Patents by Inventor Koji Sawanobori
Koji Sawanobori 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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Publication number: 20240085761Abstract: A blade open-close device includes a base, a blade, an actuator unit, a detectable member, and a detector. The base includes an opening portion on an optical axis. The blade is movable in an intersecting direction to cover or uncover the opening portion. The actuator unit moves the blade to one of a closing position to cover the opening portion or an opening position to uncover the opening portion. The detectable member changes a position of a first magnet and a position of a second magnet in response to coming into contact with the blade moving. The detector detects the first magnet when the blade is at the opening position and detects the second magnet when the blade is at the closing position.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 8, 2023Publication date: March 14, 2024Inventors: Koji SAWANOBORI, Ryosuke USHIO, Kenzo IMAI
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Patent number: 11921403Abstract: An electronic device allows the user to notice that no image capturing is being performed and increases the user comfort as well as includes a small open-close device incorporated in a limited space. A camera module is covered by a blade. This allows the user to notice that no image capturing is being performed and increases the user comfort. A base is attached to a first surface of a module board, and a cover has a first end in the longitudinal direction attached to the base and a second end in the longitudinal direction supported by the first surface of the module board. The base may not extend to the second end of the cover in the longitudinal direction and can have a shorter length (miniaturized), further miniaturizing a blade open-close device.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 2022Date of Patent: March 5, 2024Assignee: NIDEC COPAL CORPORATIONInventors: Ryosuke Ushio, Koji Sawanobori, Nobuaki Watanabe
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Publication number: 20240040221Abstract: A thin blade open-close device is incorporated in a limited space. A blade open-close device includes a base member including spaces accommodating lens units, a cover plate covering the base member partially, and a blade member between the base member and the cover plate. The cover plate has openings aligned with optical axes of the lens units. The blade member includes a first light shield that covers the opening in the cover plate, a light entry opening that connects with the opening in the cover plate, and a second light shield that covers the opening in the cover plate. The blade open-close device includes a drive actuator that moves the blade member in a closing direction to change from an open state in which the light entry opening in the blade member connects with the opening in the cover plate to a closed state in which the first light shield and the second light shield in the blade member cover the openings in the cover plate.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 28, 2022Publication date: February 1, 2024Inventor: Koji SAWANOBORI
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Patent number: 11852954Abstract: A blade open-close device retains a blade at a predetermined position under an external load. A blade open-close device includes a base, a cover plate covering part of the base, and a blade located between the base and the cover plate. The blade is movable between a closing position to cover an opening in the cover plate and an opening position to uncover the opening. The blade open-close device further includes an actuator that moves the blade between the opening position and the closing position, a stopper movable between a lock position at which a protrusion on the stopper is on a path of the blade and an unlock position at which the stopper is entirely retracted from the path when the blade is at the opening position and when the blade is at the closing position, and a voice coil motor that moves the stopper from the lock position toward the unlock position.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 2021Date of Patent: December 26, 2023Assignee: NIDEC COPAL CORPORATIONInventor: Koji Sawanobori
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Patent number: 11815786Abstract: A blade open-close device retains a blade at a predetermined position under an external load. A blade open-close device includes a base, a cover plate covering part of the base, a blade between the base and the cover plate, a driving actuator that moves the blade in X-direction, and a stopper actuator located adjacent to the driving actuator in X-direction to restrict an operation of the driving actuator. The driving actuator includes a rotor magnet rotatably located adjacent to a yoke and a driving lever including a connecting part connected to the blade. The stopper actuator includes a rotor magnet rotatably located adjacent to a yoke and a stopper lever including a restrictor movable onto a path of the driving lever in the driving actuator.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 2021Date of Patent: November 14, 2023Assignee: NIDEC COPAL CORPORATIONInventors: Koji Sawanobori, Nobuaki Watanabe
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Patent number: 11775032Abstract: A small blade driving device is incorporated in a limited space. A cover includes a first cover fixed to a base and a second cover protruding from the first cover in a movement direction of a blade. A support leg protrudes from the second cover toward a first surface of a module substrate and is supported by the first surface. The base may not have the same length as the cover and have a shorter length (miniaturized), further miniaturizing a blade driving device.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 2022Date of Patent: October 3, 2023Assignee: NIDEC COPAL CORPORATIONInventors: Ryosuke Ushio, Koji Sawanobori, Nobuaki Watanabe
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Patent number: 11611687Abstract: A thin blade open-close device is incorporated in a limited space. A blade open-close device includes a base located on a module board including a lens unit, a partition located opposite to the module board from the base, and a cover plate located opposite to the base from the partition. The partition and the cover plate each have an opening aligned with an optical axis of the lens unit. The blade open-close device includes a blade movable in X-direction in a blade chamber defined between the cover plate and the partition, an actuator that moves the blade between a closing position to cover the openings and an opening position to uncover the openings, and a terminal plate extending in Z-direction. The terminal plate electrically connected to the actuator includes connectors at its end adjacent to the module board to be electrically connected to contacts on the module board.Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 2021Date of Patent: March 21, 2023Assignee: NIDEC COPAL CORPORATIONInventors: Ryosuke Ushio, Kenzo Imai, Koji Sawanobori, Nobuaki Watanabe
