Patents by Inventor Kenichi Kikuchi

Kenichi Kikuchi 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).

  • Publication number: 20110316390
    Abstract: An exemplary piezoelectric vibrating device includes a piezoelectric vibrating piece that vibrates when electrically energized. A first package plate has a main recess in which the piezoelectric vibrating piece is placed, and a peripheral surface surrounding the recess. A second package plate is bonded to the peripheral surface of the first package plate in airtight manner. A band of adhesive bonds the first package plate to the second package plate. The adhesive band surrounds the peripheral surface. Between the adhesive and the main recess is a band of metal film. The band of metal film prevents gas, generated from the adhesive, from flowing into the recess. The band of metal film surrounds the peripheral surface and is disposed inboard of the band of adhesive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2011
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Inventors: Mitoshi Umeki, Ryoichi Ichikawa, Yoshiaki Amano, Kenji Kamezawa, Kenichi Kikuchi, Noritsugu Matsukura
  • Publication number: 20110227457
    Abstract: Piezoelectric vibrating pieces are disclosed having selectively roughened surfaces. An exemplary piece is made of a piezoelectric material configured as a piezoelectric substrate. The piece also includes at least one excitation electrode and at least one extraction electrode. The substrate has opposing main surfaces initially having low surface roughness. At least one main surface is formed in a mesa or reverse mesa manner, wherein the central region has a different thickness than the peripheral region. The central region has relatively low surface roughness (irregular unevenness), while the peripheral region has relatively high surface roughness. The excitation electrode is formed on the central region (mesa or reverse mesa) while the extraction electrode (connected to the excitation electrode) is formed on the peripheral region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2011
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Inventors: Manabu Ishikawa, Kenji Shimao, Hiroyuki Sasaki, Mitoshi Umeki, Kenichi Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 8013912
    Abstract: An image server includes: a focus position control unit for determining a focus position based on a maximum value of focus evaluation detected by a picture signal level detection unit; and a focus lens driver for moving the focus lens in predetermined control volumes based on an instruction from the focus position control means; characterized in that, in case the exposure time is changed to a longer cycle than a predetermined cycle, the focus position control unit determines a large control volume corresponding to the change in exposure time and moves the focus lens with the control volume to detect the maximum value of focus evaluation and performs focus control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Kenichi Kikuchi, Toshihiro Fujiki
  • Publication number: 20110204753
    Abstract: A piezoelectric device and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. The piezoelectric device having a piezoelectric vibration sheet (130) vibrated by applying a voltage includes a first plate (110), constructing a part of the package of the piezoelectric device and having a first bonding area (112) including a frame-shaped first bonding surface (113) at outer periphery; a second plate (120), constructing a part of the package of the piezoelectric device and having a second bonding area (122) including a second bonding surface (123) corresponding to the first bonding surface; and a frame-shaped bonding material (150), formed on the two bonding surfaces and bonding the first plate and the second plate. A frame-shaped trough concave from the first bonding surface or the second bonding surface is configured in at least one of the first bonding area of the first plate or the second bonding area of the second plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2011
    Publication date: August 25, 2011
    Applicant: NIHON DEMPA KOGYO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: KENICHI KIKUCHI, MASAHIRO YOSHIMATSU
  • Patent number: 7982706
    Abstract: The present invention prevents extension of the time period from powering on a device to convergence of chromaticity of emitted white light on a certain chromaticity, irrespective of the temperature when the device is powered on. A color liquid crystal display apparatus includes a liquid crystal display unit, a backlight employing LEDs of red, green and blue as its light source, a drive unit for driving the LEDs of each color, a temperature sensor for sensing the temperature of the LEDs, and a chromaticity sensor for sensing the chromaticity of white light emitted from the LEDs. The drive unit supplies a current to the LEDs to drive them, and implements feedback control of the amount of current for the LEDs of each color based on a value sensed by the chromaticity sensor so that the white light has a certain chromaticity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroaki Ichikawa, Kenichi Kikuchi, Kimio Hatajiri
  • Patent number: 7969481
    Abstract: A camera includes a CPU. The CPU individually detects a ratio of an object which exceeds a threshold value in a moving amount to a center area of an object scene and a ratio of an object which exceeds the threshold value in the moving amount to a peripheral area of the object scene. If differences between the respective detected ratios are large, the CPU sets a photographing mode to a sports mode. When a shutter button is operated, the object scene is photographed in accordance with a set photographing mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenichi Kikuchi
  • Publication number: 20110080494
