Patents by Inventor Kentarou Murakami
Kentarou Murakami 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: 11974380Abstract: A scanning light source includes a semiconductor light source and a motor, and scans output light of the semiconductor light source in front of a lamp according to the movement of the motor. A constant current driver supplies a driving current ILED to the semiconductor light source according to a light source control signal. A light source control signal generator generates the light source control signal so as to obtain a light distribution pattern that corresponds to light distribution instruction data. A delay time measurement device measures the delay time required for the transition of the on/off states of the semiconductor light source from the change of the light source control signal.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2021Date of Patent: April 30, 2024Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventors: Kentarou Murakami, Atsushi Uesugi, Toshiyuki Tsuchiya
-
Patent number: 11872928Abstract: An automotive lamp includes a variable light distribution lamp and a controller. When a first light distribution pattern is to be changed to a second light distribution pattern, and when a difference in the number of shaded portions between the first light distribution pattern and the second light distribution pattern is one, the controller switches a control method for gradually changing the light distribution pattern according to a position relation between the shaded portions included in the first light distribution pattern and the shaded portions included in the second light distribution pattern.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2022Date of Patent: January 16, 2024Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventors: Atsushi Uesugi, Kentarou Murakami, Yuki Kubo, Tatsuro Hayashi
-
Patent number: 11729875Abstract: A scanning light source includes a light source, and scans the output light of the light source ahead of a lamp. A control apparatus controls the lighting on/off state of the semiconductor light source in synchronization with the scanning operation of the scanning light source. The control apparatus judges the presence or absence of an abnormal state with at least one from among (i) a timing immediately before switching from a lighting-on state to a lighting-off state and (ii) a timing immediately before switching from a lighting-off state to a lighting-on state as a judgment timing.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2020Date of Patent: August 15, 2023Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventors: Satoshi Kikuchi, Kentarou Murakami, Toshiyuki Tsuchiya, Takao Muramatsu, Shohei Yanagizu, Tomoyuki Ichikawa
-
Patent number: 11396992Abstract: A vehicular lighting device includes a scanning light source that includes a semiconductor light source and a motor, and scans a region in front of the lighting device, with light emitted from the semiconductor light source, in accordance with motion of the motor, and a lighting circuit that changes the light quantity of the semiconductor light source in synchronization with the motion of the motor, during a normal lighting period, so as to obtain a predetermined light distribution pattern. The lighting circuit starts the motion of the motor, in response to a lighting command for headlight flashing during a stop period of the motor, and continuously lights the semiconductor light source asynchronously with the motion of the motor, during a start-up period that precedes the normal lighting period.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 2020Date of Patent: July 26, 2022Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventors: Kentarou Murakami, Atsushi Uesugi
-
Publication number: 20220176870Abstract: An automotive lamp includes a variable light distribution lamp and a controller. When a first light distribution pattern is to be changed to a second light distribution pattern, and when a difference in the number of shaded portions between the first light distribution pattern and the second light distribution pattern is one, the controller switches a control method for gradually changing the light distribution pattern according to a position relation between the shaded portions included in the first light distribution pattern and the shaded portions included in the second light distribution pattern.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 28, 2022Publication date: June 9, 2022Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventors: Atsushi UESUGI, Kentarou MURAKAMI, Yuki KUBO, Tatsuro HAYASHI
-
Publication number: 20220104330Abstract: A scanning light source includes a semiconductor light source and a motor, and scans output light of the semiconductor light source in front of a lamp according to the movement of the motor. A constant current driver supplies a driving current ILED to the semiconductor light source according to a light source control signal. A light source control signal generator generates the light source control signal so as to obtain a light distribution pattern that corresponds to light distribution instruction data. A delay time measurement device measures the delay time required for the transition of the on/off states of the semiconductor light source from the change of the light source control signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 10, 2021Publication date: March 31, 2022Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventors: Kentarou MURAKAMI, Atsushi UESUGI, Toshiyuki TSUCHIYA
-
Patent number: 11236882Abstract: A vehicle lamp includes a first lamp unit that includes a light source, a driving unit, and a reflective body that is driven by the driving unit to repeat a periodic motion and thus scans an exit beam from the light source; and a controlling unit that controls the first lamp unit. The controlling unit instructs that the driving unit be driven until a first duration T1 has passed even in a case where the controlling unit has received an illumination instruction instructing the first lamp unit to emit a beam and then received a stop instruction instructing the first lamp unit to stop emitting a beam.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2020Date of Patent: February 1, 2022Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventors: Yuta Maruyama, Naoki Kawabata, Kentarou Murakami
