Patents by Inventor Kenpo Tsuchiya

Kenpo Tsuchiya 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).

  • Drive device, lens barrel, image pickup apparatus, lens drive method and method of producing shape memory alloy
    Publication number: 20110226392
    Abstract: A lens barrel, an image pickup apparatus, a lens drive method and a method of producing a shape memory alloy used for the drive device are disclosed. A drive device includes: a lens group for guiding light from a subject; a shape memory alloy adopted to be deformed by an electricity supplied to the shape memory alloy, for moving the lens group in a direction of an optical axis; and electricity-supply controlling means for controlling an amount of the electricity supplied to the shape memory alloy; and a detecting means for detecting whether a movement of the lens group starts or not. In the drive device, a movement amount of the lens group in the direction of the optical axis is controlled based on the amount of electricity supplied when the detecting means detects the movement of the lens group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2011
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Applicant: Konica Minolta Opto, Inc.
    Inventors: Saori HIRATA, Katsumi Ohtsuka, Chie Nemoto, Kenpo Tsuchiya
  • Drive device, lens barrel, image pickup apparatus, lens drive method and method of producing shape memory alloy
    Patent number: 8000027
    Abstract: A lens barrel, an image pickup apparatus, a lens drive method and a method of producing a shape memory alloy used for the drive device are disclosed. A drive device includes: a lens group for guiding light from a subject; a shape memory alloy adopted to be deformed by an electricity supplied to the shape memory alloy, for moving the lens group in a direction of an optical axis; and electricity-supply controlling means for controlling an amount of the electricity supplied to the shape memory alloy; and a detecting means for detecting whether a movement of the lens group starts or not. In the drive device, a movement amount of the lens group in the direction of the optical axis is controlled based on the amount of electricity supplied when the detecting means detects the movement of the lens group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Opto, Inc.
    Inventors: Saori Hirata, Katsumi Ohtsuka, Chie Nemoto, Kenpo Tsuchiya
  • Drive Device, Lens Barrel, Imaging Device, Lens Drive Method and Method of Producing Shape Memory Alloy
    Publication number: 20110096421
    Abstract: A lens barrel, an image pickup apparatus, a lens drive method and a method of producing a shape memory alloy used for the drive device are disclosed. A drive device includes: a lens group for guiding light from a subject; a shape memory alloy adopted to be deformed by an electricity supplied to the shape memory alloy, for moving the lens group in a direction of an optical axis; and electricity-supply controlling means for controlling an amount of the electricity supplied to the shape memory alloy; and a detecting means for detecting whether a movement of the lens group starts or not. In the drive device, a movement amount of the lens group in the direction of the optical axis is controlled based on the amount of electricity supplied when the detecting means detects the movement of the lens group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2006
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Inventors: Saori Hirata, Katsumi Ohtsuka, Chie Nemoto, Kenpo Tsuchiya