    Abstract: An imaging element having an imaging surface on which an optical image of a subject field passing through an optical lens is emitted generates an image signal corresponding to the optical image of the subject field by photoelectric conversion. An aperture mechanism controls an aperture of the optical lens. A shutter controls exposure time for the imaging element. An exposure adjustment unit adjusts an exposure value for the imaging surface based on an evaluation value of brightness of the subject field. A focus adjustment unit adjusts a focus position of the optical lens. A CPU detects a foreign object adhering to the optical lens by performing shooting under a plurality of shooting conditions in which the exposure value and the focus position are identical and aperture values are different from each other, and comparing a plurality of the image signals obtained from the imaging element during the shooting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Publication date: April 7, 2011
    Applicant: SANYO ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yukio Mori, Kenichi Kikuchi, Wataru Takayanagi
  • Publication number: 20110050964
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes an image pickup unit which forms a subject image on an image pickup device through an optical system to generate an image pickup signal; an adjustment unit which changes an optical zoom magnification with respect to the subject image; and a control unit which records image data as a moving image in a memory in response to a moving image recording command, the image data being obtained based on the image pickup signal, and stops recording the moving image for a time period during which the zoom magnification is changed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2010
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Applicant: SANYO ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kenichi Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 7872670
    Abstract: A camera includes a CPU. The CPU individually detects a ratio of an object which exceeds a threshold value in a moving amount to a center area of an object scene and a ratio of an object which exceeds the threshold value in the moving amount to a peripheral area of the object scene. If differences between the respective detected ratios are large, the CPU sets a photographing mode to a sports mode. When a shutter button is operated, the object scene is photographed in accordance with a set photographing mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenichi Kikuchi
  • Publication number: 20100253831
    Abstract: An electronic camera includes a shutter button. When the shutter button is half-depressed, a focal level of an object is determined on the basis of an image signal outputted from an imaging device, and a moving start position of a focus lens is settled on the basis of the determination result. More specifically, a correction amount of the moving start position is settled in accordance with the determination result of the focal level, and a position that subtracts the correction amount from a lens position at a time the shutter button being half-depressed is settled as the moving start position. The higher the focal level, the more reduced the correction amount. The focus lens gradually moves toward the imaging device from the settled moving start position, and a focal position is specified on the basis of the image signal outputted from the imaging device at each step.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2010
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Applicant: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenichi Kikuchi, Kazuhiko Sugimoto
  • Publication number: 20100181921
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a drive apparatus for a backlight unit (20) in which plural LED (Light Emitting Diode) elements are cascade-connected every three primary colors, which comprises a signal generating unit (44) for generating a signal having an arbitrary amplitude, an adjustment unit (50) for adjusting light emission quantities of groups of LED elements (30) on the basis of the signal which has been generated by the signal generating unit (44), a voltage applying unit (41) for applying a predetermined voltage every the groups of LED elements (30), light emission quantity detecting units (33) for detecting quantities of rays of light which have been emitted from the groups of LED elements (30), calorific value detecting units (32) for detecting calorific values emitted from the groups of LED elements in accordance with the voltage which has been applied to the voltage applying unit (41), and a control unit (50) for controlling the signal generating unit (44) on the basis of light emission qua
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2010
    Publication date: July 22, 2010
    Inventors: Norimasa Furukawa, Hiroaki Ichikawa, Kenichi Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 7733410
    Abstract: An electronic camera includes a shutter button. When the shutter button is half-depressed, a focal level of an object is determined on the basis of an image signal outputted from an imaging device, and a moving start position of a focus lens is settled on the basis of the determination result. More specifically, a correction amount of the moving start position is settled in accordance with the determination result of the focal level, and a position that subtracts the correction amount from a lens position at a time the shutter button being half-depressed is settled as the moving start position. The higher the focal level, the more reduced the correction amount. The focus lens gradually moves toward the imaging device from the settled moving start position, and a focal position is specified on the basis of the image signal outputted from the imaging device at each step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenichi Kikuchi, Kazuhiko Sugimoto
  • Patent number: 7675249
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a drive apparatus for a backlight unit (20) in which plural LED (Light Emitting Diode) elements are cascade-connected every three primary colors, which comprises a signal generating unit (44) for generating a signal having an arbitrary amplitude, an adjustment unit (50) for adjusting light emission quantities of groups of LED elements (30) on the basis of the signal which has been generated by the signal generating unit (44), a voltage applying unit (41) for applying a predetermined voltage every the groups of LED elements (30), light emission quantity detecting units (33) for detecting quantities of rays of light which have been emitted from the groups of LED elements (30), calorific value detecting units (32) for detecting calorific values emitted from the groups of LED elements in accordance with the voltage which has been applied to the voltage applying unit (41), and a control unit (50) for controlling the signal generating unit (44) on the basis of light emission qua
