Patents by Inventor Masafumi Kumoi

Masafumi Kumoi 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: 9480134
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes a metal body, a metallic lens barrel provided movably in an optical axis direction of an imaging optical system, and a metallic exterior casing having an opening that exposes the lens barrel from inside to outside the image pickup apparatus. The metal body includes a cut-and-raised portion formed by cutting and raising a part of the metal body, and the cut-and-raised portion is electrically connected with the exterior casing or inductively coupled with the exterior casing. The cut-and-raised portion is formed to electrically discharge the lens barrel charged with static electricity via a discharge path including the cut-and-raised portion. A static electrical current generated in the lens barrel flows to ground via the discharge path including the exterior casing, the cut-and-raised portion and the metal body, without flowing via any electric substrate, to discharge a charged lens barrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masafumi Kumoi, Masato Tobinaga
  • Patent number: 8982256
    Abstract: An imaging device includes: an imaging sensor 110; a main circuit substrate 120 includes a first ground conductor; an imaging sensor cable 130 that includes a second ground conductor, has the imaging sensor 110 mounted thereon, and is connected to the main circuit substrate 120; a metal plate 150 that is disposed between the main circuit substrate 120 and an area of the imaging sensor cable 130 where the imaging sensor 110 is mounted thereon, and that is electrically connected to the second ground conductor; and a ground connection conductor 190 that electrically connects between the first ground conductor and the metal plate 150. The ground connection conductor 190 is disposed in an area where the imaging sensor 110 and the imaging sensor cable 130 overlap each other or in an area where the imaging sensor 110 and the main circuit substrate 120 overlap each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masato Tobinaga, Hirotsugu Fusayasu, Masafumi Kumoi, Ryuichi Nagaoka, Yoshio Nishizawa, Atsushi Inoue
  • Patent number: 8970752
    Abstract: An imaging device includes: an imaging sensor 110 configured to capture an optical image of an object and generate image data; a main circuit substrate 120 configured to perform signal processing of the image data generated by the imaging sensor 110; a mounting component 130 configured to mount the imaging sensor 110; a metal plate 150 disposed between the mounting component 130 and the main circuit substrate 120; and an electrically-conductive section 190 configured to electrically connect between a ground conductor of the main circuit substrate 120 and the metal plate 150. The electrically-conductive section 190 is positioned in an area where the metal plate 150 and the imaging sensor 110 overlap each other in the case of a back surface of the metal plate 150 being viewed in a direction orthogonal thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masato Tobinaga, Hirotsugu Fusayasu, Masafumi Kumoi, Ryuichi Nagaoka, Yoshio Nishizawa, Atsushi Inoue
  • Patent number: 8797452
    Abstract: An imaging device of the present invention, which is an imaging device for shooting images or video of a photographic subject, includes: an imaging element for taking an optical image of the photographic subject and generating image data therefrom; a main circuit board that is for conducting signal processing on the image data generated by the imaging element and that includes a main circuit board ground (“GND”) having a ground potential; an imaging element flexible cable that is connected to the main circuit board and on which the imaging element is mounted; a mount for fixing the imaging element and that includes a metallic component; and a metal plate that is connected to the mount and is disposed between the imaging element and the main circuit board. Wherein, the mount and the main circuit board GND are electrically connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Masato Tobinaga, Hirotsugu Fusayasu, Masafumi Kumoi
  • Patent number: 8786772
    Abstract: An imaging device of the present invention includes: an imaging element for taking an optical image of a photographic subject and generating image data therefrom; a main circuit board for conducting signal processing on the image data, an imaging element flexible cable on which the imaging element is mounted and that has a ground potential; a shutter that opens and closes timed on the shooting of images or video of the photographic subject; a shutter flexible cable that transfers a control signal for controlling the shutter and that has a ground potential; a mount for fixing the imaging element and that includes a metallic component; and a metal plate that is connected to the mount and is disposed between the imaging element and the main circuit board. Therein, the ground potential of the imaging element and the shutter flexible cable are connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Masato Tobinaga, Hirotsugu Fusayasu, Masafumi Kumoi
  • Patent number: 8736754
    Abstract: An imaging device 100 includes: an imaging element 110; a main circuit substrate 120; a mounting component 130 mounting the imaging element 110; a metal plate 150 disposed between the mounting component 130 and the main circuit substrate 120; a mount 140 supporting the metal plate 150 by connection sections 160 being fixed at at least three fixing points; elastic components 165 urging the connection sections 160 at each fixing point of the mount 140; and an electrically-conductive component 190 electrically connecting between a ground conductor of the main circuit substrate 120 and the metal plate 150. The electrically-conductive component 190 is disposed such that a connection point with the metal plate 150 is positioned in a area formed by the at least three fixing points being sequentially connected in the case of a back surface of the metal plate 150 being viewed in a direction orthogonal thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Masafumi Kumoi, Masato Tobinaga, Hirotsugu Fusayasu, Ryuichi Nagaoka, Yoshio Nishizawa, Atsushi Inoue
  • Patent number: 8717495
