the projection lens without being reflected by the rotary reflector. The projection lens is configured to project the second light into the light illuminating direction of the optical unit to form a second light distribution pattern such that the second light distribution pattern overlaps an end portion of the first light distribution pattern in a right-left direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2022
    Publication date: July 14, 2022
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazutoshi SAKURAI, Hidetada TANAKA
  • Patent number: 11280466
    Abstract: An optical unit includes: a light source; a rotating reflector configured to be rotated in a single direction with the rotational axis as the center of rotation while reflecting light emitted from the light source; and a projector lens configured to project light reflected by the rotating reflector in the light irradiation direction. The projector lens has a first lens region LR1 that defines the first focal plane and a second lens region that defines the second focal plane that differs from the first focal plane. The light source is arranged such that, when the rotating reflector is set to the first rotational position, its virtual position is in the vicinity of the focal plane, and such that, when the rotating reflector is set to the second rotational position, its virtual position is in the vicinity of the focal plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hidetada Tanaka, Kazutoshi Sakurai
  • Publication number: 20210317968
    Abstract: An optical unit includes a first light source, a second light source, a rotary reflector that rotates about an axis of rotation while reflecting first light emitted from the first light source, and a projection lens that projects the first light reflected by the rotary reflector into a light illuminating direction of the optical unit to form a first light distribution pattern. The second light source is disposed such that second light emitted from the second light source enters the projection lens without being reflected by the rotary reflector. The projection lens is configured to project the second light into the light illuminating direction of the optical unit to form a second light distribution pattern such that the second light distribution pattern overlaps an end portion of the first light distribution pattern in a right-left direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2021
    Publication date: October 14, 2021
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazutoshi SAKURAI, Hidetada TANAKA
  • Publication number: 20210310630
    Abstract: An optical unit includes: a light source; a rotating reflector configured to be rotated in a single direction with the rotational axis as the center of rotation while reflecting light emitted from the light source; and a projector lens configured to project light reflected by the rotating reflector in the light irradiation direction. The projector lens has a first lens region LR1 that defines the first focal plane and a second lens region that defines the second focal plane that differs from the first focal plane. The light source is arranged such that, when the rotating reflector is set to the first rotational position, its virtual position is in the vicinity of the focal plane, and such that, when the rotating reflector is set to the second rotational position, its virtual position is in the vicinity of the focal plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2021
    Publication date: October 7, 2021
    Applicant: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidetada TANAKA, Kazutoshi SAKURAI
  • Patent number: 11022263
    Abstract: A headlight for a vehicle includes a light source. The light source includes: a substrate; a light emitting diode chip; and a phosphor. The phosphor through which light exiting from a light emitting surface penetrates. The phosphor includes an exiting surface through which the light from the light emitting surface penetrates and exits. A first direction of the exiting surface corresponds to a height direction of a light distribution pattern by the light exiting from the exiting surface, and a second direction of the exiting surface corresponds to a spread in a lateral direction of the light distribution pattern. A dimension in the first direction of the exiting surface is smaller than a dimension in the second direction of the exiting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hironori Tsukamoto, Kazutoshi Sakurai
  • Patent number: 10731824
    Abstract: A vehicular lamp includes a first light source that emits light for forming a first distribution pattern, a second light source that emits light for forming a second distribution pattern that is added to the first distribution pattern, and a light guide member disposed in front of the first light source. The light guide member includes a first incidence surface on which the light emitted from the first light source is incident, a total reflection surface by which a part of the light incident from the first incidence surface is totally reflected, and a first emission surface from which the light totally reflected by the total reflection surface is emitted toward the lamp front. A part of the light emitted from the second light source passes through the total reflection surface and the light guide member and is emitted from the first emission surface toward the lamp front.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroki Kawai, Kenichi Takada, Kazutoshi Sakurai, Shuhei Nozue, Akira Hanada, Akinori Matsumoto, Shinji Kagiyama, Takahiko Honda
  • Patent number: 10670216
    Abstract: An optical unit includes a light source and a rotary reflector configured to reflect a light emitted from the light source and rotate around a rotation axis in one direction. The rotary reflector is provided with a reflective surface such that a desired light distribution pattern is formed by scanning a light of a light source reflected by the rotary reflector while the rotary reflector is rotated. The light source includes a first light-emitting portion configured to be turned on when forming a first light distribution pattern that mainly illuminates a range lower than a horizontal line, and a second light-emitting portion configured to be turned on when forming a second light distribution pattern that illuminates a range at least higher than the horizontal line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hidetada Tanaka, Kazutoshi Sakurai
  • Publication number: 20200080701
    Abstract: An optical unit includes a first light source having a plurality of light-emitting elements disposed in an array, a rotary reflector that rotates while reflecting light emitted from the first light source, and a controller that controls an on state of the plurality of light-emitting elements. The rotary reflector includes a reflective surface provided to form a light-distribution pattern by scanning light reflected by the rotating rotary reflector as a light source image, and the plurality of light-emitting elements include a first light-emitting element and a second light-emitting element. The controller controls the on state of the first light-emitting element and the second light-emitting element such that an on duration T1 of the first light-emitting element becomes longer than an on duration T2 (T2>0) of the second light-emitting element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2019