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Norimasa Furukawa, Hiroaki Ichikawa, Kenichi Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 7571178
    Abstract: With a structure of preparing a process step management apparatus (3a) corresponding to a process step, the date and time information on the input of a product to the process step of the process step management apparatus and the date and time information on the output of the product from the process step of the process step management apparatus are recorded on a record medium attached to the product while maintaining the correspondence to the identification information on the process step management apparatus. Thus, the enumerated data of the identification information on the process step management apparatus (3a) corresponding to the process step in which the product is handled, and the date and time information on the input and output of the product in the process steps is recorded on the record medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: Yamatake Corporation
    Inventors: Tsutomu Watanabe, Kenichi Kikuchi
  • Publication number: 20090153728
    Abstract: A camera includes a CPU. The CPU individually detects a ratio of an object which exceeds a threshold value in a moving amount to a center area of an object scene and a ratio of an object which exceeds the threshold value in the moving amount to a peripheral area of the object scene. If differences between the respective detected ratios are large, the CPU sets a photographing mode to a sports mode. When a shutter button is operated, the object scene is photographed in accordance with a set photographing mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2009
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Applicant: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenichi Kikuchi
  • Publication number: 20090153464
    Abstract: The screen is exempt from variation in brightness due to uneven temperature distribution. The color liquid crystal display unit has a color display panel of transmissive type and a backlight unit placed behind the color display panel. The backlight unit has a plurality of LEDs connected in series, the drive unit to drive the LEDs in correspondence with the LEDs, and the temperature sensor to detect the temperature of LEDs. The groups of LEDs are arranged in regions where the display unit has the same temperature. The drive unit controls current to be supplied to LEDs in response to temperature detected by the temperature sensor so that the LEDs retain the constant brightness even when the LEDs fluctuate in temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2009
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Inventors: Norimasa FURUKAWA, Kenichi Kikuchi, Hiroaki Ichikawa
  • Publication number: 20090153702
    Abstract: A camera includes a CPU. The CPU individually detects a ratio of an object which exceeds a threshold value in a moving amount to a center area of an object scene and a ratio of an object which exceeds the threshold value in the moving amount to a peripheral area of the object scene. If differences between the respective detected ratios are large, the CPU sets a photographing mode to a sports mode. When a shutter button is operated, the object scene is photographed in accordance with a set photographing mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2009
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Applicant: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenichi Kikuchi
  • Publication number: 20090153695
    Abstract: A camera includes a CPU. The CPU individually detects a ratio of an object which exceeds a threshold value in a moving amount to a center area of an object scene and a ratio of an object which exceeds the threshold value in the moving amount to a peripheral area of the object scene. If differences between the respective detected ratios are large, the CPU sets a photographing mode to a sports mode. When a shutter button is operated, the object scene is photographed in accordance with a set photographing mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2009
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Applicant: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenichi Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 7522207
    Abstract: It is an object of the invention to prevent a taken image which is contrary to the intention of the user, from being derived in a video camera which comprises means for disabling an operation of a video monitor for displaying a taken image, and in which an exposure adjustment can be manually performed. The video camera has: an optical view finder 50; a video monitor 44 for displaying a taken image; a manual exposure adjuster (58, 64); and manual-exposure adjustment inhibiting means (58) for detecting that an operation of the video monitor is set to be disabled, and for inhibiting an exposure adjustment of the manual exposure adjuster.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenichi Kikuchi
  • Publication number: 20090096724
    Abstract: A display apparatus includes display means for displaying an image, a light source that irradiates light to the display means, and control means for controlling the quantity of light of the light source with pulse width modulation. The control means controls the quantity of light of the light source based on the ratio of the light-on period with pulse width modulation to the light-off period when the light source is turned off.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2008
    Publication date: April 16, 2009
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroaki Ichikawa, Kenichi Kikuchi, Kimio Hatajiri