Patents by Inventor Masaaki Ikehara

Masaaki Ikehara 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: 11729592
    Abstract: A technique for commissioning of light sources may include receiving data indicating planned geographic positions of the light sources and data representing commissioning information of the light sources, receiving data indicating an actual geographic position of an angle of arrival receiver relative to the planned geographic positions of the light sources, receiving, at the angle of arrival receiver, beacon signals carrying respective light source identifiers that uniquely identify respective light sources, calculating actual geographic positions of the light sources based on a) the actual geographic position of the angle of arrival receiver relative to the planned geographic positions of the light sources and b) respective angles of arrival of the beacon signals, comparing the planned geographic positions to the actual geographic positions to correlate the commissioning information to the light source identifiers, and transmitting the correlated light source identifiers and commissioning information to the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: UNIVERSAL LIGHTING TECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Inventors: John Cavacuiti, Masaaki Ikehara
  • Publication number: 20210303746
    Abstract: A technique for commissioning of light sources may include receiving data indicating planned geographic positions of the light sources and data representing commissioning information of the light sources, receiving data indicating an actual geographic position of an angle of arrival receiver relative to the planned geographic positions of the light sources, receiving, at the angle of arrival receiver, beacon signals carrying respective light source identifiers that uniquely identify respective light sources, calculating actual geographic positions of the light sources based on a) the actual geographic position of the angle of arrival receiver relative to the planned geographic positions of the light sources and b) respective angles of arrival of the beacon signals, comparing the planned geographic positions to the actual geographic positions to correlate the commissioning information to the light source identifiers, and transmitting the correlated light source identifiers and commissioning information to the
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2020
    Publication date: September 30, 2021
    Inventors: John CAVACUITI, Masaaki IKEHARA
  • Publication number: 20210259071
    Abstract: A technique for uniquely identifying a light fixture for use in a positioning system may include providing a first set of LED and a second set of LED in the light fixture, and controlling the first set of LED differently from the second set of LED such that a camera having the light fixture within its field of view captures images in which the first set of LED appears to emit light and the second set of LED appears to emit no light to form a detectable pattern uniquely associated with the light fixture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2020
    Publication date: August 19, 2021
    Inventors: John CAVACUITI, Masaaki IKEHARA, Travis BERRY, Wei XIONG, Hideki AOYAMA
  • Patent number: 10880977
    Abstract: A technique for commissioning of a light source includes transmitting outgoing beacon signals, each outgoing beacon signal including a stored light source identifier that uniquely identifies the light source; receiving incoming beacon signals including an incoming beacon signal carrying an incoming light source identifier that corresponds to the stored light source identifier; receiving subsequent incoming beacon signal carrying the incoming light source identifier; and changing commissioning information in response to receiving the subsequent incoming beacon signal carrying the incoming light source identifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: John Cavacuiti, Masaaki Ikehara
  • Patent number: 10512143
    Abstract: A lighting control system is provided to reduce the time, cost, and potential for error during device commissioning. A controller is programmed to obtain voice commands from a user and to identify and implement device commissioning modes based at least on the obtained voice commands. In a first commissioning mode, the controller configures one or more buttons or equivalent actuators on a control switch mounted in association with a lighting zone. In a second commissioning mode, the controller assigns device grouping and/or configuration data for a plurality of lighting devices (e.g., lighting fixtures, occupancy sensors, light sensors) in operable connection with the control switch. The controller may further in another commissioning mode identify one or more second lighting devices added to or exchanged with one or more of the plurality of first lighting devices and assign device grouping and/or configuration data thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Universal Lighting Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Masaaki Ikehara, Travis L. Berry
  • Patent number: 10467901
    Abstract: A warning device includes: a sensor which is attachable to a supporting member and measures a distance, the supporting member being fixedly installed; and a notifier which performs notification using predetermined output. The sensor measures at least one of sensor-object distances and a moving object distance, the sensor-object distances being distances between the sensor and each of at least two moving objects which are approaching to each other, the moving object distance being a distance between the at least two moving objects which are approaching to each other, and the notifier performs the notification by varying a manner of the predetermined output according to the at least one of the sensor object distances and the moving object distance which are measured by the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaaki Ikehara, Kentaro Yamauchi, Kazuhiro Hatta
