Patents by Inventor Masahiko Yatsu

Masahiko Yatsu 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: 11933980
    Abstract: The information display apparatus configured to display video information of a virtual image on a reflecting surface of conveyance includes: a display configured to display the video information; and a virtual image optical system configured to display a virtual image at a front of the conveyance by reflecting light emitted from the display by means of the reflecting surface. The virtual image optical system includes a concave mirror and an optical element. The optical element is arranged between the display and the concave mirror, and is configured to correct distortion of the virtual image obtained so as to correspond to a viewpoint position of a driver on a basis of a shape of the concave mirror and a shape of the optical element. The information display apparatus further includes a virtual image double image conversion reducer configured to reduce double image conversion of the virtual image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignees: MAXELL, LTD., HITACHI INDUSTRY & CONTROL SOLUTIONS, LTD.
    Inventors: Koji Hirata, Masahiko Yatsu, Toshinori Sugiyama, Kazuomi Kaneko
  • Patent number: 11921287
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: MAXELL, LTD.
    Inventors: Tomoki Yamamoto, Toshinori Sugiyama, Koji Hirata, Masahiko Yatsu
  • Publication number: 20240036313
    Abstract: A head-up display apparatus includes a display panel configured to display an image, and a reflecting mirror configured to reflect light from the display panel. An optical distance between the reflecting mirror and the display panel is changed to continuously change a display position of a virtual image from a distant place to an adjacent position such that a virtual image obtained by being reflected at an upper portion of a windshield is formed farther than a virtual image obtained by being reflected at a lower portion of the windshield when viewed from a viewpoint position of a driver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2023
    Publication date: February 1, 2024
    Inventors: Koji HIRATA, Masahiko YATSU, Toshinori SUGIYAMA, Kazuomi KANEKO, Shigeki HOSHINO
  • Publication number: 20230384590
    Abstract: A HUD system and light source apparatus can be manufactured with miniaturization at low cost. A head-up display apparatus includes: an image display apparatus generating image light to be projected; an optical system performing predetermined correction to the image light emitted from the image display apparatus; and a concave mirror reflecting the image light corrected by the optical system to project it onto a windshield or combiner. The image display apparatus includes: a solid light source; a collimating optical system converting, into parallel light, the light from the solid light source; a lighting optical system configured by an optical member that polarizes a direction of a light beam generated by the collimating optical system and simultaneously expands a width of the light beam; and a display apparatus, the image display apparatus being configured to be arranged across and opposite the optical system on an optical axis of the concave mirror.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2023
    Publication date: November 30, 2023
    Inventors: Toshinori SUGIYAMA, Koji HIRATA, Yasuhiko KUNII, Masahiko YATSU
  • Patent number: 11828938
    Abstract: A small information display apparatus capable of displaying video information on a windshield as a virtual image is provided. An information display apparatus configured to display video information of a virtual image on a windshield of a conveyance includes: a liquid crystal panel arranged as a video display apparatus configured to form the video information; and a virtual image optical system provided with a windshield for displaying the virtual image at a front of the conveyance by reflecting video of the liquid crystal panel by means of the windshield. The virtual image optical system is configured by arranging a concave mirror and an optical element between the concave mirror and the video display apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignees: MAXELL, LTD., Hitachi Industry & Control Solutions, Ltd.
    Inventors: Koji Hirata, Masahiko Yatsu, Toshinori Sugiyama, Kazuomi Kaneko, Shigeki Hoshino
  • Publication number: 20230280590
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a compact head-up display device. The head-up display device of the present invention includes an image forming unit that emits image light containing image information, and an eyepiece optical system that displays a virtual image by reflecting the image light, in which the eyepiece optical system includes a concave lens, a free curved surface lens, and a free curved surface concave mirror disposed in order from the image form ing unit side along the emission direction of the image light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2023
    Publication date: September 7, 2023
    Applicants: MAXELL, LTD., HITACHI INDUSTRY & CONTROL SOLUTIONS, LTD.
