Patents by Inventor Kota Asano

Kota Asano 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: 12242130
    Abstract: A vibration-type driving apparatus includes a vibrator unit including a vibrator in which vibration is excited by an electro-mechanical energy convertor and a holder configured to hold the vibrator, and a contact body in contact with the vibrator. The vibrator and the contact body move relative to each other when vibration at a frequency higher than an audible range is excited in the vibrator. A predetermined condition is satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2025
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kota Asano
  • Patent number: 11953819
    Abstract: A lens apparatus includes an aperture stop, a driving device configured to drive the aperture stop, a storage storing a driving instruction value for driving the aperture stop, and a controller configured to perform control of the driving device based on the driving instruction value. The storage stores the driving instruction value, among a plurality of ones of the driving instruction value, by which an absolute value of a difference, between a target aperture value and an actual aperture value obtained by the control, that is largest with respect to a plurality of ones of the drive amount is minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kota Asano
  • Patent number: 11656426
    Abstract: A lens apparatus includes a fixed member having one of a click generator and a groove part in which a groove part is formed, an operation ring having the other of the click generator and the groove part, and rotatable relative to the fixed member, a click detector configured to detect contact between the click generator and the groove part, and a rotation detector configured to detect rotation of the operation ring. The groove part has groove portions and non-groove portions alternately arranged. The click generator is biased along an optical axis direction and is in contact with the groove part. The click detector and the rotation detector are disposed along the optical axis direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kota Asano
  • Publication number: 20230053565
    Abstract: A lens apparatus includes an aperture stop, a driving device configured to drive the aperture stop, a storage storing a driving instruction value for driving the aperture stop, and a controller configured to perform control of the driving device based on the driving instruction value. The storage stores the driving instruction value, among a plurality of ones of the driving instruction value, by which an absolute value of a difference, between a target aperture value and an actual aperture value obtained by the control, that is largest with respect to a plurality of ones of the drive amount is minimized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2022
    Publication date: February 23, 2023
    Inventor: Kota Asano
  • Patent number: 11513422
    Abstract: A lens apparatus includes an aperture stop, a driving device configured to drive the aperture stop, a storage storing a driving instruction value for driving the aperture stop, and a controller configured to perform control of the driving device based on the driving instruction value. The storage stores the driving instruction value, among a plurality of ones of the driving instruction value, by which an absolute value of a difference, between a target aperture value and an actual aperture value obtained by the control, that is largest with respect to a plurality of ones of the drive amount is minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kota Asano
  • Publication number: 20220099915
    Abstract: A vibration-type driving apparatus includes a vibrator unit including a vibrator in which vibration is excited by an electro-mechanical energy convertor and a holder configured to hold the vibrator, and a contact body in contact with the vibrator. The vibrator and the contact body move relative to each other when vibration at a frequency higher than an audible range is excited in the vibrator. A predetermined condition is satisfied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2021
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Inventor: Kota Asano
  • Publication number: 20200319527
    Abstract: A lens apparatus includes an aperture stop, a driving device configured to drive the aperture stop, a storage storing a driving instruction value for driving the aperture stop, and a controller configured to perform control of the driving device based on the driving instruction value. The storage stores the driving instruction value, among a plurality of ones of the driving instruction value, by which an absolute value of a difference, between a target aperture value and an actual aperture value obtained by the control, that is largest with respect to a plurality of ones of the drive amount is minimized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2020
    Publication date: October 8, 2020
    Inventor: Kota Asano
  • Publication number: 20200026024
    Abstract: A lens apparatus includes a fixed member having one of a click generator and a groove part in which a groove part is formed, an operation ring having the other of the click generator and the groove part, and rotatable relative to the fixed member, a click detector configured to detect contact between the click generator and the groove part, and a rotation detector configured to detect rotation of the operation ring. The groove part has groove portions and non-groove portions alternately arranged. The click generator is biased along an optical axis direction and is in contact with the groove part. The click detector and the rotation detector are disposed along the optical axis direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2019