  • Patent number: 10433391
    Abstract: A lighting control system includes: a storage which stores a plurality of parameters; a light emitter which emits light in a predetermined mode according to the plurality of parameters; a controller which selects two or more parameters from among the plurality of parameters stored in the storage to generate a group of parameters including the two or more parameters selected; and an obtainer which obtains an instruction from a user. The light emitter emits light at a predetermined time in a mode according to the group of parameters generated by the controller, and when the obtainer obtains a degree of comfort selected from among feeling options each indicating a feeling of the user, the controller generates a new group of parameters by changing, according to the degree of comfort, one or more parameters among the two or more parameters included in the group of parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masaaki Ikehara
  • Patent number: 10425168
    Abstract: A target identification system includes: one or more optical receivers (at least one of a first optical receiver or a second optical receiver) which receive outgoing light from a moving body, the outgoing light including an optical signal indicating identification information (first information) for identifying the moving body; a controller connected to the one or more optical receivers; and a wireless communicator connected to the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeaki Yamasaki, Masaaki Ikehara
  • Patent number: 9991955
    Abstract: A mobile device includes: a communications circuit which performs wireless communication; a receiver which receives input of a destination from a user; an output which outputs guidance information for guiding the user from a current location to the destination; and a controller which causes the output to output notification information for notifying presence of a transmitting device which emits light for visible light communications, if the communications circuit receives a wireless signal from a transmitting device by the wireless communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeaki Yamasaki, Yoshihiko Matsukawa, Masaaki Ikehara
  • Publication number: 20180153017
    Abstract: A lighting control system includes: a storage which stores a plurality of parameters; a light emitter which emits light in a predetermined mode according to the plurality of parameters; a controller which selects two or more parameters from among the plurality of parameters stored in the storage to generate a group of parameters including the two or more parameters selected; and an obtainer which obtains an instruction from a user. The light emitter emits light at a predetermined time in a mode according to the group of parameters generated by the controller, and when the obtainer obtains a degree of comfort selected from among feeling options each indicating a feeling of the user, the controller generates a new group of parameters by changing, according to the degree of comfort, one or more parameters among the two or more parameters included in the group of parameters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2017
    Publication date: May 31, 2018
    Inventor: Masaaki IKEHARA
  • Publication number: 20180152250
    Abstract: A target identification system includes: one or more optical receivers (at least one of a first optical receiver or a second optical receiver) which receive outgoing light from a moving body, the outgoing light including an optical signal indicating identification information (first information) for identifying the moving body; a controller connected to the one or more optical receivers; and a wireless communicator connected to the controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2017
    Publication date: May 31, 2018
    Inventors: Shigeaki Yamasaki, Masaaki Ikehara
  • Publication number: 20180090010
    Abstract: A warning device includes: a sensor which is attachable to a supporting member and measures a distance, the supporting member being fixedly installed; and a notifier which performs notification using predetermined output. The sensor measures at least one of sensor-object distances and a moving object distance, the sensor-object distances being distances between the sensor and each of at least two moving objects which are approaching to each other, the moving object distance being a distance between the at least two moving objects which are approaching to each other, and the notifier performs the notification by varying a manner of the predetermined output according to the at least one of the sensor object distances and the moving object distance which are measured by the sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2017
    Publication date: March 29, 2018
    Inventors: Masaaki IKEHARA, Kentaro YAMAUCHI, Kazuhiro HATTA
  • Patent number: 9928763
    Abstract: A guide display device which is installed in a predetermined direction includes: a first screen which is parallel to the predetermined direction; a first light source which illuminates the first screen; a cover which is provided above the first screen in the predetermined direction and projects in a direction crossing the first screen to block light from above the guide display device and cast a shadow upon an area of the guide display device; a second light source which illuminates the area on which the shadow is cast; and a controller which causes at least the second light source to perform optical communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeaki Yamasaki, Masaaki Ikehara
