Patents by Inventor Koji Hirata
Koji Hirata 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: 10852539Abstract: A compact head-up display device is provided. For that purpose, the head-up display device includes a projection optical system which includes an image forming unit to display image information and an ocular optical system to reflect light emitted from the image forming unit to display a virtual image. In the ocular optical system, a free-form surface lens and a free-form surface concave mirror are arranged in order from the image forming unit. The shape of the free-form surface concave mirror is such that curvature radius RY1 in projection on a vertical cross section of the coordinate system of an eye-box is smaller than curvature radius RX1 in projection on a horizontal cross section.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2016Date of Patent: December 1, 2020Assignees: Maxell, Ltd., Hitachi Industry & Control Solutions, Ltd.Inventors: Masahiko Yatsu, Koji Hirata, Shigeki Hoshino
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Publication number: 20200353816Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide an information display device that displays information in a vehicle, can reduce the movement of the viewpoint of a viewer, and can obtain a large amount of image information. In order to achieve the object, there is provided an information display device that displays information in a vehicle and includes a first information display device that displays image information of a virtual image using reflection from a windshield of the vehicle, a second information display device that scans the windshield with laser light using a MEMS element to obtain a real image, and a third information display device using an instrument panel of the vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 19, 2018Publication date: November 12, 2020Inventor: Koji HIRATA
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Patent number: 10829036Abstract: Each of a road sign projector and a vehicle lamp operates in an assumed usage temperature of a car, and has reduced power consumption and reduced device cost. A road sign projector displays images onto a plurality of regions of a road surface. The road sign projector includes: shades each configured to shape image projection light into a predetermined shape corresponding to the image for each of the regions; and projection lenses corresponding to the regions. The projection lenses are different from one another in at least a focal length and axial inclination.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 2019Date of Patent: November 10, 2020Assignee: MAXELL, LTD.Inventors: Toshinori Sugiyama, Yasuhiko Kunii, Koji Hirata, Masahiro Kishigami, Yuji Tsuchiya, Go Shimizu, Masayoshi Takori, Ryuya Kawaji
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Patent number: 10823361Abstract: A vehicle headlight apparatus, on a vehicle applies illumination light to a road surface, comprises: a light source device to generate the illumination light; and a lens on a light axis of the light source device and projects the illumination light from the light source device to form a desired light distribution, wherein the light source device includes: one or more semiconductor light source elements to emit light; a collimator unit having one or more collimators disposed on a light emission axis of each of the semiconductor light source elements and converts light emitted from a solid light source into substantially parallel light; and a polarization conversion element provided on an emission surface side of the collimator unit and converts incident light into predetermined polarized light, and the illumination light emitted from the polarization conversion element of the light source device is applied in a predetermined direction through the lens.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2018Date of Patent: November 3, 2020Assignee: MAXELL, LTD.Inventors: Yasuhiko Kunii, Toshinori Sugiyama, Koji Hirata
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Patent number: 10814723Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a projection optical system having a minimal optical configuration while ensuring necessary capabilities and a head-up display device having a tilted virtual image plane. The head-up display device according to the present invention includes an image forming unit to emit image light containing image information and an eyepiece optical system to display a virtual image by reflecting the image light. While a virtual image plane is tilted to display a virtual image in a range from a far distance to a near distance, a point on the image forming unit conjugating to a far point on the virtual image plane is optically farther from a light flux entering the image forming unit than a point on the image forming unit conjugating to a near point on the virtual image plane.Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 2016Date of Patent: October 27, 2020Assignees: MAXELL, LTD., HITACHI INDUSTRY & CONTROL SOLUTIONS, LTD.Inventors: Masahiko Yatsu, Koji Hirata, Shigeki Hoshino