    Publication date: January 23, 2020
    Inventor: Kota Asano
  • Patent number: 10310357
    Abstract: An optical apparatus includes an optical unit driven by an actuator, a holder configured to hold the optical unit, and an elastic member that contacts the holder via a first contacting portion and a second contacting portion, and contacts the optical unit via a connecting portion provided between the first contacting portion and the second contacting portion. The elastic member is spaced from the holder between the first contacting portion and the second contacting portion, and spaced from the optical unit between the first contacting portion and the connecting portion and between the connecting portion and the second contacting portion. Part of the elastic member opposite to the connecting portion that contacts the optical unit is spaced from the holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takehiko Sato, Koji Sato, Kota Asano, Daisuke Shiraishi, Makoto Hayakawa
  • Patent number: 10291097
    Abstract: A brushless motor includes a case fixed onto a yoke to cover an outer surface of the yoke except one end of the yoke in the axial direction, a frame fixed onto the one end of the yoke, a first bearing fixed onto the frame and configured to rotatably support a first end of a rotating shaft in the axial direction, a second bearing fixed onto the case, and configured to rotatably support a second end of the rotating shaft which is closer to the magnet than the first end, the second bearing including a receiving surface that contacts the second end in the axial direction, an energizing member configured to force the rotating shaft from a first bearing side to a second bearing side, and a wiring substrate disposed between the stator and the case in the axial direction and configured to electrify the coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kota Asano
  • Patent number: 10009548
    Abstract: A lens apparatus attached to and detached from an image pickup apparatus includes a diaphragm unit, a driver configured to drive the diaphragm unit, and a lens controller configured to communicate with the image pickup apparatus to which the lens apparatus is attached, and to control the driver based on aperture driving instruction information or aperture stop time request received from the image pickup apparatus. The lens controller is configured to send to the image pickup apparatus time information necessary to drive the diaphragm unit according to the aperture driving instruction information or aperture stop time request, during a period that starts when the driver starts driving the diaphragm unit and ends when the driver stops driving the diaphragm unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kota Asano
  • Publication number: 20170242318
    Abstract: An optical apparatus includes an optical unit driven by an actuator, a holder configured to hold the optical unit, and an elastic member that contacts the holder via a first contacting portion and a second contacting portion, and contacts the optical unit via a connecting portion provided between the first contacting portion and the second contacting portion. The elastic member is spaced from the holder between the first contacting portion and the second contacting portion, and spaced from the optical unit between the first contacting portion and the connecting portion and between the connecting portion and the second contacting portion. Part of the elastic member opposite to the connecting portion that contacts the optical unit is spaced from the holder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2017
    Publication date: August 24, 2017
    Inventors: Takehiko Sato, Koji Sato, Kota Asano, Daisuke Shiraishi, Makoto Hayakawa
  • Patent number: 9705391
    Abstract: A stepping motor includes a rotor having a rotor magnet fixed to a rotating shaft, a plurality of coil bobbins where coils are wound, a stator yoke group having a plurality of stator yokes each of which surrounds each of the plurality of coil bobbins in an axial direction and a radial direction of the rotating shaft, and the plurality of stator yokes each having pole teeth alternately arranged in a circumferential direction around the rotating shaft so as to be opposed to a side surface of the rotor magnet, and a magnetic attractive force generating member configured to attract the rotor magnet to the axial direction of the rotating shaft by a magnetic attractive force, and a magnetic center of the rotor magnet and a magnetic center of the stator yoke group coincide with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kota Asano
  • Publication number: 20160344256
    Abstract: A brushless motor includes a case fixed onto a yoke to cover an outer surface of the yoke except one end of the yoke in the axial direction, a frame fixed onto the one end of the yoke, a first bearing fixed onto the frame and configured to rotatably support a first end of a rotating shaft in the axial direction, a second bearing fixed onto the case, and configured to rotatably support a second end of the rotating shaft which is closer to the magnet than the first end, the second bearing including a receiving surface that contacts the second end in the axial direction, an energizing member configured to force the rotating shaft from a first bearing side to a second bearing side, and a wiring substrate disposed between the stator and the case in the axial direction and configured to electrify the coil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2016
    Publication date: November 24, 2016
    Inventor: Kota Asano
  • Patent number: 9459429
