Patents by Inventor Keiichi Tajima

Keiichi Tajima 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: 10962049
    Abstract: An actuator includes: an output unit 30 having an output shaft 33; and a first worm 40 and a second worm 50 extending along a face perpendicular to the output shaft 33, wherein: the output unit 30 includes a rotating mechanism 34a configured to be meshed with the first worm 40 to rotate the output shaft 33 about a predetermined rotation axis 33a, and a moving mechanism 39 configured to be meshed with the second worm 50 to move the output shaft 33 in a direction orthogonal to the rotation axis 33a; the first worm 40 and the second worm 50 are placed to sandwich the output shaft 33; and a distance between the second worm 50 and the output shaft 33 is shorter than a distance between the first worm 40 and the output shaft 33.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Keiichi Tajima
  • Patent number: 10864844
    Abstract: Provided are: a lamp body (21) housing a light source; a joint (24) secured to a lower portion of the lamp body (21); a bracket (30) connected with the joint (24); and an actuator (40) including a movable shaft (42) that moves upward and downward. The joint (24) is connected to the bracket (30) through a fulcrum member (50) pivotable to the bracket (30), and the movable shaft (42) is connected to the joint (24) on the rear side of the fulcrum member (50).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO.. LTD.
    Inventor: Keiichi Tajima
  • Publication number: 20200164789
    Abstract: Provided are: a lamp body (21) housing a light source; a joint (24) secured to a lower portion of the lamp body (21); a bracket (30) connected with the joint (24); and an actuator (40) including a movable shaft (42) that moves upward and downward. The joint (24) is connected to the bracket (30) through a fulcrum member (50) pivotable to the bracket (30), and the movable shaft (42) is connected to the joint (24) on the rear side of the fulcrum member (50).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2018
    Publication date: May 28, 2020
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Keiichi TAJIMA
  • Patent number: 10625659
    Abstract: A vehicle lamp includes a lamp body, a lamp, and a leveling actuator. And an aiming screw for aiming the lamp unit in an upper and lower direction is supported to the lamp body to be rotatable about an axis extending in a front and rear direction of the vehicle lamp. And an aiming nut to be threadably engaged with the aiming screw is mounted to the aiming screw. And the leveling actuator includes an actuator body fixed and supported to the lamp unit and an output shaft member supported to the actuator body to be moveable in the front and rear direction of the vehicle lamp with protruding upward or downward from the actuator body. And a leading end portion of the output shaft member and the aiming nut are coupled at a position distant in a right and left direction from a vertical surface including the axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Keiichi Tajima
  • Patent number: 10583772
    Abstract: A vehicle lamp includes a lamp body, a lamp unit and a leveling actuator. The lamp unit is supported to the lamp body to be aimable in an upper and lower direction and in a right and left direction. The leveling actuator rotates the lamp unit in the upper and lower direction independently from rotation by the aiming. An aiming nut is mounted to the aiming screw and threadably engaged with the aiming screw. The leveling actuator comprises an actuator main body fixed and supported to the lamp unit and an output shaft member supported to the actuator main body to be moveable in the front and rear direction of the lamp. The output shaft member is disposed to protrude upward or downward from the actuator main body and is coupled to the aiming nut at a leading end portion of the output shaft member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Daisuke Aizawa, Keiichi Tajima
  • Publication number: 20190092220
    Abstract: A vehicle lamp includes a lamp body, a lamp unit and a leveling actuator. The lamp unit is supported to the lamp body to be aimable in an upper and lower direction and in a right and left direction. The leveling actuator rotates the lamp unit in the upper and lower direction independently from rotation by the aiming. An aiming nut is mounted to the aiming screw and threadably engaged with the aiming screw. The leveling actuator comprises an actuator main body fixed and supported to the lamp unit and an output shaft member supported to the actuator main body to be moveable in the front and rear direction of the lamp. The output shaft member is disposed to protrude upward or downward from the actuator main body and is coupled to the aiming nut at a leading end portion of the output shaft member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2018
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Daisuke Aizawa, Keiichi Tajima
  • Publication number: 20190092219
    Abstract: A vehicle lamp includes a lamp body, a lamp, and a leveling actuator. And an aiming screw for aiming the lamp unit in an upper and lower direction is supported to the lamp body to be rotatable about an axis extending in a front and rear direction of the vehicle lamp. And an aiming nut to be threadably engaged with the aiming screw is mounted to the aiming screw. And the leveling actuator includes an actuator body fixed and supported to the lamp unit and an output shaft member supported to the actuator body to be moveable in the front and rear direction of the vehicle lamp with protruding upward or downward from the actuator body. And a leading end portion of the output shaft member and the aiming nut are coupled at a position distant in a right and left direction from a vertical surface including the axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2018
