Patents by Inventor Ken Nishioka
Ken Nishioka 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).
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Patent number: 8416481Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 16, 2010Date of Patent: April 9, 2013Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.Inventors: Atsuhiko Chikaoka, Atsuya Hirano, Ken Nishioka, Hiroshi Nishigaki
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Patent number: 8408720Abstract: A projector divides and projects a single image onto two different projection surfaces and 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, which 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 and changes a projected image based on the calculated position. The projector displays a designated region of the VUI screen image to be brightened.Type: GrantFiled: April 9, 2010Date of Patent: April 2, 2013Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hiroshi Nishigaki, Atsuya Hirano, Atsuhiko Chikaoka, Ken Nishioka
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Patent number: 8368006Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 19, 2010Date of Patent: February 5, 2013Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.Inventors: Atsuhiko Chikaoka, Atsuya Hirano, Ken Nishioka, Hiroshi Nishigaki
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Patent number: 8360853Abstract: A game machines has a back side display unit composed of reels for displaying back patterns, and a front side display unit composed of transparent EL panels for displaying overlapping patterns overlapping with the back patterns. The back side display unit and the front side display unit are disposed not to produce blind spot regions of the back patterns. The game machine can provide various overlapping patterns with good visibility and a high game selection capability to a player.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2012Date of Patent: January 29, 2013Assignees: Konami Digital Entertainment Co., Ltd., Yamasa Co., Ltd.Inventors: Masaaki Ozaki, Takahisa Kaneko, Ken Nishioka, Takashi Yamaguchi
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Publication number: 20130010211Abstract: Disclosed is a display device capable of inhibiting a projected picture from occurrence of brightness unevenness while reducing speckle noise. The display device (100) includes a control portion (15) continuously supplying current to a laser beam generation portion (12, 13, 14) nonstop for a period longer than a first period thereby controlling the laser beam generation portion to output the laser beam and controlling the laser beam generation portion to stop the output of the laser beam at least once in a second period scanning one image forming element (1, 2).Type: ApplicationFiled: March 7, 2011Publication date: January 10, 2013Applicant: FUNAI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.Inventors: Ken Nishioka, Kenji Nagashima, Atsuya Hirano, Atsuhiko Chikaoka
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Patent number: 8294083Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 16, 2009Date of Patent: October 23, 2012Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.Inventors: Ken Nishioka, Atsuya Hirano, Hiroki Matsubara, Hiroshi Nishigaki
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Patent number: 8259237Abstract: A detection surface of an optical detector is divided into regions C, E, F, G, and H. The optical detector outputs detection signals corresponding to the amounts of light incident on the respective regions. A position detection controller calculates an image projection position based on timing at which a laser beam is incident on region C. A laser control circuit adjusts the intensity of the laser beam emitted by a laser based on laser beam intensities detected in regions E to H arranged around region C.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 2009Date of Patent: September 4, 2012Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.Inventors: Ken Nishioka, Atsuya Hirano, Kenji Nagashima, Manabu Murayama
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Patent number: 8243287Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 6, 2010Date of Patent: August 14, 2012Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hiroshi Nishigaki, Atsuya Hirano, Atsuhiko Chikaoka, Ken Nishioka
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Patent number: 8219503Abstract: A system on a network provides estimated time of arrival information to a client located on the network. The system is adapted to present to the client pages for eliciting a product inquiry including a product number. The system receives the product inquiry, determines estimated time of arrivals for various destinations for at least one in-transit unit having the product number, and transmits to the client the estimated time of arrivals.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2009Date of Patent: July 10, 2012Assignee: Canon U.S.A., Inc.Inventors: Shinichi Takahashi, Takenari Kawano, Kazuo Tsuga, Ken Nishioka
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Publication number: 20120149466Abstract: A game machines has a back side display unit composed of reels for displaying back patterns, and a front side display unit composed of transparent EL panels for displaying overlapping patterns overlapping with the back patterns. The back side display unit and the front side display unit are disposed not to produce blind spot regions of the back patterns. The game machine can provide various overlapping patterns with good visibility and a high game selection capability to a player.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 22, 2012Publication date: June 14, 2012Applicants: YAMASA CO., LTD., DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Masaaki Ozaki, Takahisa KANEKO, Ken NISHIOKA, Tsuneo UCHIDA, Hiroshi KAWAKAMI, Yoshio AOKI, Takashi YAMAGUCHI