    Publication date: March 12, 2020
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hidetada TANAKA, Kazutoshi SAKURAI, Yoshiaki AISO
  • Publication number: 20200003380
    Abstract: A headlight for a vehicle includes a light source. The light source includes: a substrate; a light emitting diode chip; and a phosphor. The phosphor through which light exiting from a light emitting surface penetrates. The phosphor includes an exiting surface through which the light from the light emitting surface penetrates and exits. A first direction of the exiting surface corresponds to a height direction of a light distribution pattern by the light exiting from the exiting surface, and a second direction of the exiting surface corresponds to a spread in a lateral direction of the light distribution pattern. A dimension in the first direction of the exiting surface is smaller than a dimension in the second direction of the exiting surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2019
    Publication date: January 2, 2020
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hironori TSUKAMOTO, Kazutoshi Sakurai
  • Patent number: 10479264
    Abstract: When forming a first light distribution pattern, the controller is configured to control the magnitudes of the drive currents of first light emitting element and the second light emitting element. When forming a second light distribution pattern, the controller is configured to control so that the magnitude of the drive current of the second light emitting element is smaller than when forming the first light distribution pattern and/or so that a time period in which the drive current is to be supplied to the second light emitting element is shorter than when forming the first light distribution pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hidetada Tanaka, Kazutoshi Sakurai
  • Publication number: 20190226658
    Abstract: A vehicular lamp includes a first light source that emits light for forming a first distribution pattern, a second light source that emits light for forming a second distribution pattern that is added to the first distribution pattern, and a light guide member disposed in front of the first light source. The light guide member includes a first incidence surface on which the light emitted from the first light source is incident, a total reflection surface by which a part of the light incident from the first incidence surface is totally reflected, and a first emission surface from which the light totally reflected by the total reflection surface is emitted toward the lamp front. A part of the light emitted from the second light source passes through the total reflection surface and the light guide member and is emitted from the first emission surface toward the lamp front.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2017
    Publication date: July 25, 2019
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroki Kawai, Kenichi Takada, Kazutoshi Sakurai, Shuhei Nozue, Akira Hanada, Akinori Matsumoto, Shinji Kagiyama, Takahiko Honda
  • Publication number: 20190009705
    Abstract: When forming a first light distribution pattern, the controller is configured to control the magnitudes of the drive currents of first light emitting element and the second light emitting element. When forming a second light distribution pattern, the controller is configured to control so that the magnitude of the drive current of the second light emitting element is smaller than when forming the first light distribution pattern and/or so that a time period in which the drive current is to be supplied to the second light emitting element is shorter than when forming the first light distribution pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2018
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hidetada TANAKA, Kazutoshi SAKURAI
  • Publication number: 20180335192
    Abstract: An optical unit includes a light source and a rotary reflector configured to reflect a light emitted from the light source and rotate around a rotation axis in one direction. The rotary reflector is provided with a reflective surface such that a desired light distribution pattern is formed by scanning a light of a light source reflected by the rotary reflector while the rotary reflector is rotated. The light source includes a first light-emitting portion configured to be turned on when forming a first light distribution pattern that mainly illuminates a range lower than a horizontal line, and a second light-emitting portion configured to be turned on when forming a second light distribution pattern that illuminates a range at least higher than the horizontal line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2018
    Publication date: November 22, 2018
    Inventors: Hidetada Tanaka, Kazutoshi Sakurai
  • Patent number: 8791059
    Abstract: A rose-like fragrance composition including methyl epijasmonate, provided that a natural jasmine fragrance containing methyl epijasmonate is excluded. The rose-like fragrance composition can also include 2-isopropyl-4-methyl thiazole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignees: Shiseido Company, Ltd., Takasago International Corporation
    Inventors: Atushi Joichi, Yasuko Nakamura, Shinichiro Haze, Takahiro Ishikawa, Takashi Nishida, Kazutoshi Sakurai
  • Publication number: 20130253076
    Abstract: A rose-like fragrance composition including methyl epijasmonate, provided that a natural jasmine fragrance containing methyl epijasmonate is excluded. The rose-like fragrance composition can also include 2-isopropyl-4-methyl thiazole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicants: TAKASAGO INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION, SHISEIDO COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Atushi JOICHI, Yasuko NAKAMURA, Shinichiro HAZE, Takahiro ISHIKAWA, Takashi NISHIDA, Kazutoshi SAKURAI
  • Patent number: 8426354
    Abstract: Provided is a fragrance composition having a natural rose aroma with freshness, sweetness, and softness, which is hardly reproduced by combining aroma components conventionally known as rose aromas. Also provided is a fragrance composition having excellent rose-like naturalness, freshness, and richness. More specifically, provided are: a fragrance composition, having added thereto 2-isopropyl-4-methylthiazole alone or in combination with rose oxide; a method of manufacturing the same; and a method of imparting an aroma to a fragrance composition, the method including adding 2-isopropyl-4-methylthiazole to a base fragrance composition having a rose-like aroma as a main aroma.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignees: Shiseido Company, Ltd., Takasago International Corporation
    Inventors: Atushi Joichi, Yasuko Nakamura, Shinichiro Haze, Takahiro Ishikawa, Takashi Nishida, Kazutoshi Sakurai