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Publication number: 20200319456Abstract: A projection optical system includes an eyepiece optical system configured to refract and reflect a light emitted from an image forming unit for forming image information to display a virtual image, wherein the eyepiece optical system includes at least a concave lens, a folding mirror, and a concave mirror which are successively placed in order from the image forming unit including a liquid crystal display panel. The projection optical system configured as above is provided on a head-up display.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 4, 2017Publication date: October 8, 2020Applicants: MAXELL, LTD., HITACHI INDUSTRY & CONTROL SOLUTIONS, LTD.Inventors: Masahiko YATSU, Koji HIRATA, Shigeki HOSHINO
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Publication number: 20200298704Abstract: In an information display apparatus displaying information onto a vehicle, an information display apparatus capable of acquiring a lot of pieces of image information while reducing point-of-view motion of a viewer is provided. An information display apparatus displaying information onto a vehicle includes a first information display apparatus displaying image information of a virtual image by allowing a windshield glass of a vehicle to reflect light, a second information display apparatus acquiring a practical image by scanning the windshield glass with laser light using a MEMS element and a third information display apparatus using an instrument panel of the vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 5, 2018Publication date: September 24, 2020Inventors: Koji HIRATA, Yasuhiko KUNII
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Patent number: 10766791Abstract: [Solution] Provided is a plant-derived water purifying agent used for water purification for industrial wastewater, etc. and including a granulated product of a plant powder, such that when a wastewater purifying treatment using the plant-derived water purifying agent is performed by an automated purifying treatment device, the water purifying agent can be suitably used in the automated purifying treatment device. It is more preferable that a Carr's fluidity index of the water purifying agent obtained by measuring 3 items of the water purifying agent, which are an angle of repose, a degree of compression, and a spatula angle be 40 or greater.Type: GrantFiled: June 2, 2015Date of Patent: September 8, 2020Assignee: DEXERIALS CORPORATIONInventors: Kazuhiro Kimura, Koji Hirata
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Patent number: 10746904Abstract: A free-form surface lens is made of a transparent resin forming an oblique projection optical system including a free-form surface mirror in a projection type video display apparatus, this lens includes a lens effective region having a surface on which a predetermined free-form surface is formed, and an edge surface formed to surround the lens effective region, the lens effective region and the edge surface in a part of a circumference surrounding the lens effective region where the edge surface is not formed are joined to each other by at least either one of a curved surface and a flat surface set so as not to change a direction of a tilt of the lens effective region in vicinity of the lens effective region, and an end surface including at least either one of the curved surface and the flat surface is set as a tapered surface.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2018Date of Patent: August 18, 2020Assignee: MAXELL, LTD.Inventors: Koji Hirata, Masahiko Yatsu, Yuki Matsumiya, Shuji Kato, Kayono Kimura
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Publication number: 20200247240Abstract: An information display apparatus and a spatial sensing apparatus for the information display apparatus are provided, the information display apparatus enabling the selection/change of the lot of display images in small point-of-view motion so that an interactive function for a driver is achieved. An information display apparatus displaying information onto a vehicle includes: an information display apparatus displaying image information onto an image display region on a forward part of a driver seat of the vehicle; and a spatial sensing means detecting positional information of instruction made by a driver in a spatial region between the driver seat and the displayed image display region, and the information display apparatus includes a means displaying the instruction made by the driver onto the image display region on the forward part in response to the positional information of the instruction made by the driver, detected by the spatial sensing means.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 5, 2018Publication date: August 6, 2020Inventors: Koji HIRATA, Koji FUJITA, Eiji TAKAGI
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Publication number: 20200249479Abstract: Provided is a small-sized information display device displaying video image information as a virtual image by use of an eyepiece optical system including a concave mirror having desired reflection characteristics in a specific polarization direction, where a liquid crystal display panel is used as a video image light source. The information display device has a liquid crystal display panel as a flat display forming video image information disposed therein, and includes a virtual image optical system including a member to be projected for displaying virtual images in front of a vehicle by making a video image displayed on the liquid crystal display panel reflect on the member to be projected. The virtual image optical system includes a concave mirror, and a reflective film of the concave mirror has desired reflection characteristics in a specific polarization direction, so that virtual images having uniform brightness and chromaticity can be obtained.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 1, 2020Publication date: August 6, 2020Inventors: Koji HIRATA, Masahiko YATSU, Toshinori SUGIYAMA, Hiroyuki KAJIKAWA, Kazuomi KANEKO