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Keiichi Tajima
  • Publication number: 20180372149
    Abstract: An actuator includes: an output unit 30 having an output shaft 33; and a first worm 40 and a second worm 50 extending along a face perpendicular to the output shaft 33, wherein: the output unit 30 includes a rotating mechanism 34a configured to be meshed with the first worm 40 to rotate the output shaft 33 about a predetermined rotation axis 33a, and a moving mechanism 39 configured to be meshed with the second worm 50 to move the output shaft 33 in a direction orthogonal to the rotation axis 33a; the first worm 40 and the second worm 50 are placed to sandwich the output shaft 33; and a distance between the second worm 50 and the output shaft 33 is shorter than a distance between the first worm 40 and the output shaft 33.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2016
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Keiichi TAJIMA
  • Patent number: 9494289
    Abstract: A coupling member has a first driven portion and an output shaft to be coupled to a lamp unit, and is rotatable in the horizontal direction about the shaft center of the output shaft. A driven member has a second driven portion and a follower portion, and is rotatable relative to the coupling member. An acting portion is engaged with the follower portion. A first driving unit is engaged with the first driven portion to rotate the coupling member relative to the driven member. A second driving unit is engaged with the second driven portion to rotate the driven member relative to the coupling member. When the second driving unit rotates the driven member, the acting portion engaged with the follower portion causes the rotation center to move, and the coupling member is moved together with the driven member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Keiichi Tajima, Shigeru Kuwahara
  • Patent number: 9428102
    Abstract: An actuator is configured to adjust the radiation direction of light emitted from a light source of a lamp unit in a lamp case including a lamp housing having an opening at least at one side and a cover that blocks the opening. The actuator includes: a case body having an internal space serving as an installation space; a drive motor disposed in the installation space; and a driven body having a driving force transmitting portion to which driving force is transmitted from the drive motor, and an output shaft that is coupled to the lamp unit and that outputs the driving force transmitted to the driving force transmitting portion to the lamp unit. The driven body is supported by the case body so as to be movable in the front-rear direction of the lamp unit. The driving force transmitting portion and the output shaft are integral with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Keiichi Tajima
  • Patent number: 9283886
    Abstract: A vehicular headlamp includes: a lamp unit including a unit main body and a connecting portion; a leveling actuator that is connected to the connecting portion and that moves the lamp unit to adjust an irradiation direction of the emitted light; and an aiming mechanism that includes a pair of aiming shafts connected to the connecting portion and that moves the lamp unit to adjust an irradiation direction of the emitted light. The connecting portion has a leveling operation portion to which the leveling actuator is connected and a pair of aiming operation portions to which the respective the aiming shafts are connected. The aiming operation portions are arranged spaced from each other in a lateral direction of the vehicular headlamp. The leveling operation portion is arranged between the aiming operation portions, on an opposite side of the unit main body from the aiming shafts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Keiichi Tajima
  • Publication number: 20150217676
    Abstract: An actuator is configured to adjust the radiation direction of light emitted from a light source of a lamp unit in a lamp case including a lamp housing having an opening at least at one side and a cover that blocks the opening. The actuator includes: a case body having an internal space serving as an installation space; a drive motor disposed in the installation space; and a driven body having a driving force transmitting portion to which driving force is transmitted from the drive motor, and an output shaft that is coupled to the lamp unit and that outputs the driving force transmitted to the driving force transmitting portion to the lamp unit. The driven body is supported by the case body so as to be movable in the front-rear direction of the lamp unit. The driving force transmitting portion and the output shaft are integral with each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2015
    Publication date: August 6, 2015
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Keiichi TAJIMA
  • Publication number: 20140340915