-
Patent number: 11199304Abstract: A vehicle lamp includes a first lamp unit that includes a light source, a driving unit, and a reflective body that is driven by the driving unit to repeat a periodic motion and thus scans an exit beam from the light source; and a controlling unit that controls the first lamp unit. The controlling unit instructs that the driving unit be driven until a first duration T1 has passed even in a case where the controlling unit has received an illumination instruction instructing the first lamp unit to emit a beam and then received a stop instruction instructing the first lamp unit to stop emitting a beam.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2020Date of Patent: December 14, 2021Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventors: Yuta Maruyama, Naoki Kawabata, Kentarou Murakami
-
Publication number: 20200378577Abstract: A vehicular lighting device includes a scanning light source that includes a semiconductor light source and a motor, and scans a region in front of the lighting device, with light emitted from the semiconductor light source, in accordance with motion of the motor, and a lighting circuit that changes the light quantity of the semiconductor light source in synchronization with the motion of the motor, during a normal lighting period, so as to obtain a predetermined light distribution pattern. The lighting circuit starts the motion of the motor, in response to a lighting command for headlight flashing during a stop period of the motor, and continuously lights the semiconductor light source asynchronously with the motion of the motor, during a start-up period that precedes the normal lighting period.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 21, 2020Publication date: December 3, 2020Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventors: Kentarou MURAKAMI, Atsushi UESUGI
-
Publication number: 20200339034Abstract: A scanning light source includes a light source, and scans the output light of the light source ahead of a lamp. A control apparatus controls the lighting on/off state of the semiconductor light source in synchronization with the scanning operation of the scanning light source. The control apparatus judges the presence or absence of an abnormal state with at least one from among (i) a timing immediately before switching from a lighting-on state to a lighting-off state and (ii) a timing immediately before switching from a lighting-off state to a lighting-on state as a judgment timing.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 10, 2020Publication date: October 29, 2020Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventors: Satoshi KIKUCHI, Kentarou MURAKAMI, Toshiyuki TSUCHIYA, Takao MURAMATSU, Shohei YANAGIZU, Tomoyuki ICHIKAWA
-
Patent number: 10807516Abstract: A lighting circuit drives a light source including N (N represents an integer of 2 or more) multiple light-emitting elements coupled in series. A bypass switch circuit includes N multiple bypass switches, each coupled in parallel to a corresponding light-emitting element. A constant current driving circuit supplies a driving current stabilized to a target current to the light source. A light distribution controller controls the bypass switch circuit. For a given light distribution pattern, the duty ratio Di(%) is determined for each of the N multiple light-emitting elements. Multiple light-emitting elements are formed as control units having a sum total of duty ratios that is less than 100%. The light distribution controller controls the multiple bypass switches such that the multiple light-emitting elements included in the same control unit are not turned on at the same time.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2019Date of Patent: October 20, 2020Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventors: Yuta Maruyama, Kentarou Murakami, Takao Muramatsu
-
Publication number: 20200238892Abstract: A vehicle lamp includes a first lamp unit that includes a light source, a driving unit, and a reflective body that is driven by the driving unit to repeat a periodic motion and thus scans an exit beam from the light source; and a controlling unit that controls the first lamp unit. The controlling unit instructs that the driving unit be driven until a first duration T1 has passed even in a case where the controlling unit has received an illumination instruction instructing the first lamp unit to emit a beam and then received a stop instruction instructing the first lamp unit to stop emitting a beam.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 13, 2020Publication date: July 30, 2020Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventors: Yuta MARUYAMA, Naoki KAWABATA, Kentarou MURAKAMI
-
Patent number: 10676017Abstract: A vehicular lighting device includes a scanning light source. The scanning light source includes a semiconductor light source, and scans the output light of the semiconductor light source in a forward region ahead of the lighting device. A lighting circuit changes the light amount of the semiconductor light source in multiple levels in synchronization with the scanning of the scanning light source.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 2017Date of Patent: June 9, 2020Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventors: Kentarou Murakami, Hitoshi Takeda, Takao Muramatsu
-