    Abstract: A lens apparatus includes a diaphragm unit that is driven in a first driving direction and a second driving direction, a driving unit that drives the diaphragm unit based on a driving instruction, a storage unit that stores a first driving instruction value for performing the driving in the first driving direction, and a second driving instruction value for performing the driving in the second driving direction, and a control unit that outputs a driving instruction for driving the diaphragm unit, wherein the control unit outputs, when driving the diaphragm unit in the first driving direction, the driving instruction based on the first driving instruction value or the like, and outputs, when driving the diaphragm unit in the second driving direction, the driving instruction based on the second driving instruction value or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kota Asano
  • Publication number: 20160037040
    Abstract: A lens apparatus attached to and detached from an image pickup apparatus includes a diaphragm unit, a driver configured to drive the diaphragm unit, and a lens controller configured to communicate with the image pickup apparatus to which the lens apparatus is attached, and to control the driver based on aperture driving instruction information or aperture stop time request received from the image pickup apparatus. The lens controller is configured to send to the image pickup apparatus time information necessary to drive the diaphragm unit according to the aperture driving instruction information or aperture stop time request, during a period that starts when the driver starts driving the diaphragm unit and ends when the driver stops driving the diaphragm unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2015
    Publication date: February 4, 2016
    Inventor: Kota Asano
  • Patent number: 9167149
    Abstract: A lens apparatus includes an imaging optical system including a movable lens unit, a drive unit configured to drive the movable lens unit, and a control unit configured to cause the movable lens unit to perform a wobbling motion in an optical axis direction by alternatively outputting to the drive unit a first drive command for driving the movable lens unit at a first driving speed and a stop command for stopping driving of the movable lens unit, and to move the movable lens unit based on contrast information obtained from an image pickup unit during the wobbling motion of the movable lens unit, wherein, at least one of before and after outputting the first drive command to the drive unit, the control unit outputs to the drive unit a second drive command for driving the movable lens unit at a second driving speed lower than the first driving speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kota Asano
  • Patent number: 9110227
    Abstract: The motor drive apparatus includes a driven member, a stepping motor to drive the driven member, a driver to produce a drive signal for driving the stepping motor and whose signal value periodically changes, a memory to store data for setting a reference signal value as the signal value and a target movement amount of the driven member for each one-step drive of the stepping motor to be driven according to the drive signal having the reference signal value, and a detector to detect an actual movement amount of the driven member for each one-step drive of the stepping motor actually driven according to the drive signal having the reference signal value. The driver changes the signal value of the drive signal from the reference signal value to another signal value so as to reduce difference between the target movement amount and the actual movement amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kota Asano
  • Publication number: 20130334908
    Abstract: A stepping motor includes a rotor having a rotor magnet fixed to a rotating shaft, a plurality of coil bobbins where coils are wound, a stator yoke group having a plurality of stator yokes each of which surrounds each of the plurality of coil bobbins in an axial direction and a radial direction of the rotating shaft, and the plurality of stator yokes each having pole teeth alternately arranged in a circumferential direction around the rotating shaft so as to be opposed to a side surface of the rotor magnet, and a magnetic attractive force generating member configured to attract the rotor magnet to the axial direction of the rotating shaft by a magnetic attractive force, and a magnetic center of the rotor magnet and a magnetic center of the stator yoke group coincide with each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2013
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Inventor: Kota ASANO
  • Publication number: 20130286489
    Abstract: A lens apparatus includes a diaphragm unit that is driven in a first driving direction and a second driving direction, a driving unit that drives the diaphragm unit based on a driving instruction, a storage unit that stores a first driving instruction value for performing the driving in the first driving direction, and a second driving instruction value for performing the driving in the second driving direction, and a control unit that outputs a driving instruction for driving the diaphragm unit, wherein the control unit outputs, when driving the diaphragm unit in the first driving direction, the driving instruction based on the first driving instruction value or the like, and outputs, when driving the diaphragm unit in the second driving direction, the driving instruction based on the second driving instruction value or the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2013
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kota Asano