  • Patent number: 9838120
    Abstract: An optical signal receiver receives an optical signal superimposed on illumination light from an illumination apparatus which repetitively transmits as the optical signal a frame including predetermined information and a preamble indicating the start of the frame. Further, the optical signal receiver includes a light receiving unit configured to receive the optical signal, and a controller configured to control the light receiving unit based on the optical signal received by the light receiving unit such that the optical signal receiver operates in either one of an intermittent reception mode of intermittently receiving the optical signal and a continuous reception mode of continuously receiving the optical signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaaki Ikehara, Yoshihiko Matsukawa
  • Patent number: 9837049
    Abstract: A visible light communication system includes: an illumination device which emits visible light including identification information; an information presentation apparatus which presents information to a person in a range illuminated by the visible light; an information terminal which receives visible light identification information; and an information recording medium which holds pairing information associating the identification information identifying the illumination device with connection information required for connection via wireless communication with the information presentation apparatus. When the information terminal is illuminated by the visible light, the information terminal refers to the pairing information held in the information recording medium to identify the connection information associated with the identification information included in the visible light, and establishes connection with the information presentation apparatus based on the identified connection information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshihiko Matsukawa, Masaaki Ikehara
  • Patent number: 9831950
    Abstract: A visible light communication receiver to be attached to a mobile object includes: a light receiving device which receives a light signal for visible light communication, the light signal including predetermined information; and a lens component disposed over the light receiving device. The lens component has a first directional angle on a first plane and a second directional angle on a second plane orthogonal to the first plane. The first directional angle is narrower than the second directional angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaaki Ikehara, Yoshihiko Matsukawa, Masahito Ohnishi
  • Patent number: 9793990
    Abstract: A worker management device that manages a worker wearing workwear includes: a main body; a light receiver that is provided on a part of the main body that is exposed when the main body is attached to the workwear, and receives light including predetermined identification information; a controller connected to the light receiver; and a communication unit connected to the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shigeaki Yamasaki, Yoshihiko Matsukawa, Masaaki Ikehara
  • Patent number: 9774397
    Abstract: Provided is a guidance display device which transmits predetermined information by visible light communications, the guidance display device including: a light source which emits light for visible light communications, the light including the predetermined information; a housing covering the light source and having a first light-exit surface which transmits the light emitted by the light source; a first guidance display on the first light-exit surface; and a first mark on the first light-exit surface, wherein the first mark has a shape corresponding to a total number of light-exit surfaces, including the first light-exit surface, of the guidance display device through which the light for visible light communications emitted by the light source exits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeaki Yamasaki, Masaaki Ikehara
  • Patent number: 9775219
    Abstract: A mobile terminal includes: an image capturer which captures a video of one or more lighting devices each transmitting identification information of the lighting device through visible light communication; an input device which obtains an indication from an operator; a wireless communicator which wirelessly communicates with lighting devices; and a controller which controls the image capturer, the input device, and the wireless communicator, wherein the controller detects, by analyzing a video obtained by the image capturer, identification information of a lighting device included in the video, and if the input device obtains an operation indication directed to the lighting device, transmits a control signal corresponding to the operation indication via the wireless communicator to the lighting device (at least one of the lighting devices) having the detected identification information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaaki Ikehara, Yoshihiko Matsukawa
  • Publication number: 20170263163
    Abstract: A guide display device which is installed in a predetermined direction includes: a first screen which is parallel to the predetermined direction; a first light source which illuminates the first screen; a cover which is provided above the first screen in the predetermined direction and projects in a direction crossing the first screen to block light from above the guide display device and cast a shadow upon an area of the guide display device; a second light source which illuminates the area on which the shadow cast; and a controller which causes at least the second light source to perform optical communication.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2017
    Publication date: September 14, 2017
    Inventors: Shigeaki YAMASAKI, Masaaki IKEHARA