    Abstract: A vehicular headlamp includes: a lamp unit including a unit main body and a connecting portion; a leveling actuator that is connected to the connecting portion and that moves the lamp unit to adjust an irradiation direction of the emitted light; and an aiming mechanism that includes a pair of aiming shafts connected to the connecting portion and that moves the lamp unit to adjust an irradiation direction of the emitted light. The connecting portion has a leveling operation portion to which the leveling actuator is connected and a pair of aiming operation portions to which the respective the aiming shafts are connected. The aiming operation portions are arranged spaced from each other in a lateral direction of the vehicular headlamp. The leveling operation portion is arranged between the aiming operation portions, on an opposite side of the unit main body from the aiming shafts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2014
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Keiichi TAJIMA
  • Publication number: 20140198516
    Abstract: A coupling member has a first driven portion and an output shaft to be coupled to a lamp unit, and is rotatable in the horizontal direction about the shaft center of the output shaft. A driven member has a second driven portion and a follower portion, and is rotatable relative to the coupling member. An acting portion is engaged with the follower portion. A first driving unit is engaged with the first driven portion to rotate the coupling member relative to the driven member. A second driving unit is engaged with the second driven portion to rotate the driven member relative to the coupling member. When the second driving unit rotates the driven member, the acting portion engaged with the follower portion causes the rotation center to move, and the coupling member is moved together with the driven member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2012
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Keiichi Tajima, Shigeru Kuwahara
  • Patent number: 8662725
    Abstract: Into a case member, either of a unidirectional adjusting device for adjusting an irradiating direction of light only in a vertical direction by tilting a lamp unit in the vertical direction or a bidirectional adjusting device for adjusting the irradiating direction of light in two directions of the vertical direction and a horizontal direction by tilting the lamp unit in the vertical direction and rotating the lamp unit in the horizontal direction can be installed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Keiichi Tajima
  • Patent number: 8096687
    Abstract: A vehicle head light includes a lighting casing; a lamp unit disposed in the lighting casing; a support member that supports the lamp unit so as to be rotatable at least in two directions; an actuator that rotates the lamp unit with respect to the support member; and a thrust receiver that receives a load of the lamp unit. The lighting casing includes a lamp housing opened on one side and a cover that closes the opening of the lamp housing. The lamp unit includes a light source and a reflector that reflects light emitted from the light source. The actuator is disposed under the lamp unit. A lower end of the lamp unit is coupled to the actuator. The actuator includes a case member; and a driving mechanism disposed in the case member. The lamp unit is coupled to the driving mechanism. The thrust receiver is integrally provided on the case member of the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Keiichi Tajima
  • Patent number: 8007151
    Abstract: A vehicle head light includes a lighting casing; a lamp unit disposed in the lighting casing; a support member that supports the lamp unit so as to be rotatable at least in two directions; and an actuator that rotates the lamp unit with respect to the support member. The lighting casing includes a lamp housing opened on one side and a cover that closes the opening of the lamp housing. The lamp unit includes a light source and a reflector that reflects light emitted from the light source. The actuator is disposed under the lamp unit. A lower end of the lamp unit is coupled to the actuator. The actuator includes a support portion attached to the support member; and a main unit being supported by the support portion so as to be movable in a front-rear direction. The support portion includes a shaft holding portion on a lower surface thereof. The main unit includes a bearing portion on an upper surface thereof. A driving mechanism is provided in the main unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Keiichi Tajima
  • Publication number: 20110188258
    Abstract: Into a case member, either of a unidirectional adjusting device for adjusting an irradiating direction of light only in a vertical direction by tilting a lamp unit in the vertical direction or a bidirectional adjusting device for adjusting the irradiating direction of light in two directions of the vertical direction and a horizontal direction by tilting the lamp unit in the vertical direction and rotating the lamp unit in the horizontal direction can be installed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2011
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Keiichi TAJIMA
  • Patent number: 7878694
    Abstract: A vehicular lamp has a lamp unit disposed within a lamp housing, a right-left actuator capable of tilting the lamp unit in a right-left direction, the right-left actuator having a rotational shaft connected to the lamp unit, and an up-down actuator capable of tilting the lamp unit in an up-down direction, the up-down actuator having a retractable shaft connected to a support member that supports the lamp unit. The right-left actuator and the up-down actuator are provided within a single actuator housing. An axial direction of the rotational shaft and an axial direction of the retractable shaft are positioned within an identical plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Keiichi Tajima, Tsutomu Takiguchi, Naoki Takii
  • Patent number: D857935
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Keiichi Tajima