    Inventors: Masahiko YATSU, Koji HIRATA, Shigeki HOSHINO
  • Publication number: 20230266587
    Abstract: The information display apparatus configured to display video information of a virtual image on a reflecting surface of conveyance includes: a display configured to display the video information; and a virtual image optical system configured to display a virtual image at a front of the conveyance by reflecting light emitted from the display by means of the reflecting surface. The virtual image optical system includes a concave mirror and an optical element. The optical element is arranged between the display and the concave mirror, and is configured to correct distortion of the virtual image obtained so as to correspond to a viewpoint position of a driver on a basis of a shape of the concave mirror and a shape of the optical element. The information display apparatus further includes a virtual image double image conversion reducer configured to reduce double image conversion of the virtual image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2023
    Publication date: August 24, 2023
    Inventors: Koji HIRATA, Masahiko YATSU, Toshinori SUGIYAMA, Kazuomi KANEKO
  • Patent number: 11709359
    Abstract: A HUD system and light source apparatus can be manufactured with miniaturization at low cost. A head-up display apparatus includes: an image display apparatus generating image light to be projected; an optical system performing predetermined correction to the image light emitted from the image display apparatus; and a concave mirror reflecting the image light corrected by the optical system to project it onto a windshield or combiner. The image display apparatus includes: a solid light source; a collimating optical system converting, into parallel light, the light from the solid light source; a lighting optical system configured by an optical member that polarizes a direction of a light beam generated by the collimating optical system and simultaneously expands a width of the light beam; and a display apparatus, the image display apparatus being configured to be arranged across and opposite the optical system on an optical axis of the concave mirror.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: MAXELL, LTD.
    Inventors: Toshinori Sugiyama, Koji Hirata, Yasuhiko Kunii, Masahiko Yatsu
  • Patent number: 11686937
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a compact head-up display device. The head-up display device of the present invention includes an image forming unit that emits image light containing image information, and an eyepiece optical system that displays a virtual image by reflecting the image light, in which the eyepiece optical system includes a concave lens, a free curved surface lens, and a free curved surface concave mirror disposed in order from the image forming unit side along the emission direction of the image light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignees: MAXELL, LTD., HITACHI INDUSTRY & CONTROL SOLUTIONS, LTD.
    Inventors: Masahiko Yatsu, Koji Hirata, Shigeki Hoshino
  • Patent number: 11675189
    Abstract: The information display apparatus configured to display video information of a virtual image on a reflecting surface of conveyance includes: a display configured to display the video information; and a virtual image optical system configured to display a virtual image at a front of the conveyance by reflecting light emitted from the display by means of the reflecting surface. The virtual image optical system includes a concave mirror and an optical element. The optical element is arranged between the display and the concave mirror, and is configured to correct distortion of the virtual image obtained so as to correspond to a viewpoint position of a driver on a basis of a shape of the concave mirror and a shape of the optical element. The information display apparatus further includes a virtual image double image conversion reducer configured to reduce double image conversion of the virtual image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignees: MAXELL, LTD., HITACHI INDUSTRY & CONTROL SOLUTIONS, LTD.
    Inventors: Koji Hirata, Masahiko Yatsu, Toshinori Sugiyama, Kazuomi Kaneko
  • Publication number: 20230118416
    Abstract: An information display device that displays image information as a virtual image on a projection surface, the device including: an opening portion at a part of the housing, image light generating means for generating image light, image light processing means for performing a predetermined optical process on the image light, and image projecting means for projecting the image light such that a viewer can recognize the image information as the virtual image in front of the projection surface, and an optical element in which a reflective polarizing plate is fixed to a substrate having a transmissive property with an adhesive agent or with a pressure-sensitive adhesive agent is provided in a part of an optical path inside the housing, as means for selectively reflecting a P-polarized light component of light in a visible light region, and a moisture-proof film is provided on a surface of the reflective polarizing plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2021
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Applicant: MAXELL, LTD.
    Inventors: Koji HIRATA, Masahiko YATSU, Toshinori SUGIYAMA, Tomoki YAMAMOTO, Toshimasa NAGAI, Chohei ONO, Hiroyuki KAJIKAWA, Naoyuki OGURA
  • Patent number: 11571952
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: MAXELL, LTD.
    Inventors: Toshinori Sugiyama, Koji Hirata, Yasuhiko Kunii, Masahiko Yatsu, Kazuomi Kaneko
  • Patent number: 11561394
    Abstract: An information display apparatus and an information display method configured to display video information of a virtual image on a windshield of conveyance is provided. The information display apparatus includes: a display configured to display the video information; and a virtual image optical system configured to display a virtual image at a front of the conveyance by reflecting light emitted from the display by means of the windshield. The virtual image optical system includes a concave mirror and an optical element. A reflective film is formed on a reflecting surface of the concave mirror. A protective film for preventing moisture absorption is formed on a facing surface. By forming end surfaces of the two surfaces as a curved surface or an inclined surface and forming them on the end surfaces to block moisture, moisture absorption of plastic is prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: MAXELL, LTD.