    Abstract: Provided is a digital camera including: a camera body (1) that includes a body mount to which a lens unit, which forms an optical image of a subject, can be attached; an image sensor (8) that is disposed in a body chassis (3) of the camera body (1) to convert the optical image of the subject into image data; a main circuit board (11) to which an image sensor (8) is electrically connected; and an electronic viewfinder (6) that includes a monitor on which a through image captured by the image sensor (8) is displayed, wherein a conductive shielding member (33) is disposed in the body chassis (3) in order to electromagnetically shield a region between a space in which the image sensor (8) and the main circuit board (11) are disposed from a space in which the electronic viewfinder (6) is disposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Masato Tobinaga, Hirotsugu Fusayasu, Masafumi Kumoi, Shinkuro Fujino
  • Publication number: 20140104742
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes a metal body, a metallic lens barrel provided movably in an optical axis direction of an imaging optical system, and a metallic exterior casing having an opening that exposes the lens barrel from inside to outside the image pickup apparatus. The metal body includes a cut-and-raised portion formed by cutting and raising a part of the metal body, and the cut-and-raised portion is electrically connected with the exterior casing or inductively coupled with the exterior casing. The cut-and-raised portion is formed to electrically discharge the lens barrel charged with static electricity via a discharge path including the cut-and-raised portion. A static electrical current generated in the lens barrel flows to ground via the discharge path including the exterior casing, the cut-and-raised portion and the metal body, without flowing via any electric substrate, to discharge a charged lens barrel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2013
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Masafumi KUMOI, Masato TOBINAGA
  • Patent number: 8502900
    Abstract: A circuit board is arranged on an end face of a lens barrel on a lens mount side and installed with an electronic circuit device, a plurality of connection terminals which are arranged in an electrically insulating state in the lens mount and serve to connect the electronic circuit device on the circuit board with an electronic circuit device inside a camera body, and a wiring member is for connecting the plurality of connection terminals with the circuit board, where the wiring member is provided with a ground connection section which is connected to a ground pattern of the circuit board and also electrically connected to a connection terminal that is to be a ground terminal among the plurality of connection terminals, and an extended wiring pattern is for electrically grounding the ground connection section on a metal portion of the lens mount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Shinkuro Fujino, Hirotsugu Fusayasu, Shouichi Mimura, Masafumi Kumoi, Masato Tobinaga, Akihiro Aoyama, Yasuhiro Wada
  • Patent number: 8421912
    Abstract: An imaging device of the present invention, which is an imaging device for shooting images or video of a photographic subject, includes: an imaging element for taking an optical image of the photographic subject and generating image data therefrom; a main circuit board for conducting signal processing on the image data generated by the imaging element; an imaging element flexible cable that is connected to the main circuit board and on which the imaging element is mounted; a mount for fixing the imaging element and that includes a metallic component; a metal plate disposed between the imaging element and the main circuit board. The imaging element flexible cable includes an imaging element flexible cable GND which has a ground potential, and the imaging element flexible cable GND is connected to the metal plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Masato Tobinaga, Hirotsugu Fusayasu, Masafumi Kumoi
  • Publication number: 20120314119
    Abstract: An imaging device of the present invention, which is an imaging device for shooting images or video of a photographic subject, includes: an imaging element for taking an optical image of the photographic subject and generating image data therefrom; a main circuit board for conducting signal processing on the image data generated by the imaging element; an imaging element flexible cable that is connected to the main circuit board and on which the imaging element is mounted; a mount for fixing the imaging element and that includes a metallic component; a metal plate disposed between the imaging element and the main circuit board. The imaging element flexible cable includes an imaging element flexible cable GND which has a ground potential, and the imaging element flexible cable GND is connected to the metal plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2011
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masato Tobinaga, Hirotsugu Fusayasu, Masafumi Kumoi
  • Publication number: 20120314118
    Abstract: An imaging device of the present invention includes: an imaging element for taking an optical image of a photographic subject and generating image data therefrom; a main circuit board for conducting signal processing on the image data, an imaging element flexible cable on which the imaging element is mounted and that has a ground potential; a shutter that opens and closes timed on the shooting of images or video of the photographic subject; a shutter flexible cable that transfers a control signal for controlling the shutter and that has a ground potential; a mount for fixing the imaging element and that includes a metallic component; and a metal plate that is connected to the mount and is disposed between the imaging element and the main circuit board. Therein, the ground potential of the imaging element and the shutter flexible cable are connected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2011
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masato Tobinaga, Hirotsugu Fusayasu, Masafumi Kumoi
  • Publication number: 20120293701
    Abstract: Provided is a digital camera including: a camera body (1) that includes a body mount to which a lens unit, which forms an optical image of a subject, can be attached; an image sensor (8) that is disposed in a body chassis (3) of the camera body (1) to convert the optical image of the subject into image data; a main circuit board (11) to which an image sensor (8) is electrically connected; and an electronic viewfinder (6) that includes a monitor on which a through image captured by the image sensor (8) is displayed, wherein a conductive shielding member (33) is disposed in the body chassis (3) in order to electromagnetically shield a region between a space in which the image sensor (8) and the main circuit board (11) are disposed from a space in which the electronic viewfinder (6) is disposed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2011