Patent number: 10661701Abstract: A blade receives light emitted from a light source and repeats a predetermined periodic motion to scan the front of a vehicle with reflected light of the emitted light. A position detector generates a position detection signal S4 indicating a timing at which a predetermined reference point of the blade passes a predetermined position. Based on the position detection signal S4, a period calculator calculates a period Tp of the periodic motion of the blade. A light intensity calculator receives light-distribution-pattern information S3 to be formed in front of the vehicle and calculates light intensity to be generated by the light source at each time based on the position detection signal S4 and the period Tp. A driver turns on a semiconductor light source so as to obtain the light intensity calculated by the light intensity calculator at each time.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2017Date of Patent: May 26, 2020Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventors: Takeshi Toda, Kentarou Murakami, Masayasu Ito, Takao Muramatsu, Hidetada Tanaka, Satoshi Yamamura
-
Patent number: 10634303Abstract: The control part controls a timing of changing the light emission intensity of the first light source and a timing of changing the light emission intensity of the second light source such that a first light-shielding portion is formed in a part of the first irradiation pattern, a second light-shielding portion is formed in a part of the second irradiation pattern so as to overlap with the first light-shielding portion, and a range of the first light-shielding portion and a range of the second light-shielding portion are deviated from each other.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2017Date of Patent: April 28, 2020Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventors: Hidetada Tanaka, Kentarou Murakami
-
Publication number: 20190202344Abstract: A lighting circuit drives a light source including N (N represents an integer of 2 or more) multiple light-emitting elements coupled in series. A bypass switch circuit includes N multiple bypass switches, each coupled in parallel to a corresponding light-emitting element. A constant current driving circuit supplies a driving current stabilized to a target current to the light source. A light distribution controller controls the bypass switch circuit. For a given light distribution pattern, the duty ratio Di(%) is determined for each of the N multiple light-emitting elements. Multiple light-emitting elements are formed as control units having a sum total of duty ratios that is less than 100%. The light distribution controller controls the multiple bypass switches such that the multiple light-emitting elements included in the same control unit are not turned on at the same time.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 8, 2019Publication date: July 4, 2019Applicant: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yuta MARUYAMA, Kentarou MURAKAMI, Takao MURAMATSU
-
Patent number: 10156334Abstract: A vehicular lamp is provided with a plurality of light emitting units and configured to independently control ON/OFF of the light emitting units. The plurality of light emitting units are disposed so that a desired light distribution is formed by overlapping scanning of illumination spots formed on a virtual screen by emitted lights thereof. The plurality of light emitting units are divided in a plurality of channels, the same direct drive current is supplied to at least one light emitting unit of all of the light emitting units included in the same channel, and the direct drive current is constantly maintained during a scanning period. The current amount of drive current for each channel is set in accordance with a light distribution mode, and ON/OFF of each light emitting unit is switched at a predetermined timing determined in accordance with the light distribution mode during a scanning period.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2018Date of Patent: December 18, 2018Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventors: Satoshi Kikuchi, Kentarou Murakami, Takao Muramatsu
-
Publication number: 20180313508Abstract: A vehicular lamp is provided with a plurality of light emitting units and configured to independently control ON/OFF of the light emitting units. The plurality of light emitting units are disposed so that a desired light distribution is formed by overlapping scanning of illumination spots formed on a virtual screen by emitted lights thereof. The plurality of light emitting units are divided in a plurality of channels, the same direct drive current is supplied to at least one light emitting unit of all of the light emitting units included in the same channel, and the direct drive current is constantly maintained during a scanning period. The current amount of drive current for each channel is set in accordance with a light distribution mode, and ON/OFF of each light emitting unit is switched at a predetermined timing determined in accordance with the light distribution mode during a scanning period.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 20, 2018Publication date: November 1, 2018Inventors: Satoshi Kikuchi, Kentarou Murakami, Takao Muramatsu
-
Publication number: 20180112845Abstract: The control part controls a timing of changing the light emission intensity of the first light source and a timing of changing the light emission intensity of the second light source such that a first light-shielding portion is formed in a part of the first irradiation pattern, a second light-shielding portion is formed in a part of the second irradiation pattern so as to overlap with the first light-shielding portion, and a range of the first light-shielding portion and a range of the second light-shielding portion are deviated from each other.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 22, 2017Publication date: April 26, 2018Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventors: Hidetada Tanaka, Kentarou Murakami
-
Publication number: 20180043820Abstract: A vehicular lighting device includes a scanning light source. The scanning light source includes a semiconductor light source, and scans the output light of the semiconductor light source in a forward region ahead of the lighting device. A lighting circuit changes the light amount of the semiconductor light source in multiple levels in synchronization with the scanning of the scanning light source.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 15, 2017Publication date: February 15, 2018Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventors: Kentarou MURAKAMI, Hitoshi TAKEDA, Takao MURAMATSU