    Inventors: Koji Hirata, Masahiko Yatsu, Shuji Kato, Toshinori Sugiyama, Michiaki Abe, Eiji Kawawa, Hiroyuki Kajikawa
  • Patent number: 11448877
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignees: MAXELL, LTD., HITACHI INDUSTRY & CONTROL SOLUTIONS, LTD.
    Inventors: Masahiko Yatsu, Koji Hirata, Shigeki Hoshino
  • Patent number: 11422367
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: MAXELL, LTD.
    Inventors: Toshinori Sugiyama, Koji Hirata, Masahiko Yatsu, Yasuhiko Kunii, Kazuomi Kaneko
  • Publication number: 20220229294
    Abstract: The information display apparatus configured to display video information of a virtual image on a reflecting surface of conveyance includes: a display configured to display the video information; and a virtual image optical system configured to display a virtual image at a front of the conveyance by reflecting light emitted from the display by means of the reflecting surface. The virtual image optical system includes a concave mirror and an optical element. The optical element is arranged between the display and the concave mirror, and is configured to correct distortion of the virtual image obtained so as to correspond to a viewpoint position of a driver on a basis of a shape of the concave mirror and a shape of the optical element. The information display apparatus further includes a virtual image double image conversion reducer configured to reduce double image conversion of the virtual image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2022
    Publication date: July 21, 2022
    Inventors: Koji HIRATA, Masahiko YATSU, Toshinori SUGIYAMA, Kazuomi KANEKO
  • Patent number: 11327303
    Abstract: The information display apparatus configured to display video information of a virtual image on a reflecting surface of conveyance includes: a display configured to display the video information; and a virtual image optical system configured to display a virtual image at a front of the conveyance by reflecting light emitted from the display by means of the reflecting surface. The virtual image optical system includes a concave mirror and an optical element. The optical element is arranged between the display and the concave mirror, and is configured to correct distortion of the virtual image obtained so as to correspond to a viewpoint position of a driver on a basis of a shape of the concave mirror and a shape of the optical element. The information display apparatus further includes a virtual image double image conversion reducer configured to reduce double image conversion of the virtual image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignees: MAXELL, LTD., HITACHI INDUSTRY & CONTROL SOLUTIONS, LTD.
    Inventors: Koji Hirata, Masahiko Yatsu, Toshinori Sugiyama, Kazuomi Kaneko
  • Publication number: 20220082826
    Abstract: A small information display apparatus capable of displaying video information on a windshield as a virtual image is provided. An information display apparatus configured to display video information of a virtual image on a windshield of a conveyance includes: a liquid crystal panel arranged as a video display apparatus configured to form the video information; and a virtual image optical system provided with a windshield for displaying the virtual image at a front of the conveyance by reflecting video of the liquid crystal panel by means of the windshield. The virtual image optical system is configured by arranging a concave mirror and an optical element between the concave mirror and the video display apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2021
    Publication date: March 17, 2022
    Inventors: Koji HIRATA, Masahiko YATSU, Toshinori SUGIYAMA, Kazuomi KANEKO, Shigeki HOSHINO
  • Publication number: 20220043261
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a compact head-up display device. The head-up display device of the present invention includes an image forming unit that emits image light containing image information, and an eyepiece optical system that displays a virtual image by reflecting the image light, in which the eyepiece optical system includes a concave lens, a free curved surface lens, and a free curved surface concave mirror disposed in order from the image forming unit side along the emission direction of the image light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2021
    Publication date: February 10, 2022
    Applicants: MAXELL, LTD., HITACHI INDUSTRY & CONTROL SOLUTIONS, LTD.
    Inventors: Masahiko YATSU, Koji HIRATA, Shigeki HOSHINO
  • Patent number: 11221480
    Abstract: A small information display apparatus capable of displaying video information on a windshield as a virtual image is provided. An information display apparatus configured to display video information of a virtual image on a windshield of a conveyance includes: a liquid crystal panel arranged as a video display apparatus configured to form the video information; and a virtual image optical system provided with a windshield for displaying the virtual image at a front of the conveyance by reflecting video of the liquid crystal panel by means of the windshield. The virtual image optical system is configured by arranging a concave mirror and an optical element between the concave mirror and the video display apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignees: MAXELL, LTD., HITACHI INDUSTRY & CONTROL SOLUTIONS, LTD.
    Inventors: Koji Hirata, Masahiko Yatsu, Toshinori Sugiyama, Kazuomi Kaneko, Shigeki Hoshino