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Patent number: 10725216Abstract: The onboard camera is mounted in a vehicle to shoot a driving environment of the vehicle by receiving external light from outside of the vehicle, the onboard camera includes: a camera unit having a lens unit which generates an image by receiving the external light and an image-capturing device which generates an image signal based on the image generated by the lens unit; and a polarization plate arranged in front of the camera unit, the image-capturing device constituting the camera unit is a CMOS image sensor, and the polarization plate is a polarization plate whose cross transmittance with respect to S-polarized wave having a wavelength from 420 nm to 700 nm is 5 to 20% or a polarization plate whose parallel transmittance with respect to natural light having a wavelength from 420 nm to 700 nm is 45 to 60%.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 2015Date of Patent: July 28, 2020Assignee: MAXELL, LTD.Inventor: Koji Hirata
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Publication number: 20200233296Abstract: A projection video display apparatus includes: a video projection screen, having a front and a rear surface, arranged in an indoor space. The video projection screen transmits video light from behind the rear surface or in front of the front surface to display video on the front surface. The front surface functions as a video display surface. A video projecting apparatus, arranged in a side of the rear surface or the front surface, enlarges and projects the video light from the rear or front surface. The video projecting apparatus is configured by an optical scanning video projecting apparatus that forms the video by scanning video light composed of coherent light on the video projection screen. The video projection screen guides the video light from the video projecting apparatus toward a direction to the front surface, and causes part of the light in the indoor space to be transmitted therethrough.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 13, 2020Publication date: July 23, 2020Applicants: MAXELL, LTD., HITACHI INDUSTRY & CONTROL SOLUTIONS, LTD.Inventors: Koji HIRATA, Masahiko YATSU, Kazuya OZAWA
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Publication number: 20200201043Abstract: The light source apparatus has: a light source unit including a plurality of semiconductor light source elements; a collimator including a plurality of collimator elements, each of the plural collimator elements being disposed on a light emission axis of each of the plural semiconductor light source elements; a polarization conversion element disposed on an emission side of the collimator; and a light guide disposed on an emission side of the polarization conversion element, the plural semiconductor light source elements and the plural collimator elements are arranged in a first direction orthogonal to the light emission axis, and the polarization conversion element extends in the first direction, and includes a polarizing beam splitter and a phase plate, which are arranged at symmetrical positions with respect to a plane formed by the first direction and a second direction corresponding to the light emission axis.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 16, 2017Publication date: June 25, 2020Inventors: Toshinori SUGIYAMA, Koji HIRATA, Masahiko YATSU, Yasuhiko KUNII, Kazuomi KANEKO
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Publication number: 20200201037Abstract: The information display apparatus has a housing with an opening and a transparent cover formed on the opening, the housing includes image-light generating means configured to generate image light that displays the image information and an optical system configured to allow a driver of the vehicle to recognize image information based on the image light from the image-light generating means as a virtual image in front of the windshield. When S-polarized light on the windshield is assumed to be a first polarized wave while polarized light that orthogonally crosses the S-polarized light in a polarizing direction is assumed to be a second polarized wave, the image-light generating means is configured to generate the image light made of the first polarized wave, and a transmittance/reflectance control means blocks a part of the first polarized wave and the second polarized wave of incident external light entering the housing from the opening.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 25, 2018Publication date: June 25, 2020Inventors: Tomoki YAMAMOTO, Toshinori SUGIYAMA, Koji HIRATA, Masahiko YATSU