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Patent number: 8197066Abstract: A laser projector includes a green laser, a two-wavelength laser, a PBS, a collimator lens, a two-axis galvanometer mirror, a group of lenses, and a screen. The green laser emits a green laser beam. The two-wavelength laser emits red and blue laser beams. The PBS is provided at the position where respective optical paths of laser beams emitted from respective lasers cross each other to cause these optical paths to coincide with each other.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 2008Date of Patent: June 12, 2012Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kenji Nagashima, Atsuhiko Chikaoka, Seiji Takemoto, Hiroki Matsubara, Yutaka Takahashi, Ken Nishioka
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Publication number: 20120133902Abstract: This display includes a control portion controlling a laser beam generation portion to output a first laser beam including a region of relaxation oscillation to a partial first image forming element included in a plurality of image forming elements and to output a second laser beam including no region of relaxation oscillation to a second image forming element, other than the first image forming element, included in the plurality of image forming elements.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 30, 2011Publication date: May 31, 2012Applicant: FUNAI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.Inventors: Ken Nishioka, Atsuhiko Chikaoka, Kenji Nagashima, Takatoshi Nishimura, Yasunori Higashiyama
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Patent number: 8162317Abstract: A game machines has a back side display unit composed of reels for displaying back patterns, and a front side display unit composed of transparent EL panels for displaying overlapping patterns overlapping with the back patterns. The back side display unit and the front side display unit are disposed not to produce blind spot regions of the back patterns. The game machine can provide various overlapping patterns with good visibility and a high game selection capability to a player.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 2010Date of Patent: April 24, 2012Assignees: DENSO CORPORATION, Yamasa Co., Ltd.Inventors: Masaaki Ozaki, Takahisa Kaneko, Ken Nishioka, Tsuneo Uchida, Hiroshi Kawakami, Yoshio Aoki, Takashi Yamaguchi
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Patent number: 8067725Abstract: A deviation of an optic axis of a laser projector is detected, and the deviation is corrected. Laser projector's CPU executes: commanding a laser beam source of one color, out of laser beam sources of three colors, to emit a laser beam; shutting off the laser when sensing that the laser beam is received in a light-receiving region; applying a laser of a color to be detected as to the presence or absence of a deviation of the axis until its reception in the light-receiving region is sensed; keeping time starting when light reception in the light-receiving region is sensed and ending when light reception in a light-receiving region adjacent thereto is sensed; calculating a relative time difference of each of the colors with respect to a reference color; and correcting a light emission timing of the laser beam source of each of the color, based on the calculated time.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 2009Date of Patent: November 29, 2011Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.Inventors: Ken Nishioka, Atsuya Hirano, Seiji Takemoto, Atsuhiko Chikaoka
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Patent number: 8057052Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 15, 2009Date of Patent: November 15, 2011Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hiroshi Nishigaki, Atsuya Hirano, Ken Nishioka, Atsuhiko Chikaoka
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Patent number: 7978387Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 29, 2010Date of Patent: July 12, 2011Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.Inventors: Atsuhiko Chikaoka, Atsuya Hirano, Ken Nishioka, Hiroshi Nishigaki
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Patent number: 7959303Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 26, 2009Date of Patent: June 14, 2011Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.Inventors: Ken Nishioka, Atsuya Hirano, Atsuhiko Chikaoka, Hiroshi Nishigaki
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Patent number: 7953132Abstract: A laser driver circuit comprising a current supply circuit for supplying a laser diode with a current is provided. The current supply circuit comprises a voltage-to-current converter circuit, a current output line for outputting the current generated by the voltage-to-current converter circuit, a current supply line connected to the laser diode, a ground line connected to the ground, and a current path switch for selectively connecting either the current supply line or the ground line to the current output line. The laser driver circuit further comprises a current output prevention circuit for preventing the voltage-to-current converter circuit from generating the current by disconnecting the voltage input line using a voltage input switch so that the voltage is not input to the voltage-to-current converter circuit, when the current output line and the ground line are connected by the current path switch.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2009Date of Patent: May 31, 2011Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.Inventors: Ken Nishioka, Kenji Nagashima, Atsuya Hirano, Atsuhiko Chikaoka
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Publication number: 20110102751Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 30, 2010Publication date: May 5, 2011Applicant: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hiroshi Nishigaki, Atsuya Hirano, Atsuhiko Chikaoka, Ken Nishioka
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Publication number: 20110069363Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 19, 2010Publication date: March 24, 2011Applicant: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.Inventors: Atsuhiko Chikaoka, Atsuya Hirano, Ken Nishioka, Hiroshi Nishigaki