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Inventors: Masato Tobinaga, Hirotsugu Fusayasu, Masafumi Kumoi, Shinkuro Fujino
  • Publication number: 20120287317
    Abstract: An imaging device of the present invention, which is an imaging device for shooting images or video of a photographic subject, includes: an imaging element for taking an optical image of the photographic subject and generating image data therefrom; a main circuit board that is for conducting signal processing on the image data generated by the imaging element and that includes a main circuit board ground (“GND”) having a ground potential; an imaging element flexible cable that is connected to the main circuit board and on which the imaging element is mounted; a mount for fixing the imaging element and that includes a metallic component; and a metal plate that is connected to the mount and is disposed between the imaging element and the main circuit board. Wherein, the mount and the main circuit board GND are electrically connected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2011
    Publication date: November 15, 2012
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masato Tobinaga, Hirotsugu Fusayasu, Masafumi Kumoi
  • Patent number: 8267728
    Abstract: A receptacle includes a signal terminal, a ground terminal, and a signal terminal. A second portion of the ground terminal is distanced from a first portion of the signal terminal in an extension direction. A third portion of the signal terminal is distanced from the first portion of the signal terminal in the extension direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Nakaie, Hirotsugu Fusayasu, Shouichi Mimura, Masafumi Kumoi, Ryo Matsubara
  • Patent number: 8162671
    Abstract: A receptacle structure includes a housing structure, a terminal insulating board, a first terminal and a second terminal. The housing structure is configured to be mounted on a printed wiring board and to accommodate a plug. The terminal insulating board includes a top face and a bottom face that is opposite to the top face. The terminal insulating board is disposed inside the housing structure with the bottom face facing towards the printed wiring board. The first terminal is connected to the printed wiring board via the first rear connection part and to the terminal insulating board. The second terminal is connected to the printed wiring board via the first front connection part and to the terminal insulating board. The first front connection part has a width narrower than the first rear connection part and is connected to the printed wiring board away from the first rear connection part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Ryou Matsubara, Shouichi Mimura, Hirotsugu Fusayasu, Masafumi Kumoi, Toshiyuki Nakaie
  • Publication number: 20110317062
    Abstract: A circuit board is arranged on an end face of a lens barrel on a lens mount side and installed with an electronic circuit device, a plurality of connection terminals which are arranged in an electrically insulating state in the lens mount and serve to connect the electronic circuit device on the circuit board with an electronic circuit device inside a camera body, and a wiring member is for connecting the plurality of connection terminals with the circuit board, where the wiring member is provided with a ground connection section which is connected to a ground pattern of the circuit board and also electrically connected to a connection terminal that is to be a ground terminal among the plurality of connection terminals, and an extended wiring pattern is for electrically grounding the ground connection section on a metal portion of the lens mount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2011
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Applicant: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Shinkuro Fujino, Hirotsugu Fusayasu, Shouichi Mimura, Masafumi Kumoi, Masato Tobinaga, Akihiro Aoyama, Yasuhiro Wada
  • Patent number: 8085495
    Abstract: A spindle motor can suppress the generation of noise during swinging and the extend service life, and also suppress the increase in current consumption. The outside diameter of a thrust hydrodynamic groove is at least 10% of the outside diameter of a disk-shaped medium, and the depth of the radial hydrodynamic groove is greater than the depth of the thrust hydrodynamic groove. By adjusting to specific numbers, the angular stiffness in the thrust bearing is raised, and even if a disturbance torque should be applied, wear or noise caused by metal contact inside the bearing can be suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Masafumi Kumoi, Yukinori Maruyama
  • Patent number: 8072778
    Abstract: A plasma display device capable of reducing an electromagnetic interference wave due to a driving current flowing in a plasma display panel is provided. The plasma display device includes a plasma display panel having electrodes that are parallel to each other, a driver circuit board for applying a voltage to the electrodes, a chassis conductor holding the plasma display panel and to which a ground of the driver circuit board is connected, and a first additional conductor plate provided to the chassis conductor via an insulating layer and to which grounds of at least one circuit board in circuit boards other than the driver circuit board are attached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kunimoto, Hirotsugu Fusayasu, Shouichi Mimura, Kei Ichikawa, Masafumi Kumoi, Ryo Matsubara, Masato Tobinaga, Toshiyuki Nakaie
  • Publication number: 20110256739
    Abstract: A receptacle includes a signal terminal, a ground terminal, and a signal terminal. A second portion of the ground terminal is distanced from a first portion of the signal terminal in an extension direction. A third portion of the signal terminal is distanced from the first portion of the signal terminal in the extension direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2010
    Publication date: October 20, 2011
    Applicant: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Nakaie, Hirotsugu Fusayasu, Shouichi Mimura, Masafumi Kumoi, Ryo Matsubara