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Patent number: 10690311Abstract: A vehicle headlight device attached to a part of a vehicle and configured to apply illumination light to a road surface on which the vehicle runs comprises: a light source device configured to Generate the illumination light; an optical unit disposed on a light axis of the light source device and configured to project the illumination light from the light source device so as to form a desired light distribution; and a polarization direction conversion device disposed in a part of a light path between the light source device and the optical unit and being able to control the illumination light from the light source device with inclusion of conversion of a polarization direction thereof for each irradiation region in accordance with a state of a position irradiated with the illumination light on the road surface.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2017Date of Patent: June 23, 2020Assignee: Maxell, Ltd.Inventors: Koji Hirata, Toshinori Sugiyama, Yasuhiko Kunii
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Patent number: 10690911Abstract: A head-up display device includes: an image formation unit which emits light including image information; and a projection optical system including an ocular optical system which displays a virtual image by reflecting the light emitted from the image formation unit. The ocular optical system includes spherical lenses, a free-form curved surface lens, a reflection mirror, and a free-form curved surface mirror, and is configured by arranging, in a space on the side of the ocular optical system of a plane conjugate with the virtual image plane with respect to the ocular optical system, a first small lens system which achieves first focus position movement and on which separated light from the image formation unit is made to be incident, and a second small lens system which achieves second focus position movement and on which separated light from the image formation unit is made to be incident.Type: GrantFiled: October 9, 2015Date of Patent: June 23, 2020Assignees: MAXELL, LTD., HITACHI INDUSTRY & CONTROL SOLUTIONS, LTD.Inventors: Masahiko Yatsu, Koji Hirata, Kazuomi Kaneko
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Publication number: 20200189363Abstract: A HUD device and an image display apparatus for solving a problem that a HUD image cannot be seen in a HUD device that displays a virtual image when wearing the sunglasses having polarization function are provided. A head up display device for a vehicle is provided with an image display apparatus configured to project an image onto a windshield or a combiner by polarized light and means of converting polarization of polarized light of the image projected from the image display apparatus, the means being provided on a part of a light path from the image display apparatus to the windshield or the combiner.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 1, 2017Publication date: June 18, 2020Inventors: Toshinori SUGIYAMA, Koji HIRATA, Yasuhiko KUNII, Masahiko YATSU, Kazuomi KANEKO
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Patent number: 10678017Abstract: A projection type image display device includes an oblique projection optical system that magnifies and projects modulated image light, and includes lens elements and a reflection mirror having a convex surface. A center of an outer shape of one or more of the lens elements at a nearest position to the reflection mirror is positioned above an optical axis. The reflection mirror has a reflection surface shape orthogonal to a projection plane inclusive of the optical axis of the reflection mirror. The reflection surface shape and lens element are formed as specified. For example, the reflection surface shape is formed so that an average radius of curvature in an area through which a light flux focused at a center of the projection plane passes is smaller than that of curvature in an area through which a light flux focused at an upper end portion of the projection plane passes.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2015Date of Patent: June 9, 2020Assignee: MAXELL, LTD.Inventors: Koji Hirata, Masahiko Yatsu, Shuji Kato, Yuki Matsumiya, Kayono Kimura
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Patent number: 10670864Abstract: Provided is a small-sized information display device displaying video image information as a virtual image by use of an eyepiece optical system including a concave mirror having desired reflection characteristics in a specific polarization direction, where a liquid crystal display panel is used as a video image light source. The information display device has a liquid crystal display panel as a flat display forming video image information disposed therein, and includes a virtual image optical system including a member to be projected for displaying virtual images in front of a vehicle by making a video image displayed on the liquid crystal display panel reflect on the member to be projected. The virtual image optical system includes a concave mirror, and a reflective film of the concave mirror has desired reflection characteristics in a specific polarization direction, so that virtual images having uniform brightness and chromaticity can be obtained.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 2015Date of Patent: June 2, 2020Assignees: MAXELL, LTD., HITACHI INDUSTRY & CONTROL SOLUTIONS, LTD.Inventors: Koji Hirata, Masahiko Yatsu, Toshinori Sugiyama, Hiroyuki Kajikawa, Kazuomi Kaneko