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Publication number: 20230027221Abstract: A small blade driving device is incorporated in a limited space. A cover includes a first cover fixed to a base and a second cover protruding from the first cover in a movement direction of a blade. A support leg protrudes from the second cover toward a first surface of a module substrate and is supported by the first surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 15, 2022Publication date: January 26, 2023Inventors: Ryosuke USHIO, Koji SAWANOBORI, Nobuaki WATANABE
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Publication number: 20230026738Abstract: An electronic device allows the user to notice that no image capturing is being performed and increases the user comfort as well as includes a small open-close device incorporated in a limited space. A camera module is covered by a blade. This allows the user to notice that no image capturing is being performed and increases the user comfort. A base is attached to a first surface of a module board, and a cover has a first end in the longitudinal direction attached to the base and a second end in the longitudinal direction supported by the first surface of the module board. The base may not extend to the second end of the cover in the longitudinal direction and can have a shorter length (miniaturized), further miniaturizing a blade open-close device.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 15, 2022Publication date: January 26, 2023Inventors: Ryosuke USHIO, Koji SAWANOBORI, Nobuaki WATANABE
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Patent number: 11480850Abstract: An optical unit has a lens frame that has a slit in a cylinder, and a blade driving device, comprising an insertion portion for insertion into the slit, wherein an opening, provided in the insertion portion, is disposed between lenses in a lens frame, wherein: the blade driving device comprises a frame that has a recessed lens frame storing portion with the insertion portion protruding; a cylinder of the lens frame comprises a pair of supporting faces that are perpendicular to the optical axis of the lens; and the lens frame storing portion of the frame has contact surfaces that contact each of a pair of supporting faces.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 2017Date of Patent: October 25, 2022Assignee: NIDEC COPAL CORPORATIONInventors: Shozo Iwato, Koji Sawanobori, Kazuo Shikama, Kenzo Imai, Nobuaki Watanabe
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Publication number: 20220091479Abstract: A blade open-close device retains a blade at a predetermined position under an external load. A blade open-close device includes a base, a cover plate covering part of the base, and a blade located between the base and the cover plate. The blade is movable between a closing position to cover an opening in the cover plate and an opening position to uncover the opening. The blade open-close device further includes an actuator that moves the blade between the opening position and the closing position, a stopper movable between a lock position at which a protrusion on the stopper is on a path of the blade and an unlock position at which the stopper is entirely retracted from the path when the blade is at the opening position and when the blade is at the closing position, and a voice coil motor that moves the stopper from the lock position toward the unlock position.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 17, 2021Publication date: March 24, 2022Inventor: Koji SAWANOBORI
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Publication number: 20220091478Abstract: A blade open-close device retains a blade at a predetermined position under an external load. A blade open-close device includes a base, a cover plate covering part of the base, a blade between the base and the cover plate, a driving actuator that moves the blade in X-direction, and a stopper actuator located adjacent to the driving actuator in X-direction to restrict an operation of the driving actuator. The driving actuator includes a rotor magnet rotatably located adjacent to a yoke and a driving lever including a connecting part connected to the blade. The stopper actuator includes a rotor magnet rotatably located adjacent to a yoke and a stopper lever including a restrictor movable onto a path of the driving lever in the driving actuator.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 17, 2021Publication date: March 24, 2022Inventors: Koji SAWANOBORI, Nobuaki WATANABE
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Publication number: 20220060608Abstract: A thin blade open-close device is incorporated in a limited space. A blade open-close device includes a base located on a module board including a lens unit, a partition located opposite to the module board from the base, and a cover plate located opposite to the base from the partition. The partition and the cover plate each have an opening aligned with an optical axis of the lens unit. The blade open-close device includes a blade movable in X-direction in a blade chamber defined between the cover plate and the partition, an actuator that moves the blade between a closing position to cover the openings and an opening position to uncover the openings, and a terminal plate extending in Z-direction. The terminal plate electrically connected to the actuator includes connectors at its end adjacent to the module board to be electrically connected to contacts on the module board.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 16, 2021Publication date: February 24, 2022Inventors: Ryosuke USHIO, Kenzo IMAI, Koji SAWANOBORI, Nobuaki WATANABE
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Publication number: 20220057692Abstract: A blade open-close device mountable on a module board including a lens unit includes a base including peripheral walls adjacent to the lens unit, a cover plate covering at least part of the base, and a blade movable in a blade chamber between the cover plate and a surface of the peripheral walls. A partition and the cover plate each have an opening aligned with an optical axis of the lens unit. The blade open-close device includes an actuator that moves the blade between a closing position to cover the openings and an opening position to uncover the openings. A distance from the surface of the peripheral walls to a surface of the cover plate opposite to the base along the optical axis is one fifth or less of a total of a thickness of the module board and a height of the lens unit measured along the optical axis.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 16, 2021Publication date: February 24, 2022Inventors: Ryosuke USHIO, Kenzo IMAI, Koji SAWANOBORI, Nobuaki WATANABE
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Patent number: 11089195Abstract: A technique enhances security measures in the IoT by reducing leakage of private images and degraded security due to unauthorized image capturing, eliminates the possibility that an unintended image is captured and stored, and also shows people around the user that the camera function of an electronic device is not working. A camera module shielding mechanism for shielding a camera module by retracting the camera module into a housing of an electronic device includes a support member supporting the camera module, a slide support supporting the support member in a slidable manner, an urging member that urges the support member in a direction in which the camera module protrudes from the housing, a locking member that locks the support member with the camera module retracted in the housing, and an actuator that unlocks the locking member.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2020Date of Patent: August 10, 2021Assignee: NIDEC COPAL CORPORATIONInventors: Kenzo Imai, Koji Sawanobori, Nobuaki Watanabe, Daisuke Yaginuma
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Patent number: 10921688Abstract: An imaging optical apparatus with a thin blade containing member for containing a blade member for limiting an opening, having an insertion portion that has an opening; an actuator for causing a blade member to slide; a containing frame for containing the actuator and the blade containing member, except for the insertion portion, having, on an outer edge, a recessed lens frame retaining portion into which the insertion portion; a lens frame, held in the lens frame retaining portion, having an insertion hole, for insertion of the insertion portion so that the center of the opening will be coaxial with the optical axis; and a clip for holding, in cooperation with the containing frame, a lens frame that is held in the lens frame retaining portion, through joining with the containing frame.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 2017Date of Patent: February 16, 2021Assignee: NIDEC COPAL CORPORATIONInventors: Kazuo Shikama, Kenzo Imai, Nobuaki Watanabe, Shozo Iwato, Koji Sawanobori
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Publication number: 20200280663Abstract: A technique enhances security measures in the IoT by reducing leakage of private images and degraded security due to unauthorized image capturing, eliminates the possibility that an unintended image is captured and stored, and also shows people around the user that the camera function of an electronic device is not working. A camera module shielding mechanism for shielding a camera module by retracting the camera module into a housing of an electronic device includes a support member supporting the camera module, a slide support supporting the support member in a slidable manner, an urging member that urges the support member in a direction in which the camera module protrudes from the housing, a locking member that locks the support member with the camera module retracted in the housing, and an actuator that unlocks the locking member.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 27, 2020Publication date: September 3, 2020Inventors: Kenzo IMAI, Koji SAWANOBORI, Nobuaki WATANABE, Daisuke YAGINUMA
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Patent number: 10754226Abstract: A blade driving device comprising: a driving member; one or more blade members that are caused to undergo sliding motion by the driving member; a blade supporting unit for supporting the blade member slidably; and a frame for containing the driving member and a portion of the blade supporting unit, wherein the blade supporting unit comprises a blade chamber for containing a blade member between opposing thin plate members, along with an insertion portion that has an opening and that protrudes from a frame, wherein the opposing thin plate members are integrated together at least the tip end of the insertion portion.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 2017Date of Patent: August 25, 2020Assignee: NIDEC COPAL CORPORATIONInventors: Shozo Iwato, Koji Sawanobori, Kazuo Shikama, Kenzo Imai, Nobuaki Watanabe
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Publication number: 20200089081Abstract: A blade driving device comprising: a driving member; one or more blade members that are caused to undergo sliding motion by the driving member; a blade supporting unit for supporting the blade member slidably; and a frame for containing the driving member and a portion of the blade supporting unit, wherein the blade supporting unit comprises a blade chamber for containing a blade member between opposing thin plate members, along with an insertion portion that has an opening and that protrudes from a frame, wherein the opposing thin plate members are integrated together at least the tip end of the insertion portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 24, 2017Publication date: March 19, 2020Applicant: NIDEC COPAL CORPORATIONInventors: Shozo IWATO, Koji SAWANOBORI, Kazuo SHIKAMA, Kenzo IMAI, Nobuaki WATANABE
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Publication number: 20190369461Abstract: The present invention allows reduction of the thickness of a blade driving device, and, in a mechanism in which a plurality of blade members are interlocked with one another through a lever member, drives the blade members by using sufficient thrust while keeping the operation balance of the lever member and obtaining smooth movement. A blade driving device is provided with a base member; a pair of blade members supported by the base member; a lever member the ends of which are connected to the blade members respectively, and which has, at the center thereof, a bearing part pivotally supported by a rotation shaft provided to the base member; and a linear actuator which causes the lever member to pivot about the rotation shaft, wherein the lever member includes, integrally with the bearing part, a housing part which houses a magnet of the linear actuator.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 24, 2017Publication date: December 5, 2019Applicant: NIDEC COPAL CORPORATIONInventor: Koji SAWANOBORI